Until further notice
An existential crisis. That's what I think I should call it. A big - huge - problem with my entire existence. I am not saying things are over, I'm just saying things are harder than I would have liked it to be. Which things? You might ask. Well, my sense of being in...
Buy the shoes
I found this image in my not-so-neat blog folder and can't for the life of me remember why I created it. I know it is a featured image but I have no idea what I was going to write about it! š Anyways, I hope you find a pair of shoes you *need* soon! Many hugs,
Floss
How do you even blog about flossing? Yeah, I get it, it is important and all of that, but seriously! When I decided to blog about The Sunscreen Song, I had a couple of ideas as to what I learned from it and what I would say about it. But having to write a post about...
Why I joined an agency
It has been seven months since I kind of permanently joined an agency. But why? Why give up seven years of freelance "freedom" for working for someone else? First of all, I did not give up anything. Secondly, well, there is no secondly really. It was definitely not...
The Crew | Fluister
I am pleased to introduce you to Fluister (Whisper). He is the second monster character from the tiny human's crew. I am so excited to get the whole set done for his bedroom! You can see the characters' rough brainstorm here and what the monsters looked like before I...
My GSD-playlist
When we were in hospital with the tiny human there was a nurse who really - more than all the other committed, over-competent ones - knew how to get shit done. We could never remember her name and ended up calling her Nurse GSD (get shit done). As the end of the year...
My sister’s painting
My sister got married way back in 2003 and in 2004 she asked me to do a painting for her of one of their wedding photographs. Of course, this was a challenge I was not too keen to accept, but I did anyways. So, years have gone by and I have been finding and losing the...
Mondays are for being creative
A series of unfortunate melt-downs led to something good. It normally does š but it takes a while to get there. I had a mini-breakdown and lost my shit *almost* completely one evening after a pointless argument with the hubby. When things settled down and we all...
The Crew | Pokkelpensie
It has been a while since I initially started working on Rudi's friends. I just can't get myself to play on a computer when I have been working on one for an entire day. I managed to digitise them, but have not worked on them for quite some time. On Monday I finally...
Net nog ‘n brief
Ek het so hele rukkie terug sommer net gevoel of 'n trok my getref het. Eintlik is mens veronderstel om elke dag 'n brief te skryf dink ek - wanneer jy goed en sleg voel. Al is dit net om op te vrommel in die drom te gooi. Ek het hierdie een vir my suster ge-epos. Dit...
Art Journaling
So clearly it is taking me a while to get my creative juices flowing. BUT I am not beating myself up about it. There is the Same Size, Same Price, No Signature exhibition coming up that I really, really want to submit a piece for, but I just can't seem to get it...
How do you deal with “uninspiredness”?
Featured image by http://blog.drawn.ca Ugh. I am having the clichƩd creative block. Tomorrow is Monday and I need to get my mojo back - fast! How do you cope with feeling uninspired and not being able to create? I think it is one of my greatest fears: not being able...
Donāt be reckless with other peopleās hearts
Donāt be reckless with other peopleās hearts, donāt put up with people who are reckless with yours. I am still in two minds about which of these is worse. Both leave you lying awake at night. Well, maybe not everyone, but I have had sleepless nights because of both. I...
Draw what you feel
A good couple of months ago I was asked to draw anything - as long as it is something - by a person that waltzed into my life. "Draw what you feel." When you suffer from an I don't give a shit right now disorder, this seems like an immensely difficult task. Anything?...
Nine of Wands
I have to admit, I am subscribed to a weekly tarot newsletter with personalised readings. How personalised can a computer-generated reading be? It depends which way you look at it, I suppose. From my knowledge, setting up a site that like will take some above-average...
Sing
Sing. Sure. I sing. Just not in public. Except when I have had too much to drink, then I imagine that I can sing. And my husband reminds me the morning after that it was just my imagination. I'd hang my head and feel sorry for a moment that I never did quite make it...
Sarah | Charcoal on paper
From the valley of Nieu Bethesda, this is Sarah. She was done on A2 paper and will soon be hanging in my mom’s library.
