missbess

 I tell you what, just when you think things are going smoothly, something always comes up to slow you down, turn your plans upside down, frustrate the hell out of you and make you want to scream. And then everything goes the way it goes and BAM - everything turns out alright (if not better).

I went to uni on monday to print my photo's for my Hobart (Inflight Gallery) exhibition that opens two weeks tomorrow. And the photo's were printing out shite, all muddy and pixelated. After much discussion with digital tech people it was decided that it was a mixture of human error (mainly on my part :-P), equipment error (mainly to do with my camera) and ink running out on the printer. So basically, my camera can't photograph at high enough resolution anymore - therefore causing me to not be able to print largely (which I like to do), and this meant a reshoot.

So wednesday I went to uni again and reshot the series, canvassed the photo's and then test printed and . . . WAHOOOOOO the image was so much crisper, no pixelation in sight. The colour was ever so slightly off, but apart from that the photo was perfect. So L hit print and started printing the first two photo's . . . about ten minutes into printing, "Beep Beep." The printer had run out of grey ink, IT RAN OUT OF INK!!!!! At this stage I felt like these photo's were never going to get printed. But L said to leave it with her and I rang today and YES, all ten photo's are printed and just waiting to be cropped. So tomorrow I am off to uni to pick them up.

I am very relieved, very relieved . . . cause the Inflight exhibition is my first major solo exhibition outside of the safety net of uni, and if I want to build a good name for myself my work has to not only be good conceptually, but also technically. When I have photo's of the exhibition I'll put them up.

On a side note, I had my hair cut today, 4INCHES off, so I have a lightly layered bob, coloured a lovely rich plum, yum!!

:-) 

 Or in my case, many friends - one soul and many bodies, lol. What has me in this melancholic mood, I just spoke to one of my English friends who I haven't seen for five weeks and it was so great to talk to her and hear the latest goss. I told her that I missed them all and that for me they were my family whilst I was in the UK, and they really are. I think when you are in a country other than your own you have to make a family, and these people are my UK fam. Which of course makes me miss them all terribly and wish they would all come out to Australia to visit!! It also makes me think about fate and the paths we take in life . . . if I hadn't gone to the postgrad intro party and met a certain Dr, I would not have met all of his wonderful  friends (of which one I have just spoken too). Coincidence or fate . . . hmmmmmm. Somehow though, I KNOW I will be friends with Dr, B, A, T,J, T, and J for the rest of my life and that is something sweet to think on.

So in favour of friends in all shapes and sizes, heres a tribute via photo's from flickr -

 Through some major procrastination of exegesis writing (hey, I've done alright, I am over 8000words with approx 4000 more to write, think I deserve some procrastination time) and so thought I would look up some flickr images of butterflies . . . as they are my fav insects of all time!!!



Clockwise from top left -  macaroniaandglue, francy81_11, yeahhelloetsy, vvitch, woof nanny, BButterflies, and in the centre Chicks57

(Ok, my linking system doesn't want to do what its told so don't know if the linking has worked, but the above are the peoples flickr names, so I am sure if you so wish you can find them)

And from the all knowing and correct Wikipedia (do I detect a hint of sarcasm) - 

A butterfly is an insect of the order Lepidoptera. Like all Lepidoptera, butterflies are notable for their unusuallife cycle with a larval caterpillar stage, an inactive pupal stage, and a spectacular metamorphosis into a familiar and colourful winged adult form. Most species are day-flying so they regularly attract attention. The diverse patterns formed by their brightly coloured wings and their erratic yet graceful flight have made butterfly watching a hobby.

Maybe I am feeling melancholic for the wing-ed creatures because I was lucky enough to have a pretty yellow one land of my last week and it sat on my arm for ages, I was wearing a deep shade of lavender, so maybe it thought I was a flower . . .

ok, enough procrastinating, off to write another 500words and then reward myself with an ep of Robin Hood (being in Australia I haven't been able to begin watching the 3rd season, I don't know if I want to watch it, but thought I would go on a RH watching binge to calm the RH anxiety). 

