#my first ship art since the iPad cracked

[avas-wonderland]

“You’re a dumbass”

“Yeah, you like me~”

“I know”

(Reblogs are encouraged, pr0ship/c0mship dni)

TagList: @gay-selfships @rose-wine-selfships @shibasparklez @disneymarina @fluffyselfships @local-freaksmoocher @jelly-drop-buttons

[milli-moi]

Sad times. Very sad times. 😥

Story time:

I began drawing digitally on my phone about three years ago. It wasn’t easy and I only really imported line art and used the software to colour and make it fancy. I decided after deliberating a lot that it made sense to get an iPad and Apple Pencil. I got some of it paid for Christmas and I paid the rest. Since getting my pencil and iPad my drawing has transformed. I am able to create better things which take longer and would be much harder to create without the layering tools. I have also become used to using reference images to trace the line work which is probably not the best idea but it opened up a lot of things I otherwise wouldn’t be drawing. I’ve barely drawn on paper for a while now, again probably not the best but it helps set the stage.

Despite a case and a tempered glass screen protector my iPad screen got a crack right across it. I thought the crack was in the screen protector only to find when I went to change the protector that it actually had cracked the screen. I was devastated, obviously drawing on the screen would add pressure to the crack and eventually cause permanent damage. Apple suggests using one of their specific repair places but a screen repair from them would cost almost as much as getting a new, older generation iPad (£270).

I eventually followed my dad’s advise and got a new screen put on from a phone/iPad repair place which had very good reviews etc. It cost me £80.

I was so happy to get my iPad back, so relieved that I was going to be able to carry on with the art I have had in progress for a while and just to have the ability to work the same way once again.

Then I discovered the pencil no longer worked properly. After some research I discovered that the only way that an iPad could have a screen replacement which didn’t effect the pressure sensors for the pencil was if the screen was ‘cannibalised’ from another iPad. So it basically would be a bit dodgy.

My Mum, understanding how devastating this is for me at the moment, has agreed to do the same as I did with my first iPad, allowing me to buy half of it and she will pay the rest for my birthday but I wouldn’t have to wait for my birthday to get a new one. It would of course be cheaper this time as the pencil is perfectly fine and I will sell my original iPad as it works perfectly for someone who doesn’t need the pencil capabilities.

However I am in limbo at the moment, I can’t exactly ask my parents to speed up the process of getting me a new one as this is partly a present and they are being really nice in agreeing to do this. But I feel so lost and sad without my iPad.

I have plans to make a calendar, which I also hope I will be able to sell, but of course I would need to have the art all ready to go by probably late October in order to get the word out and get them selling. The plan was to do a modern more MCU- like take on the marvel swimsuit edition of many years ago. I also planned to try and sell the calendar as a physical copy and also as a pdf so that people would not have to pay for shipping etc if they didn’t want to.

I am simply a sad bean until I get it back and am having my eyes open to how much I have come to rely on my iPad for drawing more so than games/watching stuff/random video making etc. Having both Dyspraxia and ADHD (and asd but those two are the most relevant here) I am very accustomed to breaking stuff, no matter how important it is to me anything I own is at risk by clumsiness and forgetfulness combined.

Regardless of all of my sadness in this post I thought I might share some of my almost finished images for the calendar to try and get some people interested (maybe) and to cheer myself up.

[spoopy-scary-skelebros]

Item Review: Sam’s Charms!

A little while back, I ordered a set of charms from Sam, who runs the @askgasterfamily​ blog.  They did such a wonderful job that I wanted to write a review for those who might be thinking of buying!

Note 2/17:  I have been informed that the shop has reopened and will remain open until all remaining charms are sold!  You can find the post with how to buy by clicking here!  There are only a limited number remaining, so make sure to have a look before they’re gone!

As usual, I will be posting the review under the ‘read more’ button so as not to have a very long post.  The images will be under the cut.  Again, I’m sorry for those on mobile, please forgive!  Now, on to the review!

Item Quality: The charms look to be made of high quality acrylic and are very durable.  My cat decided to snatch the Sans charm from me, and it’s still in perfect condition.  Each charm has 2 sides, one that looks to be from happy times, and the other seems to be a result of bad times.  The straps can be removed, and there are little stars attached to each strap that just make them all the more adorable.  They are about 2 inches tall, and are the perfect size to use as a phone charm or for any other electronic (I’m putting the Gaster charm on my ipad, and the Sans Charm on my phone).  The company that they used to have them made did a very good job of making these to last a while.

