#some of the designs are fun and theres definitely moments worth making art for

[vintelly]

ngl every day since season 2 of arcane ended i've erred more and more on the side of "hm that wasn't very good was it"

[ajdrawshq]

3, 9, 23 :D

u know u did smth right when i have to re-look up how to do readmores on mobile for an ask cksbxjsbn

3 - 1-3 games you've played in the past 12 months that you really enjoyed

Omori, Radiant Historia, and Octopath Traveler (in that order)!! and probably several more that im currently forgetting bc the last few months felt like years. i saw Omori on game pass n since i remembered seeing the occasional post abt it i decided to try it out and man!!!! good fucking game!!!!! i dont talk abt it often bc theres very little i can say abt it that hasnt already been said, but it means a lot to me - both the games messages and the world n characters. i even got some new mutuals out of it :3 then Radiant Historia.. i could say a million things abt this game and i Have (most of which is still in my drafts) but god i wish more ppl knew abt this thing. it has its flaws for sure but it does some stuff ive never seen in other games, or not quite the way they do it. n im super attached to the characters <3 probably one of my favorite time travel games by far. and then!!! Octopath Traveler!!!! my most recent beloved.. i did Not think id like it as much as i do but now im very not normal abt it. its such a gorgeous game both in story and the general Vibe of it all its just so <3

9 - A game you played completely blind with no prior knowledge of and enjoyed/loved

definitely octopath. i didnt know Anything going into this game other than that someone recommended it to me bc i also like radiant historia so there had to be some kinda similarity there. going into it, i wasnt sure how following 8 seperate characters and 8 seperate storylines would work nor did i think the endgame would tie them all togther that well, if at all. starting up the game wasnt the most interesting, like when ur going around collecting all 8 characters for the first time and trying to keep up with em all, BUT!! its the kinda game that gets good if u put the time and effort into it and before long i already had 100 hours in. after a while i got really attached to the main team id been using and the other 4 were just as interesting, even the ones i didnt expect to like much?? i adore all the different dynamics within this funny lil ragtag found family so much and all their individual stories.. and everything else is incredible too!! the music is SO fucking good its literally all live orchestrations (and all the musicians are credited too!!) and the boss themes and town themes and route themes are all gorgeous. the graphics are fucking ridiculous, like this game has the best water graphics ive ever seen and that is not an exaggeration in the slightest, and the snow is so so pretty, and the blur effects.. mwah. the overworld pixel art is cute and the enemy/boss pixel art is suprisingly beautiful and detailed. the level design for dungeon-esque areas made treasure hunting fun and i like having to search for hidden pathways in a game built in such a different way than im used to (tho i still have yet to find a way to certain treasure chests >:/). and the gameplay - ive never seen an rpg with set characters that is as flexible as this. u can literally build any character any way and it will be perfectly usable and that is so awesome to me. like theres definitely some optimized builds, but if u wanna make the heavy hitting physical tank guy into a magic dps machine there is nothing stopping u. and he Will kick ass. the gameplay is straight up made for u to do whatever u want with it. the whole world is entirely at ur fingertips. anyway very cute game highly recommend it <3

also worth mentioning are omori, 999, and kh3, but only to some extent bc i technically knew at least Some stuff beforehand for each game but not enough to like. Know. yknow

23 - A "wow" moment of awe

ohhh ive been wanting to talk abt this for a while now thank u for enabling me. in octopath traveler, a Big moment for me was entering the .. spoilery true ending area. ive played a lot of games by now. there are very, very few that have 1. made me genuinely worried about a side character ive met 3 times total n had little more than neutral feelings about and 2. made me feel Actual Dread upon entering an area. the vibe is incredible. first going to a place thats talked about only in tales of a recent tragedy, where there is almost no sound, no life, nothing but burnt, abandoned remains, a save point, and an entrance. and when you actually go inside.. good god. the music is haunting. just the very place is haunting - quite literally!! and the massive lore drops along the way,, man. Man. theres a fuck ton of stuff they just drop on you all at once (some ppl dont like the massive infodump style and im usually the same but i was so fucked up by it i actually absorbed it all lmao), but One Specific Reveal alone was its own wow moment and i havent fully recovered from it. and then the final fucking boss(es)???? hello?????? and the fact that within the eye you can even see (spoiler)........ oughhh. and thats not even mentioning the leadup to it all - the hints are somewhat obvious as you complete each characters ending, but they dont really tie together until you find the diaries. some are more subtle, like the previously mentioned reveal that continues to fuck me up whenever i think about it and i have yet to recover from the whole thing. yes the true endgame is ridiculous and hard as shit and everyone hates doing it. yes its one of the most awe striking moments ive ever felt in a game and i wish i could do it again without the literal suffering that comes with it. no its not even worth it but id do it. yes i am so fucking normal about this game

i also need to mention 999, aitsf, and stella glow here bc holy fuck the three of them deserve it. ive talked abt the first two at some point on their own (the safe ending........ that fucking safe ending!!!!!!!!!!) n i dont have it in me to do a whole thing on stella glow after that ^ so just. trust me on this. ill probably rant abt it at some point its really one hell of a game. oh also ffxv but specifically bc of like the first cutscene where it shows the chocobros getting ready to leave bc that was the first time since id played kh1 and kh2 thatd id seen such pretty looking graphics n characters

[stokan]

Top 20 Things of 2018

1.) Beychella How do you make a long awaited surprise album between two of the biggest names in music that is also one of the year’s best feel like complete afterthought? Set the bar as high as Beyonce’s Coachella appearance.

First awards show performances, then music videos, now music festival gigs: is there anything that Beyonce CAN’T turn into high art?

2.) Explained by Vox The most exciting development in the world of television in 2018 was radically breaking the rules on episodes length. We saw 30 minute dramas, and hour long comedies. We got shows like Maniac where episodes were as long as 49 minutes and as short as 27 minutes. Now television creators can tell exactly the stories they want to tell in however much time they want to tell them in. And perhaps nowhere were these loosened restrictions taken better advantage than Explained, Vox’s documentary series for Netflix. Many topics cant sustain a full length documentary, but, say, 14 minutes explaining cryptocurrency to me? Sure! 17 minutes on designer DNA? Sounds great! 20 minutes on the origins of K-Pop? How do you say “yes please” in Korean? Every episode has a different narrator, a different look, a different feel, and varies wildly in subject matter. Yet they are all exactly the length they need to be. The only thing left I really need explained to me is why no one thought to make this series before.

3.) Serial Season 3 If Explained was a great example of the latest evolution in television, then the new season of Serial is at the front line of the evolution of our newest artistic medium: podcasts. Serial’s third season was nothing like its second, which was in turn nothing like its first. It’s a series still figuring out what it CAN be, while now defining forever what it NEEDS to be. Serial this year explained a deeply important topic in a way that wouldn’t have been possible through any other medium. They always say if you’re a writer you have to ask yourself what form of writing your idea needs to be. Don’t write a play that’s really a TV show, or a movie that should be a book. And now we can add to that don’t make a TV series that’s really a podcast. As Homecoming proved this year, the two mediums are very different and better equipped to tell different stories. And after hearing Serial Season Three I can’t imagine there will ever be a better way to explore the current American criminal justice system. It was 2018’s version of Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle. It may not change national food safety standards, but it hopefully will do something perhaps even more important: it will make us never again take lightly the election of local judges and sheriffs. It was a podcast for the heart, the head, and the time capsule.

4.) Black Mirror - “Hang the DJ” I know this technically came out December 29th 2017 but I’m counting it here because nothing was more 2018 than this. The sadness, the isolation, the uncertainty, the living in a world you don’t understand the rules of anymore, the unfairness of modern life, but the ultimate perseverance of hope and love: it’s all there in the best episode of Black Mirror’s third season. It made me cry out of sadness and happiness in equal measure. Could anything be more 2018 than that?

