gnomeangel » General

EVE OF PROBLOGGER CHALLENGE

gnomeangel — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 04:20:19 +0000

It’s amazing how sometimes life is like a rolling stone. One minute you’re just minding your own business and the next you’ve signed up to improve your corner of the internet and you’re booking flights to attend an all-day blogging event in another city.

I started this blog on 13 September 2008, that’s nearly two years ago. I find it really hard to believe that I’ve been at this for that amount of time. It seems like only yesterday, in fact I thought it was only a year ago. Amazing really.

In all this time I’ve not really done anything to improve my style or content. I’ve just been happily coming up with little bits and pieces. However I think it might be time to admit that I don’t know everything there is about blogging and look at ways to make my content more enjoyable and relevant.

In short, I want to find my blogging voice and mojo.

What does this mean? I’ve decided to join the SITS Girls and participate in the Problogger Challenge. The challenge is simple; Using the ebook 31 Days to Build a Better Blog, produced by Problogger, everyday from 19 July to 19 August I will be posting based on the topics covered in the ebook.

I’m really looking forward to seeing what comes of the challenge and meeting some new blogging friends. It should be exciting to do some thinking and activities around something that I really enjoy doing. Who knows I may even learn something. *wink*

MUSIC MONDAY: SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL

gnomeangel — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 22:30:33 +0000

This week I’m playing a cover. Inspired by the fact that for the last week or two I’ve been indulging in my love of paranormal romance with the most wonderful Tracey O’Hara and Ezinoz. I’m a massive Rolling Stones fan, but I’m choosing to go with the Guns N Roses as it was originally recorded for the cult classic Interview with a Vampire.

This clip is a mash up of Underworld and Blade, two great vampire movies. Now, I know vampires, supernatural beings and things that go bump in the night aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but on some level you just have to admire someone who can kick ass. Even if it is all make believe…

PSA: GET ME IN YOUR INBOX

gnomeangel — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 11:39:11 +0000

Just a quick public service announcement to let you all know that you can now subscribe to gnomeangel via email or various feeds. It’s really rather simple; all you have to do hover of the above icon located on the sidebar and select your form of subscription. Simple.

MUSIC MONDAY: MILEY CYRUS (I KNOW I KNOW)

gnomeangel — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 23:00:27 +0000

Bare with me on this one… I am addicted to author Nalini Singh. She’s got a series based on Angels, which I’ve read and loved. While reading the books I couldn’t help but wonder what they would be like if they were turned into movies.

A few weeks ago I saw Legion and it gave me hope that the series could be brought to life and do the subject matter justice. It seems that up until recently Angel’s wings have been a bit of a cgi let down. Supernatural handled them reasonable well, my favourite part being when the shadow of the wings gets burnt on to surfaces when an Angel is sacrificed. Then Legion came along and now we have this film clip from the young Miss Cyrus.

I live in hope, people! Hope that one day I’ll be able to see these stories on the big screen.

BLOG LOVE: 74 LIME LANE

gnomeangel — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 22:01:34 +0000

74 Lime Lane is a wonderful blog run by the talented Kellie. It’s an amazing mishmash of design, craft and photography. Each week Kellie provides a smorgasbord of wonderful items, links and images.

As well as being a kick ass blogger Kellie is an aspiring photographer with an eye for the truly sublime. You can even purchase a little piece of Kellie’s magic through her Etsy Store.

Don’t believe me, check out these lovely images…

Image source: 74 Lime Lane

Why not take a stroll through the internet and spend some time at 74 Lime Lane.

IMAGE LOVE: WORDS TO MOVE YOU

gnomeangel — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 09:58:31 +0000

Image source: rrachell

I saw this image on Kind Over Matter and the words really spoke to me. (Not to mention I love the sense of everyday life that this photo captures.) So I posted the words to livejournal and then watched as Alivicwil and Marjory proceeded to turn it into a discussion about ‘regular’. I love my friends.

THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS

gnomeangel — Sat, 29 May 2010 00:49:45 +0000

Do you ever have one of those weeks where you feel like the universe is conspiring against you? I’ve just had one of those weeks. It’s been horrid!