Image Quality:  My goodness, Sam did an excellent job on these 2.  I’m going to be ordering the Papyrus charm when the store reopens, so I’ll make remarks about him later on.  I absolutely love how they designed these charms to have a good and bad side on each (or in Pap’s case, a cool side).  The Pre-Fall Gaster I received has his cracks reversed due to a flipping issue, but even with the flipped design, I have found that the art is amazing and you can tell Sam put a lot of work into these designs.

Item Price:  I am going based on the prices that I saw when I first ordered, when the shop reopens, prices may change.  I am unsure of what Sam will be doing with that.  The charms I received were (in US Dollars) $8 for one charm, $14 for 2 charms, and $20 for 3 charms. 

Shipping Price: Shipping was a flat $3 per order that was shipped in the US, and $10 for international shipping.  In all, I ended up paying $17 for these lovely items.  I find that this is a very fair price for these charms based on the item’s quality.

Other Notes: Since the charms’ straps can be removed, be careful when doing so.  That way, you won’t lose the pretty stars attached to the charms.  Also, Sam drew little doodles for the people who ordered the first batch.  I asked for a baby Sans and I was not disappointed.  I made so many happy noises when I saw the little baby thanking me for ordering.  It made my day!  They also included some little Valentine’s candy, and were considerate enough to post allergy info on the note I was given.  That was a very nice touch and it made me happy that Sam thought of that when sending the items.

Overall:  I absolutely love these little guys!  If you like charms and have the money, I would definitely recommend Sam’s charms.  They are an amazing artist and deserve happiness in all they do.  Even if you can’t purchase anything, would you please reblog this so others can see how wonderful an artist Sam is?

Thank you so much for reading!  May you have a wonderful day and may good luck follow you everywhere.

[thisgeekyteacher]

October. That was a month… And November has been so brutal that this is coming supremely late in the day! But back to October: Two jobs, one crashed and burned the other one stuck, so I can now say I work in London, how surreal is that… I commute on the tube, there is a boy, a routine is slowly coming into being, and all these wonderful people I have known all over the world are popping up all over London. I’ve no idea how life works, but it does so in mysterious ways, that’s for sure!

HEADLINE OF THE MONTH

October has been another month of fact buried deep under the weight of untruths, opinion posing as fact, and illusion. In the run up to the US mid-term election, the world has been watching the already sinking ship be battered by ever more waves of racism, anti-semitism and white supremacy, all wrapped up in the neat package that is “Make America Great Again.” At time of writing, the results of the mid-terms have been coming though, and the Democrats have taken a majority in the house.

In a world where borders are becoming increasingly meaningless, no matter what Trump and company are trying make people believe, I take a vested interest in what’s going on across the pond. As of today, whilst by no means a fix in any stretch of the imagination, things are looking a little brighter for our friends in the states.

It’s a start.

FOOD / DRINK

Having a job is an amazing way of getting the diet (by which I mean regular meal times, because diet, who’s she? I don’t know her!) My month hasn’t been completely bereft of food or cooking, however, but I am ashamed to say that there is a lack of photographs – what kind of blogger have I become (one who is remedying this in Novembers post, that’s what kind, but for now imagination will have to suffice.)

First up, the Thai round the corner. A few minutes walk from the homestead is a pub-come-Thai restaurant by the name of Latymers, which is as good as the Thai round the corner from my flat in Hong Kong. The food is good, the atmosphere is great and the staff are so utterly delightful I wish I could go more frequently just to see them! A Thai Red Curry is always my default, however they’re also surprisingly easy to get wrong. I’m please to say that the Red Curry at Latymers is everything you could wish for (I always have the beef) and Ali informs me that the Pad Thai is on point also.

I think it was early October I ended up in Neal’s Yard with my sister. It was time for food and as we were in the area, went to the Wild Food Cafe. The food was utterly delicious and we felt very virtuous. Neither of us are vegan or vegetarian, but we appreciate our veggies and good, seasonal, healthy food. The menu has changed since we went, so I won’t bore you with the details, but I highly recommend checking it out. Take a friend and share so you can try lots of things!

One delight I have found, in returning to the UK, has been brunch. There is nothing like a full English for making your Sunday great, and there’s a fantastic wee place near the boy’s that’s that good we’ve made return visits. My stomach is not enough of a bottomless pit for me to handle the supreme breakfast, or whatever it’s called, on my own, but it’s well worth it, and the boy makes no complaints at having extras!!