5.) Kesha at the Grammys Ok so maybe one thing was more 2018.

The Grammys, an organization led by Neil Portnow, a man who said this year that “women need to step up”, and an organization that didn’t offer its one female Album of the Year nominee a solo performance spot, also offered us 2018’s most powerful show of female solidarity and one of the most moving moments of the Me Too era. It all amounted to the perfect encapsulation of this year. Kesha scream crying and then collapsing into a sea of strong supportive women WAS 2018.

6.) Eighth Grade My favorite movie of the year was also the year’s best horror movie. It was so real, and visceral, and intense, and frightening that at times I literally had to remind myself to breathe. I watched at least half the movie through my fingers and on the edge of my seat. Proving what everyone who has lived through it already knows: there’s nothing in the world more terrifying than being in junior high.

7.) Big Mouth Speaking of junior high, the other side of the pain and trauma of growing up is humor, so why it took this long for someone to make a comedy series explicitly about puberty is beyond me. I guess, of course, making a show like this work is a fine needle to thread. It wouldn’t work without being animated and being on a streaming service that lets them go as far as they did. It wouldn’t work without writing that is both laugh out loud funny and deeply compassionate and human in equal measure. And it wouldn’t work without one of the best voice casts on TV, including a true tour de force from Maya Rudolph. But work does it ever. In a just world junior high health class homework would be simply watching this show.

8.) Emma Gonzalez speech Here’s how long 2018 was: this was from 2018.

Finishing off my personal 2018 Growing Up Trifecta is the most powerful 12 minutes of the year. That high school students could be more inspiring, articulate, and better leaders than the President of the United States is sadly, at this point, a given. But that they are now more effective and efficient than him at starting genuine political movements still feels revolutionary. The kids are our future, and our future has never looked brighter.

9.) Childish Gambino - “This is America” video 100 years from now if theres only one cultural artifact that still exists and is still remembered from 2018 this will be it. A “you know where you were the first time you saw it” level cultural event. No song will ever be more closely associated with its music video, and no music video will ever be more of an avatar for an entire cultural moment than this. THIS is, of course, a truly shocking and horrifying (in a good way) music video from the former fifth lead of the TV show Community. A profound and brilliant piece of art underscored by a fun-sounding dance song. The year’s most complex and important social-political message delivered in 4 minutes via YouTube. This is America indeed.

10.) Drake - “God’s Plan” video While Donald Glover may have perfected the music video as art form, it goes without saying that long ago Drake mastered the music video as promotional tool. And in that sense the music video for “God’s Plan” seems like minor failure. It seemed to sort of come and go from the culture, especially in light of the success of the In My Feelings Challenge. But for me, there was nothing more heartwarming and human this year than watching Drake give away almost a million dollars to strangers. It was an idea so simple it’s shocking no one had ever done it before. And so affecting I was shocked it didn’t seem to penetrate the public consciousness more. There’s so much going on at all times now it’s hard for anything to truly break through all the noise, but this really deserved to. It’s impossible to watch this without smiling, and is there anything 2018 needed more than that?

11.) Nanette The dumbest debate this year was whether or not Nanette was stand up. Form and genre aren’t delineators still worth discussing in 2018. It’s now only about the message and the messenger, everything else is just details. An important fresh voice, the most timely, and sadly, timeless message imaginable, delivered in a way that reached and deeply affected seemingly every person you knew? What is there to debate? Nanette may or may not be stand up comedy, but it’s definitely RISE UP comedy. And in the end, that’s all that matters.

12.) Amber Says What Please click on the link above. The final two minutes are by far the best comedy of 2018. It still makes me laugh so hard that it causes me physical pain. You’ve been warned.

13.) A Star is Born trailers A Star is Born is maybe a perfect film. The performances, the songs, the direction, the fact that there’s literally no human being on earth who could have played her part and made the movie work like it did other than Lady Gaga. It was all perfect. But there was actually something better than watching A Star is Born: anticipating watching a A Star is Born. Before the first A Star is Born trailer came out I thought the whole project sounded dumb and unnecessary. After I finished watching the first trailer I knew I was going to see A Star is Born opening night. True story: I was at a movie where the same A Star is Born trailer got played three times in a row for some reason. And it was riveting every time. There was no grumbling at all in the audience, and I for one was sad when it didn’t replay a fourth time. So as much as I loved A Star is Born what I would really love is be able to still want to see A Star is Born for the first time.

14.) Ariana Grande - “thank u, next” It’s genuinely impressive that a song released in November could be the song I listened to by far the most this year. Somehow it took less than two months for this song to feel completely ubiquitous. Hell, even the PHRASE “thank u, next” is omnipresent now. Forget Song of the Summer, this was maybe our first Song of the Winter. Which is perfect because has a hit pop song ever sounded more winter? It’s cold, but it keeps you warm. It’s the sadness of the holidays with the life reaffirming joy of the holiday season. It’s a sweater for you to wear on the dance floor. And it’s clearly exactly the song so many of us needed. No matter how many times I’ve heard it (and as I said, I’ve listened to it, uh, A LOT) its existence feels like a holiday miracle. Having a new and fresh take on the breakup song in the year 2018? That shit IS amazing.

15.) The proposal at the Emmys This is literally the only thing anyone remembers about this year’s Emmys. It was amazing, and special, and made anyone who watched it believe in true love. But for me it still cant touch the most heart-melting awards show moment of all time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCJrku4fSxk

(Was this whole entry just an excuse to link to one of my absolute favorite YouTube clips? Perhaps.)

16.) Succession When I saw the promos for Succession I literally made the sound UGH out loud. The last thing the world needs is another show about rich white people behaving badly, I thought. How could there possibly be anything original left to say on that topic? Who on earth is still greenlighting shows like this in The Year of our Lord 2018?

People much smarter than I am clearly, that’s who.

Because from writing, acting, production design, direction - whatever element you want to focus on - this was the best and most exciting new show of 2018 by a wide margin. People have been saying for years that TV is the new movies; this show made movies look like the old TV. It was the most vibrant and perfectly crafted big budget feature film of 2018, stretched out over 8 episodes on HBO. Did it have anything new and important to say about the world? Probably not. And turns out, I couldn’t have cared less. The phrase compulsively watchable might have been invented just to describe the world these actors and writers created. I would watch the team involved with this show dry paint. 

17.) Angels in America on Broadway Angels in America is the best play of the past 30 years and its not even close. So the fact that it would get a production that’s this good is just unfair for everyone else on this planet who makes theater. It was so good it made all other plays I’ve seen since seem small and cheap and unimportant. It was such a towering achievement that it has made the entire rest of theater as an art form seem insignificant by comparison. When you hear old people talk about seeing Brando in Streetcar or watching the original production of Death of Salesman I now can relate to what they are talking about. I’ll be thinking about Andrew Garfield’s final monologue for the rest of my life. It was unfair that we the audience had to all leave the theater when the lights finally came up and that we couldn’t all just live in that feeling forever. The eight hours I spent watching this play are what art is all about.

18.) Jesse Plemons in Game Night If dying is easy, and comedy is hard, then they should cancel the Oscars and give Jesse Plemmons Best Supporting Actor right now for his work in Game Night. And ok, maybe it wasn’t the BEST performance of 2018, but it was DEFINITELY the best performance relative to what it needed to be. It should have been a dumb throwaway part in a big-budget mainstream ensemble comedy. But Jesse Plemmons crafted a performance so strange and singular and memorable that it elevated the entire movie into something way better than I’m sure even its creators expected. I legitimately don’t know how everyone didn’t break in every one of his scenes. It’s a master class in the comedic power of silence. It should be studied in acting classes everywhere. And 20 years from now when Game Night is considered a comedy classic, Jesse Plemmons will be the main reason why. You heard it here first.

