Time management & procrastinating

This week I've had a kick up the butt by my significant other. Bless him.
One phrase that stuck with me was, "You're better than this". Yes, I am better than this! hah! Thank you!
As well as a big discussion about my goals, fears, time management, skills and career options.
Geez, haven't you been reading my blog? I'm totes on it bebz! Or maybe I'm not.
This year is going so quickly!!! I need to pick up the pace and catch up.


So there is no better way to start this blog, than with an article on "The Art of Getting Things Done".
I read this article, ate breakfast, and got 3 things done. Huzzah!

But lets not forget the importance of animated gifs. Be careful not to get lost in the abyss.
This blog is just really funny: WHAT SHOULD WE CALL ME

Fireworks & Crazy Cat



These are just beautiful & interesting - taken from: IF WE DON'T, REMEMBER ME. Can you guess which movies they are from? Roll over with your mouse for the Answer.







Here are 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

One can also get easily distracted and deeply involved in talking to your best friend about whales, foxes, dogs and dolphins. "I love whales, I love foxes, I love dolphins, you love dogs, you love whales, I love whales too, dolphins, foxes, whales." Sometimes we get so intense about animal conversations, that we get lost in our own magical animal world and forget about what's going on around us. I think this is what it could look like:

I'm really obsessed with water colours at the moment. I guess because the result is so quick. I just love playing, experimenting, mixing and blocking out colours. These are all quick rough water colour sketches that take about 15mins each.

Saturday I went to my first ever baby shower.
Pregnant bellies are amazing and magical.
I made blue cupcakes and a nesting birds card to accompany a very cute 'Spot' the Dog toy.





Remember this?


This is what my studio looks like at the moment:
My studio area is a closed in veranda/sunroom and is surrounded by windows and great natural light! Since Christmas my studio has merged into a studio/dining room. It's probably time to move the kitchen table back into the kitchen, except that I love having two tables to work on! (We mostly eat dinner in front of the TV anyway! )
I like spreading myself out with water colours and paints and sketch books on one table, this table also has great lighting for photographing my work. On the other table I have my laptop, scanner & wacom tablet (and less glare on the laptop screen) for when I want to work digitally. I can roll between the two tables! Or roll my chair to the lounge room & say hello to my lover.




Here's a silly unicorn following its dreams.

My Week With Tonsillitis

I know I have been making lots of blog promises lately, but you can't always plan everything. I have spent the last week debilitated by the worst tonsillitis I have ever had. Because my tonsil was so big, gross and sore I was constantly drooling all over my t-shirt and pillow.
This past week I could only eat soup/ liquid for breakfast, lunch and dinner as anything with more consistency hurt too much to consume! To some people liquid detox diets are a choice - these people crazy!? Today I chomped into an amazing home made burger full of beef and salad (and pickles, grapes, japanese mayo & japanese bbq sauce). I welcome back crunch, spice and solids into my life with open arms (and an open mouth).

During this painful week I had A LOT of time to browse the internet (in between moaning and sleeping and drooling).

I think that I would have gotten better a lot quicker if I had had a birds nest or hamburger bed to rest in.

I have also read almost the entire Cabin Porn Blog. And now I understand why they call it porn. Here is one of my favourites:

This has lead me to plan an imaginary trip to the Laplands so that I can watch the Aurora Borealis from within a see-through glass igloo.

I learned that it was Babar's 80th Birthday.

Became acquainted with Kirra Jamison

& Luli Sanchez

and fell in love with this video:

Murmuration from Islands & Rivers on Vimeo.

So I have taken from this week that sometimes you just have to roll with the punches and take what life gives you. I still have a creative project pending in my brain waiting to make it to blog and paper and wacom tablet...

I have been thinking a lot about the future, freelance artists, typography & message, inspiration and motivation. Here is a little something along this line that I have been working on today with some water colours.

I hope it brightens your way!