Cooking wise, it’s still been pretty simple. Honey ginger chicken is a regular, Chili con carne is back on the rotational menu, spiralised courgette salad was a thing for a week, and parsnip and butternut squash soup has been made. My cooking is still haphazard as I’m still (well into November) lacking a solid routine, but I’m, closer than I was!

READING & WRITING

When it comes to reading, I’m having a bit of a love-hate battle with the tube. On the one hand, you have a designated reading slot thrust into your lap. On the other hand, I’m still enough of a noob to the London Underground that I dare not read for fear of zoning out and missing my stop. I find I get quickly engrossed and miss a handful of stops. I’ve not overshot my stop yet, but I have a feeling it will happen one day.

Despite this inner battle, I have managed to get a fair bit of reading done this month – some old favourites (which is apparently a weird thing to do, re-reading books…) and some new ones.

Matthew Reilly has been high on my reading list, with the newest Jack West Jr. book, ‘Three Secret Cities‘, being released on Thursday November 8th in the UK (I’m going to go ahead and assume it’s already out by the time this is published) I’ve been re-reading the earlier books, and other Matthew Reilly books too.

I forced one of his books, ‘Temple’, upon the boy. I think it’s a pretty good introduction into Reilly’s world of fast-paced, action-movie-in-a-book fiction. A stand alone that weaves a modern day and historical narrative together, it was demolished within no time – and to my shame it was taking me a lot longer to read a book in the same time frame! The Reilly books I’ve read this month are, in no particular order, ‘Four Legendary Kingdoms’, ‘Six Sacred Stones’ and ‘Area 7′, the latter being the second Shane Schofield book.

Other books I’ve read this month include, in fiction, Ruth Hogan’s ‘The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes‘ and Mo Hayder’s ‘Birdman‘, and in non-fiction ‘Natives‘ by Akala.

There has also been much reading of cookbooks after the discovery that was Leon, a fast food joint in the UK which is utterly delicious. And yes, cookbooks are their own separate category. It was the ‘Little Leon: Lunchbox‘ that kicked it off, and the possession of an iPad consolidated. I have a lot of cooking to do… and if I were to recommend any Leon books to you, they would be ‘Leon: Fast and Free‘ and ‘Leon: Family and Friends’.

  WORK

So, I have a job. Phew!

I actually love my job. A bit of researching, a bit of writing, a lot of learning about all sorts of new things, and a lot of stuff I can’t put here.

But that’s ok, because this blog is for other things. So in a work related sense for the teachers out there, I’m working on updating my Narnia Winter Camp, and (finally) making templates for my felt advent calendar. I’ve been using mine for years before finally getting round to this! But, it is the season, after all.

Look out for posts on these coming soon!

TV / FILM

Honestly, I’ve barely watched anything. There’s been much Star Trek (again) some Doctor Who (because UK Netflix rocks) and Stephen Colbert, naturally!

There are a millions and one things I’m keen to watch, should I ever get round to it… but we’ll see!

ACTIVITY

London is full of so much stuff it’s overwhelming, and blink and you miss it. Unless you know people. One of the most amazing things I saw this month, and possibly ever, was the Thomas Cole exhibition in the National Gallery. Ali took me, wanting to see the paintings in person. I had no idea who this guy was, let alone anything about the series of paintings in question.

They were incredible.

Not only is he an incredible landscape artist – the way he captured the afternoon light on the aqueduct outside Rome was as good as any photograph, but the depth of detail, and the brutal yet ethereal constant truth of The Course of Empire series, leaves an impression that still has not been shaken.

If you are ever lucky enough to see them for yourself, I highly recommended you go.

Another art museum I visited in October was the Tate Modern. Not the easiest to navigate, but full of some fascinating and varied artwork. The Magic Realism exhibition particularly resonated with me. Feature art from Weimar Germany, it’s fascinating, disturbing and so, so compelling you can’t look away. I still need to get my hands on the book of 5 essays that accompanies the exhibition.

Another exploratory trip with Ali was to the Cutty Sark, a former tea clipper. She is an utterly beautiful ship, a masterful piece of engineering combining all the beauty of a wooden ship with the industrial nature of steel as nautical engineering moved into the Industrial Age.

She has been beautifully preserved, and it’s amazing being able to clamber about her and go in and out of her cabins. It helps when your pal is a wee bit of an encyclopaedia giving you all the cool info (no, I’m not going to tell you – where’s the fun in that!)

We went home via a Thames ferry, which gave us a totally different view of London, driech day though it was, and it was fascinating seeing all the through ways, doorways and passageways that are still here or blocked up on the banks of the Thames. You just don’t see them when you’re on land and, pricier though it is, I would highly recommend a wee trip on the Thames if you can!

