Where we are at

La,de,dum,de,da…..  I know I do not do a lot of really personal posts on Depict This! but I just have to get this off my chest.  I hope you do not mind.  If you do, well, you can always come back later when we are back to normal if you like!  The topic is pretty predictable anyway. 

It’s all about Baby at the moment. 

Baby was due Friday, 20th of May 2011.  But Baby has decided that it is too predictable to be born on his/her due date so at the moment we are essentially over baking! 

It’s funny because my midwife thought from very early on that we’d never make it to our due date.  There were a lot of signs that we wouldn’t!  Practise contractions were happening regularly from 24 weeks onwards {I would have five days without them, and then five nights in a row with them}.   The baby dropped into my pelvis at 34 weeks which is early for a first time baby.  And then of course there’s been all the fluid scares. 

Four incidents  ~ three visits to the hospital {one while we were in Perth!!  0 . 0 } to check that everything is alright.   My midwife thinks that my hind waters have been leaking.  It’s a good thing that it isn’t the main waters, or the baby might have been too early/induced.   But the last time was last week and well, it would have been great if it had of been the real deal.  At 39 weeks we were so ready for it be!

I think poor Husband and I are getting worse sleep at the moment than we would be if the baby was actually  here.  The reason for that being that most of the false alarms are occurring in the wee hours of the early morning and lasting for up to three hours or more.  Add that to the fact that they are occurring every two or so days and it just equals tiredness.  Oh, and healthy dose of “meh”.

Example:  Saturday night was another false alarm with fluid leaking, but I didn’t bother to tell my midwife because a).  it was much less than the last two times and b). it was 3:00am in the morning.  She would only tell me to try and get some sleep.  So that’s what I did.  Although I had to be in the bath for a few hours before I could get said sleep!  Husband kept me company {amazing, darling man that he is} and we had a late night chemistry lesson. 

~ * ♥   Chemistry for Bonita….  Ka~BOOM!  ♥ * ~

I learnt that chlorine in solid form is salt, and in it’s natural state is gas.  I also learnt that rust and tarnish is always caused by oxidisation, and that hydro fluoric acid is so dangerous that if you get any on your hand or something the safety procedure for dealing with that is to chop your arm off…. 

Mmm.  Fun times.  

So that is where we are at at the moment.  Playing the waiting game.  Of course, I am ever so glad that Baby is healthy and happy and really, I would put up with all of this and a thousand times worse to keep it that way.  But it does mean that my mind is sort of AWOL; hence the random blog post.  

In the mean time, I will go eat a pineapple.  I hear that’s supposed to bring on labour!  

xox,

bonita

P.S.  ~  Here’s a random picture of Spongebob Squarepants.  Because I can.  

…. And because it made me smile.   ^ u ^ 

How to ~ An Amigurumi Cat Key Chain Fob Pattern

Key Chain Fob Bear/Cat

Materials List

1.  Crochet Hook size of 2.5 mm  {I used a 1.75 mm hook with 2 ply cotton thread}
2.  Acrylic Yarn 4 ply - 1 skein
3.  1 pair of black beads as for eyes
4.  Fibrefill or polyester to stuff the head
5.  Black thread for embroidering the mouth
6.  Jump ring and chain to hang the bear/cat off

Finished Size

Approximately 2 inches wide

Gauge

Recommended: Crochet hook size 2.5 mm. with 4 ply yarn

Abbreviations

ch - chain
sc - single crochet
hdc – half double crochet
dc – double crochet
tr – treble crochet
dec - decrease
sl st - slip stitch
sts - stiches

~ * ♥ * ~

The Pattern

HEAD – Make one

ROW 1: Ch 2, 6 sc in second chain from hook (Magic Ring) (6 sts)

ROW 2: 2 sc, in each sc around (12 sts)

ROW 3: 1 sc, 2 sc in next sc , repeat 6 times (18 sts)

ROW 4: 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat 6 times (24 sts)

ROW 5: 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat 6 times (30 sts)

ROW 6: 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat 6 times (36 sts)

ROW 7-11: (sc 36 sts)

