Link Love #2

This weeks Link Love is mostly about little things I've found which I thought were cool or interesting, things I want to try out for myself. All the pictures link back to the source, I'm not sure if I've mentioned that in the past Link Love post. I like making these posts since I tend to keep every window open of things I like for a long, long time! (Which leads to bad laptop habits! Oops) Or I save everything under my bookmarks bar which is crazy, I attempted to organise it a few months back whilst procrastinating from doing uni work and it didn't really work out! Anyway onto the inspiration!

These paper flowers are pretty darn cool. They're made from post it notes and the instructions look simple enough to do so I want to give this a go! As soon as I find my post it notes!

Since I've failed with one of my resolutions about to-do lists, I saw this (from the wall street journal, I was just googling lists, yes I know I'm sad) and thought it was very interesting, and its also a list of seven things! I haven't attempted anymore lists since I know right now I'll just fail them all, so hopefully following most or all of this advice will work for me.

Galadarlings list of 100 things to do when you're upset. The photo links to the post, but is taken from her most recent outfit post which you should also go check out. Oh and check out the rest of her blog while you're at it, very inspiring. 

A very good list of things to do to improve your blog. I've done some but not all and I think its a good idea to check out whether you've been blogging for a week or five years. 

How cute is that illustration? Well, click on it to type out sentences using llama font, where you'll find really cute llamas making letters with their bodies, its kinda adorable *squee* And thats it for this week's inspiration post!

Wish List #1

Just a few little things I wish I have.

// Colourful masking tape // A cute calender // See through clock necklace // 

// A Diana Camera //  A cute little fox necklace //

Gower Heritage Center

Turned out I only had one day off, but it was still fun, I went to the Gower Heritage Center to go see the cute animals. I have lived no more than an hour away from this place all my life, and gone down to that area many times to go to the beach or for walks when I was younger, but I never came here until I was 21! I went with my boyfriend and his family, he's got a young niece and cousin and it was a nice day out, freezing though! I took loads of photos on his iPhone and decided to put a small selection of them up, because animals are cute darnit!

 Evil baby ducks!

Nice hairdo!

Running straight at us!

The pond area, the chickens roamed free around it.

O hai there mister goat!

Pony :)

Just strutting his stuff. (I know chickens are girls, and boys are roosters but I like calling them "he's").

Look at the feathers on this guy, look at the feet! 

You talkin' about me?!

Duckies!

Keeping an eye on the ducks, didn't you know chickens and ducks don't get on?!

Impatient little hen.

Pretty little birdie.

What I wore #4, #5 and #6

Not the most creative of titles but that's what it's about. I'm behind on blogging, as in what I wanted to do. I did a to-do list the Wednesday before which I was meant to review the Wednesday just gone, but I haven't, oh well. I've been busy working or down my boyfriends, so haven't had that much time to post. One of the things I wanted to do, was illustrate my outfits every day for a week, like Ellamasters. This I have done, but I haven't painted the last two and I'm too tired to do that now, so you just get three. Plus, I think it'll look nicer than posting them ALL at once, three and two are better than five in a row. So here we go! They're not that interesting.

I found this outfit really hard to draw, the dress/top tunic was really difficult. I hate drawing the sleeves, but this was the best I could do. Also my owl necklace kept looking like a fish >.< and I need to work on the hair ooops, was meant to be a messy bun.

I really liked this one, wish the legs were more symmetrical but I don't really mind, but the colour is off by a lot. It wasn't so off when I painted it, but its meant to be more brown, way more brown than here, where it looks orange! I love my onesie though :)

Hate this drawing! My drawings seem to be getting smaller and smaller! Not what I wanted to do at all. The pen I used seemed to be runny, so I hate the outlines, but I loved wearing that outfit. It was perfect for a not so sunny day. I have two more, I think, to round up the week, then I'll only do it when I feel like it, so the blog won't be bombarded with them! Hopefully I'll be getting the scanner to work by then too so it'll be prettier on here! 

