Updates and shenanagins

I have been awful at updating this blog recently. I think I've just been seriously lacking in motivation and whenever I start writing a post I feel bad about ignoring other things that should really be prioritised over this such as uni coursework. I also haven't been really coming across anything I feel like writng about really or I run out of things to say halfway through writing then forget to come back to finish a post (or if I do I don't think to make a post about it).

I didn't realise that it had been such an unbelievably long time since I wrote about anything and yes, I am procrastinating by writing this but I have found a really nice cafe near my flat with free wifi and really comfy sofas so I don't particularly care.

I was at DoJ-con (formerly Dee-con and D-con) on the 13th and had such a good time. I also got to meet Princess Peachie who is a Lolita I really look up to and admire (I think I may have alarmed her by recognising her in real life). It was also my first foray into wearing a wig with my Lolita outfits.

I still have some coursework left this semester then exams but I'm hoping to be able to write more posts and get this going again after that.

The warm fuzzies

I love the feeling you get when you do nice things for people and make them happy.

I sent out a whole load of cards to people on Thursday. I filled the inside with little observations and thoughts like a proper letter then doodled pictures and wrote little quotes and sentiments all over the envelopes personalised to whoever I was sending it to. My sister got An Cafe, teen wolf, and tumblr silliness, my friend got flowers and My other friend got a Dr Who style crack and representations of some of her fandoms, my Mum got little sentiments on hers because she is sensible. I sent them because who doesn't like getting nice things in the post? They should be getting them today! (maybe tomorrow of the post is being slow)

I have also been sending out buckets of anonymous love on tumblr to anyone and everyone I can think of (I just love seeing how happy it make them in their replies).

Film Music

Recently I have bought a lot of movie soundtracks. It started with my sister giving me the X-men First Class soundtrack last year. I found it good to listen to while revising for exams and when I wanted sound but not vocals to do my coursework to.

When I first watch a film I tend not to notice the music but I have found that recently when I watch XMFC I can name each piece of music as it plays. The only exception to this is the beach scene where I fall to bits and start shouting at Magneto while trying (and failing) not to cry (I cannot watch this film with other people or I just embarrass myself).

I got the soundtracks for Avengers Assemble, Thor, and Captain America. The Avengers OST was a download album and I have been listening to it a lot while waiting for the other two to arrive. Listening to "The Avengers" (here on youtube) makes you feel like you are being incredibly epic at whatever you are doing (and I wrote that while listening to it) even if you are, as the tumblr people suggest, just folding laundry or scrolling through your dashboard.

The same phenomenon that has happened with the music of XMFC is probably going to happen with these three too but I find I don't mind that at all. Bring on the music! I'll add to this post about the Captain America and Thor when they come (which should be pretty soon as they were dispatched this morning).

If anyone has any opinions on these albums or suggestions for other soundtracks that would be good to listen to don't keep quiet about it!

Postcards

I really enjoy collecting postcards from all over the place and adding them to the collage on my wall

Like this!

The collage is a mix of photographs, postcards, card fronts and small art prints. I keep getting told that I should take them down and arrange them in a frame but I don't want to. Isn't it infinately more fun to arrange them on the wall and test yourself to get as few spaces and overlaps as possible?

I often feel guilty buying postcards now as I'm running out of room the I can reach on the wall to put them up but because I'm home for the summer I have access to postcards other than veiws of the scottish higlands I feel I have to buy a lot while I can.

I get my postcards from all over the place. Most commonly they come from gift shops in museums or other visitor attractions and prints I buy when I'm at conventions. I'm always on the look out for more from different palces, especially from outwith the UK (if you feel like sending me any you're completly welcome to).

Book Reveiw: Knitting Vintage

Knitting Vintage by Claire Montgomerie contains 30 knitting projects inspired by the fashions of the 20th century.

The Patterns are split into the decades from which they draw their main inspiration from. These range from the "Roaring Twenties" to the "Dramatic Eighties".  Each segment has several pages at the start describing the main changes in fashion, how knitting was affected by it and a mood board showing the inspiration used for the designs in that segment.

All the designs featured in the book are very much wearable in a modern setting and some of the really awful designs that appeared in the 70s and 80s have been wisely left out (this is my opinion however so don't take it too seriously).

The patterns are mostly for clothes but there are several accessories as well such as a string of beads inspired by the flapper styles of the twenties or a lacy collar from the fifties.

Knitting Vintage retails for £16.99 but I got my copy in the Works (a book and art supplies shop) for £3.99.