Song of the moment | Kids on the run
I have to confess, this was my song of the moment a couple of months back too. It just does not get old. I turned 35 on Friday - aaaargh! - and I realised how much (nothing?) has changed. I was happy to do nothing for my birthday. I chose to do nothing. (As opposed to...
The Crewās Development | Part Two
The crew's development has made some progress āŗ Yay me. So dear LanaLand visitor, please meet Rudi's own characters and their flattest forms. It was such a wonderful moment when Rudi walked into my studio and saw them on the screen and said: "WOW". (Al dragged out...
Be happy (and all that other good stuff)
I have been trying this new thing for the last couple of days and I believe it has made a significant impact on my life. Generally, I am a happy person. I enjoy an inappropriate joke at the most inappropriate time, I appreciate the laughter coming from the school...
Rediscovering my art supplies
A good couple of birthdays ago my eldest sister gave me an asked-for set of watercolour pencils. Why I added this to my birthday wish list I am still not sure. a) I don't like watercolour and b) pencil is not my favourite medium...
Gelukkige Vadersdag
Ek het hierdie kaartjie 'n goeie paar jaar terug vir my pa gemaak vir vadersdag. Sommer net gedink ek deel dit š Gelukkige vadersdag aan al die pappas daar buite. Liefde en groete,
True friends don’t lie
A really good friend of mine has trouble keeping his thoughts to himself. Which is a great thing and that is why we are friends. He never fails to amuse me with quick comments about anything. Unless you yourself become the topic of discussion, of course! We were...
The Crew’s Development | Part One
When I was pregnant with Rudi and baby room decor was on the cards, I wanted to create some silly monster characters for his bedroom. I have written the character sketches then already but never got around to creating them. I finally started! Here is the rough...
Belonging to a sisterhood
When the word sisterhood gets thrown around one immediately thinks of crazy chicks dancing around a fire, throwing sparkly stuff from rusted buckets while humming songs no one has ever heard of. Magic. Rituals. Enchanted stuff. Well, let me tell you something, it is...
Do one thing every day that scares you
Do one thing every day that scares you. I have been stuck on this line for months now. I am not saying I am not afraid of anything... in fact... My list is fairly long when I sit down and think about all the stuff I am petrified of. But to actually do one thing that...
Song of the Moment | Like Teenage Gravity
As with everything else, I go through music phases too. I will find or rediscover a song and listen to it at least three times a day until I know the lyrics off by heart and can sing it to the tiny human at bedtime without having to mime. I am a die-hard Counting...
How perfection is ruining my career (and my life!)
I don't know how you feel about being perfect. Sure, it is impossible, but that was not the question. How do you feel about being perfect? It bothers me. It bothers me so much that I get days where I can't focus because of a mistake I have made or a design that just...
Working from home challenges
Working from home is awesome. You know, you get to spend the day in PJ's, you can eat over your keyboard and come and go as you please. But there are also some challenges no one tells you. Like having a 10-cups-a-day filter coffee budget. And a fancy gin budget for...
I finally smudged something other than paint!
For some time there has been an overflow of smudging and "not enough sage in the world" and why you need to smudge posts in my Pinterest feed. Of course, repetition makes things stick (no pun intended) with you for longer. So, I read up on this whole smudging thing,...
The joys of being a freelance graphic designer
One thing better than my job itself is doing my job from home. I have mentioned numerous times that I am one of the select few who can say that my worst day at the office is probably better than many other people's best days. I really love what...
21 Things you probably did not know about me
There is always the element of surprise in a conversation with random strangers or even people you know really well: “I did not know that!” So I thought to share a little about myself with you š
I am just here for the sprinkles
Since I started MMA classes a month and a half ago, I have been thinking that I should design my own exerciseĀ shirt range. I saw this really cute shirt in Kelly Mindell's Instagram feed that said: "Here for the sprinkles." Yeah, I know sprinkles and boxing don't...
I’m not frustrated. I’m annoyed.