19.) The 1975 - A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships Saxophones? Electric guitar solos? Backing choirs? A concept album about being uncomfortable with the internet? Dumb pretentious song titles? This album couldn’t be any more in my wheelhouse if I made it myself. Its best song is basically a modern reimagining of “We Didn’t Start the Fire” for God’s sake!

For me this wasn’t just an album, it was an experience. It was big music to get lost inside of. And I did. At age 36 it’s nice to know that sometimes I can still feel 16. And it’s fitting that a band named The 1975 would be the ones to make music that’s so transporting.

20.) Emma Stone Ok so as someone who once argued in this very space that Emma Stone deserved an Oscar nomination for Easy A, it’s clear I’m pretty deep in the tank for Emma Stone. But even an Emma Stone hater would have to admit than this was a banner year for Emma Stone. Signing up for the insane acting challenge that was Maniac and completely acing it while totally exposing two-time Oscar nominee Jonah Hill in the process? Going toe to toe with Olivia Colman in the battle of the best acting performances of the year in The Favourite? Coming across as more charming than Jennifer freaking Lawrence ?!?

2018 was Emma Stone’s year, we were all just living in it.

[comicteaparty]

April 1st-April 7th, 2019 CTP Archive

The archive for the Comic Tea Party week long chat that occurred from April 1st, 2019 to April 7th, 2019.  The chat focused on Stomp! by Brodnork.

Featured Comment:

Chat:

RebelVampire

COMIC TEA PARTY- WEEK LONG BOOK CLUB START!

Hello and welcome everyone to Comic Tea Party’s Week Long Book Club~! This week we’ll be focusing on Stomp! by Brodnork~! (http://stompwebcomic.com/)

You are free to read and comment about the comic all week at your own pace, so stop on by whenever it suits your schedule! Remember, though, that while we allow constructive criticism, our focus is to have fun and appreciate the comic. Below you will find four questions to get you started on the discussion. However, a new question will be posted and pinned everyday (between 12:01AM and 6AM PDT), so keep checking back for more! You have until April 7th to tell us all your wonderful thoughts! With that established, let’s get going on the reading and the chatting!

QUESTION 1. What has been your favorite scene in the comic so far? What specifically did you like about it?

QUESTION 2. What do you believe is in the box Silvergammel gives Stomp at the beginning of the story? Do you believe the box will open soon, or will it still be a while? What do you think will happen when it does open?

Brodnork

Hi! I was just caught up in setting up my April Fools gag on twitter that I completely forgot this was happening today

RebelVampire

ironically yours is the gag that reminded me of the date cause i super had to double check i was tagging the right account on twitter cause i was so confused XD

Brodnork

Haha thats fair

It's actually a super convenient time for this sort of discussion, seeing as a chapter just ended and it's on a small hiatus for a bit.

RebelVampire

QUESTION 3. At the moment, who is your favorite character? What about that character earns them this favor?

QUESTION 4. How do you think Tandrad and Inkcrest are doing? What do you think happened in regards to the Hooligrin paying a visit to Tandrad ominously? What role might Tandrad have to play in the story?

RebelVampire

1) my favorite scene this time i think is when they go to the moon and defeat the queen. i enjoy the humor that shes just so flat out fed up with them no amount of revenge is worth it. i just also love the simple aesthetic changes as well cause despite being simple, they really convey that feeling of alienness. 2) i mean the devil's advocate is the obvious choice. maybe its not tho. maybe its the deus ex machina that will save the die. like baby pictures of the hooligrin that can be used as blackmail. i feel itll still be a while before it comes into play, and i feel too stomp himself probably forgot about it. as for what will happen when it opens, probably some sort of epic fight whether related to the box or not. i also feel like silvergammel might not even know for sure whats in the box despite thinking stomp would like it.

3) Still Clomp because he's the cool one who has a dorky hat and sunglasses and i just like his overall joking sort of laid back attitude about everything. but mostly, hes the cool one. 4) Tandrad and Inkcrest are probably fine, but the theme park owners? probably not so much. Mostly becuase the Hooligrin can only be a bad influence on tandrad and probably said, "im your friend and i say you should murder them." but i think tandrad is gonna appear as an antagonist again next alongside the hooligrin and stomp will have to convince tandrad theyre still friends. then tandrad will betray hooligrin and hooligrin will curse them all while going for plan c.

Brodnork

Ooh, i like those theories about the box

RebelVampire

QUESTION 5. What has been your favorite illustration in the comic so far? What specifically about it do you like?

QUESTION 6. What aspect of the world-building have you liked the most? What future role do you believe the aliens might have to play? Further, do you think Comp will learn to control his psychic powers?

RebelVampire

5) im a huge fan of this more recent page, especially the last panel http://stompwebcomic.com/comic/214. i just adore the lighting effects on this page between the red and the glow. and i love the details on how the sword emerges with all the kind of partical spray. it definitely feels like a magical sword and like something truly amazing is happening. 6) ive really enjoyed in general just the world history. like the pirates, the hiss clickers, the alien war. i really love how this stuff is informing present day events while not being completely about it either. it makes the world feel super fleshed out without overriding whats going on. as for the aliens, im not sure theyll be coming back unless hooligrin makes even more "friends." but i do think comp is gonna pick up those psychic powers. just in the greatest time of need. hell show everyone how he can bend a spoon just like in the matrix.

Brodnork

Thanks, Im actually pretty proud of that panel but I was worried it wouldn't have the impact I wanted

ShaRose49

This is really cute so far! It feels pretty slice-of-life-y

Brodnork

Thanks! I guess it sort of is slice of life, seeing as Stomp's life kinda involves going on adventures regularly

TypewriterMark

Rey first thought is this an enormous amount of work and that should always be celebrated

RebelVampire

QUESTION 7. Which characters do you enjoy seeing interact the most? What about their dynamic interests you?

QUESTION 8. What do you think the Devil’s Advocate is? Who is the Hooligrin’s boss and why do they want it? Do you think Hooligrin does know where it is? How will this storyline continue to affect Stomp and company?

ShaRose49

Stomp and the Uncle

Omgosh they are hilarious

My fav scene was the part with the rotten eggnog and he keeps saying random things like I do when I’m tired

ShaRose49

���You’ll never take me alive.”

RebelVampire

QUESTION 9. What sorts of art or story details have you noticed in the way the comic is crafted that you think deserves attention?

QUESTION 10. Of the adventures Stomp has been on so far, which one is your favorite? What did you like about it specifically? Also, which adventure played out in a way you didn’t expect?

RebelVampire

7) the characters i probably enjoy seeing interact most are stomp and chomp. they really have such opposite attitudes about adventure, life, and the amount of safety precautions each will take. and i enjoy seeing that contrast be played around with and how inevitably, stomp is usually dragging chomp on adventures to. 8) the devil's advocate is clearly a device that just points out all the flaws in your argument. hooligrin's boss wants to use it to become the best politician in the world by weeding out all their bad arguments and understanding their political opponents better. but more seriously, probably something to summon a demon. and ya know blah blah get all that demon power to rule the world. i think hooligrin thinks he knows where it is, but i def dont think what he thinks is the correct location. and inevitably hooligrin is gonna have to go back to plan a cause stomp is the only good lead

RebelVampireLast Friday at 8:19 AM

9) i love how consistently the world design generally is. like the tree designs consistently look the same, the hiss clickers, and just like the fuzzy quality to all the creatures makes them all feel like they belong in the world. it really helps make the world feel like a cohesive and unique place all its own where characters are actually living. 10) I liked the moon adventure the most i think. I like how the shopping cart was used, how one of the main characters was tied in, and i just generally liked how the queen was defeated. cause it was sad and hilarious. as for adventures that played out in a way i didnt expect, thatd definitely be the treasure hunt one. mostly cause i thought theyd at least find something worthwhile. instead it was just danger and more danger. and yet, they were still happy cause yaay exciting adventures. plus, ya know, a flying shopping cart.