 Yes, I am back in the magical land of Oz and have been spending the last two weeks since I returned catching up with family and friends, being actually sick enough to end up on antibiotics, going over my article to be published, and getting ready for and going through my Master's confirmation at uni. Insane times, but good. 

I have been knitting in between all of this, I am making my eldest niece a pair of fingerless mitts from the boutique knits book. I will photograph and show you when hence they are done (which should be in the next day or two as I have really only to seam them up and find some buttons to go on them), but I have also begun a cross stitch that I have had for years and never done. I am really enjoying the cross stitch, I compare it to the act of painting, as you work at creating an image out of little crosses of colour, a dab of brown here, a dab of gold there . . . when that is done (which could be a quite a while) I will stick some pics up of that as well.

Anyway, have to go and get some uni work done, because I begin my PhD at Leeds in September, I have to finish my Master's 6 months earlier than expected (as my supervisor says, usually the student is asking for an extra 6 months, not a shortening by 6 months), so I officially have 4 WEEKS to get my exegesis written and then 2 weeks to get it published/printed and then another 6 weeks after that to get my photo's ready for exhibition . . . . I am feeling the busyness already . . . . 

 No I am not insanely up myself, but I have finally finished knitting a beret for me friend (after having to pull it apart twice because of rookie mistakes). And I am rather pleased with it, not one mistake, the colour is beautiful, and it should look fantastic on my friend (who is of Jamaican decent, so has gorgeous black skin and really funky ringleted hair which starts black at the scalp down to a deep red at the tips - I think the turquoise colour will look fantastic). So here it is -


isn't the colour soo pretty


ooh sunspots, I love sunspots in photo's (lol, just noticed them then)



an aside, I leave to go back to Australia, saturday week. I can't believe how quick its gone, but can't wait to see my family again and friends . . . . and then, be back here in september to begin my PhD . . . .

 Hi all, I thought that I would show you what I am working on at the moment, I received some yarn the other day, some beautiful Sublime 100% merino wool, in Turquoise, to knit a friend a Beret (like the green one I made for myself that I showed in a previous post). I started it two days ago and then today realised there was a pretty bad mistake to far down to reasonably save it, so I had to frog the whole thing, it really sucked, but I am determined to get at least the rib part done tonight before I go to bed, so I can start of the lace part tomorrow . . .

 It has been a tough weekend - and I say this not selfishly, but I have been devouring news of the horrific fires that have destroyed Victoria, South Australia, and New South Wales. I am from New South Wales, and my home state has been lucky because, though we have had bushfires, none have yet to claim lives, unlike those in Victoria. It is horrible and unfair that this has happened, but unfortunately, as Australians, something that we must deal with in our hot, drought ridden country. And so, my thoughts are with the victims and their families.

What makes me livid about this situation however, is that many of these fires are started by arsonists. (In fact, in the past week a local man - from where my family lives in NSW - was arrested for starting a fire that has been threatening homes at Peats Ridge, about half an hour away from where my fam lives). These people have no conscience, they give no thought to the devastation they can potentially cause, to not only property and wildlife, but to actual human lives. We live in a nation that is proud of its tough nature and mateship, but how the nation will get through this bushfire disaster will be a true testament to the humanity of people, regardless of where they are from, Australians will pull together and care and help those that have lost everything. 

I feel like here, in the UK, where I am living at the moment (though I go home in a few weeks for a few months), I can't do anything, but I can at least donate some money to those that now have nothing, so for those who read my blog, you don't have to give money, but if you can just send good thoughts and an ernest wish for rain to those southern states of Australia, please, PLEASE do.

http://redcross.org.au/vic/services_emergencyservices_victorian-bushfires-appeal-2009.htm

 I have finally opened my etsy shop again and am selling my first ever knit pattern. Its nothin' fancy, just a simple little scarf pattern, but I love it and its mine. So check out the link on the side to my etsy shop and check it out . . . 

             

 Yep, I am still here in Leeds, England, but its much more exciting now cause we have SNOW!!!! (And for an Australian who is used to absolutely no snow, nup, nadda, not a glimpse of it in our winter it is a huge novelty. My flatmate and I braved it up the slippery hill this arvo to get food supplies, seeing as its apparently getting heavier tomorrow, but apart from a few close calls of major slippage, we made it safe and sound back to our student accom.