ROW 12: 10 sc, dec 1 , repeat 3 times (33 sts)

ROW 13: 9 sc, dec 1 , repeat 3 times (30 sts)

ROW 14: sc (30 sts)

ROW 15: 3 sc, dec 1, repeat 6 times (24 sts)

ROW 16: sc (24 sts)

ROW 17: 2 sc, dec 1 , repeat 6 times (18 sts)

ROW 18: 1 sc, dec1 , repeat 8 times, (10 sts) sl st in next sc

Weave in loose end of yarn, stuff head with stuffing, pull yarn tight to close hole, bind off and tuck in the remaining tail

~ * ♥ * ~

BEAR EARS – Make two

ROW 1: Ch 2, 6 sc in second chain from hook (6 sts)

ROW 2: 2 sc, in each sc around (12 sts)

ROW 3-4: sc (12 sts), sl st in next sc, bind off and leaving long tail for sewing with body.

~ * ♥ * ~

CAT EARS - Make two

ROW 1: Ch4

ROW 2: sc in first sc, hdc, dc, tr in next sc, dc, hdc in next sc

ROW 3: 2 sc into next sc, repeat 3 times (6 sts) 2 hdc, 2 dc, tr, 2 dc, 2 hdc, 1 sc, sl st into next sc, bind off, leaving a long tail for sewing to the head.

 ~ * ♥ * ~

Instructions for Finishing Off

Step 1:  Sew ears to the top of the head

Step 2:  Embroider mouth on ~ you can use embroidery thread or yarn.  I used some 2 ply cotton thread in black

Step 3:  Sew or glue eyes in place

Step 4:  Using the tail left from where you start crocheting the head sew the jump ring to the top of the head and attach chain

Step 5:   Enjoy your new key critter!!

~ * ♥ * ~

Credit for this pattern and the inspiration I drew from it to create a variation goes to Nikii who posted her pattern on http://crochetme.com.  Original bear pattern HERE.

I have a bunch of helpful crochet tutorials here if you would like to know about some of the stitches.  I also have a very handy abbreviations guide and stitch instruction guide in my Beginner’s Tutorial for Amigurumi & Crochet if you would like to print it out.

I hope you enjoy making your own bear or kitty to keep your keys company, and as always I’d love to see them if you make one!  Send me a picture at bonita@bdotdepictions.com and I’ll post it on my blog. 

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ The most pointless designer accessories

I had a good giggle when I read this post on Boheme Noir ~ I thought it was hilarious!  Plus, the comments are funny too.  : D

Go on; have a laugh and check out the ridiculous things that people with too much money can spend too much money on. 

The 20 most pointless & ridiculous designer accessories ever

1. Fendi 12 IPod Carrying Case by Karl Lagerfeld

Damit, Karl! Get a laptop! It will hold all your MP3 when you travel... 

xox,

bonita

Keeping Well Dressed ~ Charm School Part 1

Video curtesy of Glamour Daze

I have been greatly inspired by Lottie of Lottie Loves and her Finishing School posts.  Her tips on grooming, posture and more, help to polish your appearance and conduct into a ladylike manner, as well as giving you self~confidence.

But Lottie is not alone in her quest for greater finish in every day life.  Across the wide web there are lots of vintage ladies addressing modern day casualness with flair all of their own and answering the questions I find myself pondering.

What classifies as well dressed lady these days?   Is elegance something to be striven for only if you are walking a red carpet or can we infuse it in to everyday living? 

When I look back on the past and at all the vintage fashions that I adore, things like darling hats and gloves with stockings and a neat purse add such chic to the outfits they wear.

Now a days we don’t wear gloves or stockings all the time, but sometimes we will pop a hat on top.  Most of the time when I think well dressed, I think brand names.  So Chanel, or Jimmy Choos and therefore, not necessarily the appearance of the clothes, but rather how close to designer fashion they are.

Still, I think that there are lessons we can learn from from the ladies of the past, so that no matter the brand or style of the clothes we choose to wear day to day, we can still look classy and elegant ~ in essence, well put together.  It does not take much money, but it does take thought, time and effort.  Do we always have the time to do this?