RebelVampire

QUESTION 11. What do you think are this particular comic’s strengths? What do you think makes this comic unique? Please elaborate.

QUESTION 12. What do you think Cigast was up to in the mine in regards to collecting all the crystals? How do Cigast and Silvergammel supposedly know each other? What consequences will there be for Stomp failing to stop Cigast?

RebelVampire

11) i think the comic's strength is its world-building and how it ties the world into the story. as i mentioned in an earlier question, i just really enjoy how the story makes the world feel like an actual place where characters are living. i also feel theres really a good balance in how the world is presented, as there are tons of relateable things and parodies that help connect you to the world. but even so, they are able to remain unique. but generally, theres just a lot of character to the world that feels as much a part of how the story unfolds as the rest of the story elements. 12) honestly i kind of think cigast is working with hooligrin in some manner. like not directly persay, but maybe a coworker or hooligrin's black market magic dealer. so i think stomp's failure is gonna spell trouble for stomp later in the next confrontation with hooligrin. cause if i go with my theory on cigast, then cigast is probably giving stuff to hooligrin to use. as for how cigast and silvergammel know each other, maybe they were buddies in college but then cigast went down the dark path and silvergammel didnt want to be buddies anymore and it was very sad.

Brodnork

Thanks for your comments about the world!!

RebelVampire

QUESTION 13. What are you most looking forward to in the comic? Also, do you have any final thoughts to share overall?

QUESTION 14. Do you believe Silvergammel will actually tell Stomp his stories are fake? How might this affect Stomp? Do you believe Stomp should continue adventuring anyway despite the danger? Should everyone let him?

RebelVampire

13) im looking forward to just seeing their adventures in general. i really like learning about the world they live in. but im also looking forward to stomp overcoming people's beliefs he cant go on real adventures. 14) i feel like maybe hell go for an inbetween. like say "well some of the stories arent real." mostly cause silvergammel already putting it off, so i dont trust him to for real tell stomp. but i feel this could go one of two ways. stomp will go on a big huge adventure to prove everyone wrong, or stomp will get depressed and go on a reluctant adventure. but in the long run, yeah, i think stomp will continue adventuring. not that he shouldnt be dissuaded, but stubborn is as stubborn does

RebelVampire

COMIC TEA PARTY- WEEK LONG BOOK CLUB END!

Thank you everyone so much for reading and chatting about Stomp! this week! Please also give a special thank you to Brodnork for volunteering the comic and creating it! If you liked Stomp!, make sure to continue to support it via some of the links below!

Read and Comment: http://stompwebcomic.com/

Brodnork’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Brodnork

Brodnork’s Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/A561YF0

Brodnork’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brodnork

[illfoandillfie]

Howdy! Can I get a creative block reading and a general career reading?

here you go darl!

tarot: knight of cups, 5 of cups, 6 of cups, 7 of cups, 5 of wands, queen of wands

Okay so in a creative block reading we look at both internal and external factors that might be effecting you and creating the block. You might find that one is more relevant than the other so take whatever resonates for you and if something doesn’t really fit, don’t worry about it too much. It might be worth keeping in the back of your head in case it’s predicting something yet to happen or is like a warning of sorts but y’know, it’s up to you really how much you take from this. 

So, anyway, with that out of the way, let’s start with the internal stuff. The first card represents internal difficulties that are keeping you from creating and in that position we have the knight of cups. this knight is idealistic and romantic and listens to his heart rather than his head. Generally I’d say he’s a good card to get as a creator because he is associated with creativity and imagination but obviously here there’s some other element getting in the way. To me there are two possibilities. Firstly, this knight isn’t all romance and passion. He can be moody and his mood can switch rapidly. One second he’s excited and thrilled and full of this romantic energy, and then the next  he’s emo and wondering why no one understands him and just emotionally all over the place. So if you’ve been dealing with some mood swings lately, that could be part of the block. If you’re anything like me you can find it hard to create if you aren’t in the right mood/headspace and if your mood is shifting around it’s even harder to pin the right time down and get into making whatever you’re trying to make. This is especially true if, like the knight, you tend to follow your heart. Your head might be yelling at you to just fucking sit down and start something please!! but if your emotions aren’t right or you feel like your heart isn’t in it, you’re much more likely to go do something else rather than obeying your head. The second way I could interpret this is to do with determination. This knight is idealistic and his determination to reach perfection can get in his way. It might be the same for you. There’s so much focus being put on the end result, on completing the project and how people might respond to it, rather than the process of creating and building it, that it’s keeping you from properly working on it. If you have more expectations about the end result then there’s more ways it can go “wrong” and that makes it easier to talk yourself out of actually doing the damn thing. 

The next card represents what you need to change in your attitude to get through this block. Here we have the 5 of cups. This card is about self-pity and thinking about the “maybes” In focusing on making something ~perfect~ you’re leading yourself to disappointment and self-pity when it doesn’t immediately meet those standards. You’re too preoccupied with what’s not “right” or what could go wrong that you’re not seeing the good parts of it, the parts you should be proud of. You need to switch up your way of thinking so that you can put aside the what ifs and maybes and any doubts you have about your abilities to make what you want. Stop pitying yourself, stop lamenting your lack of natural talent, stop picking out every little flaw you see, and instead focus on the good things. focus on how you might make something better than what you first imagined, or how much fun you can have trying to make your idea a reality! Flip the script a bit and you’ll free yourself up and be more open to actually working on your project. 

So that’s the internal but let’s look at the external. 

The seven of swords here represents any external difficulties that are keeping you from creating. Interestingly, the suit of swords is related to the mind and thoughts so it’s a bit odd that this card has popped out in relation to the external world. Now, the 7 of swords is about deception and trickery. It’s generally related to lying and manipulating and sneaking around. Because this position is talking about external difficulties it might be that there are people or a person who’s behaviour is negatively effecting you. If you’re living with someone who can be kind of manipulative or sneaky they may be making it hard for you to feel creative. My first thought was someone who tries to coerce you into leaving what you’re doing to hang out with them or possibly someone who likes to snoop through your belongings and you worry they’ll find your works in progress before you’re ready for them to be seen. 

