It's the 17th of December. Everyone has gone home for Christmas except me. So i'm pretty much alone in this beautiful city with no one to share it with. One more day at work and than i go on monday...which is exciting- although a suitcase, violin and bag of presents on a train and then a coach isn't ideal. On top of that im trying to use up food in the fridge, i've made uncountable batches of gingerbread and apple crumble, i have a victoria sponge in the oven and tomorrow i plan to make a banana loaf.

I left work to really heavy snow and set out to walk home in blizzard like conditions (slight exaggeration) and walked straight through an icy puddle which is always pleasent when you're in flimsy canvas shoes.

Every bone in my body is calling for home!

My camera is out of battery so i stole this picture from joe's blog here; http://whathidesinsidemyhead.blogspot.com/

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Illustrated fairy tale

Today my plan was to go to uni, return my library book and buy a new sketchbook...however my plans fell through when one of my best friends asked me to tell her a story. I have a bit of a wild imagination and come up with weird stories alot and normally just for the sake of it. But Maddi's studying illustration in London and wanted something she could illustrate. I can't wait to see what she comes up with for my slightly dark and gothic fairy tale.

(image on the left Shaun tan)

I'm studying fine art but a lot of my favourite work to look at are illustrations. Shaun Tan's a recent favourite and Maddi's a fan of Benjamin Lacombe.(image to the right and at the bottom)Both are quite dark but so beautiful.

The stories in a very fragmented state currently but hopefully i can share it with you one day if you're willing to hear it.

It's windy and cold outside and i'm trying to avoid going out...but my library books due back today so its either risk a fine or risk getting a cold :/ oh decisions!

Love this!

I've watched this at least 5 times in a row...and a couple more times none consecutively and thought i'd share it here because it's so lovely. I love the video and the interaction with other people. I want to go on holiday and make a short video/film from it. Planning on going to Paris in the summer with my two best friends which will be amazing, it's early days at the moment but its what im going to be saving for...so no new clothes for a while. I'm renowned for my failed past plans...going to melbourne, going to lie in glasgow, making a coracle...but this one i'm going to make happen!!! (i'm also still going to go to melbourne and make a coracle...i just dont know when. As for the glasgow thing, that fell through when i didn't get in :/ although in hindsight its not too big an issue because i am in love with Norwich!)

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Minotaur why so glum?

What better way to spend a Saturday, than lock yourself away to work on making a minotaur mask. I now need to wait for the papermache to dry and the painting it will be a task for another day.

Mythology, especially that of greek origin has become an interest of mine. The story of the minotaur is one a lot of people know of but may not necessarily know the full story, so here it is;

Minos ( a greek man) competed with his brother for the throne. He prayed to the god Poseidon(god of the sea and "earth shaker") for support, Poseidon sent Minos a white bull, which acsended from the sea for sacrifice. However the bull was beautiful and Minos could not bring himself to sacrifice such a stunning creature, and used one of his own for the sacrifice. However this angered Poseidon who as a punishment made Aphrodite (goddess of love) make Minos' wife fall in love with the white bull...(now this is where it gets x rated so if you are under the age of 15 divert your eyes now.)

Mino's wife got a craftsman to make for her a hollowed cow which she could climb inside, disguised as this she was able to copulate with the white bull. As a result of this...er...love making? the minotaur was born. A monstrous monster, half bull, half man. Now the wife tried to raise the Minotaur-however being neither man nor beast could find no natural nourishment and so devoured man for sustainance. Obviously this wasnt great so a ridiculously complicated labyrinth was made to hold the Minotaur, a labyrinth where men were made to enter with no way out :/

I think everyone knows the rest so i'm going to leave it at that.

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A day of stamping

After spending yesterday doing very little i decided today would be more productive. Christmas is fast approaching, the lights are up, and the christmas songs are being played in the shops. Last week i past the most beautiful Christmas fayre on upper giles street, singing elves, the smell of mulled wine and all round cheer.

Today i decided that i wanted to do something more personal and make my own wrapping paper.

I know what you're probably all thinking, how are bicycles at all christmassy? To be honest (besides the fact that every child at one point in there life asks for a bike) they're probably not. But i felt like making bicycle print wrapping paper...and who knows maybe it'll encourage me to ride mine.

Foam stamps are really easy and inexpensive to make, and you get unique results. I'm also recycling paper bags to print onto so the environments giving us a cheeky smile too.

Here's where i got my inspiration from;

http://1001ways-to-be-more-lovely.blogspot.com/2011/11/146-make-loveliness-yourself-diy.html

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Why am i still awake?

Because i can't get enough of Florence and the machine that's why;

Done!

Finally everything is done and handed in, and what better way to celebrate than banana loaf and tea (im not lame, i am going out later).

I think i may have a nap and then find something else to occupy my time.

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