Work has been hideous and drama filled, I’ve had to go for one of the worst possible infertility tests I can imagine and the results of those tests haven’t been great. It’s meant that all week I’ve been looking forward to Friday with blind abandon. Not because anything special was happening on Friday; just because it meant that my work week was over.

I cannot explain the relief of driving out of the work car park on Friday and heading for home. On the drive home I daydreamed about getting home, changing into my jim jams and climbing into bed with another great book from Kinley MacGregor and forgetting all about the week that was.

Turns out the universe wasn’t done with me just yet… Thinking nothing could raise my spirits from the funk they were in I hadn’t counted on getting mail. I got home to find a parcel on my doorstep and overseas mail in my mailbox. Score! Nothing makes me as happy as receiving mail!

Last week I had ordered lettering for the sides of my Derby helment. I wasn’t expecting to get them until the middle of next week… at the earliest. But here they were, waiting for me. Yippie! I grabbed my helmet, prepared the surface and stuck them on. I love them!!!

I ordered them from Frank’s Sister on Etsy. I was nervous about ordering them without being able to see them, but Frank’s Sister didn’t disappoint. They look perfect. They’re in great condition and are exactly what I wanted. I’m so happy. I can’t wait to hit Derby training on Sunday and show them off!

(I just noticed myself in the reflection of the helmet… lucky I had pants on!!!)

Time to turn my attention on to the parcel. It was from Victoria Mason; artist extraordinaire. I have been in love with Victoria‘s work for well over a year. I even featured her work in a Friday Fancy last year. But I hadn’t made the leap to buy a piece yet. Then I saw her latest creation featured over on Kootoyoo. I wasn’t lucky enough to win the necklace on offer, but I did have access to email and now I had Victoria‘s contact details I thought I would take a punt and get in contact with her to see when they would be available.

She was amazing. Really friendly and helpful, just wonderful. I feel really blessed that I was able to order one of her prototypes. I expected to have to wait for ages to get one as they are so new, but no I was able to order one straight away. Then a double shock – it arrived on Friday. I wasn’t expecting to see it until next week. I opened the parcel and fell in love.

This photo doesn’t do it enough justice. It’s absolutely stunning. It sparkles. The detail in the crocheting is amazing. Just beautiful.

I’m so happy with it, especially because it’s a combined birthday gift from my parents and HUBBY. I feel like it’s something that I’ll be able to cherish for years to come and hand down to our children. It totally made my week.

Needless to say I still got into my jim jams and climbed into bed with another great book from Kinley MacGregor; just I did it with a smile instead.

FLICKR FAVES: EASTER WEEKEND

gnomeangel — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 02:00:14 +0000

1. easter basket, 2. bunny in snow, 3. Easter eggs, 4. Happy Easter

We had a relaxing weekend. It was pure bliss.

We don’t really do much to celebrate Easter, except eat a tonne of chocolate from about February to May. So there were no family obligations or social outings this weekend. We both just took it easy.

Only three more weeks now until we’re on holiday and neither of us can wait. Should be fun.

♦♦♦♦♦

If you’d like to see other flickr faves sans the life story check out ArtMind.

CHUCKLES TUESDAY: FRESHMEAT

gnomeangel — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 20:56:15 +0000

Today’s chuckles are inspired by the fact that I’ll be at my third Freshmeat training session. I love this webcomic by the massively talented Monica Gallagher of Eat Your Lipstick. It doesn’t hurt that Monica is also a Roller Derby girl.

I love her work and I’m saving my pennies to add some of her art to my collection. You can buy her art and comics at her Etsy store: here.

FLICKR FAVES: SELF PORTRAIT

gnomeangel — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:32:11 +0000

For this weeks Flickr Faves Mitsy set us some homework. This week’s theme was set for us; Self Portrait. We were tasked with finding images that represented who we are. So without further ado here’s the 9 images I chose to speak to who I am at this moment in time. The lists is by no means definite or exhaustive. It’s just 9 somewhat random images.

