Overshare?

There is a wintery change in the air bringing in some new exciting projects!
Here is the view from my studio: Dark, windy, wintery nights, quiet and still.
Crisp, clear-sky mornings with autumn leaves.
Copious amounts of tea.
Lavender, Lemon balm & Chamomiles. Peppermint & Spearmint. My two favourites.
And of course slippers and mismatched socks.

Writing a blog and sharing my inner worries, frustrations, opinions, inspirations, process and adventures, leaves me vulnerable to scrutiny and judgment. Lately I’ve been wondering how I am interpreted in my blogs and if I share too much.

While many may scoff at my writing style and naïve insights, it feels empowering to share my perspective. I’m not ashamed of my socially awkward humour or my overly dramatic recounts of every day life. I try to be entertaining in my own way. But I also try to share the process of what I’m doing in the pursuit of my dreams, my adventures and of course my artwork. I want to be different from the norm, I want to be creative every day, I want to have diversity in life and I want to have love in my life. I definitely do not want to fit into the mould of another; I have my own shape and my own direction.

I think it’s important to create awareness and community around creatives and freelancers. Sharing the struggles and the inspirations and feeling the comfort in the experience of others. It does comfort me to know that I’m not the only sharer.

Illustrator Dawn Tan (known for her amazing food & product illustration) expresses her tears, her self-doubt, her career confusion, her excitement and honestly tells her readers the ups & downs of her journey. Her blog 'Hand made love' is so honest and heartfelt.

Super Successful, 'Cup of Jo' bloggist, Joanna Goddard, writes so honestly about her life, her feelings and her family. She even shares her experience with post-weening depression and her fears of peeing in earshot of her husband.

 And in case you don’t remember these two articles on the struggles of freelancing: The first is an opinion piece by illustrator Kelly Thompson: RIP IT UP AND START AGAIN

AND a response article by Lauren Winter of Blooming Leopold

This artwork speaks to me every day: I’m proud of you for following your dreams. I feel so much joy in knowing that I am. This is my favourite art work ever – by Jen Ray in her etsy shop Corduroy.



“Who are you to judge the life I live? 
I know I'm not perfect 
-and I don't live to be- 
but before you start pointing fingers... 
make sure you hands are clean!” 
 ― Bob Marley 

Thank you Bob Marley, I like the way you think.
Live and let live.

Here are a few shots I took at the Indesign after party. I love the lighting! And I have no idea what these amazing little morsels are, because of my dairy allergy, but they look delicious.


I have just finished working on an exciting project with ForkMyFood!
I have created a series of illustrations to be used on the ForkMyFood Blog and Facebook.
Visit ForkMyFood to see the latest illustrations and make sure you check back regularly for the new illustrations and of course, the delicious recipes!
I have also been featured in a ForkMyFood Blog Post.
Here is some of my work for the project...
 
                          

This recipe looks so delicious - Banana pancakes with warm coconut honey:
And this beautiful cake... holy wow!

A little extra reading material:

My new favourite tumblr full of pictures of dogs:  http://dowhattowhosedog.tumblr.com/


An article on lucky people and how they find luck with a lucky attitude: http://www.marcandangel.com/2012/05/21/10-things-lucky-people-do-differently/#more-452 

One very stylish & hip man – Sam Lambert style interview in The Sartorialist: http://www.thesartorialist.com/style-profiles/style-profile-sam-lambert/#more-25824 

The Hamster Wheel of Life

I've had a quiet weekend of trying to get myself organised, catching up on some rest, enjoying some sunshine and pacing around the house.

What I did:

• I have put together a new Photo Portfolio: http://emilyswanderlust.blogspot.com.au/              (Had you seen my Mermaid Parade, Coney Island NY photos? )

• I had a melt-down about missing the Prince after party at the Hi-Fi Bar 
• I bought lots of cheap fruit & veges at the Rocklea markets - 3 pineapples for $3!! and 3  500g punnets of strawberries for $10  *Thrusts*
• I went for a thigh burning bike ride and ate nuts & fruit on a picnic rug with a couple of lovely people
• I went for a walk and wrestled with my doggy friend Pommy the Pomeranian
This guy!