CRAFT

The limit of my crafting this month has been my letter writing. I’ve not had the time, or the wakeful brain, to do much else. It’s a slow return to form, and it’s been knocked back by life in recent weeks, but slowly and surely the creative buzz is returning and I’m desperate to let it run wild! Watch this space. I hope.

MUSIC

Autumn brings with it a rush of releases. I don’t know if that’s because of Christmas, or if the summer months are more conducive to creativity or song writing (I say that like there are rules to how long it takes to write an album) but hands down the best release – or acquisition for October – has been SIX. It absolutely has to be the first to go in here, because oh my days, what an album! Telling the stories of Henry VIII’s six wives, it’s clever, funny, insightful, packed with cracking tunes, and if I were still teaching, I’d be working this into a class (there goes that creativity, and hopefully worksheets will be coming to a post soon!!!)

Six is, for me, one of the best musicals I’ve heard since Hamilton. It’s touring the UK just now, and will be back in London after Christmas. I can’t wait to go and see it on stage! Until then, you can find me busting out ‘House Of Holbein‘ (and ‘Couldn’t Get It Up‘ from Hot Gay Time Machine, another cracking tune, I highly recommend.)

Outwith music from the stage, there have been some stellar releases this month, some I know I’ve missed, like the new Black Eyed Peas. There have been offerings from Twenty One Pilots, You Me At Six, KT Tunstall, Monsta X, Stray Kids, Ella Mai, Jess Glynn, Tom Odell, BoA, Lukas Graham, Zion. T, IZ*ONE, among many others, and an honorary mention goes to Christine and the Queens, as I’ve only been listening to the new album solidly since early October, so I’m counting it despite its September release.

There’s too many to go through them all individually, but I think it’s about time for another Mixtape Monday post!

FASHION & BEAUTY

I’m going to be honest, I am all at sea trying to deal with a British autumn, and one in London, which carries it’s own set of challenges. One day it’s warm, the next it’s freezing, but I’m still not sure it’s cold enough to warrant the layers, and thickness thereof, that I see on the tube any given day. My Northern Pride as returned with a vengeance. It’s pretty much been rotating striped jumpers… I’m a woman of simple tastes (in bright colours…)

Makeup wise, I’m holding on to my Korean faves, but have also moved on to The Ordinary. At my sisters persuasion, we headed off to Covent Garden (the same day as Neal’s Yard, in fact) and she wheeled me into The Ordinary store. I’ve been using their hyaluronic acid, foundation and primer for the about a month now, and they really are excellent. It’s the best primer I’ve ever used, my skin is better than it’s been in quite some time, and they’re so affordable! 10/10 would recommend.

I’ve also been enjoying the BaByliss Tight Curls Wand. This little baby makes tiny curls, that stay in your hair and fall out beautifully. It may take a hour to curl my hair, but it’s worth it (well, debatable, but I’m sold!)

MISC.

It’s hard to think of any miscellaneous items or events when most of your time has been spent job hunting, working, sleeping or just trying to re-assimilate back into your home country – not the easiest of walks in the park, I can tell you.

If I’m pushed, what shall go here is my lamp. Because, you know, buying a lamp is a sign you’re staying put in a country!

The lamp in my room peaced out early in the month, and Ali picked out it’s replacement before I did (I mean, she is an Architect with an on-point interior design eye!)

So, yes, I have a lamp (mine has a grey shade) it’s beautiful, and it’s good to be home.

  If you fancy keeping this geeky teacher running, chip in for that finest of energy juices: coffee!

Best of… |October 2018 October. That was a month... And November has been so brutal that this is coming supremely late in the day!

[phantasisingyou-blog]

