Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful.Times are hard for dreamers.

Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful.

This week has been randomly hard for some reason, I don't know why, everything has just felt like it's taking more and more effort to do the things that I would normally do anyway. Strange. Anyway, it's the end of the week now so I'm going to start completely fresh tomorrow, "a new leaf" as it were, and that goes for revision too :s

However, in a strange kind of way, time is on my side. 46 days until my exams end, so that's a month and 2 weeks, just long enough to really focus on revision, but the end is definitely in sight, if you see what I mean, school doesn't feel endless anymore, and I know that soon my life will be completely different. That's motivation enough I guess, only 46 more days of waking up and feeling guility every minute that I'm not studying, and to be honest, I started revising in March, so around 68 days ago, so I've officially done more revision than I have left to do (if that makes sense!)...

So this collage, it has all the usual in it (well, usual for me) icons of Paris, pink, cupcakes, tea cups, flowers, blossom, pink, books, some slightly vintage looking things and...the pocket watch in the top left hand corner. I think the watch is important, it shows that things don't go on indefinitely (revision :( ) and serves as a reminder that "come what may, time and hour run through the roughest day".

There you are, that's a very appropriate quote from Macbeth, and therefore I have successfully found a way to intergrate revision and blogging :D

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. No one is entitled to their own facts.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. No one is entitled to their own facts.

Half term! :) I have survived, once again, until the holidays. Now the word "holiday" is debatable, considering I will probably do as much work at home as I would in school, in preparation for exams, and in light of the work that teachers actually set :/, but hey, I'm at home, and that's about as good as it gets for now.

Strange to think that when it gets to the next holidays (May half-term) I won't be returning to school other than to sit exams! :o Where have my school days gone?

Anyway, this image is spring-like and therefore appropriate, especially considering the hot spell of weather we've just experienced here in England, if only it would last!

I guess all good things come to an end.

Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.

by nikigirl on polyvore.com

Only 10 weeks left at school. Slightly disorientating considering I've been in school the last 12/13 years, and can't really remember not being at school. Scary times. Anyway, I thought this image was relevant to this week, it's Spring-like, floral, and has a kind of natural beauty, so it suits upcoming events like Mother's Day this sunday. This week wasn't too bad :p

Next week I'm going to Ireland! I keep forgetting :s which is bad, because it's a foreign country, and I'm getting a plane, and I have to pack...and get some euros (I'm going to Dublin, so the Republic of Ireland), I am excited though (when I remember that I'm actually going :)

Sorry for the short post, but I'm tired (it's been a long week/ I was out late last night for one of my friend's 18th's) and as you can see, I have a lot to organise! Happy St.Patrick's day for tomorrow everyone, and make sure your mum has a nice Mother's Day!

As scarce as the truth is, the supply has always been in excess of demand.

As scarce as the truth is, the supply has always been in excess of demand.

Insane week! Well, not quite insane, but you know what I mean, March is really starting to gather pace! To be fair, next week looks busier than the last (Mother's Day, various birthdays and outings etc.) but that's not a bad thing I guess, I just need to be prepared! There seems to have been quite a melancholy atmosphere around these last few days (possibly due to Jan. results day at school + coursework deadlines approaching?) so I'm glad the weekend has arrived, although I feel pretty good at the moment :) I have this calendar with daily quotes on, and somehow, it always manages to put the day in focus for me...

You know what the worst thing is? I made this image [above] so long ago I can't even remember the reasoning behind it, so I'm going to do what I always do, and interpret its meaning according to my current mood: the Audrey Hepburn quote = self-explanatory and 100% true, the camera/ postcard photo (I realise these items seem to feature in absolutely everything I make...maybe it's a sign?) are another reference to travel/ exploration, and the outfit shown is simple, no patterns, ordinary colours, blue jeans, just a classier version of something I would wear really :)

Winter Can't Last Forever/ Reality Bites Back

Winter can't last forever...... by nikigirl

Can no longer deny the reality that a new, longer, harder, term at school is just around the corner as the holidays draw to a close! I'm trying to slowly make myself bored of being at home so that I don't mind having to get back into the whole working-week routine!

Nevertheless I've made the most of my time off school, and in a way I'll be glad to get back to seeing my friends daily, and being in a lively environment that is secondary school, filled with gossip, rumours and life in general. I genuinely miss school during the holidays, everything at school seems to have so much more purpose - right now I'm just listening to rainfall and thinking about work I should be doing....I think I'm actually more productive at school....