( Here be photo's )

Well, first off, Happy New Year everyone - and I sincerely hope that everyone who does read this journal does have a very happy 2009 (and I do include myself in that sentiment). But its been a very rough start to this new year for me . . . 

it could get soppy, sad, depressive and a teensy bit selfish, so I am placing this story under a cut -

( Read more... )

 I have always wanted a beret, but I always had trouble finding one that I liked, so I decided to make my own and I love it - in my regard it was a HUGE success. The pattern is from the latest Rowan magazine (there are so many things that I want to make out of it), and made with Rowan cotton yarn.

 Well, this week will be a strange one - it will be my first christmas away from family. As I am here in the UK on exchange, it is just to far (and expensive) to get back to Australia for christmas, so . . . 

Though my fellow Aussie flatmate and I have organised our christmas day and we have a turkey in the freezer, and today we are off to the shops to buy fresh vege's and stuff to make yummy stuffing, mince pies, and mulled wine (I made some mulled wine the other day and it was delicious).

So MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!

 

 Yes, I am a crazed loon with an insane passion for music and one of those enabling bands is Coldplay, which explains the insaneness of seeing the in Glasgow on tuesday night and then in Manchester last night - twice in 48 hours, can anyone beat that??? anyway, here are some blurry photo's from last night (they are blurry cause we were like three rows from the stage and I could personally see each droplet of sweat run down Chris Martins beautiful face!!).





( more under the cut )

 Well, it has been another long time since a last post, but hey, I have plenty of excuses. Such as not being anywhere near my flat and/or computer for the last 3-4weeks. This includes going to Canada (I was a Canada virgin) to present a paper at my first international conference (all very exciting and nerve wracking, but part and parcel of being a postgraduate research candidate), Stratford-upon-Avon, where yes, I SAW David Tennant in the flesh!!!!! in Love's Labour's Lost (didn't manage to get his autograph though due to being about 6 rows of people back at the stage door and him only being outside for a few minutes . . . but heck, in the flesh is in the flesh), and then Paris (I was a Paris virgin), which I fell in love with, Paris is such a poetically strange city, it is beauty, arrogance, timelessness, strange, scary, and intoxicating all at once.

AND now the insanity has really hit the fan - I am a love sick puppy and its slowly killing me. Oh to have these strong feelings for another human being, but feel like its going nowhere. An example, last week when I was in Paris B. called me to go out, but of course I couldn't, cause I was in Paris. SO this week I called him, and guess what, he's in Spain this weekend. So what did I do last night with my flatmate till two in the morning - sat on the computer looking at baby names that I will call B and my children (cause its really at that stage . . . NOT). Augh, frustration, frustration, frustration. The sad thing is that I don't pine after guys I am interested in, I will be all like, if you like me YAY!!! if not, well I will move on - but with B, well, he has really affected me and its driving me a little batty. 

ANYWAY, I am applying to Leeds to do my PhD, to start next year. Wish me luck all goes well . . . 

 Okay, to put that subject heading into context can either be simple or complex . . . or both. I am sticking with both - complex in nature, simple to explain. I am a person who complains when they have been stuck at home for days and feels a need to be busy, problem is, when I am busy (which is often and towards the extreme end of busy-ness) I crave alone time, I crave staying at home and curling up with a good book or dvd and I wish to shun any form of socialisation. I am in an anti-social mood at the moment, which sucks because I had a fantastic day yesterday (study/meeting/work/socialising).

So yesterday, I found out my Dad was alright after his operation (I just finished speaking to him over skype, he's in pain, tired, but good and at home). It was a hard 24hrs because he is in Australia and I am here in the UK and ever since my parents hit a certain age I have become a little more aware of their mortality. BUT, I also had a meeting with the head of the disability study unit yesterday and, even though I am under the banner of Fine Art, my research does incorporate disability theory, and he made it sound very promising that I could come to Leeds Uni for my PhD and that my chances of funding would be extremely good. 