The next card is things you can physically or practically do to combat this external block. And here we have the 5 of wands which symbolises conflict. I don’t want to tell you to fight this person but.....

no, I’m kidding, don’t fight them. I hope it doesn’t come to that anyway. There a couple of different ways to actually read this card in relation to what you can physically do. Firstly one way to interpret this card is about accommodating varied tastes or needs. So this might be about creating rituals for yourself or ways around this person’s tendencies. For instance, if they like to barge into your room without knocking then it could be a case of designating time while they aren’t home or they’re asleep as “creative time”. Something to get around what they do, without it turning into a big deal. But, the suit of wands is related to action so it could also be about addressing these issues head on, letting this person know you aren’t comfortable with what they’re doing or letting them know straight up that you’re going to be working on something so you hope they don’t mind watching that movie on their own or whatever. The thing about the 5 of wands conflict is that it could be serious, life or death type fighting, or it could be more like play fighting with friends. So if you raise the issue or let them know you’re preoccupied it won’t necessarily turn into a shouting match. But i mean if you’re looking for an excuse to fight someone i’m not going to stop you lmao

Our final two cards are related to lessons to take away from this block and any other warnings or advice the cards might want to give you. So here we have the 6 of cups and queen of wands. The 6 of cups is about familiarity and happy memories as well as healing. I think this really ties in especially well with the internal/mental aspects of this block - taking away positive associations and a reminder that joy can be found in the process of creating and not just the finalised work. This could also be a sign that this isn’t the first time you’ve dealt with a problem like this or a creative block like this and 1. you got through it before so you can get through it again but also 2. there might be something you can remember from your past that can help you deal with the block. If you previously had a friend or relative who wanted to go through your notebook or sketchbook or whatever without your permission, then you might be able to apply what you learnt in dealing with them to the person influencing your external block now. Or maybe thinking about things you created in the past can help you see how much you’ve grown as a creator and can help you feel more capable of meeting those standards you set for yourself now. Something in your past could be the key to moving through this block. 

And finally the queen of wands is about courage, determination, and joy. I think she has a great energy - funny and warm and friendly but she isn’t a pushover. The wands are associated with fire and action so she’s not afraid to stand up for herself or take matters into her own hands which i feel could be relevant if you’re dealing with the external block situation. And then the messages of determination and joy seem to connect with a lot of what came out in this reading so there’s definitely things you can take from her regarding standing in your truth and finding the joy in creating. 

okay lets whip through these oracles lmao

So these first two cards each come with 3 pieces of advice. The music oracle has advice regarding attitude/lifestyle/inspiration while the art oracle gives advice for life/work/inspiration. I obviously picked both of them for the “inspiration” aspect but i’ll include the other parts as well since you might find them relevant too. But, because of that, some of the advice may not fit so if it doesn’t resonate don’t worry and focus on the parts that do. 

Right so, your music oracle is: John Coltrane - take your solo, but give others their moment too / if you follow your own truth there are false notes / find beauty in the unexpected. 

Theres two things here I want to touch on. Firstly that follow your own truth part instantly reminded me of that queen of wands so definitely listen to yourself and take into account what you’re feeling about the situation. Secondly, that last piece of advice ties in with the internal aspects of the block - finding beauty in making something different to your expectations or intentions. Even if it’s not what you planned or not how you envisioned it, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have value. 

Your art oracle is: Piet Mondrian - Logic should come from the heart // true simplicity takes a lot of concentration // find utopia in a straight line. 

That first bit is really jumping out at me here, mostly because the whole top row of cards are from the cups suit which is connected to the heart and emotions. It’s definitely interesting to compare “logic should come from the heart” to that heart over head knight of cups. 

Then you have 2 sacred creator cards: Creator Earth and You Are  Light.

Earth energy is grounded and connected to our safety and stability. It’s related to the material world including finances and objects as well as connections with family. This card suggest thinking about how safe you feel in your material world and how you can feel more nourished by it. Do you have a network of people you can talk to and who love you? Do you have peaceful surroundings? What about the vitality of a nutritious meal? Think about how grounded you are and if theres anything you can do to improve your material world to better unlock your creative energy. The guidebook gives a few examples of things you might try including grounding yourself by going outdoors onto the grass or dirt, barefoot. You might find it helps restore balance or unblocks your mind. Another method would be getting out into nature, take a walk through a park or sit quietly under a tree to meditate. And finally, write in the dirt. This could literally be about getting your fingers or hands into the earth, drawing pictures or words in the dirt, but it can also be something like using a mud mask to cleanse your skin, or writing you intentions or your goals on a piece of paper and burying it in the ground to try and connect with that earth energy. 

You Are light says that at the core of your cells and atoms is your light energy. It’s a signature that belongs to you alone and though it can interact with other light energy of the world, it will always be yours. By creating you share this light with the world and make the world a brighter and more interesting place. So don’t try to dim your light. 

You also got 2 literary witch cards: Pond (looking inward/inspiration/uncertainty) and Apple (the senses/hunger/sex). 

Pond definitely ties in with the internal block part of the reading. Confronting your ideas and beliefs and how you’ve been viewing your work, as a way of shifting the block and finding more inspiration. Even if you feel uncertain about what you’re creating, there will be good in it at the end. 

And lastly there are two Frida Kahlo cards for inspiration which say:

Don’t play wishy washy. Paint the world with your clarity, and create with clear ideas about love. // Go to the depth of your heart, speak with who you are and know yourself intimately. 

[arplis]

Arplis - News: 8 Reasons to Visit Astoria, Queens

If youre in New York City, Astoria, Queens should definitely be on your radar. Heres why.

Im not sure how scientifically sound such a statistic is, but in a September 2019 feature by Time Out, Astoria, Queens was ranked 8th in an article entitled The 50 Coolest Neighborhoods in the World, making it number one in New York City and second in the United States at large. For many of us who call Astoria home, a first response to such a claim was perhaps, Well, DUH, followed immediately by, Hey, SHUT UP Time Out!

No but really, we residents of Western Queens are happy to share what makes our neighborhood great, or rather, cool, especially if it means we get to lord it over all of Brooklyn, who has gotten the lions share of that reputation for far too long.

Located just 15 minutes from midtown Manhattan, Astoria is a vibrant neighborhood worth a detour during your trip to New York, worthy of being a travel destination unto itself, or frankly, worth moving to, in my humble opinion. Here are 8 ways in which Astoria is every bit as cool as Time Out says it is.

Old World Vibes

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Spread the love today. #tzatziki #skordalia #tarama #tyrokafteri #spreads #tavernakyclades #tavernakycladesbayside #tavernakycladeseastvillage Photo Credit @costapetrovas

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While incorporating the young creative types that started calling the neighborhood home over the last decade, Astoria gracefully did something that few New York neighborhoods have managed to do, which is to maintain the immigrant community that gave it personality in the first place.

Largely influenced by the Greek population, you can find frothy frapps and spirited, gesticulated debate at any time of day at cafes such as The Grand, Avenue Cafe, or Omonia. (Insider tip: check out the proud poster at the bakery next door to Omonia that had the distinction of making the wedding cake for My Big Fat Greek Wedding.) Certainly a cure for any winter malaise that ails you, steep yourself in garlic at exemplary Greek eateries like Taverna Kyclades or Bahari Estiatorio.

Even new restaurants promoting old world flavors find success in Astoria, with newcomers Akrotiri, and Lokanta, catching the attention of The New York Times and the Michelin Guide respectively, right out of the gate.

Really Old World Vibes

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Inhale. Exhale.

Posted by Layaly Cafe onFriday, January 25, 2019

In a stretch of Steinway Street known as Little Egypt you can find Middle Eastern dining and shopping, and better yet, the highest concentration of hookah bars this side of the Atlantic.

(Oh, right, Steinway Street. Yeah, all of their world class pianos for the Western Hemisphere are made in Astoria, so we also have that. No big deal.)

Its hit or miss as to whether or not you find yourself in a more traditional, cultural club that doesnt serve alcohol, or one of the contemporary spots that feature rebirthed, kitschy 80s cocktail classics, but figuring it out is part of the fun. If youd like your puff with some of the stronger stuff try Fayrooz or Layaly. For the tea and smoothie approach try Rotana or Jasmin.

Music: Its Alive!