I know I don’t.  But I try every day and I think in the end that’s what others will see.  Hopefully you will also be inspired to try to be well dressed.  After all, the idea of polish is more than simply fashion and the clothes you wear, it is an attitude.  

I think it is an attitude of care and confidence knowing that you did your best to look your best.  No one can give more than their best, but when they do, it always works.  And I think that this attitude is found in those that are always well dressed, no matter the occasion.  What do you think?

xox,

bonita

Video curtsey of Glamour Daze.

Take me back lass ~ Outfit Thirty Four

 

Accessories  ~  Earrings  {Equip}   Crochet Collar {bdotdepictions} 
Owl Double Finger Ring  {Diva}    Top  {Tightrope}   Plaid Skirt  {Thrifted}   Tights {Italy}   Socks  {New Look, UK}    Boots  {New Look, UK ~ ordered online}

~ * ♥ * ~

I thought I would do my little blurbs at the bottom of my photos rather than mixed in between them…  I do not know if that is better?  Maybe you can tell me!   Do you like the photos broken up with text, or just prefer to look at the photos then read the text?  Please let me know. 

Anyway, I wore this outfit last Friday.   We {being Husband and two of my sisters, and my in~laws} went to the Banff Film Festival at the National Film and Sound Archives of Australia.
If you do not know what the Banff Film festival is ~ that’s ok; neither did I until last year!  It’s this awesome festival that happens every year in the Banff National Park, Canada.    The films are incredible; featuring high powered outdoors sports and recreation activities.   They pick the best of these films and send them around the world, so that’s why we could see some of them.

The films are about things like a solo walk across China, or the fastest speed alpinist{mountain climber!} Ueli Steck; who climbed Eiger’s north face {a Himalayan mountain} in less than three hours.  Three hours!! 
That’s how long it takes to:

1. Roast a 16 lb. turkey
2. Watch most of Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
3. Drive to Sydney

and this dude climbed a mountain in that time…..  O ___ O   Mind you, he did train for an entire year before he did the climb, so that says something about how difficult it really is to do….  
If you are into any sort of outdoor sports and you hear of the Banff Film Festival near you, I can highly recommend you go.  It’s really inspiring!

xox,

bonita

P.S.  ~  I am so ready for this baby to come out!  There really isn’t much room left for him.   > <
I keep telling him that he will have way more room to wiggle and move about outside, but he doesn’t seem to believe me!! 

Only four more days until he’s due…  My bets are that he’ll be two weeks overdue; just to freak me out and confound my midwife!

How to ~ A Beginner’s Tutorial for Amigurumi & Crochet

Hi everyone,

I thought that as I had a few tutorials already on crochet stitches, and also a crochet project coming up that I want to share with you, that I would put together a guide of the resources that I used to start doing crochet and amigurumi. 

If you have been following my blog for a long time, you might find that some of this information is a repeat of what you have already read, so I apologise if this post is slightly boring!   I still hope that you find it useful though, and maybe you will be inspired to take up crochet and make amigurumi or something else with your new skill.  ^ U ^

What are amigurumi? ~ A helpful description from Holly of Berrysprite

Amigurumi  ~  (pronounced ah-me-goo-roo-me) is a craft from Japan that makes an excellent hobby or passion; you should be forewarned that making amigurumi is very addicting. Luckily, it is a relatively inexpensive craft that does not take much time to complete. In recent years, amigurumi have become increasingly popular and trendy, due to the handmade revolution.  {…}

Amigurumi utilizes crocheting in-the-round, meaning stitches are worked in a circle/spiral (and not joined) to build shapes. The result of crocheting in the round is sculptural yarn pieces that can then be stuffed, joined and embellished to form dolls. Most amigurumi utilize only a few basic concepts of crochet, and most use only the single crochet stitch (sc): increasing, decreasing, and slip stitch, are also vital things to know how to do before starting to crochet.

