Bye Bye World!

 

 
I made a big decision ~ I have decided to cut and eliminate some of the things that I think I have to do to make more time for the things I want to do. 

One of the things that is going to go is my studio ~ BdotDepictions.  I haven’t been doing photography seriously for a least a year now, and paying to keep my studio site up and running when I haven’t sold a single piece of work doesn’t make much sense for me right now. 

Especially when I am not really in a position to be able to do something about the lack of sales ~ i.e., marketing!

In keeping with that, I have decided to put Depict This! away too, so I am putting the blog on hiatus until further notice.  This is mainly so I can focus on finishing the novel I am co-authoring with my sister.  We are really close to finishing our second manuscript {we have finished the first one, but need both finished before we can look at publishing}, but I find that I just don’t have enough motivation to work on it.

Blogging takes all of my writing juice ~ I’m just dry by the time it comes to the novel and I hate that.  I haven’t done any quality work on it for ages…  Yes, I know our new arrival into the family has quite a lot to do with that, but I also know my limitations.  If I want to see our books published, I need to shut shop on the blog temporarily. 

Never fear ~ it’s only for a little while!  I already have a ton of plans for my blogging come back! 

It’s going to involve a complete rebrand ~ new blog, new blog name and everything….  But I can’t tell you any more.

I won’t take Depict This! down; I want to leave the old blog up for a while so that everyone came reference my old posts if they wish too.  I just won’t be updating DT! even though I’ll still be around on Twitter, Instagram{@bjvear}, and Pinterest if you want to check out what I am up to in the mean time. 

xox,

bonita

Elegant & Chic ~ The Charm of a Lady

 

“Elegance to me is, at its core, about warmth and consideration for the feelings of others. A truly elegant woman never fails to lift the spirits of other people, never fails to blow a guest away with her hospitality, and never misses a chance to brighten up someone’s day with her smile.”  ~  Nina Pundarik-Dossin of The Proper Lady in an interview with The Glamorous Housewife.

When I read this interview with Nina on The Glamorous Housewife, I thought that it was a perfect summary of how I think a lady should act. And then I thought, “But there’s a little something missing.”  I wanted to add that, for me, I think that a lady is also temperate, gentle and kind in spirit, always considerate of those around her.  This way, not only does she brighten up the room with her smile and inner beauty, but with her consideration of other's needs.  This is central to her charm.

To me, Grace Kelly was charm personified.  While I don’t know much about Mrs. Kelly’s personal life and actions, I do know that while she not only appeared to be the epitome of classical beauty and timeless elegance, she also was said to be charming, kind and and just as lovely in person as she is in her pictures.  A real princess in every sense of the word.
 

I don't consider myself to be a 'real' lady yet, but I thought I would share with you all the hope that I have ~  that one day I will somehow become a lady.  While others may or may not agree on the importance of this personal choice, I think it is something that every woman should consider.  What does a lady look like to you?  What kind of woman or lady are you aspiring to become? 

As women, we have much power to influence the lives of those close to us.  Don’t under estimate the extent of your power.  You may not ever become a household name like Grace Kelly, but you might just become the living example that helps to show others what a lady truly looks like. 

It was said of Grace that she brought “a soft warm light” into other people’s lives.  What a wonderful legacy to leave behind ~

“I just love Grace Kelly. Not because she was a princess, not because she was an actress, not because she was my friend, but because she was just about the nicest lady I ever met. Grace brought into my life as she brought into yours, a soft, warm light every time I saw her, and every time I saw her was a holiday of its own.”  ~ James Stewart

So what is your legacy going to be?

xox,

bonita

Why I Wear Vintage

When I saw Charlotte of Tuppence Ha’penny’s post on “Why I Wear Vintage” I knew I had to do the same thing.  She said that she was “Inspired by a recent post on Already Pretty in which three guest contributors answered a few questions about their chosen wardrobe aesthetic, I decided to pose myself the same questions.”

And I thought “Hey, what a great idea!”  So I went back to the original post {which features Casey from Elegant Musings} and pulled out the questions so I could try to answer them myself.  Plus, now I have a perfect excuse to go back and find pictures of some of my favourite vintage outfits to show you.  > U <

What made you decide to dedicate your wardrobe to a single, defined aesthetic?

I guess I’ve been searching for the ‘right’ style for me for a long time.  I never really liked to dress like everyone else ~ I sort of followed the fashion pack but always insisted on putting my own twist into it.  As I got older I realised how vitally important it is for me to express my personality through the way I dress.  I am a very visual person and I love that my clothing finally reflects how I feel inside ~ artsy, feminine, and very individual!  ; )

How long have you stuck to it?

I really only discovered the vintage aesthetic half way through 2010, so I’ve probably been dressing in a 1940s – 1950s style for about a year or so.  However, the more I do it, the more I love it.  This is something I can see lasting my whole life. 

What do you love about it?

I think the biggest thing that I love about vintage wear is how feminine it feels.  I tend to think that nowadays designers are focused on creating clothes that look good on minus zero models, a sort of androgynous look that it neither designed for a feminine or masculine figure, but rather for a unrealistic, impossible figure that only exists in the world of high fashion.   

Whereas I feel that even though vintage wear still had is ‘impossible’ figures in the high fashion ~ models with generous curves and tiny waists, the clothing itself was still designed with real women in mind.  You may not be able to look completely like a fashion model, but the clothes still look good on your “normal” figure. 

Because of that, I think vintage feels like it was made for me, not just the impossible woman, and who doesn’t love clothes that feel perfectly suited to you?  Oh yeah, plus vintage wear is so cute with all the little details that you just don’t find in mass produced fashions. Each piece of vintage is different, and no one has the same dress {unless it’s a repo}, so of course that appeals to my very independent streak.  