It's Friday afternoon, 15:46. I am about to cry for the fourth time this week. Why? Because I am annoyed. I cry for six reasons: When I am sad - duh. When I am over-tired. When I miss my mom. And when I am angry, annoyed or frustrated. Of course, most of these have to...
How to fix puffy, tired eyes
I have been on a mission finding a solution to make the circles under my eyes less, well, black. And the puffiness less puffy. I am all for experiments and am quite daring when it comes to fix-it-out-of-the-kitchen-cupboard remedies. I saw a pin that said something in...
Don’t worry about the future
Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum.
The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind.
The kind that blindsides you at 4 pm on some idle Tuesday.
What is this MMA-thing you are talking about?
Let me just explain to you how I feel about sport: Nothing. I don’t like it. I don’t play nicely with teammates. I don’t like being sweaty. I don’t like running. And I don’t like going to the gym because the spinning class’ people are far too noisy, the boot camp’s guy gives me a pain just hearing him yell orders at people who pay him to do that?!
Chocolate cake recipe
I've had this urge to bake a cake for quite some time now. A chocolate one. With chocolate ganache and not icing. I don't dislike icing at all, it's just way too much work to make. Ganache, on the other hand, is quick and easy and takes no special skills when applying...
The difference between “inspired by” and “stolen from”
For some bizarre reason, people seem to struggle with what the actual difference is between inspired by and stolen from. Especially when it comes to design. I sometimes receive emails from clients requesting - usually a logo - that must look like the sample (only one...
Young, free and careless
Back in the nineties,Ā we were (un)fortunate enough to not be able to record and have photo evidence of all the slightlyĀ stupider things we did. Those moments captured on film camera were never developed. Well, mainly because I never had enough money to have it...
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth
oh nevermind;
you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded
But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself
and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before
you and how fabulous you really looked…
You are not as fat as you imagine.
Simple things can also go wrong
We were at the BeerYard last night for gin-on-tap, craft beer, disco fries and supper. We go there quite often as it is relatively close to home, has a festive vibe, great gin (that is on tap which makes it feel there is a little more than the limited amount of gin...
21 Things I hate about being a graphic designer
[originaly posted on Oct 15, 2012] I have been working as a graphic designer for thirteen years and have been freelancing for seven. I love my job and consider myself lucky to be in a position where my worst day at the office is probably better than most people's best...
Songs you can’t play as background music
Playlists have always been one of my hidden talents. Give me a theme, an era, a specific person; no can do, sir. I suppose I won't give up my day job to become a DJ, but every road trip and every birthday party and every new painting or drawing projectĀ always get a...
21 Easy things to achieve
There are not many things as rewarding as achieving something you have been working on very hard. Many articles by entrepreneurs I have recently read suggests āCelebrate the small winsā. I agree with this statement wholeheartedly. Instead of beating yourself up for...
Where have all the flowers gone?
Do you remember, as kids, how we used to support our relatives unconditionally? You know, my dad is stronger than yours? My mom is prettier. My sister draws better than your brother? My granny cooks better mealsā¦ Does that ring a bell? I remember having this...
Why I didnāt broadcast our pregnancy
āI didnāt even know you were pregnant.ā This is what Iāve heard from many people who bumped into me and my big-bellied figure carrying our jellybean. āWell, hmm, maybe because I didnāt tell you?ā
Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of 99
Wear Sunscreen
If I could offer you only one tip for the future,
Sunscreen would be it
The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists
whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience…
I will dispense this advice now…
Conversations with Strangers
image by Miroco Machiko In my high school years we did a poem in English LiteratureĀ calledĀ In Praise of the Shades by Chris Mann. It was not a particularly well-written or heart-moving poem,Ā butĀ don't get me wrong here!Ā I am not saying it wasn't good. I am just saying...
A couple of random gifts
At the beginning of every single year I have all intentions to make gifts for my family and friends as birthday presents. Well, I kinda failed at it again this year. Hubby's gift was approximately two and a half months late... And my friend's birthday gift, just about...
