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Ugh I know, I know - I thought I'd be back to regular weekly blogging again during this break but clearly this hasn't happened! However, this doesn't mean that I haven't been busy!

I have been working on some personal illustrations over these past two to three weeks, which I have featured below and can also be seen under my Portfolio page.

Paeonia Lagoon

Iris

Intergalactica

Instagram Updates

1. Cameo the Label lily palm print top - I am in love with this.
2. Drawing Gia Carangi, my model inspo.
3. Floral illustrations.
4. Warming myself up with homemade pumpkin soup and breakfast tea.
5. Is my floral obsession obvious?!
6. Progress of a recently completed illustration.

This month I have been drawing my inspiration from musical sources, such as FKA Twigs and Lana Del Rey. Style-wise, I have been interested in the juxtaposition of bright metallic and nude, blush and muted grey shades. I'm wishing the warm weather would return soon so I can enjoy sleeping by the pool and basking in the summer sunshine. I need more Vit. D!

Until next time! x

Absence

OMG.
HEY.
HI.
BONJOUR.
SALUT.

Yes. I have finally decided to start writing again on my little ol' blog. So I suppose an update is in order. I've just finished the semester, although I still have to finish my thesis, which is due in two weeks eep! I have written everything, now I am just going through the editing process. I've completed my studio work and it has been a crazy ride with lots of ups an downs (emotionally and physically) but I feel it's all been rewarding in the end.

Also, Lana Del Rey released Ultraviolence, which I have listened to non stop from the day it came out!

At the end of May, I wrote another collab post for Kanon's blog here! I've discussed Sailor Moon and why she was my childhood feminist icon.

I've also been creating some personal illustration work too, as featured below.

Flume aka Harley Streten - what a BABE!

A rather attractive male model - I like boys with flowers a little haha

"Argos" (Hera, Queen of the Goddesses)

Here's a few snapshots of my past two months

1. shorts by DINI Clothing - visit her website here, the clothes are amazing and so unique!
2. Sunglasses from Quay and lipstick from Dragonberry - my game is on point.
3. Illustrating ft. a beautiful collar gemstone necklace by From St. Xavier.
4. Cameo Topiary tee - I love this print!
5. Wearing Lia and Co. choker and a Keepsake the Label floral maxi dress - love!
6. So after over a year of wanting these shoes, I've finally managed to snag myself two pairs in both black and white on sale! Just my lucky stars - they are the ever-popular Windsor Smith Chunks of course.

My recent inspirations have emerged from nature, the 90s and plenty of wintry black and white pieces. I love flowers of all colours and find them so amazing, as you can all probably tell by now! I've also been loving hand written typography with simple phrases and words.

So that's basically all I have to catch up on! Until next time! x

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Not been feeling inspired, so I've just got a small instagram-based update to post. It has been a hectic week and I've had a lot of work to do in a short space of time, so I haven't really had much time to just stop and smell the roses, just lull about and not think about uni work 24/7. I have become a collaborator of Kanon's blog which you can check out here - I've written an article about Frida Kahlo and her connection to flowers as my first contribution here!

My week in pictures

1. Leather and faux fur = a good combination.
2. Some flower illustrations for a collaborative project I was working on during the week.
3. "I was sad, but then I bought something online. I feel better now." - This statement sums me up in a nutshell.
4. Lovely leaves at the Botanic Gardens last weekend.
5. The rose garden is so wonderful at this time of year - the smell from all the blooming flowers creates this amazing perfume, plus some of the roses are as big as my head and I feel a bit like Alice in Wonderland for a while.

Until next time! x

The Sweet Life

I've been super busy this week and honestly can't believe it is Saturday again. Anyway, this has been the first week of the supposed "break" but it hasn't been a break at all for me - I've been working on uni work all week! At least I am being kept busy, but that's really the only positive thing I can say about being overloaded with things to do! I haven't been much inspired to blog this week, so I'm just going to keep this update short 'n sweet.

I've completed a new illustration this week, the mini GIF version is down below and you can find the static image/s in my portfolio page. I watched a documentary about Helen of Troy earlier in the week by Bettany Hughes, who I think is brilliant because she presents with so much passion and enthusiasm about the subject. I have always been fascinated by intriguing women in history and Helen of Troy is one such enigmatic figure, so I decided to commemorate this illustration to her legend, drawing inspiration from antiquity and nature. Plus, it features leaves! I love leaves, much like David Attenborough (please refer to related GIF).

My week in pictures

1. Finished illustration - a good way to procrastinate!
2. Early progress shot of the illustration in the works.
3. Illustration for a Medieval themed poster design I had been working on diligently throughout the week.
4. Starting to read The Man Repeller book by Leandra Medine, who is pretty much one of my top style icons.

This week's inspiration mood board has consisted of the following - I'm still really inspired by Dolce and Gabbana's Fall/Winter 2014 Byzantine Collection, especially after watching lots of history documentaries focusing on the Byzantine Empire.

Until next time! x

Coney Island Queen

Hi people of the blogosphere! I'm just going to make this a really quick little post as I have a lot of things I need to work on for uni, so I don't want to procrastinate too much!

This is a little animation I made of one of my illustrations this week:

My week in pictures

1. Procrastinating by making ink drawings of Frida Kahlo.
2. Reveling in and paying homage to Gustav Klimt's wondrous paintings.
3. Bought some zines at this new pop-up shop in the city - I'm so happy to have found a place that distributes zines and keeps the printed zine culture alive here in little ol' Adelaide!
4. Everytime I cut bok choy, I find the stems reminiscent to lovely roses - maybe this is just me?

