DIY~ Patches!

Somehow amidst all my make-up work (Missing a week of school is NOT something I'd ever recommend) I've managed to make some time for myself. We found the old Xbox, (which led to a day of Halo before I returned to my lovely PS3...) I finally got around to watching Constantine (Which wasn't bad, though if you're going to watch a movie with demons and Keanu Reeves I suggest The Devil's Advocate), and I ordered a new Batman comic from Ebay because I'm a gigantic nerd and couldn't help myself ^^

More importantly, I made some patches for my jackets! I'm not sure exactly what will go where yet, but I'll figure that out some other time. Anyone out there that shirks away from DIY because you think it's difficult...it's not! Really, things as simple as a homemade patch or hair accessory can make all the difference in the world in an outfit and you'll have something unique that you can boast about. (Not to stroke our egos or anything...After all, everyone needs a self-esteem boost once in a while ;))

I used a stencil for these.

And these are the ones I free-handed.
I don't know which Specimen one I like better yet.

For anyone starting out with DIY patches, stencils are your best friend. They make neat letters and shapes a million times easier. Fabric paint is super cheap and you can cut up a pair of old jeans for the fabric or just use any plain fabric you have lying around. (Though really, denim is one of the better options.) For this last patch I cut up a striped vest that was too small for me.

You can't really see the bat. It's black though.
Also, I need to actually sew it together.

Those are just the first batch. I've got a bunch to go, but I can only concentrate on painting neatly for so long before my hand cramps up in protest ^^

Now, I need some advice. I have this lovely brooch I recently received from my grandmother. However, there's a slight problem. It's missing whatever it was that used to be on it...I want to put something in it's place, but I'm not exactly sure what. Any ideas?

DeviantArtist Feature~ AbigailLarson

Remember when I did one of these a few months ago on CountANDRA? Well I have quite a few artists I'd like to feature on here and the next one in line is AbigailLarson.

Here are a few pieces of info from her Deviantart.

What do you use to make your artwork?
I use Winsor & Newton watercolor paints, Arches hot press watercolor paper, Strathmore drawing paper, mechanical pencils, and Adobe Photoshop Elements to make my pieces.

Who are your inspirations?
I adore the work of Arthur Rackham, Edward Gorey, Edmund Dulac, John Bauer, Dr. Seuss, Maurice Sendak, Tony DiTerlizzi, Chris Riddell, Gris Grimly, and hundreds of others. I'm not only inspired by painters, but also musicians, film makers, and writers.

Do you have a(n) artbook/novel/comic book/something I can physically hold with your work in it?
"Midnight Phantasmagory" was just released, and I have two pieces in that, as well as "Spectrum:18" which you can order on Amazon.com. I'm working on several books right now, so it's going to be a while before anything is finalized and released, but I'll certainly let the world know when that happens!

This is the link to her DeviantArt
She has her website here.
Her facebook page is located over yonder.
And her shop is found here.

Obituary Challenge

I told you guys I would get around to it!

So basically I'm out of the hospital (and I have that awful IV out) and going home with antibiotics. This thing sure was stubborn...I received IV antibiotics for 48 hours and it's still going to take a while to get rid of. All I can say is I'm happy to be home where I can have real food and I'm going to put this thing behind me. Of course, I'm not going to school tomorrow or Friday so if I do the math (7 classes x 6 days) I've got 42 lessons and homework assignments to make up. In other words, I'm screwed.

However, I'm going to use this experience positively *cough* and use it to create my obituary. (Real positive Megan...) I was tagged by OddGhoulOut over at Bats in the Belfry, Cats in the Attic. Thank you!

I'm only adding this because, well it's pretty. It didn't come with the challenge ^^

 
Rules:

1. Link back to whoever tagged you.
2. Put these rules in your tag. 
3. Write an obituary about yourself (it can be as funny or as serious as you like).
4. Write about a paragraph or two (or more if necessary) in length.
5. You may tag up to 10 people, and be sure to link to them.
6. Have fun, because creative writing is one of the greatest joys in life!

Obituary:

Megan was brought in to the Orlando Hospital late last night. Everyone was momentarily shocked to note the lack of the usual black makeup, which we had assumed had adhered to her face at this point. What seemed at first to be a deep foot infection caused by bacteria actually had a more sinister cause. The deadly affliction occurred shortly after she accompanied her friends to their church in order to participate in the 'Boys VS Girls' event and was forced to wear pink. The restraint she showed in not going off about the sexist implications of the color choice only worsened the onset of the infection. Unwilling, prolonged exposure to the sun was the ultimate blow, and made saving her a futile prospect. Despite a reapplication of black nail polish and viewing of the Adams Family movies and Dracula she did not pull through. She passed away peacefully, listening to Bauhaus and reading the Picture of Dorian Gray. Shortly before, she finished her charcoal rendition of The Joker which she leaves to her little brother. Her ashes will be pressed into a vinyl containing a mix of her favorite songs and left with her family.

I really did do most of that at the hospital ^^ Also, I really did have to wear pink at that church event I was strong-armed into... it wasn't pleasant. Not so much the color as the fact that we had to do it and they picked a color so commonly considered "girly". But I won't go into that.