Believe in Believing
I believe that, as long as we acknowledge and respect each others’ beliefs, the world would be a better place…
Jou huis is waar jou hart is
Ek was die naweek nege jaar in Port Elizabeth. Ek onthou dit werklik soos gister. Ons het vertrek op 27ste dag van September, 2005. Ek, my ma, my middelste sussie en my vriendin. Ons het oorgeslaap op Colesberg en op 28 September 2005 het ons, baie moeg en baie...
The City
A Friday night doodle.
Dagdroom – ‘n Gedig
Die dag droom van silwer stukkies spieĆ«l wat skitter soos sterre van papaja pĆŖrels en geroeste doringdraad. Die dag droom van ān skurwe sement damwal terwyl die son saggies deur die blare praat. Die wind fluister onhoorbaar deur katoenlanderye en die trekker kreun van...
Winter Patterns ā„
Hello! Just a quick freebie to warm up your heart! Click the image to download the vector file in pdf format. I hope you enjoy them ā„
I have been baking!
If you have not noticed...I have a slight obsession with cupcakes. I do think it is one of the only things where you get to make something pretty, make a mess, clean up and watch other people "wreck" your creations while having fun all the way! I am not sure whether I...
Liewe Lana Twaalf-Jaar-Terug
Vrydag, 21 Junie 2002 Liewe Lana, Dit is vandag jou 18e verjaarsdag. Jou appelgroen polo-nek trui en swart baadjie lĆŖ netjies op jou bed, gereed om aangetrek te word vir die partytjie wat julle weke lank al beplan. Jy *mag* vandag - wettiglik - jou eie drank koop. Jy...
21 people I would love to have (had) tequila with
Adam Duritz (Counting Crows' lead singer): I have so many questions to ask him! Adam Sandler: Purely for entertainment. Andy Warhol: This should be fun. Brad Silberling (director of Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events): Mainly out of curiosity, I suppose....
Time flies – whether you are having fun or not
I am not saying that I have not been having fun, but some days, sadly, I didn't. I have been trying to challenge myself with little minor things, just to be able to say "I kicked my own butt." Well, that did not went well. I followed the Dukan diet for an entire day...
The year so far
Wow, we just hit February! Where has the first month of 2014 gone?! It has been an exciting, exhausting, fun-filled first month with many more great stuff on its way, I am sure. I am afraid I might not have enough hours in my days to do all the things I want to do...
Many happy wishes
People often say things out of habit and because they think it is the right thing to say. Your normal "how are you" and "good thanks" and "happy new year" are great examples. Recently a friend of mine posted this onto Facebook and I thought to myself that more...
Our 2013 Christmas Tree
This year we have gone all natural and earthy. I made a cone out of wire and paper mache which I wrapped with rafia. The little flowers are made from paper I bought a while ago, just because I liked it. I knew I would use it for something at a later stage! I hope you...
21 Reasons I have seen Great Expectations 21 times
[siteorigin_widget class="SiteOrigin_Widget_Image_Widget"][/siteorigin_widget] The story really is that beautiful.The soundtrack is incredible.I love how all the characters wear green all the time.Paradiso Perduto fascinates me more than any place I could imagine...
Ek ruik die somer!
Ek het dit al talle male baie duidelik gemaak dat ek regtig oor 2013 is... Maar dit is wonderlik om te weet dat hy amper oor ons ook is! Nog net 23 dae voor ons almal ook luidkeels kan skree: "Happy New Year!" Die naweek het ek besef die somer is amper hier in sy...
My design alter-ego:
Well, according to this quiz, my design alter-ego is Karla Gropius. Achtung! As a member of the Bauhaus elite you believe in total art, clean lines and massive parties. Especially the parties. I could not agree more...or less. What is you design alter-ego? ...
On my wishlist:
With love from Desingboom's online shop...(In case you did not notice, consider this a blatant hint)
Another good reason why I love unicorns ā„
I love fonts!