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#tonight AND #everythursday #thursdaynight #livemusic #openmic @thequaysastoria / signup 8:30 / #music 9pm / 2 #complimentarybeverages per #performer #nocover hosted by @notoriousmignyc of @astoriamusiccollectivenyc #astoriaopenmic #astorianewyork #astoriamusicnow #astorianightlife #astoriaqueens #thirstythursday

A post shared by Astoria Music Collective (@astoriamusiccollectivenyc) on Jun 6, 2019 at 8:23am PDT

In an era when gritty, iconic music venues seem to be closing their doors on the daily, Astoria managed to build a grassroots music scene from scratch to showcase the incredible talent that had moved into the area. Built largely on the wherewithal of Astoria resident Miguel Hernandez, who went door to door convincing bars to host music nights and pay musicians, a diverse lineup of live music is available every night of the week in Astoria, with a couple of yearly festivals thrown in for good measure, care of Hernandezs Astoria Music Collective.

You can get your live band fix with a side of suds at breweries such as Singlecut and LIC Beer Project; with cocktails at cozy, modern bars like The Bonnie and Sweet Afton; with a proper Guinness draught at classic pubs such as The Shillelagh and The Quays; or simply with personality at old school venues like The Letlove Inn and Q.E.D.

Arts and Crafts

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Museum admission is free today for the final day of #OHNYwknd. No RSVP required; just come on by. Today at the Museum . 2 pm: Educator-led tour with an introduction to the life and vision of Isamu Noguchi, exploring select works in the Museums collection and exhibitions. . 3 pm: Curators Tour Dakin Hart, Noguchi Museum Senior Curator, leads a tour of the Museum and special exhibitions. Photo @nicholasknightstudio The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum/Artists Rights Society (ARS) #IsamuNoguchi # #NoguchiMuseum #NoguchiGarden @openhousenewyork

A post shared by The Noguchi Museum (@noguchimuseum) on Oct 20, 2019 at 6:55am PDT

You dont need to traipse up and down 5th Avenue with the rest of humanity during your trip to New York in order to get your visual arts fix. Astoria also has you covered in that department.

The Museum of the Moving Image is a tribute to the film and television industry, something that Astoria has just a little claim to, being the location of Kaufman Astoria Studios, NYCs only production studio with a backlot, and the filming location for none other than Sesame Street. (Who are the people in YOUR neighborhood?)

The Noguchi Museum is a building designed by the artist himself to showcase his work, and the result is a serene, austere space that takes the traveler out of the New York bustle for a moment to immerse her or him in sculpture and light, and a peaceful, courtyard garden. For some art out of doors of a more peculiar persuasion, you can go from your Noguchi visit right across the street for a riverside stroll in the quirky Socrates Sculpture Park.

Beer Culture

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Our beer & cheese pairing combo matches a beer flight with a mixed cheese plate. Pro-tip: Its a great way to start off a date night! by @davidavisuals. #beerandcheese #beerpairing #datenight #astoriaqueens #weloveastoria

A post shared by Astoria Bier & Cheese Broadway (@abcbroadway) on Sep 6, 2019 at 7:41am PDT

Proof positive that the universal divine favors Queens over Brooklyn: Astoria Bier and Cheese. Full stop. No but really, this combination bar, cheesemonger, and bottle shop is as close to perfect an eating and drinking establishment as I have ever found, with its suds and curds-forward menu, and airy market vibe.

In addition to the aforementioned breweries Singlecut and LIC Beer Project, no beer tour of Astoria would be complete without a visit to Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden, a Czech cultural club complete with the requisite sausages and liter draughts. Grabbing a table in its expansive, tree-lined backyard will have you wondering whether youve somehow entered a portal to the Bohemian countryside, but the friendly rattle of the subway just a few blocks away will remind you that youre still in New York City.

Sweet Tooth Satisfaction

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Rainy days & cookie dates Snickersdoodle is on the menu TODAY chocolate peanuts caramel yum

A post shared by Chip NYC (@chipnewyorkcity) on Dec 9, 2019 at 9:09am PST

Along with a robust Greek and Italian population comes bakeries of the pay-by-the-pound variety. Baklava seekers should visit Marthas Country Bakery or Omonia Cafe Next Door, whereas disciples of the cannoli can find refuge at Gianpiero or Rose and Joes.

An eight-block stretch of Astorias 30th Avenue has seen such a recent emergence of sweet eateries to have earned the unofficial nickname of Dessert Row. (If youre not convinced by this, alone, I cant understand what moves you.) Feed your sugar need at Chip for cookies, Ample Hills for ice cream, T-Swirl for crepes, No for cakes, or Paris Oven for getting your French on.

Lo-Fi Shopping

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Tbt to Record Store Day earlier this year. When the sun was out and the only thing you had to worry about was your vinyl melting on the train ride home. Ah yes, a simple time.

A post shared by HiFi Records & Cafe (@hifirecordsastoria) on Dec 9, 2019 at 7:09am PST

Who other than the coolest neighborhood on earthsorry, I mean coolest in New Yorkcould support opening a record store in the past decade? Well, Astoria did. And not only that, but in a culture where all kinds of single concept stores have gotten bulldozed by big box establishments, Astoria has birthed not only Hi-Fi Records, but Gamestoriafor gamers, Astoria Bookshop for literary types, and Lockwood Paper forother literary types. Theres apparently even enough business to support Uke Hut: a damn ukulele store. I mean, how cool is that?

Not to mention the European-style food shopping where meats, seafood, baked goods, and cheeses all have their expert, specialty purveyors, for those who choose their New York City AirBnbs on the basis of the kitchen.

Not Trying to Be Cool, or Rather, Trying to Be Not Cool

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Come enjoy a cold beer or Rum Punches @ outdoor seating. Its Off the Hook!

A post shared by Off the Hook Raw Bar Astoria (@offthehookrawbar) on Jun 21, 2018 at 2:01pm PDT

I have long held the belief that Astoria is the coolest precisely because it isnt trying to be cool. (See, ukelele store, above.) On the contrary, one of its peculiar delights is noticing the prevalence of puns and dad jokes in businesses whose mission seems to advancing the antithesis of cool. Maybe its just me, because I live here and I notice these, but I salute them for their unapologetic wordplay: Off The Hook, The Teapsy, Enthaice, and Something Catchy. With you in our corner, Astoria will never become too cool for school, thereby earning the right to stay cool forever.

(function(){if(window.instgrm)window.instgrm.Embeds.process()})() Arplis - News source https://arplis.com/blogs/news/8-reasons-to-visit-astoria-queens

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Planning your wedding with ease and getting married stress free

  That’s right, you heard it here first, I’ve gathered tips and advice from twenty one of the North East’s finest wedding suppliers to help you plan, book, meet, allocate, visit, arrange all of your wedding needs, easily and stress free, to help you make the most of your wedding day!

Sounds good right!?

Daz Mack x

  The Venue

  I reached out to two lush venues which I love photographing at for their tips for couples, both when looking for a venue, and on the wedding day itself.

Wharfedale Grange – www.wharfedalegrange.co.uk

“A practical tip from us…make sure your guests can get home! Nothing puts a dampener on the day quite like having to wait 2 and a half or 3 hours outside for a taxi when the venue closes!

Here at Wharfedale Grange we’ve a private hire firm just 5 minutes away plus in the opposite direction, Harrogate is just 10 minutes away.

You should also be looking for exclusivity. An eye for detail. And luxury written all over it!”

  Carolyn from Danby Castle – www.eskvalleyweddings.com – says this:

“When looking for a venue check what is included within your venue hire and food costs. If you are not having a ‘set package, then ask for a fully itemised quote detailing each cost per person.

  Please do not accept one overall price as if your numbers change, you will want to know exactly how it will affect you financially.

  Secondly spend time together!! It is your wedding day and we really want you to enjoy it together. This is why we always suggest you walk back down the aisle, into the Jury Room and have your drinks and canapes alone, whilst swapping stories of what happened the night before and whilst getting ready.