Included this image to remind myself of how I feel about the changing seasons/ going back to school - it's nearly Spring! This image has photos and postcards in it to remind me of the good times I had in Winter (New Year, Christmas, getting university offers) and also a camera to remind me to take more photos! I also included a lucky playing card and a compass, because I figured lucky playing card + compass = not losing my way/ staying on track this term!

If you're reading this, I hope you've enjoyed the past winter and are looking forward to the start of Spring, which is official in less than a month (the Vernal Equinox, to be technically correct) although I can't say the same for the weather - especially living in England!

Half term :)

Wintry Style (admittedly you'd probably need a jacket too!) by nikigirl

Happy days! Now I have a whole week off (although I've got enough schoolwork/ driving lessons etc. to be getting on with...) which is just what I need at the moment to be honest :) but I still feel pretty good, which is great for me because usually at the end of term I'm a mess, cracking up, crying, throwing things, but right now, I feel ok, tired (as in, I worked to the end of my mental endurance last term) but ok.

This is progress, compared to last year, where the end of every term seemed to signal the start of a stress-related meltdown!

So I'm happy that I don't feel as stressed as I used to (if that makes sense!) I'm finally back in control of my life!

& I just got back from seeing my sister perform Cabaret at school - they were all so good!

Anyway, this week's image/ fashion set symbolises satisfaction, neutral colours (white/cream/grey/lavender) and a simple enjoyment of life, which is the perfect style to compliment the bleakness of these freezing winter days...

...and although it may be winter, we'll always remember the sun :D

People are lonely because they build walls instead of bridges.

People are lonely because they build walls instead of bridges. by nikigirl

Feeling a bit down this week :( I hate uncertainty......

In a week I'll be rapidly approaching my birthday!

This doesn't cheer me up at all, I have nothing arranged whatsoever :/

Even worse, we have school photos next week! As if it wasn't bad enough, we have to dress up. I don't like fancy dress, and I don't own anything suitable either...
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Drawing a line under all of that; this image is all about having your own style, and not being afraid to be yourself, even if you aren't bold or sassy or even particularly fashionable. It's supposed to be about the art behind the fashion, not the money, not the culture or the marketing. About the ideas people used to have and the way that they expressed them.


Things can't always be as bad as we imagine they are, can they?

Reflection

Reflection by nikigirl

Friday the 13th! Unlucky for some but I've been lucky enough to have a pretty good day so far; in terms of school and home so here's to hoping the weekend is good too! (Although by default it WILL be good just because I don't have to get up at 7/ do any serious schoolwork :P)

First week back at school always makes me reflect on things a lot. You'd think the last week of term would have inspired the same, but I was too busy thinking about exams to really consider anything else. Instead, as I said, this week I realisied that time is moving away from me, faster than ever - only 12 school weeks left until I go on study leave and leave school forever! That's incredible considering all the weeks that went into the 7 years I've been at secondary school, not to mention the 7 years of schooling I had previous to that!

I calculated. *If* I get into the university I want to go to I only have 262 days left until my first day there, so that's;

22,636,800 seconds
377,280 minutes
6288 hours
37 weeks (rounded down)

Approximately! The crazy thing is, only 12 of those weeks include school, the rest is all studyleave/ holiday! Presuming I move into uni the weekend before Fresher's week - that's only 260 days left living at home! :O

Anyway, back to the present, this is where I must learn to live, one day at a time rather than in the past or the future - do you like the image? I deliberately included loads of symbols representing the passing of time, the hourglass, the pocket watch, the blossoms, the birds and even the girl...and then I added a couple of bows and a vintage photograph effect just because ;)

Enjoy the weekend!

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens...

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens... by nikigirl on polyvore.com

Had some fun recently with image composition and actually using really images of people in a template design rather than just individual objects.....I think it turned out quite nicely, and to be fair it's about time I made some sets where people actually feature!

So....this week, starting school again, which means back to coursework and ultimately exam prep for 4 months time! BUT, as I've already said, I'm determined to start 2012 in the true spirit of optimism, which means not giving up until I've seen what's ahead of me, and even then I'm going to do my best not to let stress get the better of me!