I thought I'd just quickly share lovely fonts by By The Butterfly. It is not for commercial use, but you are allowed to create many lovely personal projects. Please respect the creator's rights ā„
Summer Patterns ā„
I was working on a project today and thought I might share some of my patterns with you. Click the image to download them in PDF format. Have fun!
If Karma was a bird
This afternoon I was wandering around the garden to see if my plants enjoyed the weekend's rain and SPLAT! It fell on me! Well, first thing that popped into my head was: Oh shit! Karma turned into a bird. But after realising how incredibly funny it actually is, I...
287 down, 78 to go
287 Days of 2013 have dragged by flying and finally, I too, can start counting the days until 2014. Don't get me wrong, I am not - for one second - wishing my life away, but it would be great if I could just throw away my diary and say: Screw you, 2013. I. AM. DONE....
Volmaan – ‘n Gedig
(Ek weet ongelukkig nie wie die prentjie geteken het nie.) Onafhangende van wat jy mag dink, hierdie gedig is nie oor verlore liefde of enige iets soos dit nie. Ek het die gedig geskryf terwyl ek nog op skool was. Ons was in Mosambiek een vakansie en dit was volmaan...
New York, New York
Wondering what to do with left-over paint? Well, I have a slight -Ā yet remarkable - obsession with New York city. Never been there, but it is on my bucket list. Living in a "renovator's dream" often leaves you with lots and lots of little bits of paint. So, here's the...
Lag en Huil
…and don’t you forget that!
21 (kind of) important things you have to remember
1. Always know the number of a non-judgmental person in your town...you never know when you might get arrested or kicked out of your own car for driving like an ass. 2. Never fart in a lift with only two people - including yourself. 3. Know the secret hiding place of...
Youth is wasted on the young
Standing in line, waiting for the pancake queue to get shorter, I was listening to old (now, I know old is a mind over matter thing, but these "omies" were older than my dad, who is in his sixties now) guys' conversation on rugby and this and that. I once turned...
Waar kranse antwoord gee
Lekker by die see
Gister het hubbles my verras met ān roomys uitstappie by ons āstrontfrontā. Die mooiste middag...so net voor die winter sy laaste koue oor ons gaan uitstort (erge koue front op pad!). Ons was lanklaas op die strand, het ek opgemerk. Ek het my opslag vervies dat ek...
Drinking flat readymix out of a soggy watermelon
It has been quite a big day in South African news, I guess. With the Pistorius case and all... But what really caught my attention was the headline āAdvocate Barbie released on paroleā. I am sure the feelings surrounding the Prinsloo/Visser case are more mixed than a...
home
Ou Tante Koba
Lank terug het my oupa vir ons 'n liedjie geleer van Ou Tante Koba: Ou Tante Koba is 'n snaakse ou vrou, sy loop net soos 'n mank makou. Ou Tante Koba sy is so bly dat sy tog weer 'n skoonseun kry. Lank is die seun en kort is sy pa, mooi is die dogter en lelik haar...
I know where I am going
A couple traveling through Europe was standing at a bus stop waiting to continue their journey. A young African man stood at the same stop as themselves. While waiting for their transport to arrive, they started to chit-chat about one thing and the other. Eventually...
Just before you give up…
Just before you give up, try one more time. Then lose your shit. Then turn the camera around and laugh at yourself while forgetting that you actually had work to do.
Just be yourself. Or anything else.
Wording credit goes to a pillow I saw on Pinterest.
Ballonne vir my liefie-kind
Opgewonde gaan lĆŖ ek op die gras en wag nadat ek myself flou gehardloop het. My bors beweeg stadiger op en af as wat ek my hart voel klop. Ek sien dat die najaar die veld oorgeneem het en ek maak my oĆ« toe; die son laat my gedagtes helder word terwyl hy homself op my...
They won’t use me – D. Figel-Hartman
They called me for jury duty, but they wonāt use me. I have a beard. I paint pictures nobody understands. I live alone. They wonāt use me. I have intelligence. I know moderation. I could lecture on the aesthetic principles. I have a great deal to say. I paint because...