What’s frustrating?

Availability.  Don’t get me wrong, I love that there is a huge appreciation for the vintage look at the moment; vintage being on trend is a big bonus in fleshing out my wardrobe with some cheaper ready to wear items.  It’s helpful in that respect, but not so great when you are paying between $50-$100.00 for simple cotton day dresses.  And of course, the really nice stuff is going for $180 + these days! 

The high demand means that you have to really treasure the vintage pieces you own{which I already do} and treat them really carefully.  This can get quite wearisome when you have young children and need to be able to get dirty, clean the house, be rumpled, pulled on, snot nose wiped on, and etc. That is the hardest obstacle I face when dressing in my vintage clothes.  Sometimes I just can’t do the things I would like to in it, so sometimes I can’t dress the way I want to. 

What would you say to someone considering a similar sartorial path?

Dress the way you want to, wear what makes you feel pretty.  I know there can be some hesitation and concern about others judging you on your clothes, or maybe feeling like you’ll draw too much attention to yourself, but really ~ if it makes you happy go for it!  The last thing you are going to do when your life is nearing it’s end is wish that you had stayed at home and hid yourself away.  Life is for enjoying, so enjoy it and good luck.  ^ ω ^ ~ ♥

xox,

bonita

P.S. ~  Outfit photos from Here, Here, Here, Here, Here, and Here.  : )

Youtube Tags & Rambles

Okay, so this a tag video that just goes through some stuff about me!  I did it mostly for my Youtube channel’s subscribers{wow, I actually have some of those!} so feel free to skip it if you find rambling talking heads boring…  ; P

I had fun recording this meme.  It’s kind of interesting to find out what you think about some things ~ I sort of surprised myself with some of the answers.  And I thought it was funny how you could hear all the trucks in the background once in a while ~ yes, there’s quite a bit of traffic around our house.   > <

Incidentally, what do you guys think about commenting?   I like to reply to the comments I get on my blog, but I’m not sure that anyone reads the replies…  Should I keep replying or not bother do you think?  I personally used to not like it when I read a blog and the blogger never seemed to answer the comments, but now I sort of understand why they might not choose to do that.  Still, for me the whole point of blogging beside the enjoyment of it, is the community and friendships you form.  I tend to think that if you don’t reply to comments that dialogue is cut off.  What do you think?  Any advice on this would be appreciated.    ^ ω ^

xox,

bonita

A Versatile Award

 

Lookit what I found lying around in my Google Reader!  Lil’ ol’ me has been given the Versatile Blogger Award!  w00t!

~ * The rules of the award are as follows * ~

1. Thank and link the blogger who awarded you.
2. Share seven random facts about yourself.
3. Spread the love by passing the award to five other bloggers, and be sure to let them know.

So, first up, thank you Bunny for passing on this award to Depict This!  Bunny Moreno, from The Musings and Adventures of Pinup Mama, is a darling “Vintage Mama and Homemaker Extraordinaire” like myself.    Do yourself a favour and check out her blog, she is super sweet and nice. : )

~ *  Seven Random Facts About Me  * ~

1.  Despite loving just about everything from the 1940s and 1950s, I actually really, really, really dislike the furniture and decor from that period. I think it is UGLY…  I much prefer decor and furniture from the 1800s or early 1900s.  You know, all polished, carved wood, cast iron, brass, gilt overlay and that kind of stuff.  Mmm, pretty.   

2.  I am going to steal one idea from Bunny and say ~ I always eat my desserts with a small spoon, but my breakfast with a large spoon.  How random is that?  What’s even stranger is that the Husband does the opposite to me and we both think that the other is the weird one….

3.  We all know that I am a shoeholic, but what you might not know it that I am simply a collectorholic in general.  In fact, if I am not careful I will end up on that tv show hoarders one of these days…  Not because my collections are messy and everywhere, just because I collect, well, just about everything!  Stamps, books, shoes, hats, handbags, gloves, pearl jewellery, vintage jewellery, patterns, fabric, wool, art supplies, teapots, teacups, old silver spoons, silverware, sea shells, postcards, funny shaped salt and pepper shakers ~ you get the picture right?

4.  Whenever I watch BBC’s Pride and Prejudice, or read my Regency romance novels {Georgette Heyer is a fantastic authoress if you are looking for something to read besides Jane Austin}, I ALWAYS, without fail, start speaking like someone from that period, faux British accent and all.  > . >’

5.  I hated being pregnant.  Like, really truly hated.  But I absolutely love being a mother and wouldn’t trade it for the world!

6.  I like doing crosswords and have a few sitting on my desk that I work on bit by bit.  I think it’s a writing thing, but I love words and learning new one through crosswords is so fun!

7.  Lastly, for the grand finale{as contributed by the Husband}:  I don’t like honey.  He thinks it’s the craziest thing ever, but it’s true. I don’t much like overly sweet things anyway and honey is pretty much at the top of the list.  Although I will have a Honey-Lemon-Ginger drink as it is the perfect thing for chasing away colds and sore throats.

~ *  Passing the award on to * ~

1.  Esme and the Laneway:  This lovely lady is always inspiring me with her gorgeous style and colours. Her vintage outfits vary from modern-ish, to very traditional, but they are always sweet.   

2.  Give Me Bows:  Elyse has the prettiest frocks to wear and bows!!  Lots and lots of bows; so naturally I adore her blog!  Okay, so I might have an ineesy-wincy girl crush happening here… ᵔᴗᵔ

3.  Land Girl 1980:  Land Girl has a great sense of humour, and some great in depth posts.  Also, if you like book reviews, you can check some out on her blog. 