Although there are many different styles (usually influenced by the individual preferences of the crafter), amigurumi are usually characterized by their large heads and small limbs in proportion to their bodies. These seemingly bizarre proportions often give amigurumi a kawaii (“cute” in Japanese) appearance, and are a distinctive feature that is common to Japanese illustrations and amigurumi designs. Although there are so many inspirations for amigurumi, the most common themes that appear are animals/creatures, people, and food…

~* ♥ * ~   Read More   ~* ♥ *~

Crochet ~ A guide to the abbreviations & Tutorials on the basic stitches.

I have complied a pdf guide on the different crochet abbreviations and a how~to on the stitches to carry around with my crochet.  I find this guide very helpful if I come across a new term I don’t understand, or if I forget how to do a stitch and want to check that I get it right {this happens a lot…  > . >; }.

Download Crochet Abbreviations and Stitches:

If you someone who prefers to watch something rather than read about it, here are a few basic stitch tutorials that you can use.   Bear in mind that amigurumi doesn’t use most of the crochet stitches so it is a really easy beginner project! 

How to do a Magic Circle

The magic circle is an easy, alternative way to starting an amigurumi project.  It is the alternative to crocheting a chain of stitches and joining them together by crocheting back into the end of the chain.

If the amigurumi pattern calls for a chain of 6 stitches to start with, you would do 6 stitches on your magic circle and visa versa if you wanted to start with the chain and not a magic circle.

How to do a crochet chain

If you do not want to do a magic circle, you use a chain instead, as explained above.  You also use chains for other things in amigurumi, so it is a good idea to know how to do a crochet chain.

The basic crochet stitch ~ single crochet

The single crochet stitch is the most basic crochet stitch.   All other crochet stitches are a variation of this stitch and are also relatively easy to learn.

Most amigurumi patterns only use the single crochet stitch, so if it is amigurumi you want to do, you don’t need to learn any other stitch!

Increasing your crochet

Because amigurumi is worked in “rounds” ~ i.e., you crochet in a circular manner, each row building on the last, that means that to make a shape you need to increase or decrease the number of stitches in a row.  

Decreasing your crochet

So to make a ball shape, you start increasing your stitches until you have the diameter you desire, and then you decrease back down again.   Once the crochet is stuffed, you will then have the ball.

This ball can be a head, or a body; it all depends on the pattern.  You can also do more complicated shapes simply by increasing and decreasing, like a cone or a pear shape.  The pattern will tell you what to do to achieve the right shape.

How to slip stitch ~ another basic crochet stitch

 

To finish off your amigurumi, there is often a slip stitch to end the pattern, so you will need to used this stitch as well.   Now you are ready to crochet your own amigurumi!

Your First Amigurumi Project  ~ A Strawberry!

Pattern curtsey of Leanne Fairweather; lyra1 ~ posted on Crochet Me

 

Materials List:

• 4 ply Red Yarn
• 4 or 3 ply yarn in green
• 4.0mm/US G6 hook
• beads for eyes (optional)
• black thread (optional)
• sewing or tapestry needle (optional)
• tiny amount black wool(optional)
• polyester fiberfill or stuffing of choice - smelly stuff, catnip, beans, natural fibers etc.

Finished Size:

Approximately  5cm / 2" without stalk, about 6cm/ 2.5" with stalk straight up

Notes:

The body is worked in continuous rounds, so place a marker in the first stitch of each row throughout to help you keep track of what round you are up to.

Abbreviations:

Ch  = chain
Rnd  = Round; sometime called Row
sc  = single crochet
sl st  = slip stitch
st  =  stitch
*  =  repeat until you have the right number of stitches

The Pattern:

Body (in Red):

Rnd 1:   Ch 2, work 6 sc in ring (6) or make a magic circle with 6 sts

Rnd 2:   2 sc in next sc, * (12)

Rnd 3:   *2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next sc* throughout (18)

Rnd 4-6:   1 sc in each st around (18)

Rnd 7:   *sc 2tog, 1 sc in each of next 2 sc* throughout (13)

Rnd 8:   sc in each st around (13)

You may want to start stuffing here. 

Bonita’s Note:  You can leave the stuffing until the body is finished,  just don’t forget to stuff before you sew the top up.