Totsiens – ‘n Gedig
Vertroue en respek hou hande vas. Trippel-trippel op jou tone Trap-trap Tree-vir-tree Jou hand in myne Jou geloof in jou gedagtes Wanneer jy glo jy is reg. Die ongeloof wanneer ek besef die vertroue is weg. My respek in my broeksak en die ander hand wuif jou...
Ek is die gelukkigste tannie in die wĆŖreld!
Die gesprek met my 8-jarige klein niggie:
I quit.
A dear friend of mine, who recently entered the graphic design field, was telling me that he was busy typing out his resignation letter as we were having our conversation. I smiled as I replied. āA resignation letter must the most liberating thing in the world. Smiley...
My 21 favourite cartoon characters
In alphabetical order:
Knuppel
Ontmoet vir Knuppel. Hy is die monster wat oornag al die voedsel in die yskas eet en as jy jou oƫ uitvee, is daar geen kos in die huis nie.
Nurse by design
The other day I was reading through our local newspaper and came across an article that said the government is urgently looking for students to enrol in healthcare ā especially in the Eastern Cape. Without putting the paper down I said to my husband in a mumbling...
The curse of remembering birthdays
Early on a Saturday morning, just after my second cup of coffee, I would send my sister a message saying: āToday, six years ago, we were doing this-and-this.ā Sheād reply saying that she has no idea how I remember things like that. My mom is like that too. We would...
Die prinses en die ertjie – ‘n Gedig
Die prinses en die ertjie verdwaald in my emosie verdoof deur gedagtes van gister tot vandag tot die innerlike gedeelte van my alles my alles het tot niet omgekom my alles tot oorverdowende stilte verstom my alles die illusie van ān plek altyd verder my...
Lana Paper!
How awesome is that! š
Hitman Needed
Today I drove behind a Rentokil van when I started thinking: For how many things would I rent to kill? Well, at that moment, it was coffee. I am just glad these companies are not situated next to each other. So, what would you rentokil for?
21 Traits I can not stand
Lying: I understand if you have to lie temporarily because of a surprise or a really serious secret you *have* to keep, but if you lie to cover your ass, to deceive me, to make someone else look bad or ANY other form of lying for that matter, I shall scrape you off my...
Act Natural
I was walking through a shopping centre the other day - quickly to get something completely random - when a foreigner from a free standing stall cornered me. "Excuse me, miss..." I always find it hard to just ignore these people so I turned around looking as busy as I...
Hubby’s Birthday Card
He likes Dr Zoidberg and I am a bender fan š
Tweat Me
My 21 Favourite Movies (of all time I should think)
I do believe that, one day, some very clever psychologist-person will have a movie list with tick boxes in order to make personality stereotyping easier. I think I narrowed my favourite list down to 21 movies as honestly as possible. What are your favourites? Here...
The Great Tree
I was devastated for a very long time when I realised my name (Ilana) actually means "The Great Tree" in Hebrew. Perhaps this was because of the direct translation into Afrikaans, Die Groot Boom, which could be associated with so many things on the wrong side of the...
Tim Easly
Isabel Valfigueira
Lydenburg – ‘n Gedig
Lydenburg Ek wil van jou ontslae raak Maar ek kan nie. Ek wil meer en meer van jou vergeet met elke tree wat ek gee en elke keer as die son sy rooi tapyt na die duisternis oopmaak. Ek wil jou uitgooi en uitroei en opgooi en uitbloei en uitknip en vasplak en bĆŖre op my...
Pleasant Love
The Human Pantone
How incredibly awesome is this! It really describes the term "rainbow nation".
So much to do, so little time
Lovely to know this quote made my sister think of me ā„
Aangename kennis, ek is Lana
Ek het in 'n huishouding groot geword waar spelling regtig 'n groot ding was. Daar was 'n dagboek langs die telefoon waar ons moes aanteken waarheen ons gaan en wanneer ons sal terug wees en my ma het ons woorde twintig keer laat uitskryf langs jou aantekening as jy...