4.  Annie Pancake and The Time Machine:  Annie is cute, gorgeous and a lovely vintage gal.  She has great style and some really helpful tips on her blog, plus some awesome videos to watch.   

5.  Scathingly Brilliant:  I love Kate Gabrielle’s style, it’s really sweet and romantic, plus she’s a great artist, and she has cats!  A gal after my own heart in pastels and pretty dresses. 

I hope everyone has a great day like I am having!  ~(=^･ω･^)ﾉ  *waves*

xox,

bonita   

Lest 2011 be forgot… Hello 2012!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!  I have just come home from a lovely week away at Khancoban in the Snowy Mountains region.  It’s so beautiful through there, and we all really enjoyed ourselves. Plus, I got loads of photographs as well ~ I do think there’s nothing better than a holiday with lots of beautiful scenery. 

Looking back over 2011 I find that I am pretty happy with what I have managed to achieve, in fact, when I think about it, I actually manage to complete my New Year’s resolutions!! Wow, I am gobsmacked.  I think the thing that really helped me was to keep it small.  Three things, one for each area of my life that I want to improve.  Why do a big list if I can never get it done?  So I am doing the same thing this year as I did last year, and at the same time I thought I would list my accomplishments!  : 3 

~ * My New Years Resolutions * ~

2011:  My personal goal ~ To be the best mother I can be.

Well, I don’t know that I can consider this resolution finished, because once you are a mother, you are a mother for life!  Still, my baby is happy and healthy…  I guess I have completed that goal for 2011, but it’s still there for years to come!

2012:  My personal goal ~ To go to bed on time.  

Okay, I know it sounds silly, but trust me, this is a big issue for me.  And I want to fix it.  See, I’ve figured out that there is a reason I am a total night owl, it’s because my Circadian {sleep cycle} rhythm is all out of whack ~ I have a longer sleep cycle than the normal 24 hour day, which essentially means that if I am not careful, I will stay up later and later and get up later and later.  Unfortunately that doesn’t work so well when you have a lot of things to do like I do. 

So my goal is to be IN bed before 10:30pm every night.  Hopefully if I do that regularly I will also be able to get up at 7:30am every morning.  Yes, I know that is a lot later than most people get up, but besides the staying~up~late problem I found that I also tend to need over eight hours of sleep a night or I just can’t function.  So a good bed time habit is essential!

~ * ♥ * ~

2011:  My skills goal ~ To practise sewing and by the end of 2011; to have sewn myself a day dress.

I certainly didn’t manage to do as much sewing as I would have liked, but I did do few new things!  I made my first muslin, inserted the first ever zipper and set my first sleeves.  I drafted my first pattern {albeit for a circle skirt, so not that hard at all!} and did my first pattern adjustments of a FBA, swayback pinch, regular~to~puff sleeves, and shirt collar to peter pan collar.  I also brought my first sewing machine!  A vintage Bernina 860 I christened Charlotte.   Mind you, the actually tally of me~made garments at the end of the year is a little sad… Two in total.  : /  However, one of them is my dress {!!! Yes, I’ll show you soon ~ for my first 2012 outfit shoot} and I am very excited about that.  > U <

 

 

2012:  My skills goals ~ To finish my EFA Introductory Level Riding Instructor’s Certificate.

Self-explanatory.  I am working hard to get my certificate so that hopefully I can start coaching sometime soon.  Extrey cash on the money tree is always useful!  : D

~ * ♥ * ~

2011:  My business goal ~ To set up my b dot depictions studio website properly, to get my business cards done and to go to at least one fair with my photographs this year. 

Did it!  Okay, not the fair part ~ it really was too much for me to handle this year, plus funds were a little low…  However, my website is up at B dot Depictions {yay!}, and I have my business cards.  I haven’t handed that many out yet, but that’s ok.  I have them.  > ω <  

 

 

2012:  My business goal ~  To sell some photographs.

Yeah.  All that work last year and I still haven’t sold a single, solitary picture.  I aim to change that this year with some better marketing and a possible rebrand.  I have some ideas, so let’s see what comes of that. 

~ * ♥ * ~ * ♥ * ~ * ♥ * ~

So how about you?  Did you mark off your 2011 resolutions as done, not done, or to be done?  Have you thought out any new ones?  I can’t believe it’s the new year already, but I can’t wait to get stuck into it.  It shall be fun ~ best wishes to everyone! 

xox,

bonita

The Butterfly Blog Award ~ Yay!

So the lovely Nicole from Craft My Soul awarded me with this cool blog award and now I want to share it around!  ^ u ^

~ * ♥ * ~

Name your favourite colour ~ White and anything pastel!

Name your favourite song ~  I don’t really mention my world view very often on my blog, but I am a Christian and my favourite song for many years has been “In Christ Alone” because I feel that it sums up my faith and my life perfectly. 

Name your favourite dessert ~  Hmm, that’s hard.  I never used to have much of a sweet tooth, but after 8 months of pregnancy I suddenly developed a fierce taste for sugar and now I quite enjoy cake, cookies, ice cream, crumpets, chocolate{well, I always liked that one!}; the list goes on!

What wizzes you off ~ Slow drivers, being late, and having a messy house!  I can’t stand being disorganized.  It really gets my goat.

When you’re upset you ~ generally run to Husband for a big hug!!  He’s the only one who makes me feel instantly better, no matter what is going on.  I often joke that I am addicted to him, and his love is my drug.  I certainly can’t get enough of it, that’s for sure!  ; )

Your favourite pet ~  My horse Copper. He’s a 15.3hh, bay Standardbred off the track, about ten years old.  He is a real sweetheart and loves to go fast, jump and generally muck about on the trail.  I love how he has a great work ethic; he really tries to please you, although it takes him a while to pick on things sometimes, if you reassure him he will get it and do well!