• I made chocolate fondant puddings and suffered a chocolate overdose.  They were SO RICH! 
• I had a rest and got my head back in order after the chocolate/sugar overdose. 
• My lovely man bought a juicer and has been making juice all week! Today I made my first juice: Apple, Pear, Carrot, Celery and strawberry juice. It was extreme delicious. 
• A little sneak of something I've been working on...

What I saw:

Lusting over the New Penzance series with the actors from Moonrise Kingdom - I'm trying not to build up my expectations too much (although there isn't a Wes Anderson film that I don't love).

The making of the Moonrise Kingdom trailer that I've watched so much!

Am almost considering going to the Sydney Film Fest to see it a few months earlier 

Tippi Hedren and her daughter Melanie Griffith's Pet Lion: Read the story here! Some more Lion 
 

Also, how good is Retronaut? I've only recently discovered it... but I could browse through images for hours!

Ivan Dixon of Rubber House duo has created this awesome blog - Pug of War
Presenting his newest character: Muscle McQuack
Here is some Muscle McQuack fan art by Alex Grigg

Read the very naughty muscle McQuack comic - don't read if easily offended / don't hold me responsible if you are! You've been warned!

Jack Teagle's Snake man - reminds me a bit of the Muscle McQuack style:
See more of Jack Teagle's work on his Tumblr blog here.
How cute are his foxes?? (Found on Jack Teagle's website)

What I learnt: 

(wearing my emotional hat, over my happy hat, over my zombie hat, over my judgemental hat, over my angry bitter hat, being supported by my worried head. )

This weekend my head has been all over the place! I have been so wound up about all of the things I need to do, that instead of doing them one by one I have been thinking of them all at once.
I literally feel like my life is a hamster wheel that wont slow down, going from work to weekend on a fast spinning cycle.  SO - I have decided I need to take some more time out to slow down and let my brain rest and unwind! Even if it's just 15 minutes a day. Today I took a little time out and felt so much better.

Recipe: herbal tea & or toast, close eyes, play some Robert Glasper Experiment, Feat Erykah Badu, after some time introduce a sketch/writing pad = brain gets into order.

Mother's Day Weekend

I have been a bit pale, sickly and unfit lately... so I made it my mission to get as much sun, fresh air and activity as possible this weekend! I was lucky enough to have amazing sunny, warm weather in Brisbane. I have spent almost the whole weekend outdoors with lots of long walks, fetes, markets and gardening, so here is a photo blog of my weekend:


On Friday night I went to Yard Bird Ale House  for dinner and a beer with Shane. We made the rookie error of ordering a meal each, instead of sharing! We were so ridiculously full. I had sliders (which reminded me of being in New York again) with beef, honey mustard, pickles and bbq sauce and chips. It was GOOD.  Definitely a place I would like to come back for many more beers, sweet potato fries, bbq wings etc, etc...

Saturday morning we went to the Sherwood State School fete for some jam and chutney! I also got 4 herb plants for $11! And my sister rolled around in giant balls with her friends over water... Then we went to the Rocklea Markets and scored big on fruit & veges and a little rest with Okonomiyaki for lunch. I have been enjoying some delicious salads made by Shane this weekend with our market buys!

On Sunday I threw a mothers day breakfast for my mum. We had sour dough with moroccan peach chutney, tomato, mint & avocado salsa and poached eggs. Blueberry, banana & cinnamon muffins. Sourdough with butter and blueberry & pear jam. Then i spent the whole afternoon digging in my garden, weeding, replanting and trying to repair the damage from the possums! I planted some new yellow zucchini, pak choy and lettuce. I also planted out my chamomile, thyme and oregano that I bought at the fete, but am still waiting on a location for the mint! Then I put up possum netting over all of my garden. Fingers crossed that it works!!  I love the combination of the smell of the earth and the way my fingers and arms and legs ache from the hard work.