Saturday, April 28, 2012

Music Me Happy!

Saturday morning and it's time for some tunes!

This week's feature is a song called Sextape by the Deftones. I've been obsessively listening to this song ALL WEEK!

So here's the thing, there's this band called Bad Rabbits and they cover this song. I LOVE their version. I don't know, it just speaks to me more. But for the sake of fairness, I've posted both versions.

Let me know which one you like best!

Sextape by Deftones ( & covered by Bad Rabbits)


Deftones Version




Bad Rabbits Version

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Take a Picture... It Lasts Longer.

I must admit, there are days when life looks dull and unwelcoming. Days when my impatience and sense of unease overtake me - pressing me under their angry thumbs. I dislike those days - who doesn't? It's in those gloomy moments that I search for beauty.

I mentally step outside of the nastiness that threatens to pull me under and look around for something that will brighten my spirits. It's not always easy, but if done right, it can change my whole attitude.

Since becoming the proud owner of a lovely iPhone, I've found this a tad bit easier. The first thing I did when I bought my iPhone was download Instagram. I'd heard others speak of its awesomeness and I wanted in!

Now I spend all my time thinking.....

What can I snap a picture of? What small loveliness can I find?

It's been a great way for me to open my creative mind, look at things from a different perspective - and more importantly - have fun! Not to mention the added bonus that those pretty pictures will always be on hand when I need a boost of inspiration.

Sidewalk Joy!

Weeds are flowers too..once you get to know them . -Eeyore

Longing Eyes

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Music Me Happy!

Canada has a lot of fabulous musicians. I'm really proud of all the talent this country has to offer. In honor of Canadian music, today's Music Me Happy band is Billy Talent and the song is Fallen Leaves.

I just love the creepiness of this video!

Friday, April 20, 2012

Lucky 7 Meme: WIP Sneak Peek Part 2

I've been fortunate enough to be tagged yet again for the Lucky 7 Meme. Thanks Aniko!! Check out her blog HERE.

So here's how it works:

Go to page 7 or 77 of your current MS/WIP
Go to line 7
Copy down the next 7 lines, sentences or paragraphs and post them as they are written.
Tag 7 authors and let them know.

So, instead of posting the same piece, I decided to post from another part of my WIP that hasn't even been edited. *EEEEKKKK*

Just as before, it's part of my historical fiction set over various centuries and full of murder, lust and tragedy. These are my 7 paragraphs from another time period.
 
Lizzy laid out the candlesticks and replaced the old ones with fresh unburned candles.
“And George?” Abby asked blushing. She had no experience with boys her own age. She was too busy to pay them any mind.
“George? Oh he can be a pain at times.” Lizzy stopped, placing her hands on her hips. “But he is always kind to us girls. He fancies Mary.” She whispered, giggling as Abby’s mouth involuntarily dropped. She hurried over and placed a hand to Abby’s ear. “I saw them kissing once before.” She continued. “Mary told me that he stuck his tongue right in her mouth. Can you imagine?” She giggled as Abby turned bright scarlet.
“Good Heavens.”
“Mary said it was quite enjoyable. Though I personally have not experienced it myself.” She winked and walked back to the table.
Abby pondered what it would be like to kiss a boy. Once Thomas Milfred tried to kiss her behind his family's barn. She screamed and ran home. They were just children back then. No more than five or six years. But now she was a woman and the thought intrigued her.
With the table set and the work complete, Abby and Lizzy retreated to the kitchen where Mrs. Culpepper was putting the finishing touches on the afternoon tea. The kitchen was thick with a delicious aroma that made Abby’s stomach growl with hunger. She hadn’t eaten much in the last few weeks. 

And there you go my friends. Yet another sneak peek. 

TAG, YOU'RE IT!

2. Ang
3. Dan
4. Ruth
7. Kern

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Following the Birds

Those of you that have been reading my blog for awhile will know that it started out as a writing blog. A place I could share my experiences as a writer and any tips and tricks I came across along the way.

However, in the last little while, it's slowly become a creative blog. A place where I can share my experiences as a creative person.

I'm hoping since no one has abandoned ship, that it means you're all enjoying the transition. I know I am! It's fun being able to combine my love of writing, reading, music and art all in one space.

So in the spirit of creative transition, I wanted to tell you a little bit about how I started to follow the birds.

A year ago I began reading Julia Cameron's novel, The Artist's Way. I was immediately drawn in to her words. Often I found myself wondering if she had secretly crept into my mind, stole my thoughts and wrote a book just for me. I sometimes feel this way when I find something I truly love. Like it's all for ME! It's a fabulous feeling.

If you haven't read her book, well you must! It's life changing, and I don't say that lightly. Whether you're a writer, artist, doctor or office clerk - this book is guaranteed to lure your creative side out into the open.

Anyhow, like any good creative trying to find their way, I began my morning pages. I normally journal fairly often anyway, so three daily pages wasn't such a daunting task. The challenge resided in the morning part. I am not what you'd call, a morning person. In theory I like the idea of getting up early, but in practice, I often fail. I have this strict belief that one should not rise before the sun. Period. Without exception.

Alas, in winter (when I began this journey) the sun does not make an appearance until well after I'm at work, therefore leaving me to get up in the 'middle' of the night. At least it feels that way. So when I embarked on this morning pages task, I needed to get up 30 minutes earlier than usual. The annoying buzz of my alarm going off at 5:00 AM did nothing but set me in a foul mood, and often my pages started off in much the same way...

It's so dark. I'm so tired. I HATE mornings!

And so on and so forth. But slowly I would shift from complaining (maybe after a page) and begin noticing other things. The glowing moon, the silence and then the birds.

Their chirping began in spring and I found it hard not to write about them. Their constant chatter kept me company and often changed the tone in my pages. I found myself zoning out and just listening to them instead of writing.

Around this time I began noticing that my thoughts kept going back to art - painting, sketching etc. The first rule in The Artist's Way is never go back and read your pages until closer to the end of the twelve week program. Even still, I noticed that it kept coming up.

I took a chance and began buying art supplies to indulge my new found desires. I even signed up for an art class, but was thoroughly disappointed when I received news it had been cancelled. I let my art supplies deplete and focused on my writing. End of.

Flash forward to this year. February 18. I receive an early morning call bringing me terrible news that my step-brother had been in head-on collision and did not survive. Grief gripped me and I felt lost. I wanted to write, but I just couldn't. The pain was much too fresh. It was in this sorrow that something inside whispered...

CREATE

I grabbed what was left of my abandoned art supplies and followed the whispers. At first it felt strange. I didn't know what to do, then, I drew a bird. The rest is history.

Looking back I see that the answers were there all along. Birds. Art. Create. It just took a year for me to connect the dots.

Now my art focuses on the birds that once changed my early morning bitterness, into moments of quiet reflection. Each bird I create helps heal my battle wounds. Helps realign my Self.

I am forever indebted to those early morning birds.

Forever, following the birds.


Monday, April 16, 2012

Five Sentence Fiction



This week's word is Armor. Check out Lillie McFerrin's blog for more fabulous posts.

"Hey fatty! Why you so fat, fatty?" The boys yelled out as she passed by. She let her head drop, her chin nearly touching her chest and her greasy hair forming a screen against their taunts. They started the snorting noises next; oinking and laughing as she tried to hurried past them, anxious for the safety of the school doors. Every day was the same taunts, the same shame, the same desperate need to disappear. As the tiny pebbles started hitting her back, she wondered how many Tylenol it actually took to kill a person.