I have been drawn to finding inspiration from nature lately and relating it back to the human world. And although Winter is slowly descending upon us here, I still find myself being drawn to Summer-inspired things, in any attempt to hold onto the few remaining strands of Summer's basking glow. In saying this, I do love Winter's frost-bitten temperatures as it will give me an opportunity to break out my suede boots and shag jackets!

Until next time! x

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Oh my god, I am honestly just so amazed and scared at how the time files once I get into the uni week! Seriously, how can it be Saturday again so fast?! I've been busy working hard at all my uni projects so I've really not had any time to myself (except to eat, exercise, sleep and all that important jazz) - it's pretty much a full-time career for me. I shouldn't even really be making a post right now because I feel swamped under all my workload, but I wanted to keep my internal promise to myself to try and post once a week. It never sounds like much but when you realise how fast those weeks fly by, it really takes up a good chunk of time!

I've been really getting into making short little GIF animations of my illustrations, just making the subjects in my work come to life through blinking or lip movements. It's a great way for me to practice my animation making abilities, although I really want to get into developing my skills with After Effects more as I've only had a little animation experience with that program and I'm quite terrible at it!

Here's my week:

1. Outfit details - the cuff is by the label From St Xavier and i love the blue stone in it so much!
2. These shorts are actually amazing. They are by Cameo the Label and they feature a chili print!
3. I have become obsessed with kale recently, I know I know...I don't want to be one of those pretentious health food people but I genuinely love the taste of it in a salad or wrap.
4. Finally bought the coveted Alexa Chung book, IT. I haven't read it yet but I've had a flick through and it looks like a professionally diary/sketchbook format, featuring set typography and collaged images and sketches.
5. A recently finished illustration featuring mushrooms! I love a good ol' 'shroom, my favourite fungi.

This week I have been inspired by blush tones and gold. as well as combining these tones and shades with black leather-look items, such as skirts, pants and shorts. I also love holographic items - a clutch or a pair of shoes is an amazing statement to any simple outfit. I also have been incredibly inspired through my research for a project focusing on medieval and historical maps - some of the examples such as the Hereford Mappamundi are so amazingly detailed, complex and mythical. I'm just so fascinated by these artefacts of history.

Until next time! x

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Whew! Let me take a moment to catch my breath, this week has gone by so fast! Where did all the days go?! I'm only making a quick post this week because I am super inundated with uni stress right now (r.e. THESIS!) so I need to get back to that, stat! Maybe next week I will have something more interesting to share with you all.

Here's my week:

1. Obsessing over this flowerbomb print by Cameo the Label. Their clothes are all so amazing that I am always left in utter awe with each new collection released!
2. Wearing all Cameo the Label in a recent outfit (yes I know, I am a tad partial!) + this female symbol silver ring I found in Diva for only a dollar, so I couldn't resist! Appropriate for my thesis, maybe it will become a good luck charm!
3. Finders Keepers the Label photographic "Lake Tahoe" printed shirt, so comfy and easy to dress up and down for uni days when I need to look a bit more than casual.
4. Ya slack moll! Just read the original Puberty Blues, it was a perfect snapshot into the lifestyle and cultural practices of that time in that part of Australia, I felt like I was living vicariously in 70's Australia through the lives of Debbie Vickers and Sue Knight. Its a good quick read, perfect for a Sunday arvo.

Sorry this post has been quick uninspiring - until next time! x

Floreali

I've been re-adjusting my life routines to fit around uni work after the first week has been complete (and soon to the the second week completed). It's always a bit hard in the first few weeks to get used to the daily tasks that kept me focused and working. But I think that I am settling back into the flow of things!

I've been keeping myself constantly creative by working on personal projects, as well as keeping myself inspired for my thesis writing by researching heavily on my chosen subject area, which as I previously mentioned here, is on zines vs. mainstream magazines and their connection with the female experience, drawing on their role in the "Riot Grrrl" third-wave feminism movement of the late 80's/90's. It's a topic I'm passionate about and find deeply interesting, so I'm happy that I've chosen a topic that is going to keep me interested so I don't wind up in a rut of complete boredom and regret!

Studio work has recently ramped up, meaning that I'm going to be inundated with projects for the rest of the semester, which is good because I like keeping busy ad I know that taking on more work will enable me to keep pushing myself to produce the best work that I possibly can.

This past week in images:

1. Reading a biography of Frida Kahlo, who is without a doubt one of my favourite female artists - she is iconic and her story is such an inspiration. What she did with her short life is admirable.
2. An illustration featuring model Soo Joo I completed recently, which can be viewed in its entirety under the Portfolio link.
3. Flat-lay of a recent outfit I wore this week, featuring boyfriend jeans from Dotti, leopard tank from Cotton On, shoes from Catwalk by Innui and a book about Egypt I received for my 21st birthday.
4. Mango season! Yum!
5. Kate Moss illusration finito!
6. I succumbed to the ugly Birkenstock shoe trend, but I am not ashamed of that fact as they are soo comfortable!

I've made a mix which I will probably be regularly using whilst I write my thesis - its due on the 25th of June and I am quite stressed about that! I want to make it the best I can, so hopefully the songs included in the mix will help me to stop procrastinating and work on it!

❀ Grrrls Thesis Mix ☾ from bambisvalentine on 8tracks Radio.

Until next time! x