Monday, May 28, 2012

John Baldessari

In 6th form we had to do an art project based on an artist for our NCEA assessment.
The artists were given to us by our teacher.
He gave me Baldessari.
I'm ever thankful that I have this knowledge of this incredible artist.
In the study I fell in love with many of the things he has said, the quotes I found from interviews etc, and the artwork he has made.
It opened my eyes to a new form of art in my early years, and have been subconsciously inspired by him, and the other artists we studied, ever since.
I wish this video was about then.
It makes me laugh,
and I continue to admire him.
Plus, Tom Waits has an incredible narrative tone. He can definitely narrate my life.


Saturday, May 26, 2012

Ageing happily

Happy At One Hundred: Portraits of Centenarians
This is such a beautiful exhibition.
Absolutely stunning.
 
"Imagine for a moment that you have been alive for 100 years. In your lifetime would have been two World Wars, the sinking of the Titanic, the end of horses on city streets, the invention of the computer and the first man to walk on the moon. It’s a fantastically long time to experience."



Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Siting Waiting Wishing Missing

 On Sunday my boyfriend left for the Navy.
Basic training lasts 13 weeks. 
3 months.
3 months of no contact,
letters only.
3 months of snail mail.
3 months of missing him.
In a way it's exciting.
I love the feeling of receiving a letter in the post,
it often puts a smile on my face.
But the waiting sucks.
I've been wanting to write a letter from the moment he got on the plane,
but I have to wait to receive his letter first.
In the mean time I've started writing my thoughts, (there are many), down in a journal.
I've even gone so far to title them...
"Letters To Will"
It's a bit cringe.
But it helps.

So for now, 
I'm just sitting, waiting, wishing, and missing.


Sunday, May 20, 2012

Red Red Velvet

Cupcakes cupcakes cupcakes.
Red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese icing.
Homemade.
I'm so happy.
Proud?
You should be.
 
1 1/2 cups of sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter, room temperature
2 eggs, room temperature
2 1/3 cups of cake flour
2 tablespoons of Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 cup of buttermilk*
1 1/2 tablespoons of red food coloring
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 teaspoon of distilled white vinegar
Frosting; 
1/2 cup of butter (1 stick), room temperature
8 oz of Philly cream cheese (1 package), room temperature
2 - 3 cups of powdered sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
 Cupcakes:
1 Preheat the oven to 350°F. Beat the butter and sugar in an electric mixer for 3 minutes on medium speed until light and fluffy.
2 Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until each is fully incorporated. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure even mixing.
3 In a large bowl, sift together the cake flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl whisk together the buttermilk, vinegar, vanilla extract, and red food coloring.
4 Add a fourth of the dry ingredients and mix, then add a third of the wet. Continue adding in a dry, wet, dry pattern, ending with the dry ingredients.
5 Scoop into cupcake papers, about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way full. Bake for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Rotate the pan after the first 15 minutes of baking to ensure even baking.
6 Allow to cool for one minute in the pan then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Frosting:
1 Cream the butter and cream cheese together, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure even mixing.
2 Add the vanilla extract and mix.
3 Add the powdered sugar, continually taste to get to desired sweetness. Pipe onto cooled cupcakes.
 Decorate and Eat. 
Yummy
 

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Some Study

Sometimes I really do wonder what happened to the brains I had as a child and teenager.
I knew how to write my English assignments, I could do math without the calculator or my fingers, physics was hard, but do-able, and art was a piece of cake.
I turned up to class and did all my homework...
on time.
But now, I really do wonder what happened, I can barely add 2 simple numbers together without checking my fingers or a calculator for the right answer.
I think I might need to work on these things.
This song pretty much sums it up...



Thursday, May 17, 2012

Extra Vocabulary

Sometimes I swear.
Sometimes it is unnecessary.
Steven Fry thinks otherwise.
"Things not being necessary is what makes life interesting.”


Monday, May 14, 2012

Taste the Rainbow

I spent a little time this afternoon watching m&m commercials
laughing away,
craving chocolate.
and I found this...
Clever..
I think I could watch commercials all day.
How sad.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Talent at 50

I've only just seen this,
I laughed the whole way through it. 
Oh my gosh,
he is fantastic. 
Britain really does have talent...
 

He made the semi final, which dance is equally fantastic...


...and the final, which is even more fantastic.


I have no idea if he won or not, 
I don't actually care.
I think it is hilarious and incredible either way!

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Kung Fu and a Laugh or Two

I've just recently watched 'Kung Fu Panda 2'
and I have to admit,
It's probably my favourite cartoon since 'Up'.
Jack Black is hilarious of course,
and the creators are so fantastic.
And did I mention how wise it is?
"You got to let go of the stuff from past - because it just doesn't matter! 
The only thing that matters is what you choose to be now."
God I love it,
I think it should be watched by all.









Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Oh hello

I've been meaning to write a post for quite some time, but never did.
It's not that I don't have anything to say,
that would be quite unusual for me.
I just haven't known what part of my life to tell you,
or how to put it into words. 
So I guess this post is just an update on the projects I have been undertaking.  
First there is my holga.
I still love it and use it as often as possible. 
And lately I have been spending all my money on getting the films developed.. 
Then there is my video project.
Meg, one of my favourite people, decided to move away, and we have no idea when we will see her next. So I decided that we, her workmates, should create a farewell video for her as a final laugh.
It was the funniest thing trying to get people to dance in front of a camera, 
and the hardest thing trying to keep it a secret from her.
So a lot of my time has been doing these two projects, while trying to work through my uni assignments, 
which really isn't that exciting.
Kind of a useless update.
But I thought it was time to write something here.

Video for Meg
and a selection of my favourite recent holga photos