Black or white ~ White... Although if you had have asked me that a year ago I would have said black for sure! 

Your biggest fear ~ Being left alone….  Yeah.  Not fun. 

Best feature ~  My creativity.  I like the fact that I can pull random bits and pieces together to make something pretty, or draw a picture that captures what I feel.  I love creating and I love ideas!  It’s so much fun. 

Everyday attitude ~  Live life to the fullest; being thankful for every precious moment. 

What is perfection ~  I could go all deep & meaningful on you, but how about simple pleasures; like hugs and warm nights and baby smiles. : )

Guilty pleasure ~ Trashy t.v. shows….  > . <  Can you say America’s Next Top Model anyone?

~ * ♥ * ~

Here are the 10 fabulous blogs I am awarding{in no particular order}:

1. Just Add Glitter and Stir ~ Maggi’s awesome vintage blog with crochet, crafting and babies. 
2. Forever Amber ~ Two words. Shoes + Funny = Awesome sauce.  Love Amber.
3. Katiefoolery  ~  A fellow writer and photographer, Katie is a girl after my own heart.
4. Scathingly Brilliant  ~  Pink hair & pretty frocks; Kate Gabrielle has a pretty, romantic style.
5.You've Got Nail  ~  Jacie has the low down on nail polishes, beauty, product reviews.
6. Esme and The Lane Way  ~  Esme has amazing style & is simply gorgeous; great vintage inspiration.
7. Va-Voom Vintage ~  Brittany has sweet vintage clothes and she always look fabulous.
8. Diary of a Vintage Girl  ~  Fleur is so friendly and lovely and she is such an inspiration to me.
9. Land Girl 1980  ~  I really enjoy Land Girl’s style and vintage vibe. We share a love for the 1940s era.
10. Clothes, Cameras & Coffee  ~  Rosalind is a darling, an amazing writer and fashionista.  So fab.

~ * ♥ * ~

If you received an award from me, here's what you have to do if you would like to play along and award a few of your favourite blogs ~

~  Link to the person who awarded you
~  Answer the questions above
~  Award 10 other bloggers the Butterfly Award

Cheers to all you lovely ladies and gents out there in internet land.   > ω <

xox,

bonita

Cherished Collections Blog Tour ~ My Mother’s Pearls

Hi everyone! Welcome to Depict This! if you are visiting.  ^ ω ^   I am so pleased to be part of Casey’s Cherished Collections Blog Tour; I am a big fan of Casey’s and I think her tour is a really neat idea.  I have so many collections {no really ~ stamps, teapots, teacups, TEA, vintage doilies, books, plush horses & of course, shoes!} that it’s been pretty hard to decide which one to show you all! 

There have been some really special collections put up already, and I finally made up my mind as to what I would share.  I am happy to present one of my cherished collections featuring all of the pearl accessories & jewellery I have gathered together over the last few years.

~ * ♥ * ~ L to R:  My mother’s bracelet gifted to me when I was quite young; eleven or twelve I think?  A necklace I bought at an antique store.  My mother’s costume pearl necklace.  I can’t remember when she gave it to me, but I think it was the first piece of jewellery she passed onto me. ~ * ♥ * ~

My Mom’s pearl necklace is definitely the first piece in my collection and I have had it for years.  I never wore it when I was younger, so it’s been tucked away in a box gathering dust for the better part of my ownership. Thanks to my recent interest in vintage I dug it out and now I wear it a lot because I love pearls.

In my mind, pearls are timeless and classic pieces of jewellery and I love how they make me feel when I put them on.  I always feel elegant and feminine when I wear my pearls ~ like I can take on the world, and then some! There is nothing like feeling pretty and confident at the same time. ^ u ^ ~ ♥

 

~ * ♥ * ~ Picture 1:  Fresh water pearls ~ I bought the necklace in Florence, Italy and the earrings at the Parklea Markets in Sydney.  Picture 2:  Fresh water pearls ~ this tri~strand set necklace, bracelet and earring set was a 2007 Christmas present from my family. ~ * ♥ * ~

Plus, pearls have such an interesting story.  Did you know that saltwater pearls take between 6 to 18 months to develop whereas freshwater pearls can up to 4 to 6 years to grow?  However, saltwater pearls are more expensive than freshwater pearls is that saltwater pearls are grown in oysters and can only grow 1 to 3 pearls at once, but freshwater molluscs can grow up to 20 to 30 pearls in one go. 

 

~ * ♥ * ~ Picture 1:  Freshwater pearl set in a marquise flower; a Valentine's Day present from my darling Husband.  Freshwater pearl set in a fan; bought in Hong Kong. Picture 2:  Some of my favourite costume pearl earrings ~ * ♥ * ~

Saltwater and freshwater pearls also differ in the type of lustre. In appearance freshwater pearls are noted for a softer lustre, a glow that comes from deep within the pearl; whereas saltwater pearls have a more brilliant superficial lustre.

Freshwater pearls tend to be more durable due to thicker nacre{the material pearls are made out of}, which is a good thing as far as I am concerned, because I wear them a lot, but I really would love to be able pass them onto my daughter{if I ever have one!}.  

 

~ * ♥ * ~ Picture 1:  Vintage hair comb bought from Etsy and hair clips from Equip.  Pearl and chain sweater clip made by me.  Picture 2: Glass pearl bracelet made by me and a costume pearl bracelet. 
~ * ♥ * ~

Pearls vary in colour from white to those with a hint of colour, often pink, to brown or black. Each coloration will depend on the type of mollusc and the water where the mollusc lived. Because the nacre is organic, pearls are very sensitive to extreme heat, acids, dryness, humidity and scents.  I don’t put any perfume on my neck when I am wearing my pearls because apparently they can pick that scent up and it isn’t good for them.