  After all, you have just got married! That is so exciting and sometimes you need a few moments to let it sink in, before you come downstairs to your families and friends!”

    The Rings

Hamilton and Lewis are a North East based Jewellery company I’ve worked with before. They can supply the diamonds and bands separately, and with no over heads like shops, can give you the best price! – www.hamiltonandlewis.co.uk

  The Flowers

Flowerhouse – https://flowerhouseuk.com

The amazing Gill from Flowerhouse in Stockton gave me this very wise piece of advice when it comes to both wedding suppliers and Flowers.

“My biggest piece of advice is if you know what suppliers you want to use, book them ASAP. Don’t be afraid of letting the suppliers know your budget and they can advise how spend it wisely.

In terms of flower advice it would be if possible speak to your florist the year before you get married in the same month as your wedding, all the flowers that are available for the wedding will be in season and you can see how your flowers will look.”

The Cake

I spoke to the wonderful Debbie Gillespie of Debbie Gillespie Cake Design – Bespoke Wedding Cake Designer for some advice for you guys, she definitely knows what she its talking about when it comes to both advice and cakes!

www.debbiegillespiecakedesign.co.uk

“Your wedding, your rules!! Don’t be tempted to make your wedding all about other people or pretty images from Pinterest – make it personal and reflective of your lives together. It will resonate with your guests and make the whole planning experience a lot more enjoyable. I personally love it when couples want to include their children/pets or shared interests and the cake is the ideal opportunity to be bold and have a little fun.”

“Firstly consider your budget – there is no point doing research on a company who way exceeds it. Secondly, do your homework and check a supplier’s website and social media to look at previous work/testimonials and that their style fits with your own. Thirdly, don’t be afraid to ask questions – any supplier worth their sort will not hesitate to answer them honestly and truthfully.”

    Venue Styling

I reached out the the amazing Ambience Venue Styling York for some advice on the perfect Decor for a wedding, these guys are amazing and certainly know their stuff. Laura says this:

“Once you’ve picked your venue and you’ve set a date, it’s time to start planning your styling and decor! When having your show round at the venue, make a note of the colours and furnishings used in the room.

Take pictures of the space and height of the ceilings so you can visualise the flow and get a good understanding of the key areas you’d like to focus on. High ceilings showcase tall centrepieces at their finest whilst patterned carpets may look better teamed with a more neutral colour palette.

When selecting colours, use a palette that best compliments the room but also works with the season in which you’ll be married. Working with seasonal items, particularly when it comes to flowers, will make your styling much more cost effective.

Finally, don’t be afraid to get creative – styling has evolved so much over the years that you can be as bold as you want!”

When looking for Venue Stylists couples should be finding a stress free process where clients are literally guided through their style journey! Experienced stylists with a friendly and inspirational approach towards achieving your dream wedding day!”

  Bride Styling

My best mate Katy from “What Katy Did Next” (She carries a bag around with my name on it) gave this amazing advice for you couples. She makes the most beautiful jewellery and accessories by hand, and I think you’ll be blown away when you check them out!

“Don’t be afraid to go Bespoke – if there is something you want, ask for it! A lot of my Brides love my designs but perhaps a tweak here and there would make it perfect for them, some Brides love my style but they have a completely crazy idea and are nervous to ask because of the price tag that comes with ‘Bespoke’!

This isn’t always the case – I love taking on Bespoke clients and the prices often dont differ drastically to those of my existing pieces, I’m happy to help and dying to make your wedding dream complete. And it’s not just me, there are tons of suppliers that love an individual couple and are happy to help you where they can. If you don’t ask, you don’t get!

What Katy Did Next is a Bridal Headwear label based in North East England run by me, Katy! I specialise in creating pieces for the truly individual bride with a passion for accessories, a love of fashion and a desire for something completely handmade and unique.”

Stationary

  Gray Starling offer such beautiful stationary, from place settings to invitations, you definitely need to take a look at their beautiful work.

Carolyn says this “Couples come to us for something a bit different and a personal hands on experience. More often than not we hold consultations either in person or over the video call, you really need to set your eyes on our box of samples. When your guests receive your Wedding invitation they need to be receiving part of your soul, something they’ve never seen before you want to wow them! First impressions are so important.”

She also has the perfect tip for making the most of your wedding day.

“It’s really easy to get bogged down with what everyone else wants, including family. Remember it’s your day, unleash a bit of personality and get creative, get that ska band you saw recently, hang crystal chandeliers from the trees, wear a coloured dress or even a chic trouser suit, break tradition! Have fun! Always ask for help if you need it, even if you don’t order with us we’ll always offer expert advice and point you in the right direction.”

Have a look at their beautiful work: www.graystarling.com

    Your Name in Lights

  I always know instantly when I walk into a wedding if its Coco Luminaire lighting the place up. Their lights are not only always awesome, they have a HUGE range of cool slogans and fancy neon signs to meet your needs.

Laura from Coco Luminaire says this about looking for light up letters:

“When booking Illuminated props, I would recommend looking at the size and style of your wedding venue and see what will fit best from our wide collection. We have a range of small and large signs, from neons to Illuminated hearts and letters; some suit venues better than others due to the size and space in the room. If you are unsure don’t hesitate to get in touch we can always send you across images of inspiration in your venue.”

I also asked what a good tip for a bride and groom would be to have a stress free day.

“My number 1 tip has to be make your wedding day about you both. Pick the food, drinks, decor, music that makes you happy. Don’t worry about doing things just to make your guests happy. If you are happy they will be happy!”

Find out more here: www.cocoluminaire.co.uk

Photography

Well, when it comes to wedding photography I obviously went to one of the bestest coolest gingers in the game. Me!

I think when it comes to suppliers, you want someone who can deliver what you want, but mainly that you get on with. You want to be able to discuss your plans and for them to love them and be able to meet your expectations.

When it comes to photos on your wedding day, just chill out, we got this. If you’ve hired a photographer with plenty of experience theres nothing to worry about. You’ve obviously liked their pictures and they will know what they are doing, so don’t worry about sending them a list of “shots” that you want them to get, just let them do their thing, thats the reason you hired them any way!

Again make sure you are hiring someone you can get on with and can get in touch with any time if you have burning questions or ideas. I’m regularly replying to emails and texts from couples at 11pm (you know who you are) discussing their wedding which is still months away!

Videography

I worked with two great videographers recently, both of them were great guys, and really knew their art so I asked both of them for advice. They’re both from different coasts too so you are pretty much well covered for video up North!

  Northwest Wedding Videos & Films – www.northwestweddingvideos.co.uk

Ben: “I think my number 1 tip is to just have fun! hang out with your soulmate and family/friends. If you guys are enjoying it, everyone on will be! & it will shine through in your wedding video.”

“Check out a suppliers facebook page! for me, all my latest work gets posted up there. My style is very unobtrusive and am all about capturing thoughts little natural moments. Most of my couples comment on how they hardly noticed me at the wedding, I’m like a ginger ninja.”

We Were Here – www.wewerehereuk.com

“Relax and trust your Photographer/Videographer. Allow us to work creatively, we will insure you get the best images possible.

There’s lot of Wedding Videographers to choose from now so find a style you like first of all, but also choose someone that won’t intrude on your day. Being able to work discreetly is a big thing for me.

My style of shooting is documentary style; I aim to capture things naturally. I don’t like to set things up or do anything that will take you away from enjoying your day. I believe the best moments are caught as they happen rather than if they’re staged and if i’m doing my job right you shouldn’t really know I’m there.

That way you both can get on with enjoying your day and not have to worry too much about myself with the camera. Remember its your wedding day, not a video/photo shoot!”