But then, after the meeting i went into socialising shut-down, just had to be alone for a few hours to digest things, but then went to the Postgrad social night, had an interesting conversation about the age of consent with a (seemingly rather liberal) Pakistani student, returned to my flat, order chinese takeout, watched an ep of Firefly and crashed . . . into sleepy oblivion.

and today . . . . well it all starts again doesn't it . . . 

So in my procrastination from research I have been writing fanfiction. I am usually pretty shy about letting other people read it cause its usually written just to scratch my itches, BUT I really liked this one I wrote for Indiana Jones (man, a man with stubble like that should be illegal!!) So, heres my unveiling . . .

( Read more... )

Well, got back from a little side trip to London yesterday, where I attended my secondest most bestest concert by Sia. She was AWESOME and I didn't want the night to end. She opened with "Buttons", and her and the band were wearing these great glowy things and yep, could go on forever!!!

Which worked out well (the great concert) because the night before we stayed in the crappiest hostel (wait no, Dublin hostel was worse last year - but I am so traumatized by it that I have blocked that out, lol), and the concert more than made up for it. But also the shopping made up for crappy hostel too!! Though I spent way too much (but some was one necessary books for my research - "The Prosthetic Impulse: from a posthuman present to a biocultural future", lol. But with the Aussie dollar doing so crap against the pound, I am beginning to wonder if I can really afford to be here, sigh, looks like I'll be living on cous cous again.

And because I appear to be going backwards in time, never, ever drink the stuff that I am drinking in this photo (from last monday night) -





cause seriously, I was so drunk on two LARGE glasses and felt so sick the next day, eugh, have been off my drink now for the rest of the week (well, except for one bottle of lolly water (vodka ice) at the concert, but only the one!! Plus I seem to handle my vodka - hm hm lolly water - better than the cheap south african wine).

Anyway, off to call the sub warden cause both our loo's are troubling us today and I will need to pee soon . . . .

Yes, here are some photograph finally, for those who don't know, I am a postgraduate research student using my art practice as my research methodology (but still having to talk about my work from a theoretical/philosophical perspective). These images are from my honours show last year . . .





















because I am looking at my place in the world as a disabled woman, pretty much all of my work is self-portraiture, so enjoy . . .

I can't believe I have the worst cold I have ever had my first week in Leeds!!! Man this sucks big time. Especially as the postgrad students are all going to Liverpool on thursday to check out the Liverpool Biennale and at this rate (its tuesday, my nose is streaming and I have a raging temperature - its amazing I managed to get out of bed at all this morning), I won't be better by thursday. SO . . . I did manage to make it my one and only class yesterday, with my fellow aussie classmate/flatmate who also has a cold, so we probably spread our germs to everyone else . . . therefore I am staying in hiding today in my room, the only places I will be going is the kitchen, if I feel like eating, or the bathroom . . . am going to lay back on my bed now . . . . . .

Well, for those who might, possibly read my journal (and for one person who I know does occasionally and I promised to put images of my work up but haven't - they are coming . . . slowly, but this entry will explain why), I am now officially back at Leeds University for a semester. So the reason for my very lax attitude to this journal is that for the last few months I have been planning for these coming few months.

We (another Masters student from my home university has made the trek with me) arrived on monday arvo and after 24hrs of flying with the same screaming toddler on both flights, the jetlag has been horrific (usually I cope much better), but now I have a sore throat and a hacking cough. But I am back in the UK, so really I don't mind too much.

Met with the course co-ordinator today, and he remembered me from last year, so I got a big hug and welcome, which was really nice and sweet (I thought Chris was lovely last year and he hasn't changed). So because we are research we only have one, incidental class to attend and then consult with our designated supervisors whenever, so I have to get used to some serious self-motivation again, which is particularly hard with all the pretty that surrounds me here in the UK. (Greenage instead of brown, drought ridden landscapes).

Ok, off to lay flat on my bed and not move for the weekend - I don't think the three vodka and oranges and pint of strongbow at the pub last night really helped with my sore throat. AND man I feel old surrounded by a bunch of freshers and I'm not even thirty for another year and a half . . .