The fox and the king
Another inspiring illustrator you should know of: The Fox and the King by Glenn Thomas.
Mermaid Hippie
A mermaid-hippie-ish necklace made from a ray's spine. My niece picked the spine pieces up, my dad cleaned them and drilled the holes and I beaded them.
21 things I learned in 2012
(and hopefully, I will remember them in 2013! Never act in anger. Or confusion. Creativity is a gift. Be grateful. To trust someone does not necessarily make them loyal. Colleagues must be friends, friends should not be colleagues. There are still people in this world...
Cupcake Christmas Tree
I suppose my happiness is measured in cupcakes š
Totoro
My very first *complete* drawing with my wacom tablet! Meet my neighbour Totoro. Not only is he the most friendly creature on earth, but he also makes your trees grow š (he looks like my blue-eyed boy, Attie, don't you think?)
Stille waters, diepe grond…ĆŖrens ry Hello Kitty op haar unicorn rond
Ek is nie seker of julle onlangs die YouTube video van Leoni Venter gesien het nie? Dit is 'n opname van haar protes teen Lady Gaga se kuiertjie in Suid Afrika. Persoonlik is ek nie 'n Gaga-aanhanger nie. Haar idee var self-bemarking staan my eenvoudig nie aan nie....
Winnie the Witch
As kids we used to visit my gran on her farm. Whenever she had stuff to do in town, she would drop us off at the local library and stop for Aylesbury ice cream on our way back home. In that library, which felt pretty much like part of our childhood home, I met a...
Dream for those who’ve given up
One of my favourite books I have ever owned, is An Awesome Book by Dallas Clayton. Hubby gave it to me for a birthday a year or two ago. Sometimes when I feel that I have forgotten how to dream, I page through it and remember that my dreams can be what I want them to...
Define Valuable
I often drive past a pawn shop and always wonder about their window's wording. I mean, certainly we all value things differently. Apart from my wedding ring, I own merely plastic jewellery...and they tell stories! More stories than diamonds and pearls, I tell you....
Blogging on jetplane…
All my bags are packed, (I think) I am ready to go... to my reunion. I am probably giving away my age right now, but that is OK. I am ā heaven knows how high from earth ā approximately 1500km away from my hometown on my way to my high school reunion. Yay! Or nay. A...
The tale about a cow, a chicken and a little piggy
Last night hubby brought these badges for me from his trip to Spar. They were for saleĀ in aid ofĀ a charity against women and child abuse. WhenĀ I asked why he bought two, he answered: "You give me enough trouble for two women." I thought about a story my sister told me...
Hit the road…I think it was Jack?
Music is a powerful thing. I remember making cassettes for every road trip IĀ ever went on. Making CDs was hardly ever as much fun, and now, quickly copying a couple of mp3's onto a flash disk ruins the entire sentiment about it. I am not going toĀ have a verbal...
Lavender for good luckā¦
I was walking around in the garden playing with my camera and took these snapshots of our lavender. Whenever I see a lavender or rosemary plantĀ I can't help to think of Practical Magic. "Always throw salt over your left shoulder, keep rosemary by your garden gate,...
When life throws you lemons…
Yeah, it's been another one of those I-should-rather-be-drinking-gin days. So, what would you do when life throws you unwanted lemons? (You only need one slice for your gin, you know š)
Sometimes the bird, sometimes the statueā¦
It is not very often you come across something that is a literal representation of a clichƩd saying. I saw this statue in a graveyard once and just had to laugh.
The difference explained
We all get bored. Not bored necessarily, but we all get that feeling ofĀ I need to procrastinate for a while. Thankfully I am not a practising attorney, because I can't imagine myself writing up a contract just for fun. Maybe if I were a plastic surgeon (which I wanted...
First thing that, errr, shoots into your head?
During my first year of studying visual communication in Gauteng, South Africa a couple of years ago, we got a Communication Design project from one of our stranger lecturers. I can't remember the brief word for word, but it came down to this: Design an advertising...