Hamilton Asks

1) Alexander Hamilton - What’s your name? Lucy 
2) Aaron Burr, Sir - Are you extroverted or introverted? Introverted 
3) My Shot - What do you want to do with your life? No clue but I want to make some impact 
4) The Story of Tonight - Do you want to be famous? I would not mind but it is not my goal 
5) The Schuyler Sisters - Do you have siblings? Yes, a sister 
6) Farmer Refuted - Are you a pacifist? Not strongly but I believe war does not solve anything and it is a waste so yeaaa 
7) You’ll Be Back - Have you ever been dumped? No 
8) Righthand Man - Who would you ride or die for? My best friends and family 
9) A Winter’s Ball - Do you consider yourself attractive? Nah mate but when Im feeling down I remind myself that someone probably does i guess 
10) Helpless - Do you believe in love at first sight? Yea boi 
11) Satisfied - Have you ever wanted someone you can’t have? All. The. Damn. Time. 
12) The Story of Tonight (Reprise) - Do you want to get married? Maybe, if it fees right 
13) Wait for It - Do you believe in destiny? Not really but it is a nice concept 
14) Stay Alive - Has anyone ever stood up on your behalf? Think so 
15) Ten Duel Commandments - Do you have a motto or code you live by? Be kind and loving even if surrounded by hate 
16) Meet Me Inside - Have you ever been suspended from school or work? Nope 
17) That Would Be Enough - What do you need to be happy? Bed, music, crisps, someone to cuddle 
18) Guns and Ships - What’s the best gift you’ve ever received? Hard one... probably my iPad as I use it so much social and work wise 
19) History Has Its Eyes on You - What is your biggest mistake? No clue. I get annoyed that i didnt start dance at a young age starting so late has held me back but not BIGGEST mistake 
20) Yorktown - What is your greatest accomplishment? Dont have one... 
21) What Comes Next - Do you keep in contact with your exes? No but i havent dated since I was little so doesnt really count anyway 
22) Dear Theodosia - Do you want children? Very torn. 
23) Nonstop - What’s something you’re good at? Art 
24) What’d I Miss - Have you ever lived in a different country than where you live now? No, i really want to 
25) Cabinet Battle #1 - Do you think the rights of the individual should be prioritized over the needs of the community? Oh damn. Really depends on the situation but I think there needs to be a balance and it is usually good to please the majority so maybe community? 
26) Take a Break - What’s the farthest distance you’ve ever traveled from home? Greece (with family) Yorkshire (by myself) I live London 
27) Say No to This - What is your opinion on prostitution? No opinion really. Im very against the abuse that can come with it but if it is non abusive and both are happy I see nothing wrong 
28) The Room Where It Happens - Do you want to work in politics? Slightly but in reality no 
29) Schuyler Defeated - Have you ever been betrayed by a friend? Yeah 30) Cabinet Battle #2 - Do you prefer to mind your own business or get involved in other people’s drama? Love. Drama. 
31) Washington On Your Side - Who is your biggest supporter? My sister? 
32) One Last Time - Where do you want to retire to? Either want to stay in city like London or New York or go to countryside 
33) I Know Him - Are you petty? P. E. To the. T. T. YYYY. 
34) The Adams Administration - Who do you hate most in the whole world? TRUMP. 
35) We Know - Have you ever been accused of doing something you didn’t do? Yeaaaa 
36) Hurricane - Have you ever experienced a natural disaster? Nope well nearly got caught in forest fire? Doesnt count but most i got 
37) The Reynolds Pamphlet - Have you ever published anything? Nope but would be fun! 
38) Burn - Would you stay with someone who cheated on you? Maybe if they were drunk but otherwise no way 
39) Blow Us All Away - Have you ever fired a gun? No 
40) Stay Alive (Reprise) - What’s the worst injury you’ve ever had? Cant decide between 2 (1) really bad cut into my leg like VERY BAD which also came with internal bruising and stuff (2) popped out shoulder which is just painful 
41) It’s Quiet Uptown - How do you deal with the loss of a loved one? Just feels strange as at a certain point in life they were so important to you then they just suddenly disappeared - a shame 
42) The Election of 1800 - Who would you choose to lead your country? Well lol. I would strive for equality 
43) Your Obedient Servant - Who in your life has hurt you the most? No clue 
44) Best of Wives and Best of Women - Who in the world do you admire the most? Dont have one person but all people fighting bad which is MANY but yknow.. 
45) The World Was Wide Enough - Are you a forgiving person? Yes 
46) Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story - What do you want to be remembered for? My kindness and my achievements BONUS QUESTIONS 47) Valley Forge - What’s been the worst experience of your life so far? Very bad existential crisis 
48) Tomorrow There’ll Be More of Us - Is there a cause you would die for? No, i dont believe in that 
49) No John Trumbull - Do you work better alone or in groups? I like to think i work better in groups but im unproductive so i work better solo 
50) Let It Go - What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? Not sure. Patience is a virtue 
51) One Last Ride - What’s your favorite line in a song? Im not as think as your drunk i am Just cracks me up 
52) Congratulations - What is the biggest thing you’ve ever had to give up? Cant think of anything major 
53) Dear Theodosia (Reprise) - Do you think you could be a single parent? Yea 
54) Cabinet Battle #3 - Is there something you know you’re hypocritical about Everything