Experimental Still Life of Roses

Technically, this isn't a good edit. And that's fine. Sometimes you have to do the random ideas that pop into your head. And sometimes you have to do a low-quality job, to understand the ideas you're having.

Like always my work is looking at natural inanimate objects (flowers/fruit/veg/plants/etc). 

Currently, I'm interested in the use of colours. I've played with background colours, but never pulled out the colours of the subjects. Flowers have such bright, vivid colours, which is what draws us to their beauty. In a past project, I looked at removing the flower heads from the bouquets to take away societies ideals of beauty. But this time, I've played it up. I've added extra stripes of the bright colours to enhance and make them stand out further. The stripes are minimal and uniformed, giving the work a modern and sleeker look - in comparison to the natural flows and shapes of the flowers. 

The stripes create an almost flag-like look, reminding me of the Italian/Irish flags. 

If these were flags what would the colours represent for flowers? Pink: beauty, love, youth. Lilac: mourning. Green: jealousy/growth.

xx

Lockdown via my phone... | Walks with my Dog

Some people have excelled in their creativity. But I'm not that person. I started off strong at the start of lockdown (3 months ago), and then if I couldn't take the photo on my phone I couldn't be bothered to get my camera. Which is sad. But, a pandemic is going on, so I'm cutting the slack. 

One way I have channeled the lazy creativity; is with my ultimate muse, my partner in crime, the dog's Instagram. Sad but, oh so, true! 

So here's a run down, of the few things we've been in the past 3 months. Including the 2 months where we weren't allowed out beyond our local area. 

I'm presuming Keira thought I just had the car outside the house as an accessory?

Other places we have walked during lockdown:

- Bellever Forrest, Dartmoor

- Many other places on Dartmoor, where we would randomly stop for a walk

- Lanhydrock House, Cornwall

- Fingle Bridge, nr Castle Drogo

- Crowdy Reservoir, Bodmin Moor

- Roadford Lake, Devon

- Roughtor, Bodmin Moor

- Davidstow Airfield, Bodmin Moor

I am bias, but if you're looking for a cute dog to follow on Instagram @thecornishstaffy is a nice page...

xx

Life Update & The Granite Way | Walks With My Dog

Wow. What a 3-months the UK has been having. 

These photos are from early March (before we were taking Covid-19 seriously, and I still had a full-time job). I recently went back here with my family, for a socially distanced walk one afternoon. And I'm finding it crazy to think how much the world has changed in those 3 months. 

Where am I now? (lol)

Technically I'm on furlough, unsure of what the future holds and if I'll even have a job to return to. Which is... nice? And I'm also a PA for my Gran, which fortunately has been taking up the majority of my time throughout lockdown. In the remaining time, I've been doing a LOT of worrying, playing Animal Crossing (5-star island baby!), tidying and cleaning, and dog walks. I've only been out to see one person outside of my immediate circle, and that was for more dog walking. And until last week hadn't stepped foot in a supermarket for over three months. I'm going through ups and downs with my reading, some weeks I'll read a book day, and then I'll go 3-weeks without picking up a book. 

What now?

I'm going to attempt to pick this whole blog malarky back up from how it used to be for me in college/uni and just post for the sake of posting. But also to find a way to channel my creativity. I'm quite bored of every-day being the same. So this is me, attempting, to get some structure back into my life!

Bude, Cornwall | Walks with my Dog

We've been to Bude, for dog walks, an uncountable amount. It's a go-to location for us. When in doubt (and after checking the tide times), go to the beach.

You can just walk on the beach (Summerleaze is technically dog friendly all year round, in the summer they have to be kept on leads until 6pm). You can walk along the cliffs, and follow a coastal path. Wander around the main town, great for handling practise (busy-ish roads, people, dog friendly shops/cafes). 

Our go-to is to walk down on the beach, follow it around to Crooklets, and then walk back over the cliffs. 

Food/Drink Breaks: Life's A Beach - dog friendly outside, delicious burgers (my 10/10 burger choice), and super friendly. Temple - potentially the BEST coffee in Bude. Crooklets Cafe - completely dog-friendly, oat milk option, A-M-A-Z-I-N-G views too (also make homemade dog biscuits).

