More crafts!

So, for the last of a very crafty few blog posts! I would've included these last few stragglers in my last post however they were both gifts for birthdays that were occurring between then and now. ANYWAY, here they are.

First off, I know you're probably sick of hearing about my recent hype for making picture tiles but here's my last little spin on it. (I say last but you just know every one of my friends is gonna be getting a cheeky tile for xmas). I should say that this was a very personalized gift, for my friend, Helen. She's a big Quentin Tarantino fan so I took that as my starting point. I then stumbled across some really nice prints by an artist called Ale Giorgini, which you can check out here. He conveniently had a few different Tarantino inspired pieces and so I selected the ones that I knew Helen liked best and got to work composing my masterpiece gift. (steady on, Laura). I used the same technique as before for creating the tiles which, again, you can find here. I then found myself a bit of scrap wood in me' dad's shed and painted it white before mounting the tiles at equal distances (I just did this using some strong adhesive, a "No More Nails" type thing).

And here's how it turned out.

When the adhesive had set I then stenciled on the film titles (admittedly, not very well) and voila! Helen was happy enough with it and it was a very easy make.

My next make wasn't that crafty actually, but a personalized "handmade" gift technically. An easy, cheap solution to making your own presents as well. This one was for my lovely friend and ex-housemate, Louise! Twas simply a print in a simple frame. I created the text on Photoshop and formatted it for printing before sending it off to Snapfish to print for me on some matte photo paper. I specially downloaded a nice, quirky font as well, just because nothing says less effort to me than Times New Roman!

Apologies for the low quality image!

Then all I did was choose a frame, basic white was all this particular print needed, I thought. Easy peasy.

Crafty bits

So for my stupidly long summer holiday (seriously, it's about 15 weeks) I have decided that, since I had no luck on the job front, I ought to get my productive hat on in other ways. And because I like making stuff, I'm looking for all sorts of crafty bits to get on with.

Apologies for the terrible quality picture.

Back in January I made this little gem and it looks great in my room back at uni. This year I'm keen to find more projects that I can try and hopefully get the same amount of satisfaction from making! (For those interested, It's a map of West Yorkshire, threaded between metal tacks that gather at a heart that's located around my hometown) It was surprisingly easy (and cheap!) to make and you can find a similar tutorial here. I couldn't find the exact one, my bad!

Last week I had a little go at making my own photo tiles, following guidance from a tutorial here! They turned out pretty nicely but I would like to give them a bit more time to perfect (I'll admit I rushed them a bit, resulting in paper bubbling!) I'll upload some pictures at a later date as I've given the pre-made ones away as gifts already. I can however show you the nice job I did of wrapping them for my friends, twins, Robyn & Ellen.

Can't get enough of brown paper packaging at the moment!

The only other remotely arty sort of thing I've been up to lately is a bit of drawing and painting, with varying levels of success! I have re-adopted my favoured style of painting portraits, in blocks of black and white. Really I think I only do this because it's my most successful way of making a painting look remotely like a face (as I'm terrible at drawing realistic people).. I've done a few different paintings, usually of familiar faces or iconic portraits. Most recently I've painted Jagger, Morrissey & Bowie and I'm pretty pleased with my results.

Thoughts?

I can't believe I haven't posted on here since March..

I'd like to say that it's because I've been ever so busy, but looking back, I'm sure I haven't done that much. I'm now back at home in Yorkshire, after successfully completing my second of three years at university, and it's been the best year. I finished the year with a surprising 2:1 grade and so look forward to maintaining/ improving upon this after the summer. The terrifying thing is that this year actually counts. But hey, it's only my whole life that it's going to impact.

I'm home without any real plans for the summer, after having no luck with countless job applications and a rapidly decreasing overdraft. A few day trips here and there (that I definitely can't afford) and a view to improving my artistic skills in hope of smashing my degree. Lets see how I get on, ey.

Parallel state of dissatisfaction.

Well I am baffled with my current discontent. I find myself in a situation completely parallel to this time last year in that: I would actually rather be at uni instead of home. For me, this is huge. I don't know what's come over me (apart from lust, independence and a lack of requirement to actually go home)..

This is not like me. Last year all I wanted to do, come the weekend, was escape back up North. Back to home cooked meals and the comfort of my own house. Literally so much has changed since then that I can't even comprehend it myself. In terms of changes, we're talking several romantic exploits, a breakdown of communication within the family and a complete change of heart regarding what I actually want to gain from my chosen degree.

