[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 27 August 2022].
it's got pockets!
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 24 August 2022].
As promised, this is the second image from a new series inspired during my recent gig cat-sitting Meg and Mog, titled plush.
The cats' mothers' new home features some vivid interior design colour choices. Colour choices they would not have made. But that they have inherited from the previous owners.
Jo and Becky are far less enamoured with these colour choices than I am.
While there, I struggled with going out and about much due to my health issues and the heatwave. So I spent quite a lot of time, when not working, hanging out in the lounge room with Meg and binge-watching the most recent season of The Handmaid's Tale ahead of the new season airing next month.
After my visit to Minera last October to cat-sit Meg and Mog while they house-hunted, Jo had sent me a link to the advertisement for their new home. When she contacted me to ask if I could cat-sit their two cuties again, I dug out the link and almost immediately asked about the decor. Had they torn out those carpets and removed the wallpaper?
Jo assured me everything was as it had been in the advertisement apart from (obviously) replacing the furniture with their own. I might have squee'd.
When I arrived, the carpet in the lounge was everything I had hoped for. However, I hadn't registered the purple carpeting in one of the bedrooms (the one I stayed in) and the blood-red carpet in the playroom (formerly the dining room) from the photos. Jo pointed out, quite rightly, that the red carpet would have helped mask red wine stains.
I enjoyed and shared the colour coordination of my tights and the carpet in my temporary bedroom before venturing out, trepidatiously, on a photo walk on my first full day there.
But, between work, the heat and my anxiety toward venturing out, I wasn't as attentive as I usually would be in thinking about potential photographic projects in the space during the first few days.
Fast forward to late afternoon Wednesday, and I found myself planning a series of self-portraits inspired by - of all things - the carpet.
I didn't have specific images planned out, but I knew the clothing I had with me and the three carpets I wanted to use as 'backdrops'. Anyone who knows me knows I love colour coordination, so that was in the forefront of my mind.
So I took an extended break from work late afternoon on Thursday to roll around on the floor during the heat and play with some ideas, moods and colour combinations.
So far, the other two images from the series are more related to how I've been feeling recently and thus more emotional. But this image is more playful.
As any woman who owns a dress with pockets knows, whenever someone compliments you on the dress, it's obligatory to announce, "It's got pockets!" And to proudly place your hands in the pockets to demonstrate how awesome it is to have those pockets.
Though my pose may not come across as enthusiastically as I would show you in real life, I am no less pleased with these pockets years after I bought the dress.
But, more importantly, this series is a celebration of carpets. Perhaps the series title should be plush: an ode to wall-to-wall carpeting*.
As a child growing up in the late 70s and 80s, carpets in the home were the norm. The thicker, the better.
I had lived in carpeted properties until about 2014. I even lived in a flat with a carpeted bathroom in 2000 (I don't recommend going that far!)
But since then, I have lived in homes sadly bereft of carpet.
I miss the softness of the carpet underfoot. I dislike the amount of noise I make walking on bare floorboards or laminate floors if I have shoes on. I wear my slipper socks to cushion my feet after a long day of walking, even in the summertime, because I don't have carpet to do that.
I spend much more time brushing dust and hair off my feet before putting my tights on while living in an uncarpeted home.
I remember the excitement of walking barefoot on Jo and Becky's carpet in Minera when I arrived. It was like coming home.
I rue bare floorboards coming back into fashion and landlords deciding laminate flooring is cheaper and easier to maintain. And I'm not ashamed to say so.
So, this will potentially become another ongoing series of self-portraits captured while cat-sitting, like wallflowers.
Let's see how the images pile up.
*I can't resist pointing out that this would also make a perfect title for a series of photographs of people sporting their natural pubic hair. A sight that is probably as rare as carpeted homes these days ;)
N.B. Don't worry about the bruising. That appeared to be from the careless carrying of my laptop bag during the journey to Cotton End. It was no worse and possibly less angry-looking than the bruising I acquired from recent blood tests. I decided not to edit it out. It was too large and had purple tones to match the carpet. Colour coordination :)
inner turmoil
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 21 August 2022].
This photograph is the first from a new series, plush, I started while cat-sitting in Cotton End a couple of weeks ago.
I'll share more about the series - its inspiration, my intentions, etc. - with the second image, which I'll share midweek.
That one's a little more lighthearted.
someone to pour myself into
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 30 November 2021].
in the room we will find each other
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 30 November 2021].
a collection of dismantled almosts
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 24 November 2021].
077 self-portrait
Day seventy-seven of The 100 Day Project for 2021.
I contemplated meeting some friends for drinks at a local pub to celebrate my birthday today. But, unsurprisingly, everyone else had the same idea it being the first weekend after lockdown has relaxed somewhat. The two most spacious beer gardens in my local area were booked out, so it was safe to say everywhere else would be.
I also entertained the thought of us meeting in the park at Ally Pally. The weather was expected to be sunny but still relatively chilly.
In the end, I decided I really just wanted a day of creativity for myself. Photo editing has been slow the past week or two for various reasons, so I had hoped today would give me a better chance at that.
It's not going as productively as planned, but my sketch was done by 15:45, so that's a start!
I decided to attempt to sketch this self-portrait from nine years ago. I think I did passingly well. At least my fingers don't resemble sausages too closely :P
The original sketch was drawn with a 4H pencil, then overdrawn and shaded variously with a 6B, 2B and HB pencil.
In addition to photo editing, a Skype call with Dad late in the evening and a cheese care package courtesy of my good friend, Don, there's still much to look forward to.
One advantage of spending my birthday alone this year is that I don't have to share any of my delicious cheesy goodness with anyone. At least, not the edible kind ;)
041 mary janes
Day forty-one of The 100 Day Project for 2021.
And then, yesterday, all was right with the world again.
The previous day's curveball means I'll be working long hours this weekend to make up hours lost in the past couple of days, but two positives came out of the past twenty-four hours:
Simon and I are now even closer, and our relationship stronger.
I hit a 10kg weight loss milestone.
Turns out the stress of those 24 hours helped me to jump the next weight-loss hurdle.
I probably would have preferred an hour or more on my stationary bike to get there than what happened. Especially as I'd have been able to watch some entertaining TV at the same time. But I guess I'll take it...
By 14:00 yesterday, we also had an update on Simon's long-awaited return to London. The exact date isn't confirmed yet, but he should be on his way back to London by Monday week at the latest. With any luck, we'll be reunited before Easter. An early birthday present for both of us.
I decided to keep today's drawing relatively simple and not focus too much on photo-realism.
Having said that, somehow, one of my feet turned out slimmer than the other, though that's not really reflective of the source image.
I drew this with a 4H pencil then went over the black outlines of the skirt and shoes with an HB. I went a little heavier over the edge where the white polka dots intersected with the 4H, and I used a 2H pencil for the outline of my tights/legs.
As you can see, I kinda botched the polka dots on the right-hand side of the image despite going great guns on the left first.
I made a mess drawing over the left side of the shoe opening on my right foot with the HB pencil.