Disclaimer: today's walk was less than an hour, and we didn't manage to have a tea break due to the rain. Otherwise there would be plenty of photos of the delicious food options available in Bude!

The return of Walks with My Dog

Normally I aim to take Keira on two decent walks a week (obviously she goes for daily walks), but she hurt her leg at the very start of the year and has been on bed rest for the majority of the year. We've been on a handful of walks, but now we are getting back in the rhythm of weekly walks.

One of our fail-safe walk's Davidstow Woods. She can bound off, off the lead, and sniff without worries of cars/traffic. Crowdy Reservoir is very closeby, if you prefer views, or drive a little further and you can climb up Roughtor and have a view over Davidstow and Crowdy Lake. With the wind and the rain, we chose to stay on the paths and have a little wander about. 

A nose you definitely want to 'boop'.

*Insert heart eye emoji here*

Where am I now?

The biggest thing 'adult life' has taught me, is not to jump the gun. Because nothing is quite as you might imagine it to be. Your mind will run wild with an idea, but you have to try to keep it contained and find out exactly what's going to happen first.

I graduated university in 2018. I was in a long-term relationship. I worked part-time in a bakery. I begrudged that I still lived at home with my family. I was still overcoming the sexual assault and working out how that had mentally changed me. I wasn't fully sure how I was going to use my degree. And I didn't really know what I wanted.

Now, it is 2020, I work full-time in a Farm Shop & Kitchen working in Social Media & Front of House. I still live at home. I'm still a sexual assault victim. I *think* I know what I want to use my degree for. But, honestly, I still don't know what I want to do. Oh, and I'm very single & completely off dating apps... for now. 

I do know, that I'm pleased by the simplicity of life now. And adore just being in the fresh air with Keira & going to a quiet coffee shop to read my book in peace. I have to take hold of creativity when she hits, otherwise I'll regret it and won't feel that buzz for weeks. I know winter is my most difficult time, and I lack motivation and desire for life. My favourite way to spend time with friends is over good food. I don't like giving up my time for others. But if I do give you my time, you better feel lucky. 

Dating Apps are a strange place, I'm currently not on any. But I've done the obvious choices Tinder, Bumble, a very brief flirt with Hinge. I'm not saying I won't go back on one, but they really lack any meaning or connection. Although I do know whenever I think I'm getting into the swing of dating, life will throw a curve-ball at me and make me want to crawl back into my cosy pile of blankets again.  (lol, on edit I've just redownloaded Tinder as a giggle with my friend)

Full-time work, is something I always knew I would have to struggle with. I know everyone has to work. And I don't know what I would do with those extra 40 hours a week; if I wasn't working on something. But hospitiality and customer service is a b*tch to work in. And I can only hope the day I hand in my resignation, to leave hospitality forever, is sooner rather than later. 

I've discovered that if I don't put my washing away the day I wash and dry it, it will remain in the basket until I have to do my washing again the next week. It's a weekly battle. 

2020

Long time, no type. 

13 months.

Tre, Pol & Pen is now open. Had its one year birthday on 16th January.

Keira has been on bed rest for most of 2020. 

I'm having potentially the most difficult few months with my mental health.

That really sums up how I feel my life is right now. I know deep down 2019 was a decent year, but I think I'm still coming out of the fog of a low stage.

So, here's how I'm trying to step out of it. 

Tidy everything. Shred the excess paperwork. Throw the unneccesary crap. Making sure the space, I'm in is comfortable. 

Work hard. Rest harder. 

Create again. I'm always saying I want to create more. But it's even more difficult when you aren't into anything. 

Escaping reality through literature.

Getting dressed on days off. I've got a wardrobe full of clothes that I love, but on days off, it's so easy to just wear leggings and a cosy jumper. But don't. Get dressed in a 'You' outfit, and love it.

I know, for me, getting back on regular dog walks and being in fresh air frequently will help me. But I've got to let Keira rest and recover in her own time. So finding alternative ways to get out of the house on my days off, and getting some fresh wintery air into my lungs.