 

~ * ♥ * ~ Picture 1:  Pearl and seed bead necklace made by me.  Picture 2: Pearl headbands.  ~ * ♥ * ~

Also, did you know that pearls used to be really popular as an engagement ring jewel until the diamond companies decided to do a huge campaign promoting diamonds as the symbol of forever? 

There is a lot of interesting symbolism and history for pearls.  Pearls are considered to offer the power of love, money, protection, and luck. Pearls are thought to give wisdom through experience, and to cement engagements and love relationships.

Early Chinese myths told of pearls falling from the sky when dragons fought while some ancient legends say that pearls were thought to be the tears of the gods.  The Greeks believed that wearing pearls would promote marital bliss and prevent newlywed women from crying{which would be a great reason to put them into an engagement ring!}.

 

~ * ♥ * ~ Picture 1:  Vintage angora collar embellished with pearls; bought off Etsy.  Picture 2:  Vintage gloves embellished with pearls and seed beads; these are my most recent addition to my collection as I thrifted them two weeks ago.  ~ * ♥ * ~

I must say that I can’t really remember when my obsession with pearls started, but I do know that they are my favourite jewel.  Diamonds may be other girls’ best friend, but pearls are mine! 

I hope you enjoyed this guided tour of my collection.  : )

xox,

bonita

About Bonita ~ A to Z regarding me!

Hi everyone!  I am back.  ^ U ^   Yays!!   I have had a lovely break, but the writer’s itch is striking me again and I am keen to delve back in the wonderful world of writing and blogging.   {Which are two different things if you ask me, but that’s a bit of a side track!  > o < } 

I found this tag/meme on You've Got Nail and I liked it so much that I thought I would do my own version.  It’s an A to Z list of different facts about me.  I hope you find it interesting ~ I certainly had fun doing it.  : )

~ * ♥ * ~

A. Age:   I have a “Ladies never reveal their age” policy…  Am I goose for this?  Maybe.  Call it what you will, but this is a secret.  ; P

B. Bed size:   Queen with a timber frame.  I love my comfy mattress!

C. Chore you hate:   Dishes.  Without a doubt.  This is my most despised chore and although I am getting better at doing them when they need to be done, it is also quite likely that they will sit for two to three days until the bench is dripping with dirty dishes.  Because I hate doing them that much!

 

 

 

 

D. Day:    Erm. It’s Satuday?  Daylight?  Sunshine?  Actually I am a night owl, so my answer to day is “sleep”.

 E. Essential start to your day:    Floradix.  It’s a herbal liquid iron supplement and if I don’t take it regularly {ie. ~ at least once a day; but twice is better} I get cranky and completely exhausted. 

F. Favourite colour:  Hmm.  I go through stages.  At the moment, I would say white. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

G. Gold or Silver:   Silver.  I don’t wear much gold because I have a blue~based skin tone, so silver {or white gold} is the best metal for me. 

H. Height:   5’ 7” give or take. 

I. Instruments:   None sadly ~ although I do sing.  I love singing for choir, although I do not belong to a permanent one.   I can also play the recorder, but not well enough to count it as being able to play it properly.

J. Job title:   Stay at home housewife and proud to be!

 

 

 

 

 

 

K. Kids:   One ~ my gorgeous little boy Theodore.  He is two week and one day old now, and he makes me smile everyday.   ♥ ♥ ♥

L. Live:   NSW, Australia. 

M. Mum’s name:    Barb or Mumbly if I am in a silly mood!  : P

N. Nicknames:   Boni.   Oh, and my Dad sometimes called me Biggles, that is, Boni + Giggles = Biggles.  =^ . ^=

O. Overnight hospital stays:   Two ~ one long stay of three weeks.  I was in for undiagnosable stomach pain which may or may not have been caused by large cysts on my ovaries, which may or may not have irritated my appendix.  Either way the appendix was removed!  The second stay was actually when Theodore was born.  We had to have an emergency caesarean and we were kept in Postnatal for the next four days.

P. Pet peeve:   People who don’t drive properly, but my definition of properly might be vastly different from the normal definition.   > <

Q. Quote from a movie:  “Kaboom?” 

“Yes, Ricco ~ Kaboom!” 
~ The Penguins, Madagascar.   

I love it!   Kabooooooom!!!

 

R. Right or left handed:   Right

S. Siblings:   Three younger sisters whom I love and adore.  We are the best of friends and it’s awesome!

T. Time you wake up:   Wake up?  Yuck.  Erm, from choice probably around 8:30am.  At the moment ~ any time Theodore stirs and wants to eat. 

U. Underwear:   Unmentionables!

V. Vegetables you dislike:   I like/love most vegetables but I am not fond of brussel sprouts.  After all, who is!?

W. What makes you run late:   Distractions.  Like my computer ~ but mostly my blog feed readers!  Google and Bloglovin’ are always there to tempt me. 

X. X-Rays you’ve had:   Not many ~ maybe one? 

Y. Yummy food you make:    Pasta and bacon pesto.  I also do a mean stir fry.  And a not bad roast dinner!  I am only just learning my way around the kitchen, but I am starting to quite enjoy it.

Z. Zoo:   Yes, sometimes I feel like I live in a zoo.  My sisters and I are the otters incidentally.   ^ w ^

 

 

 

 

~ * ♥ * ~

So that’s about it, but I am tagging anyone who is interested.  Link your own A to Z in a comment because I would so love to learn random facts about you.  ^ U ^

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ An ode to you & all of your passions

I feel like Michelle from Wicked Whimsy jumped inside my head and addressed a personality trait of mine that has long been my boogieman. 