1. gnome – This one is a no brainer in some ways and yet in others it’s surprising. My gnome “fetish” was well over a decade ago and yet I still have this link to gnomes. It’s one that I propigate through my own choices, but it still amazes me that these little guys keep coming up in my life. Sometimes the gnome thing is really random and then at other times it seems apt. I’m sure when I move on to the next stage in my adventure a gnome will adorn my body’s final resting place. I just hope it’s a tasteful one, like this one, and not some $2 Crazy Clark’s job!

2. Colored Pens #8,- I love stationery. I’m a mad pen collector. I might not drink coffee, but I have a coffee mug collection that grows just to house all the pens I acquire. I love notepads, blank paper, wrapping paper, envelopes, cards, stickers and the list goes on and on. There’s nothing more thrilling than a fresh notebook. That first beautifully empty page. I love the beginning of a school year when school supplies litter all the shops. I love stationery!

3. Groovy Rainbow Cupcake,- Food. I’ve had a constant battle with food. I love to bake and I love to eat. Two things that have not been conducive to a healthy lifestyle. My relationship with food is changing and evolving and I want to be able to still have fun with my food and enjoy my life through my enjoyment of food.

4. star dust and rainbows. 156:365, – I love rainbows. I love colour. Lots of colour. Bold colour. I also love Converse Chuck Taylor shoes and mad socks. Rainbows are happy. I love to be happy. Happiness is a state that I want to be in for the largest chunk of my life. I love this image.

5. Tattoo pioeuvre 9,- Much to the misunderstood amusement of my friends and family I love tattoo’s. I have four. Two rather large and prominently placed and two smaller pieces. I will get more. I love them on other people (when they’re done well); regardless of their age, race, size or subject matter. To me they’re like a living canvas. I love the images that people chose to carry with them. The stories behind them. The technique that is used to make them. I love them. I will continue to think that people that have them are beautiful in their own way, and that the tattoo doesn’t distract from that. I don’t regret mine, and I hope that those that get tattoo’s don’t regret theirs either.

6. I Want To Read: cover,- I’m a bookworm. I love a good book. Although I suspect what I consider to be “good” is not to everyone’s taste. I love getting lost in a book. I love the sense of accomplishment when I finish a book. I love listening to people read from books. I love going to bookstores and wondering the story picking up and caressing various books. I’m a bibliophile and proud of it!

7. Girl Painting a Rainbow,- First off, I love the name of this image. It sounds like it should be a Rollingstone’s song. I love being creative. I love to take objects and re-purposing them. I love the imagination. I love seeing what others come up with. I love the design revolution that’s happening now. I love spending hours looking online at what people have created and how they incorporate the design trends and their own quirky style into their homes. I love getting my hands dirty in the creative process.

8. A-Maze-Ing Laughter, – A day without laughter is like a day without sun. It’s not right. I can’t get enough of laughing. I love to laugh; I love to make others laugh. I love hearing a child just cracking up with their own laughter. I love watching other people laugh. I love infectious laughter that flows from one person to another. I love a good joke. I love a smartarse comment. I love a witty insight. A good pun. I love a fart joke. I want to laugh. I believe our bodies were built for laughter. I believe laughter is the sound of love. I want to see this sculpture in person!

9. Macro Game Piece Monday – I’m an online gamer. I’m addicted to playing an online game. I love it. I love playing board games and card games with my friends. I love strategy and I love the escapism. I love games. I love nothing more then a good meal, great company and a few rounds of various games as a good night in. I love trivia nights. I love competition. I love playing.

I loved this task so much it inspired a redesign of my blog theme where I chose photo’s from my life that I have taken that I feel represent all the great things in my life. (With the exception of friends and family because I didn’t want to use their images without permission.) I also realised that I used ‘love’ a lot in this task and I think it’s reflective of where I am at the moment. I’m loving life. Are you loving your life?

♣♣♣♣♣♣

Wanna see more wonderful self portraits? Or maybe you want to submit your own. Head on over to Artmind where Ms Misty is hosting the Flickr Fave party. Happy St Patrick’s Day!