Rnd 9:  same as Rnd 7, continue to do this until you have only 6 sc left, ending with the last sc, 2 together (so once you sc 2 together and there is 6 stitches left total).

Continue stuffing.

Next Rnd:  work 1 sc, sc 2 together, fasten off leaving a tail for sewing.

Make sure you have desired amount of stuffing, flatten edges of remaining stitches at the top and sew together. Weave in end.

Leaves and stalk (green):

Ch 4, sl st in 2nd 3rd and 4th ch from hook.

Rnd 1:  In same 4th ch, work 6 sc, join with a sl st to 1st sc.

Rnd 2:  *Ch 3, sc in 2nd and 3rd ch from hook, sl st in next sc of 6-sc ring* around, making six leaves, join with sl st to beginning leaf. Fasten off with long tail for sewing onto body.

Stick your crochet hook through the middle ring and pull the stalk through if you would like it to be right side facing up (strawberries in picture are).

Finishing:

Step 1:  Sew or glue eyes onto body (can be beads like my berries shown or knots in wool etc) , create mouth with either thread or yarn.

Step 2:  Sew leaves and stalk onto the top of the strawberry, varying angles will create different personalities.

Step 3:  You’re done!  You can attach a keychain, ribbon, magnet, string, anything.  One of my friends even suggested filling it with smelly stuff instead of polyester and using it as a car air freshener!

And if you don’t want to do a strawberry ~ how about an acorn in its cup instead?  These cuties are another super easy beginner's pattern to do.   Find the pattern HERE.

 

Free Amigurumi Pattern Websites

Berrysprite  ~  Cute and easy amigurumi tutorials; I did the takochu tutorial for my very first amigurumi ever.  And I enjoyed it so much I made four more and now have a family of takochu sitting on my desk!

Crochet Me  ~  A huge resource of crochet patterns contributed by

Crochet Pattern Central  ~  An amazing resource of crochet patterns ~ some are amigurumi; some are not; but I am sure you will find something cute to make on this site!

Free Amigurumi Patterns  ~  I love this blog; there are so many cute patterns just waiting to be made up! 

Squidoo  ~  Some of these patterns in this link are knitted and some are not technically amigurumi {so they are not worked in rounds} but there are a bunch of patterns for you to browse through and decided if you want to make them up.

Wolfdreamer  ~  These patterns are harder to do and require more than your basic single crochet stitch.  There are some easy ones to try though, so they are worth looking out for.  Otherwise, you might want to save these patterns for later.  Any Mario and Pokémon fans will love this site!

~ * ♥ * ~

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and if you do make anything please show me!  I would love to see your finished pieces.   > ω < 

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ Rock and Roll with Strictly Come Dancing!

Rock and Roll is here to stay baby!

I love this clip ~ the crinolines, the dresses, the hair, the dancing!!  And the boys look mighty fine in their outfits too, so what’s not to love?

Thank you to Sara from Autumn, Coffee and Inspiration for sharing this awesome video, it is seriously cool.

xox,

bonita

Lines and Pixels

Some of my recent art work ~

I would show the inspiration for these two ladies, but I don’t have one particular picture.  Rather the idea for them grew from vintage inspired tattoo art mixed with vintage pattern illustrations and finally, a picture I drew a while ago of a Japanese courtier.    Random mix no? 

But it produced something I am quite pleased with.  I want to try to paint these with acrylics, but I have to figure a way to get my line art onto canvas without spending a fortune.  I think that tracing might be my best bet.  I shall have to experiment.  

Sorry for the huge watermarks, but I really can’t risk these pictures getting stolen.  So although I know it’s not going to stop determined art thieves, I sure hope that it’s enough to deter them considering that I do not think that any one would particularly want to steal these anyway!

I drew all these pictures while in Perth, and I wanted to show you, but had to wait until I got home and could scan them.   I haven’t drawn any more line art since I got home, but I have coloured the last picture:

And finally, a bit of fun.  