New year's Resolutions;

a) Get AAA or above (!) at A2, to get into the university course I want
b) Have a great 18th, go out somewhere, have a party etc.
c) Really make the most of my last months at school with friends
d) Really make the most of the 3 month summer I get after final exams!!!
e) Find some sort of part time job until October to fund these ambitious plans :P


And... naturally I will be continuing this blog throughout to document everything, but that goes without saying!

Even though it's not New Year anymore I can still say "Happy 2012" everyone!

Simplicity

Sometimes the basics are the best.

Only 2 more days in school, 2 more exams, then it's Christmas!

The wait is hard, but it will be worth it, just a few more hours of revision, a few more cards to write, presents to wrap, decorations to display, and time will pass before I know it!

But I do love black & white photographs, and Paris, and pink things, and of course, the beautiful Emma Watson to set it all off :) this image is a reminder of why I should persevere - once it gets to the Christmas holidays I'll have loads more time for image editing!

Simplicity by nikigirl on polyvore.com

100th post! Here's to 100 more!

So at times life can seem difficult, stressful and downright depressing....but it can also be rewarding to those who are willing to put themselves out there.

Yeah, there will be set backs, there will be the bad times, the sad times and all the rest of it, but really what you have to do is look at everything long-term, but at the same time, live for that day - crazy isn't it?

Basically what I'm trying to say is that looking back on the last 100 posts of this blog has really made me think, whatever did or did not happen I've achieved a lot and I have things to show for it. This gives me a lot of hope in what promises to be a very work-intensive 6 months up ahead, but one day I'll look back on all of this work, and I'll be proud.

But I'll never forget where I started from.

On a less philosophical note, I have another university offer and I am really excited about this one, as in I could actually end up going there and living there for 3 years of my life! I still have 2 more places to wait on, but having things like this - university offers I mean - it really gives me something to work towards, to be happy about, and ultimately it makes sure that I don't lose focus, I'm so close now I can't break down over school work again...so instead I've planned the next week to include a combination of evenings out, fun with friends, a firework display and some happy time on Polyvore - here's to the next week!

Day dreaming again. Can't believe that;

a) it's my last year at school

b) it's almost halfway through the year

c) on my next birthday, I will be 18

Where has my life gone?.... time seems to be going so quickly recently!

Must have been too busy day-dreaming, instead of writing my personal statement draft, or doing some sort of productive work, as usual...

 

"Oh what can it mean? For a day-dream believer and a home -coming queen....."

Random cat-like image :) I didn't think about it when I made it but it actually reminds me of Hallow'een? I think it's the black cat and then the orange tints in the background, although I did put a lot of flowers in to make it more summery! I'm on holiday from school right now which seems to have added a definite lighter tone to my work...wonder how long this will last...

Perspective. Life depends on it.

Attempting to throw myself back into the school routine, and remind myself that in the bigger picture, getting up at half seven and working from nine 'til five, is actually for the greater good.

And of course, putting this into the perspective of the entire world, I guess it's not that much of a big deal :)

It's all a matter of perspective really.

3rd Sunday of Advent, and only 5 days until I finish school/work for Christmas! I haven't got an advent calendar so my blog keeps track of the weeks for me!

I'm in a winter-but-not-quite-Christmas mood, and so made an image based on stars/lights and a very nice looking tree :) it looks even nicer now it's been lit up!

Only a week to go! I keep looking around for inspiration for some Christmas images...

So it's been a week! I apologise but from now on this blog will probably only be updated weekly, as that is how much time I have to produce new pieces of art & load them on here, I'm sorry but Sixth Form is so intense, and I'm also applying for a job as well as taking the Extended Project Qualification with my A-levels :O

Ignoring my excuses, here it is, a piece on London, a place where I have often visited (my mum's family origniate there) and might (?) end up living in at university! The image I made deliberately includes some of the most famous landmarks, using pictures I took myself in April 2010 :) ...

And... here are the final outcomes, after 10 hours (5 hours each) in my GCSE Art Exams, here are the pieces I produced, one in coloured pencil the other in watercolour, same design different effects, everyone I've asked seems to have different preferences too....

Decided to put things into context and show you how I used my "wor,k rest and play" ideas (at the beginning) to develop the outcome of my art exam, here is some of the planning I did in my sketchbook.