For years I have battled with my perfectionism and the idea that unless I concentrate on one specific passion of mine I will never be any good at it.  But someone once remarked to me that if Michelangelo can be a fantastic painter and sculptor so can I.   And what about Leonardo Da Vinci?  One of the most celebrated minds in history and no one can accuse him of having one sole interest; scientist and painter that he was!  

Of course, specialists have their own place in society and I greatly admire the single minded dedication that they display in their chosen fields but I have learned to accept that I am not, and never will be a specialist.  I am a multitasking, multi~potential, multi~passionate artist.  That’s just who I am and I am beginning to accept this part of me more and more.

Reading posts like this one really help me to understand that, so if you can identify, please read on!

An ode to you & all of your passions

I know you. I know how annoyed you get, trying to nail yourself into a box every time, only to find that no, this isn’t the right box either. Nothing fits. Everything stifles. You end up frustrated, feeling pulled in every direction, because everyone expects you to choose one thing and focus on that – and to you, choosing only one thing to do or love or think about is like choosing only one finger to use, for the rest of your life.

Whether you identify as a Scanner or a polymath or a Renaissance soul or multipassionate…  I know you, and I don’t think you need to change a thing about yourself or how your brain works.

Because what others will call a weakness, I know is actually a strength…

xox,

bonita

P.S. ~  And did you know that the original phrase is “Jack of all trades, master of none, but oftentimes better than master of one”!  

P.S. 2  ~ Yes, I  finally switched off the baby stuff…  >  <  I hope you weren’t too sick of it!

Her Books

Let me just say that I love books.  I have not really mentioned it on Depict This! but seriously, I am an addict.  I am collecting new ones all the time, and my dream house has a massive library with ceiling to floor, wall to wall bookshelves and a ladder to reach the top ones!  Sort of like Beast’s library in Disney’s “Beauty & The Beast” if you have seen it! 

If I ever go on the “Hoarders” show, it will be for having too many books.  Not that I think that that is even possible….   Heh, I might need help sooner than I think! > o <

My mother says that the one thing she taught me to do well is read, and while she taught me how to do far more than just one thing well, I must agree that reading is probably top of the list. 

Apparently the BBC says that most people will have only read 6 of the 100 books on the list below.  That is surprising to me, an avid reader and lover of print, but then again, the world would be so boring if we all liked the same things.

I love sitting down with a good book and a cup of tea, but I often read my old favourites over and over again, so I am not in a hurry to get through this list.  And, to be perfectly honest, there are probably quite a few books that I would not want to read anyway.  So if I do read most of the list, I think I will be doing fairly well!  Anyway, shall we see how many I have gotten through?

~  BBC’s Top 100 Reads  ~

1.  Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen x {Love it – I will read this one over and over again, and never get tired of it.}

2.  The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien x {A good book series once you get past all the walking.  Seriously there is too much walking!}

3.  Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte x {*shudders* Creepy. Sorry, but I don't like the Bronte sisters at all.}

4.  Harry Potter series - JK Rowling

5.  To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee x {Started it - wanted to finish, but it wasn't my book and I couldn't borrow it.  *Edit – I did end up finishing it; I had just forgotten.  It's a powerful read.  Not something I'd read over and over again, but still good. }

6.  The Bible x {I think it goes without saying that this one's my favourite... }

7.  Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte x (Stupid. And creepy.)

8.  Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell

9.  His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman

10.  Great Expectations - Charles Dickens 

11.  Little Women - Louisa M Alcott x {Love this book ~ I've read all four in the Little Women series, they are so much fun!  But the last one "Jo's Boys" is really sad.. *sniff* }

12.  Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thoms Hardy

13.  Catch 22 - Joseph Heller

14.  Complete Works of Shakespeare x {Not quite - do Terry Prachett's versions count? I do love The Tempest however, I find it hilarious, The Merchant of Venice and a Midsummer Night's Dream.}

15.  Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier

16.  The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien x {This book was so funny and I found it really easy to read after the slog of LoTR times 3!}

17.  Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks

18.  Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger

19.  The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger

20.  Middlemarch - George Eliot

21.  Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell

22.  The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald

23.  Bleak House - Charles Dickens

24.  War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy x {I have started this, but my copy that I found is missing a whole bunch of pages that I did not notice, so I have stopped.  I need a complete story!}

25.  The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams x {Yes, and unsurprisingly the book is better than the movie too.}

26.  Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh

27.  Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky

28.  Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck

29.  Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll x {Anyone out there that has not read this one?}

30.  The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame x {I adore Ratty and Mole and Badger. Toad was always a silly fool to me - even when I was quite little!}

31.  Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy

32.  David Copperfield - Charles Dickens x {Sad, sad, sad.}

33.  Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis x {Another series I keep coming back to and loving everytime.}

34.  Emma - Jane Austen x

35.  Persuasion - Jane Austen x {I've read all of Jane Austen's stuff. She's just so brilliant!}

36.  The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis x

37.  The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

38.  Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Berniere

39.  Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden x {Such a happy sad ending, I really love this one.  Both the movie and the book.}

40.  Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne x {Winne-the-Pooh - yay!}

41.  Animal Farm - George Orwell x {I personally thought this book was silly, although I did see the point he was making}

42.  The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown 

43.  One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

44.  A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving

45.  The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins

46.  Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery x {I have read them all ~ they are so timeless and so good; I love Anne spelt with an 'e'!}

47.  Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy

48.  The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood

49.  Lord of the Flies - William Golding

50.  Atonement - Ian McEwan

51.  Life of Pi - Yann Martel

52.  Dune - Frank Herbert

53.  Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons

54.  Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen x

55.  A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth

56.  The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon

57.  A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens

58.  Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

59.  The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon

60.  Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

61.  Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck

62.  Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov

63.  The Secret History - Donna Tart

64.  The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold

65.  Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas x {This is such an awesome, truly EPIC novel!}