Suit Up!

I see many dapper lads at weddings, and Bakers Tailoring is a name I hear on the regular (we even did a photoshoot together where my picture of one of their suits was the Magazines FRONT COVER).

They certainly know their craft, and when it comes to style they won’t fail to make you looks dressed to impress.

Paul – “Grooms need to listen to opinion of the bride, often the suit choice isn’t just about bridesmaid colour, but the whole wedding theme which generally grooms no nothing about.

Experience is important when it comes to suits, some one with the knowledge to fit you correctly, in todays market its often not about what you Measure but how the client likes a garment to fit”

The Dresses

I reached out to the wonderful Bex of Bex Brides for some advice on choosing the right suppliers and enjoying your day. I know I’ve had numerous brides from Bex who have all felt and looked amazing in their dresses from Bex.

Bex Brides – www.bexbrides.co.uk

Bex: “Decide what are the most important things to you for your wedding, stick to it. Do not be pressed by others to either compromise or add elements that are not important to you. Have a day surrounded by those who you love and who love you! Most of a don’t sweat the small stuff. Just enjoy every moment from engagement to the last dance!

Find a supplier that “gets you ” there is a perfect supplier for every aspect of your wedding wether you have a modest budget or a massive one. Use social media to reach out and get recommendations.”

Made up with your Make up

  The awesome Anna Cordelia Mason wrote this perfect tip for brides to be:

“Look after your skin in the build up to your wedding, taking time to relax, remembering that too much stress will show through in your skin Leave at least a week between a facial and your wedding day, giving your skin time to settle Invest some time in your brows by either committing to grow them out if there over plucked and having then professionally shaped.

This really can redefine your face! . For touch ups, ask an attendant to keep a small mirror, lipstick and blotting paper in their purse. Blotting paper will absorb excess oil that causes shine and is a better alternative to reapplying more powder as over the day this can become cakey.

Waterproof mascara… of course! And if you do shed a tear remember to ‘dab’ with a tissue don’t wipe!”

She also gave this advice for when looking for a make up artist:

“I’m a makeup artist but really my business is all about customer service, with a real emphasis on the customer. Communication and reliability and the confidence my customers gain from this are invaluable. For a bride that is not confident with makeup but knows she wants to look her most polished and radiant having their makeup professionally applied will be invaluable. Even if she is more than makeup savvy, bridal makeup has to fill a vast criteria such as longevity, photogenic and being lighting friendly.

There’s a such a fine balance between looking fantastic in both photographs and real life. A bride will pick up lots of tips and tricks about products, while learning about colours and dispelling any makeup myths!

Finally, nerves! Even as a makeup artist I chose to have a trusted colleague perform my own wedding day makeup, emotions are running high and hands are shaking! A good makeup artist will bring a sense of calm to the preparations.

  Check out her work here! www.cordeliaandco.com

    Hair Do

I recently met the girls from Mirror Mirror when we done a Styled Photo Shoot at Crook Hall and Gardens in Durham. They were amazing! You’ll be able to see some of the pictures in a blog post soon!

Mirror Mirror Durham – Mirror Mirror

Lauren: “Take a moment to stop for a minute during your day….have a good look around and enjoy that very moment that all your hard work and planning has paid off and everyone is there for you to celebrate your special day.

We are a small and very friendly hair service with very experienced stylists that will go up and beyond on your wedding morning to make you look amazing and feel at total ease.”

Travel in Style

Campbell Wedding Cars –

“My main advice to couples looking for transport is never book from a photograph. You really need to see the car in person so you don’t get any nasty surprises on your big day. Also try not to be focused to much on price. Sometimes for the sake of £50 you could have had a car in better condition with a more professional service.

Check there isn’t any restrictions on time. You don’t want to be rushed with your photos because your car wants to leave.”

Eat Me

  I can personally vouch for Baba Ganoush that their food is delicious, because they kept bringing me little Canapes over recently and went right up in my good books!

Baba Ganoush Catering Ltd. – www.babaganoushdining.com

Ashley – “Planning your big day is so exciting but can also become quite consuming! Make time for each other during the planning process. Have a date night and a wedding planning night… Wedding Wednesdays!

Weddings are extremely personal and it is so important that we as a caterer earn your trust. We like to build a connection with our client tonensure that trust becomes one of the main factor in the wedding planning process. We are here to make your day as special and stress free as possible.”

Daytime Music

My main man and fellow ginger, who played songs at my request and entertained for an entire day gave this lovely piece of advice for couples, both about their wedding day and about looking for a good musician!”

Gareth Beddard – Gareth Beddard and Co.

“Relax and enjoy every moment of the day as it will fly past! Take it all in your stride!

You should look for experienced musicians who have good etiquette. Think about the ambience for your day, live music whether background or foreground creates a comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere for your guests. Budget well for your live music, use professionals and make it a night to remember for all!”

  The Band

  Last Anthem are an amazing band to see in person, whether thats at a wedding, or at one of their many gigs, you won’t fail to be amazed. Especially if they are getting the bride up on the chair dancing whilst playing their guitars on top of tables all over the room.

If you’re looking for a band Last Anthem say the main thing you want to be looking for when booking is a professional service, a great attitude, lots of experience and a willingness to advise and go the extra mile. Makes sense right!?

These guys have played loads of weddings and say this about having a stress free day:

“Remember it’s 100% YOUR day, so do things the way YOU want to do them! Don’t open a can of worms by bowing down to other peoples requests (prime examples include guests wanting to bring children, mothers and fathers wanting you to invite family members you never see and probably won’t see again…) do things exactly the way you want them and indulge yourself. The people around you need to remember it’s your day and all about you, so they should all be prepared to sacrifice a little if needs be!”

Check them out here: www.lastanthem.co.uk

  That’s Entertainment

If you’re looking to keep guests busy and entertained on an evening, Vegas Casino Hire offer some awesome options like their Roulette Tables

Vegas Casino Hire – www.vegascasinohire.co.uk

Gary – “Don’t stress about who to invite during the day. Lets be honest people just want the evening entertainment. Plus evening guests are cheaper!

Reviews. In life you get what you pay for. There is always people who can offer services cheaper. Look at the pictures. Look at how often they are working. If they are good they are always busy. Sometimes it’s worth paying a bit more”

That’s Magic!

  I’ve seen Andy Larmouth in action a few times, and he blows me away each time. (Within the first minute of meeting him he pulled the card I was thinking of out of a pack).

He has given an amazing piece of advice for couples to be happy on their wedding day.

“Aside from making sure their guests have the best possible entertainment through the day 😉 I would say something that brides and grooms often forget is to take a moment once or twice thought the day to step back and take it in. All too often there is so much to do and so many people to speak to that they blink and the day is over. So my advice would be to take a few moments every now and then and just hold each other and look around at your friends and loved ones smiling and having fun and really try to be present in that moment.”

Andy also has some imperative advice for when people are looking to book a magician and finding the right one for them.

“Brides and grooms should be looking for a personal service. Meet and chat to make sure that they are a good fit together. And of course that they are professional, have good reviews or even better, personal recommendations, and that things like deposits are taken, contracts are used and public liability is in place. I would like to think when people book me, they are not booking ‘A magician’ but booking Andy Larmouth”

Be amazed: www.andylarmouth.com

Planning your wedding with ease and having a stress free day – a suppliers guide Planning your wedding with ease and getting married stress free That's right, you heard it here first, I've gathered tips and advice from twenty one of the North East's finest wedding suppliers to help you plan, book, meet, allocate, visit, arrange all of your wedding needs, easily and stress free, to help you make the most of your wedding day!