If you follow me on Twitter, you might have seen my Tweet about how I have not done any pixel art in forever and I wanted to do some thanks to Cherri Drop from Pink Padded Cell.   She did these cute as dividers and backgrounds ~

To see more of her pixel art go here.  I was inspired and drew Ichi~chan and animated him!  It was great to get back to some pixel art and I had fun doing it.

So that wraps up my latest artistic shenanigans; if you are interested in prints of any of my work, or would like to talk about commissioning me to do a specific piece of work for you, please contact me at bonita@bdotdepictions.com.

You can also visit my studio www.bdotdepictions.com to view my online portfolio of photography and art.  

xox,

bonita

Porcelain, Pink & Pancakes! ~ Outfit Thirty Three

  

I found this darling porcelain broach on one of my thrifting jaunts and although it’s the only vintage broach I have at the moment, I am definitely keeping my eye out for more! 

I once had a beautiful blue cameo broach with a bunch of white flowers on it pinned to one of my winter coats but I lost it…  So won’t be making that mistake again!!

Husband climbed our tree to get some photos but I didn’t end up keeping any in the post except the one below.  Oh well; good exercise for him I am sure! 

  

Accessories  ~  Lacy headband  {Diva}  Rose Earrings  {Equip}  Porcelain Broach  {Thrifted}   Rose Bracelet  {Equip} 
Pink  knit top  {Thrifted}   Skirt  {Brought in some random shop}   Shoes  {New Look; UK} 

~ * ♥ * ~

Happy Mother’s Day Weekend everyone!  

I am in the weird camp of sort of being counted as a mother and sort of not…  Technically, my baby is really truly real even if he exists inside not outside of me, and technically I am doing everything that I have to do to take care of my baby that I am going to have to do once he/she arrives anyway.  It’s just that it’s all on autopilot at the moment and that sort of makes me feel like I am cheating!

So Happy Mother~To~Be Day for the expecting Moms out there like me.    > ω <

I wore this outfit to lunch with my in~laws, we had lovely home made soup with home made bread and crepes for dessert!  So delicious ~ I was stuffed!  I adore home made bread, and one of these days I might try my hand at baking some.  I think I might need a bread maker first; although I know you can do it without one.  I think it’s just longer and harder to do. 

What homemade foods are your favourites?

xox,

bonita

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

Apples & Autumn Leaves ~ Outfit Thirty Two

*Heavy Picture Post Alert* 

 

I do not know how I did it, but I managed to pull off some decent photos with the self timer and now I have a huge picture post!  From one extreme to the other; but oh well.  : )   Looks like I am getting slightly better at this whole “take your own photo” thing.   Mind you, I did take a lot of photos over and over again, particularly at the beginning of this shoot, so that helped a lot.  If you think you’ve got the shot you want, my advice is to just make sure and do it again!

 

I was going to put these shoes up for sale; but then I wore them again and realized that even though they are a size to large for me, they really are too cute to let go….  So they’ve been reclaimed for my wardrobe.   ~ __ ^

 

My manicure for the week:

~  L.A. Girl Nail Lacquer  in “Lemon Ice”  ~
~  Konad stamping plate m71  ~

Accessories  ~  Hair Bow  {Best&Less}   Strawberry Earrings  {Best&Less}    Belt  {Thrifted}
Blouse  ~  Thrifted     Skirt  ~  Thrifted     Tights  ~  Random Stall Vendor {Florence, Italy} 
Socks  ~  Best&Less     Shoes  ~  DFO

Above:  Blooper reel!  Amabelle decided to come and play ‘coz it looked like I was doing something fun.  But then it was too boring so she ran away.    >  u  <

Left:  Baby bump at 37 weeks.  Hip, hip, hooray ~ we have made it to full term! 

~ * ♥ * ~

Yes, our house has blue sheds, blue fences, blue gates and a blue chimney!  Actually, the whole house is blue, except for the roof.   That’s why we decided to call it Blue Birch Cottage {as we also have a lone birch tree in our front yard.}!  I like this corner of our back yard; I am so glad we have an apple tree too.   >   <  

Anyway, enough babble from me, this post is already long enough.  Adieu!

xox,

bonita