Oh, and I'm not really kidding about the ashes. You can really do it! Look!

And now to go alphabetically down my blog list and try to find people I don't believe have participated yet...

1. A Goth in College
2. Bethezda's Preoccupations
3. Goth Mary Poppins
4. Gothically Yours...
5. Memoirs of a Scream Queen
6. Milking the Rolling Cow
7. Nocturne Street
8. The Everyday Goth
9. The Halloween Ladybug

 

DIY~ Crayon Pumpkins

Autumn is officially upon us! (More or less) Of course, here in Florida it's likely we won't get much cold weather until January and the leaves don't change color, but it's nice to sit inside with a cup of hot cocoa, turn the AC down, close the curtains and pretend it's cold enough to wear layers of velvet and stompy boots. (In reality, last Christmas I sat outside on the dock in shorts and ate icecream.)

Right now, I'm in the hospital trying to navigate blogger on this stupid phone and get a post out to you guys. Basically, the infection and blood poisoning has gotten worse and the antibiotics weren't helping. (In fact not only am I allergic to Penicillin, it seems I'm allergic to that as well. Only small hives though, nothing like what happens when I take penicillin.)

They took some blood already. *shudder* Honestly, I'd rather have someone cut me or something then stick that needle in my arm. I'm deathly afraid of needles. I don't like any kind of thing under my skin that isn't a piercing.  That's the main reason I'm doing this now. (with only my left hand) I'm trying to distract myself from the IV drip and new antibiotics they've got me on. Moving my right arm results in burning pain as the catheter thingy touches my vein wall so that's a no-go. And you guys get to listen to me blather on in an effort to think about something else.  If I'm lucky and my white blood cell count is good then they'll send me home. I don't know what I'll do if I have to spend the night here.

I was going to do OddGhoulOut's obituary challenge, but it seems a little too morbid when I'm in the hospital. I promise I'll get to that next! Instead I found this.

I was on pinterest (The link to mine is somewhere over to the right) and I saw the most adorable idea for pumpkins! I don't like to cut mine, for the simple reason that I don't like cleaning all the guts out of them. Normally I'll paint them or think of some other new creative way to spruce them up. So I saw these and decided I might just have to try it.

You'd have an endless amount of crayons to choose from. Just imagine the color combinatons! I see a few black pumpkins in my future, perhaps with orange or red or purple and silver! I wonder how time-consuming it'll be. It can't take that long I don't think. Though you'll have to be careful with the hot wax. I can't imagine that would be pleasant to get on your skin.  

This was my favorite pumpkin last year.
The other two are my little brother's.

Well it's taken me a very long time to type this so hopefully they'll be back with my blood work soon. *crosses fingers*

Sophistique Noir Theme~ Someone Special

Before I get to the theme I have a little update for everyone. It's been an interesting couple of days. I was feeling achey and chilly on Thursday and stayed home from school. I assumed I was coming down with a cold, but apparently that's not the case. I have a wound on my foot which has become very infected and has led to Lymphadentitis. Basically, it's spread through the lymphatic system so the lymph nodes up to my thigh are extremely swollen. I'm not really capable of standing right now, but I've got some antibiotics that should clear up the infection and the nasty blood poisoning that's come with it.  Also, I'm missing my first real marching show of the season so I'm more than a little irritated and disappointed. However, this gives me an excuse to sit around in bed and write blog posts so I'll get started on that right away ^^

It's once again time for Sophistique Noir's monthly challenge! The theme this time is someone special. I'm going to deviate from the obvious family and friends (Who I don't believe would like their pictures out on the internet) and focus on some other things....my pets!

Freja on the right is a Norwegian Buhund. We've had her for 7 years now. It doesn't really seem like so long, I feel like we just got her yesterday! She's definitely a handful. I mean, she's insecure and bossy and constantly anxious. She barks at every little thing and is pretty much the clingiest animal I have ever met. While she may be the cause of a lot of trouble around the house she's still the first pet I ever had and I love her dearly.

Hagar on the right though is the dog that really has my heart. He's an Icelandic Sheepdog and we've had him for 6 years. I feel kind of bad for playing favorites, but I can't help it. He hangs out with me all the time and is always just content to cuddle. He's so adorable! He's not the brightest and he eats everything. He's a typical dog. It's really funny that I prefer him to her considering that I'm such a cat person. He's just so incredibly sweet!

Most of the time.

He's actually the underdog. Freja bullies and beats him up on a regular basis. This is a rare moment of him fighting back. Normally he's content to just let her do whatever and then slump down on my bed. The poor thing.

Very old picture alert!

Someone else who was very special to me was my cat, Greaser. He passed away not too long ago. we only had him for one year, but the loss was heartbreaking. He's got a pretty little grave by the lake near the neighbors' dogs.

 Finally, to wrap this up I'll be showing off an inanimate object.

This is my Beelzenef. One of my best friends is obsessed with all things Japanese. We've squeed over countless animes and manga together and as a result she made me this for my birthday a few years ago. It's a doll from Ouran High School Host Club. You write the name of the people you hate on the back and they're "cursed".  I haven't utilized that particular ability, but maybe I should. I'll certainly get a laugh out of it in the future!