66.  On The Road - Jack Kerouac

67.  Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy

68.  Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding x {One and Two.}

69.  Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie

70.  Moby Dick - Herman Melville x

71.  Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens x

72.  Dracula - Bram Stoker

73.  The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett x

74.  Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson

75.  Ulysses - James Joyce

76.  The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath

77.  Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome

78.  Germinal - Emile Zola

79.  Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray {I saw the movie and I really do not want to read this book.}

80.  Possession - AS Byatt

81.  A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens x

82.  Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell

83.  The Color Purple - Alice Walker

84.  The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro

85.  Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert

86.  A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry

87.  Charlotte’s Web - EB White x {One of my childhood favourites}

88.  The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom

89.  Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle x

90.  The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton x {Ooooo - I loved Enid Blyton as a kid!}

91.  Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad

92.  The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupéry x

93.  The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks

94.  Watership Down - Richard Adams x {The best book with animals I can think of ~ beautifully written with such a captivating story.}

95.  A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole

96.  A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute

97.  The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas x

98.  Hamlet - William Shakespeare

99.  Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl x {One and two!}

100.  Les Miserables - Victor Hugo {I want to read this very badly...}

~* ♥ * ~

So I have managed to read 35 books off the list and there a quite a few more I am interested in going through; so I should be busy with that and all the other books I am always adopting!

Oh, and do share how many you have read!  I would love to know the count, and which ones are your favourites.   ^  w  ^

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ Blogging Style

I discovered this post on No Sign Posts in the Sea on Thursday, and found it such a good read.  I often wonder about my reluctance to take outfit photos when I think the outfit isn’t good enough ~ where does that hesitance originate from?

What is the point of outfit posting for me?  Is it merely a chance to record the clothes I wear on any given day, or something more than that? 

In commenting on this post I actually discovered something about myself, my blogging and my outfits!  For me, blogging outfits is more than just recording an event in my day {I get dressed; this is what I wore}.   For me is a chance to explore different looks or styles, or even just to have fun with the clothes I am in.   Sure, I stick pretty closely to one given style, but that’s because I want too ~ because I have seen what other people are wearing and although I think it looks great on them; it’s not for me.

I also adore the opportunity that outfit posting affords me to revel another way of creating art.  Putting clothes and photographs together is fun.  I like to take the artistic medium of photography and use it frame the practical medium of clothes.   Even when Husband is taking the photos I am always asking him to take a shot of this pose, with that angle, etc, etc; I am always a part of composing the picture and I do all the editing and polishing to get the final results. 

Some people don’t like the fantasy aspect of the editorial style of fashion blogging and I understand that ~ they want real life inspiration from realistic records of outfits and style choices.  But I guess as an artist I tend to be looking for style inspiration that I can twist and use in a way I want to.  I don’t need to see the same item worn one hundred different ways, I want to think up the hundred different ways to wear it myself!

I also want to absorb pictures and images I consider to be beautiful and combine them into something new.   So for me, I find that easier to do with fantasy styled fashion inspiration/photographs/blogs than with what some people consider the more accurate/honest/truthful outfit photographs. 

I did not even know I thought like that until I read this post, so sorry for the long essay, but please do read this article.  It’s very interesting!

On personal style, blogging, and our narratives

For the past couple of days wearing clothes has felt very organic to me, just natural. I haven't thought twice about what to wear in the mornings; I've just grabbed a pair of jeans and a shirt and gone with it. The interesting thing is that I have felt really good about the clothes I have worn, but that I haven't thought of taking outfit pictures, because the clothes have not felt blogging-worthy, and this worries me a little. Actually, it is not even the blogging-worthiness. It is more about the problem I am starting to have with style blogging in general. I feel like the style blog narrative is starting to escape from my grasp, or perhaps that my own issues with personal style are escaping from the world of style blogging altogether.

I have often wondered what long-term style blogging does to our style. I started blogging a little over three years ago because I had become a clothes hoarder and a bit of a shopping addict. I felt like I needed to get my head around what I really thought about fashion, personal style, shopping and body image….

xox,

bonita

P.S.  ~  Here is the link to Part Two  if you are also interested:   

On personal style, blogging, and our narratives, part 2

The Goals for 2011

Or to be more accurate ~ my New Years resolutions.   I want to share these with you, maybe you can keep me accountable on a few of them!   I also want to make sure that I set achievable goals and resolutions and not overload myself with expectations as I am prone to….  > . >’

So without further ado…  

My personal goal:  To be the best mother I can be.

~ * ♥ * ~  For me this doesn’t mean making sure baby is looked after perfectly, because frankly I have no idea whether I can do that or not.  I guess it depends on what your standard of ‘perfect’ is!   So this resolution is more about the child’s character.  I want to be the sort of person I want my children to grow up to be.   I say this because I believe that children learn by example. 

So this year I strive to be more disciplined and less procrastinating; especially when it comes to house chores and cooking!   I can be organized, I know that.  It’s when I get lazy that the organization falls apart and I am sick of that happening!   Less computer, more chores.  My 2011 mantra perhaps?

My skills goal:  To practise sewing and by the end of 2011; to have sewn myself a day dress.

~ * ♥ * ~  Pretty self-explanatory.   I wanted to learn to sew last year, and I started to, but then I lost track of things and I stopped.   I keep on forgetting how much I enjoy it and spend too much time mucking around and wasting time on other things.  This year I plan to change that by practising at least once a week.  {I am also trying to do a least one drawing a week too; with a similar goal to practise art but I made this resolution before the new year. : ) }

My business goal:  To set up my b dot depictions studio website properly, to get my business cards done and to go to at least one fair with my photographs this year. 