1. Romantic exploits: I'm not going there, this is my blog, not Cosmo. You will however find me lusting all over the place when I'm at uni. Things are good.
2. Communication breakdown: Again, I shan't go into too much detail, it wouldn't be right. I can say though that in the weird arena that is my family, a good 70% of members are not in regular contact (or speaking at all). As much as this baffles me, I am not really in a position to do anything about it. I guess being away from home puts me in the neutral camp, thank goodness, I hate taking sides.
3. Degree: As much as I hate the weekly breakdown consisting of, "oh my god, why have I chosen such a stupid career, I'm not cut out for this, etc, etc" I'm actually really enjoying my degree for the first time (not that I'd admit that to my friends or myself-- wait-- oops). Hey, it's alright I guess.

I guess a big factor to this whole change in me is that essentially; I'm not sure I feel at home, at home anymore. (are you keeping up?) When I am at home, I'm counting down the days until I go back to Nottingham, which is quite frustrating as I hate to feel as if I'm wishing the time away. All I really come home for anymore is to see my dad, and that's really only because I feel guilty that he's on his own all the time.

I like having my independence now, as terrifying as I find it sometimes. I like being able to have guests round to my house at any hour without having to answer to anyone (except Miss 21 Question Lawton, my housemate! But I don't mind that at all).

I just get bored at home, god knows what I'm gonna do when I finish this degree and I actually have to get a real job..

20 Random Facts about myself.

My friend Helen did one of these today and I found it pretty entertaining (I get a cheeky mention) so I thought I'd do one for myself. I'm also procrastinating. Enjoy!

1. I love dogs. I used to have two collies a long time ago. Now I'm painfully envious of all dog owners and can't wait to have one of my own.

2. I love photography. I love taking pictures and I'm always the one holding everyone up by lurking behind to take a photo of something. I particularly like composition and I have most experience in landscape photography.

3. I'm from Yorkshire and I'm fiercely proud of it! I think moving away to university really made me appreciative of my roots and I love visiting home.

4. I absolutely adore The Killers. They are my favourite band by miles and everyone who knows me, knows it! I've been luckily enough to see them twice, both times are highly regarded as two of the best days of my life. They're an amazing live band. I also really like The Black Keys.

5. I'm extremely attracted to young Mick Jagger. Also, comparisons have been drawn between mine and his lips!

6. I love traveling but I don't do it nearly enough; I haven't even left Europe! Road trips are amongst my favourite things to do and I hope to travel across America, Canada and Australia sometime fairly soon! (A girl can dream!)

7. I don't like spicy food. My mouth is totally intolerable towards any spice! I'd rather have something rich in flavour rather than burn my mouth out.

8. I couldn't be a vegetarian although I barely eat meat whilst at uni. I love a Sunday roast when I'm at home and also BACON.

9. I've always had something against women in bands. I think it stems from a jealousy thing and there are very few female performers I like. In life aswell, I've always got on with boys better than girls.

10. I have a fairly solid bunch of friends but also various friends dotted all over the place. At uni there are only 40 people on our course and I regularly socialize in a group of about 6-10 of them. They're all mad.

11. I've been an auntie since I was seven years old. I have two sisters; three nephews and two nieces.

12. I wish I'd been taught to play an instrument when I was younger. I love music and I have few friends in bands; I just wish I had some contribution I guess. I want to play synth!

13. I'm fascinated by accents. I can't help but imitate this around me if they speak differently to me.

14. I don't like Sundays! I find them so depressing, probably following years of dread that it was the last day before going back to school!

15. If I'm sharing a bed with someone, I can never be the first to fall asleep. I think it's all related to anxiety and self awareness. It also means though that I tend to have to put up with someone else snoring as I'm at the stage of falling asleep.

16. I'm very protective of those around me. Recently my friend's drink was spiked and I had to look after him. I found it really scary but most of all I was angry that it'd happened and I hadn't been able to stop it. Another of my friends was recently hit in the face; I was fuming! If I'd been there I don't know what I'd have done!

17. My fruit of choice is banana! I love bananas and I could eat them endlessly (if it wasn't dangerous to overdose on potassium!) I love them with bran flakes, on toast, in sandwiches, on pancakes...

18. I like a drink, cocktails are my favourite, but I just don't see the point in drugs. I sound so square! I just don't get it. Also, I have far too much of a paranoid personality for weed.

19. I want to be one of Derren Brown's projects. I find him fascinating and I just think he's a generally lovely, clever person.

20. I can't resist a man in a suit. Sharp and fitted? Good shoes? Damn.

Clockwise, starting top left:
1. Two of my nephews (Jack & Charlie) being cheeky, 2. Erin, Jack & Joshua, 3. The Killers, 4. A bunch of my coursemates, 5. A picture I took in Blackpool last summer, 6. Mick Jagger and his luscious lips, 7. Jonny & Henry, two of my closest friends from home, 8. Neither me or Brandon could evidently be veggie, 10. My lovely Abi; I'm enjoying a cocktail.

 



I do ever so hope you found this insightful and interesting!