I'm going to be busy the next few days so I won't be posting much. Working tomorrow, which I wish I wasn't. I fell down the stairs yesterday and now my big toe is swollen and bruised, and working tonight for only four and a half hours hurt a bit, so tomorrow will be worse :( Then have a mock driving test, then watching The Lion King 3D with my boyfriend, can't wait! I haven't seen it in years. Then on Sunday I'll be going to the races for my boyfriends brothers birthday. Never been before so that'll be interesting, I hope it doesn't rain! Then Monday I have my real driving test, so I'm really nervous. Hopefully the next post will say I've passed. It's my second attempt, and I failed the last one since I was so nervous, I went into first gear from sixth gear TWICE! Damn shaky hands, I really don't blame him for failing me. If I fail this time though, I'm taking medication next time, wish me luck!

The Golden Snitch

Something arrived for me in the post today. The Golden Snitch necklace I'd ordered from Wallpaper Rose had arrived! The packaging was really cute, I love brown wrapping paper and string, it's simple, yet wonderful. I couldn't wait to open it, but wanted to take a picture first, since it was so pretty.

Inside the package was the necklace, wrapped up with a ribbon and tissue paper, and also a business card and a badge! I didn't even order that, so that was a lovely surprise. I really like getting cute business cards, I have a small collection mainly from exhibitions I've been too, but I really want to do something with them all.

And last but not least, the necklace! I love Harry Potter, and want to knit a Gryffindor scarf but haven't got back round to doing it yet. Anyway, I like Harry Potter related items that I can wear and I like that the necklace is subtle and not 'in your face I love Harry Potter!'. 

Wallpaper Rose is a good company to order from. They have a range of necklaces which I'm lusting after, but had to let myself only pick one, sad times, and I really, really want one of the Jen Tees which I've seen a few bloggers wear, but alas, they are out of stock. As soon as they are back in though I am going to buy one! Which colour though, I have no clue!

Catnapping!

This is my neighbours cat, Mattie.  She is gorgeous and cute and little a little ball of energy. I've really missed having a cat, and she comes into the house sometimes if the doors open. Half the time we don't know she's even in here and she can scare the hell out of us! But usually we know, she runs around the place and you can hear her breathing. She has allergies, I don't know what to, and has this cute little wheezy thing going on, but she's actually really fine with breathing!

So she comes in and demands attention by looking cute, I can't help but drop what I'm doing and scratch her chin or her belly. The photos are really bad, since she doesn't stay still ever! She's constantly on the move, so it's really hard to capture a picture of her. I've been stuck inside a lot lately feeling ill, so she was a nice distraction for awhile.

I must seem like a crazy cat lady, posting pictures of a cat I don't even own! But when she comes over, I wish I could cat nap her, but I don't reckon my neighbours would like that! You know, I've never even met my neighbours properly. They moved in when I was living on campus, and when I came back to live at home, they ignored me, I said Hi to them once and they half glanced over and carried on talking to my mum, as if I wasn't even there! Bah humbug, I'm not going to bother with them again now, but I'll give their cat attention any time she trots in :)

Polkadotty

It was my friends 22nd birthday today and this is what I gave her for her birthday. A cute little purse, her initial and I painted a card. Can you sense a polka dot theme? I tried the card a bit in the style of the outfit posts I draw, but changed the feet. I don't like how the legs and feet turned out but oh well. I really like how the hair turned out, and prefer it being simpler with less lines. The scene makes sense to us, a memory from the Summer, so it doesn't really look like a typical birthday card. She said she always looks forward to my cards on her birthday, so that makes me feel like people do enjoy my home made cards!

I was meant to be doing something small like ice cream if warm enough, or coffee if cold enough for her birthday, but I'm ill. Bleh! I have horrible cramps and the left side of my hip is hurting when I move, so I'm walking with a limp. Why yes I am an old woman it seems! I'm hoping I pulled something without realising and it'll be better soon if I rest, so yay to having a few days of work! Ideally I'd love to clean my room, like a huge spring clean, or rather Autumn clean but I am relying heavily on pain meds at the moment!