~ * ♥ * ~  Again, self explanatory, but this one is really important to me.  I feel like my business has been stuck in the one spot for the last four months of 2010 simply because I didn’t know what I was doing.   I want my studio website up because then I feel I can actually work on the studio products and promote my services. 

I can not seem to move forwards without that all important web launching pad, so this is a crucial part to the goals I can achieve for 2011 business wise.

~ * ♥ * ~ * ♥ * ~ * ♥ * ~

So those are my new year’s resolutions.  I hope I can actually stick with them!   I sometimes manage to get half way to my goals and sometimes I forget about them altogether.  But I do think that it’s a worthwhile thing to set goals and work to achieve them.  Of course, you can do this anytime in the year and I don’t think you should put off making a resolution as soon as you realize that you need to!

I have also heard that one of the best ways to help improve your blogging {if you are interested in that} is to make goals and resolutions for your blog.   It seems to me that there are a lot of serious bloggers out there that do want to achieve certain levels of performance with their blog as it is their income/day job.

I personally refrained from making any particular goal for Depict This! {besides to keep up my 3 a week posting schedule} simply because this is something I do for fun.   I don’t want to fall into the trap of trying to get x number of readers, or x number of sponsors.   My business is my studio, blogging is a hobby and I want to keep it that way. 

What do you think?  Should all bloggers have specific goals to try and achieve?  Do you have any blogging goals in your new years resolutions?

xox,

bonita

A few of my favourite things….

~ ♥  Tea & pretty tea cups  ♥ ~

 

~ ♥  Bows! Hair, jewellery or print  ♥ ~

 

~ ♥  Cute things ~ particularly plush ponies  ♥ ~

 

~ ♥  Books of any sort  ♥ ~

 

~ ♥  Shoes in every shape, size and style  ♥ ~

 

~ ♥  Cute notebooks for writing in  ♥ ~

And these are a few of my favourite things!

What are your favourite things?  Join this photo meme and post to your blog a few pictures of your favourite things that brighten your day.  I would love to see what is on your list.

xox,

bonita

bonita answers

I was thinking about boundaries on the internet.  We all know the “stranger danger” stuff ~ don’t chat to randoms on IM, avoid giving out personal information, keep you FB page locked to friends only, etc…  But what about blogging?  Where are the boundaries and when is it acceptable to cross them ~ if ever?

So this is the next topic for bonita answers.

♥ ~ Topic:  Boundaries in Blogging  ~ ♥

1.  ~   What are your blogging boundaries?


I must admit I have not thought that hard about what sort of blogging boundaries I might have, but I do know I have them.   For starters, I go by my real name, but I do not name anyone else in my life on this blog.  Even my husband, who is probably the most mentioned person just goes by DH {for Darling Husband}.   I know there are people I know IRL who read this blog, and I don’t mind if they know who I am talking about.  The thing is, I guess I do not want to cause any potential problems for the people I mention, so they do not go by name.

I also take care not give away any specific information.   If you looked around, you could quite easily discover that I live in Canberra, Australia.  But I will not let on where exactly, or what places I hang out, and that sort of thing.  I figure if people want to contact me they can do it by email, they do not need any other details unless I choose to give it.

2.  ~   Do you think that there should be boundaries, or should bloggers just be totally open and honest?


I do think that it is a good a idea to set boundaries, and not just ones that protect your identity.  I guess there are also boundaries that are personal.  I have read some wonderful blogs that are very open and honest, but sometimes I feel like I might be reading their journals or diaries or something!  It’s great that they can share that stuff, but I do not think that I can or will.

I can also see the downsides to getting that personal on the internet.  I mean you can always delete the posts/site, but usually you do not want to after putting in so much work.  And there maybe people who tear you apart using the stuff you have shared with them.   Ouch!!  So do you let it all hang out, or do you hold some stuff back to deal with IRL?   As I am quite a private person IRL anyway, I tend to just keep things close and share the stuff that’s really bothering me with my DH and my LLBFF {life-long-best-friends-forever}.  Oh, and my Mom.  Yay for Moms!!

3.  ~  Why are blogging boundaries important?


I think that they are important for protecting your identity and also your relationships.  I would hate to see the fallout of sharing too much and that ruining a friendship.

4.  ~  What boundary would you never cross?


I do not think that I would ever share identity information.   I know that it sounds impossible, but there are really crazy people out there that would not hesitate to mess up your life if they could….  Not that I think any of you guys are like that, but I guess you have just got to be careful.  It’s not worth the risk.

5.  ~  What is your advice for internet safety?


Keep your details ~ land line numbers, addresses, birthdates off the web!   I have my mobile available on FB, but that’s easy enough to change if I must.  Stuff that is not easy to change, just don’t put it out there. 
*whew*  Well, that has been rather heavy going.  I hope everyone doesn’t mind the serious stuff once in a while.  Anyway, now onto the fun question.  ^__^


6.  ~  Beach or snow and why?


Okay, I wrote this question knowing that the answer would be super hard, and it is….   but after eons proclaiming that the beach is best, I think I might have to say for this year at least, the snow have edged into the top spot.   This is because although I love the beach {hey, we got married on the beach ~ it is pretty central to my life} this year has been better for the snow.  Gorgeous scenery, AWESOME SNOWBOARDING, fantastic mini-vacations and a full one too….   Of course, summer has not come really for this year, so may be there fantastic beach times in store. 
Hey, my family and I are all going to the beach this very weekend, so who knows.   Yay jetskis!!!
So I guess in the end, they both win.   Yay for snowbeach!  \ ^__^ /


That’s all from me today.  I have a lot of cleaning and packing to do, so I must get on.   Byes.

xox,
bonita