Flutterlings

A small update

groovyspecs — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:00:13 +0000

This is another semiannual post. It seems anything more than that and we get bad weather down here at the bottom end of Africa. Seeing as the weather is already bad (my ears are freezing!), I thought I may as well. As you can see, some small changes have been made to the blog, colours have changed and things have been spruced up. Most importantly though, the little Zazzle shop has a whole new range of products. I’m not expecting you to rush out and buy them but would appreciate a visit to the shop to see what I’ve been up to. Go have a look here.

It’s very satisfying to bring a new design to life and even more so when you don’t have a brand manager saying “Move that a bit to the left”. I know all you designers out there can relate. The Keep Calm range was whipped out in a morning and had me almost as happy as Xmas and birthdays. What do you think of making your own version of popular memes?

Finally writing that novel

groovyspecs — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 17:58:25 +0000

Some of you may be aware that my blog writing activities have been curtailed by my novel writing activities. The two shouldn’t be mutually exclusive but since this is a first novel I’m trying to focus my attention on one thing at a time. I have always wanted to write a book. Getting started seemed to be the biggest problem in the process. Fortunately I have a friend who had a great idea to help wannabe writers like me get going. An inspirational PDF document from her is what moved me from thinking to doing. So, if writing a novel is on your Bucket List but you don’t know where to start you should go visit www.nownovel.com - a website by the team that got me going.

Now Novel is an online writing course created by brother-sister team Brendan and Bridget McNulty. Bridget is a published author (her first novel, Strange Nervous Laughter, was published in South Africa and the USA) and she shares all her tips, tricks and insider information during the Now Novel process.

It’s more than just an online course, it’s more of a guide to how to complete each step of writing the novel – from creating an idea to testing if that idea is really strong enough to support a whole book, coming up with plot and setting details, creating in-depth character studies and even being given a roadmap for what needs to happen when.

As well as the website there’s an inspiring blog filled with writing advice, a forum where you can discuss any writing frustrations with other aspiring authors and a Facebook page with pics and quotes that only book geeks will appreciate!

In short, it’s all the tools you need to finally write that novel… Except the words, that is.

Soulless | Steampunk fun

groovyspecs — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 08:01:43 +0000

“Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she’s a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette. ”

With a description like that things can only get better. This little book was one of the best finds I’ve had in a while. Ms Carriger writes a very tongue in cheek account about life as a spinster during the Victorian age.
Carriger has created a character that I can relate to. Alexia is an outsider, but at the same time embraces her outcast situation and is proud of her differences. She copes admirably for someone without a soul and if it wasn’t for that pesky vampire without manners that attacked her, life would have gone on as always.However, since she managed to kill the vampire, Queen Victoria sends her investigator to clear up the matter. It’s amazing what a young lady can do with a parasol!

This book blends old time Victorian attitudes with steampunk and modern day urban fantasy into a lovable quirky story that is hard to put down. I devoured the rest of the books as quickly and am about to go and get the 5th book for my Kindle. Can. Not. Wait.

If you’re looking for a light hearted steampunk fantasy, I can recommend this series. You will not be disappointed.

Grin Factor:

★★★★★

Random Pretties | Robot Love

groovyspecs — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:24:05 +0000

Since it’s almost time for Halloween again, I’ve been playing around with costume ideas for work and some ideas for t-shirts. There’s only 2 weeks left and I still have to come up with the perfect costume (to be honest, dressing up is not my forté), so t-shirt ideas it is.

I have been looking for an excuse to add some robots to my portfolio and this little guy may become a permanent fixture. He’s only in the beginning stages but he is showing a lot of promise. Check out the robot love below:

Squirrels and tricked out walking aids (crutches)

groovyspecs — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 10:22:10 +0000

Yes, you read that right. I’ve spent the past week on crutches and the experience has left me with sore hands and a dislike for what seems to be the standard walking aid. I decided that there had to be better ways of getting around than this. Surely? The interwebs did not disappoint me. Admittedly, all these lovely blinged out crutches can mostly be found in the USA, but that’s why they invented couriers, right?

My favourite site of them all is LemonAid Crutches. The company was started by Laurie Johnson. She was involved in a plane crash in which she lost her husband and son and sustained severe injuries. After a year on crutches her sister helped her to cheer them up by giving them a custom paint job and adding the covered pads. Laurie’s first hand experience has helped her develop an unique product and it’s well worth visiting her website if you’re going to be on crutches for a while.

The flamingo crutch designed by Can Guvenir seems like the most comfortable option of them all. I can’t tell from his blog whether these are in production or whether this is a design concept. The crutches are designed to solve common usage problems one normally encounters with crutches, such as sore hands from being limited to one grip method. This design allows for multiple holding positions and the crutch height is adjustable too.

As you can see, apart from being practical, these crutches are just plain beautiful. I do hope they see the light of day as a product.

The last item on my list is a pair of crutches, or crutch chair, from designer Yong Rok Kim. The two crutches can be put together to form a chair for the user to lean on when he / she is tired from hobbling. You won’t believe what hard work crutches can be if you’re not used to them, so I think this is a great idea. As an added bonus these crutches don’t look too shabby either. You can go view all the images over at Yanko Design.

Dragon Actually | Fun, trashy fantasy

groovyspecs — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 08:27:05 +0000

It’s been a very long time since my last post. Partly because this year seemed to fly by in a blur and partly because I have been in a writing slump. And really the only way to get past that is to sit down and write something. So simple, isn’t it?

Fortunately I have found some completely fun and trashy literature to share. Even though I promised to read all the deep and heart wrenching novels all my friends insisted on lending me (sorry guys). Enter the dragon. Well, Dragon Actually by G.A. Aiken. The cover should tell you a lot about this book

The story revolves around the warrior maiden Annwyl the Bloody. Not her favourite monniker, but one she was stuck with while battling her mad brother’s army.

We are introduced to Annwyl when she is once again fighting for her life against an impossible number of foes. Fortunately for her, she happened to be doing that right outside the kingdom’s grumpiest dragon’s lair. Lucky girl. Fearghus, as the dragon is known, decides to rescue her on an impulse and with the help of his sister, nurses her back to health.

The byplay between the obstreperous Annwyl and the continually puzzled Fearghus is well written and very amusing. I couldn’t put the book down and the rest of the household went hungry last night as a result. However, as the cover suggests, there is a fair amount of erotica in the story, so if you’re thinking of buying this for your teenager, don’t. If you’re looking for a fun, easy read with dragons, this is definitely the book for you.

There are two stories in the book and judging by the first, I’m going to enjoy the second story. Aiken’s writing style is easy and her sense of humour infectious . I’m definitely going to be adding the next book to my library too.

Grin Factor:

★★★★½

Random Pretties | Mark Newman’s sculpture

groovyspecs — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 08:07:57 +0000

It’s been an age since I’ve had the opportunity to blog! I finally have a day off with no demands on my time (yay!) and decided to share some more random pretties with you. In my net ramblings I happened across a showcase of Mark Newman’s work and was mesmerised by his sculptures. He is an American artist and has been producing these beauties for 19 years.

He works in bronze and resin and produces incredibly detailed work in both mediums. It doesn’t hurt that the bulk of his work falls squarely in the fantasy genre. I found a DeviantArt page for Mark where you can go view more of his current work. The pics are from his portfolio website, here.

I’ve posted all my favourites; the flowing underwater imagery is mesmerising and the portraiture sublime. The detailed work draws one in and doesn’t let go. Each time you think you’ve seen it all, another bit of detail jumps out and grabs you. I’d love to view these sculptures in person!

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