Anywho, my plans for today are to put my pajamas back on, and to snuggle in bed watching films, maybe reading and checking out teh interweb!

What I wore #2 and #3

My equipment! Paints are from when I was in college, and a hello kitty pencil I've had for awhile! I bought a sharpener and paintbrush set today after work so I can actually drawn and paint yay! I've got two posts up, since I'm trying to draw what I've worn every day, but I'm not including todays since I haven't done it yet, so that'll be in tomorrow along with other stuff hopefully. Oh I just realised I forgot to put the pen in, ah well.

I still need to work on the whole editing thing and possibly scanning, since the blurryness kills me! and I have to use flash to make it less blurry and I'd rather not. Anyway first attempt at a watercolour outfit. I think I need some more practice but overall I like it. Colours of the skirt should be more red but I'd painted on that patch too much and it was soggy and ripped a bit, so I gave up. As written above I had lots of fun! And I think my costume was a better outfit that what I wore that day.

I wish I hadn't inked around the cheeks now, but you live and you learn I guess. I hate drawing legs and arms and hands and feet so they're rather shapeless. I tried drawing hands like Ellamasters shows you in her tutorial, but they just looked freaky when I drew them like that, wah. I really love that smocky top above, which I have in black too. They are perfect for hot sunny days, I just wish I had them in more colours!  The friend is actually my mums friends daughter who spent a lot of time living in France and Hungary recently, so it could be from another country or from here, who knows, I don't recognize the label inside.

Anywho! I'm hoping that my drawing skills will increase! and painting skills and editing skills and whatnot. I've also bought another little sketch book today I'll use for writing down random thoughts, lists and doodles.

Meet Darcy

When I woke up this morning, it was sunny and warm, I was quite shocked! It's been pretty dismal weather down here for awhile, and I was going to get all my winter clothes out soon. I'm glad I didn't now.  Apparently it's going to be nice all this week, but I didn't believe it till I saw the sun shining! The sun makes me happy, it just makes everything pretty, and it makes the sea sparkle and I can tell loads of people will be going to the beach and down mumbles today. 

Unfortunately, I can't. I had a driving lesson (it went well!) and got dropped off at home from my boyfriends (I spend more time there than I do here!) so I couldn't go down the beach unless I get a bus back. Meh. Anyways when I got home I found a package waiting for me! The kitten I'd ordered from Being Little has arrived! I've always wanted one of her kitten dolls, they're so cute, so I jumped at the chance to buy one.

I decided to name her Darcy, since I really like that for a girls name, and it suits her I reckon! I always name my teddies or random toys. Yes I have toys, you can blame the One Object 365 Days Project for that! I've half done two projects on that, which I really should finish one day! Anyway back to hand! Darcy's posing in my boot since I love them! They're from Primark and are pretty good quality, I love the colour, the laces and the pattern on the side. I've worn them every day since I got them.

A close up of Darcy. I really like the simple white pattern, and the ribbon is cute. I'd love to make cat dolls or rabbit dolls or normal dolls myself, but when I did try it ended a disaster! But I really will try to make some before Christmas since that gives me a few months to practice. I feel guilty that I've not used my sewing machine for over half a year >.<

A close up of the business card that was tucked into Darcy's ribbon, cats are so cute, and this is an adorable illustration. If you can't tell, I really like cats! I miss my old cat, so I sometimes steal my neighbours cat. Well not really, she likes to come into our house and scare the crap out of you when you think you're alone! But then she gives you cwtches afterwards, so I don't mind.

As you can see from these photos, I should probably get a new camera soon. I can crop out the black line most of the times, but half the photos can be smudged so that's hard to crop around. I always seem to break camera's all the time, but I have no clue how this happened. It just did a few months ago and I've refused to buy a new one till it properly breaks, but I don't know how much longer I can last! Oh well, I'm off to have a sandwich and go read outside in the sun, I'm on the third of the series, Brisinger by Christoper Paolini now.

Squirrelly

Hey Squirrel! 

Who me?

Yeah you!

What's up?

I think you're pretty darned cute

You think I'm cute? Thanks!

Little Fille Headband Giveaway!

Have you heard of Little Fille? They make extremely cute little headbands which I want, want, want! I've recently started wearing headbands and a girl can never have too many right? Well, you might just be in luck, seeing as they are having an amazing competition! It ends tomorrow though, I always blog about competitions late, ooops. But here is what you can win so don't judge me too harshly.

Photo taken from Little Filles post

Look how gorgeous they are, and not just the headbands, but the turbans and peter pan collars too. Oh I love peter pan collars, I would seriously wear those with every non peter pan collared top or dress I have!

I'd already commented on the post, and tweeted about it (but forgot to follow them >.< I have now, I think maybe I thought I was already following them before lol) and now I'm blogging about it in the hope for one more extra entry! They are so cute! I think my favourites are the polka dot ones, corral ones and the purple one at the bottom, or the flowery one, or the white one or all of them!

So quickly enter this competition! And if that's not good enough, Little Fille  are also having a bit of a lucky dip. Pay £10 and you get three surprise headbands. I'm excitedly waiting for them to arrive! My first and two more Little Fille headbands! I don't know which ones they'll be but I think I'll love them all since they are beautiful. Squee!

Birthday treats for the Brother

My older brother turned twenty four the other day, and I put a lot of effort into the presents and card I gave him this year. Normally me and my three brothers don't put that much of an effort into presents. We just ask if they want any films or books and get them. My older brother however would put more effort and money into the presents, since he could afford it in the past. 

When he came to visit, he usually does about once a week to get a home cooked meal, we'd asked him what he wanted, and he said he didn't know. When he left the room his girlfriend said she was going to get him a remote controlled helicopter. When he came back him, awhile afterwards said that's what he wanted. I had to say "no, i'm not getting you one" to him, and told him he wasn't responsible enough, since my brothers always break the flying presents they get usually in one day. After he'd gone home, my mum said he was a bit upset feeling like no one was bothering about him and I felt bad, he does get us really nice things.

I decided to get him things from his childhood since he's really like a big kid, it was more like he was turning four than twenty four. My boyfriend just turned twenty five a few months ago, and I went for a childish theme too, it's more fun! Anyway, apart from one grown up thing he did mention, a game of thrones book, I got him things he enjoyed when he was younger. 

• Mulan was his favourite disney film, I remember seeing it near his birthday in the cinema, Mulan rocks! But now I'll be singing "I'll make a maaaan, out of yoooooou!" for ages now. 
• I also got him bubbles, since bubbles are always fun! For my twenty first birthday I had a big fancy dress party for superheroes or villains, and the best dressed people won bubbles! People of all sorts of ages were there and all loved them!
• I got him "retro sweets", I used the quotes since they still sell them now, but it reminds me of those part bags you used to get at parties. 
• A mini wooden diablo! He used to have a giant red plastic one, but this was cute, but a bit harder, so I felt a bit bad about that lols.
• And then the book was a grown up thing but I got that first before the childhood theme.

I also made him a card, I've been making cards for people for awhile now. I started with generic ones for birthdays and christmas, but now I try to make them more personal. I'll have to upload some photos I have of them another time. Anyway this is the card I drew for him.

• Flags cause they remind me of birthdays and are cute! Love bunting flags! 
• A hat since you used to wear them at parties.
• My brother as a little kid and holding a helicopter since he made such a fuss about it.

I know its not much, but I'm working on being more creative and I do like to make an effort with presents and cards. I couldn't find any pencils to do this though, so drew it in inky pen, and then realised I had to colour in around it and that's why it's a bit... smudged, dirty or not coloured in properly. I also did it quickly before he arrived, my quick sketch before this was much better, but on paper and not coloured in, oh well.

Anywho, I hope to make cuter and better cards in future rather than buying them, it is one of my 101 things to do, and I'll post some of the old ones and new ones I make :)