Inspiration

Inspiration is the source of all creativity in my mind.  Something sparks/clicks/pops in you head, triggered by a sense.  You see something in a magazine, you read something in a book, your friend tells you a story... The other day someone told me my blog had kind of inspired them to write their own.  Kind of or not I though this was lovely.  It did make me wonder however where my sources of inspiration have disappeared.

Whilst at university I was led by trend books, my tutors, my course peers.  Now I have friends that mostly have no knowledge of fashion...though one of them said the other day that we call subconsicously walk north westerly and in an area (not actually north west compass wise) and that's why fashion stores are laid out how they are.  He seemed baffled I didn't know this...I assured him I did not study retail.

Anyway...the point of the story is that I miss that kind of creative inspiration.  I need Viewpoint in my life...in particular this is what I miss...for reasons like this:

Long live Future Lab...no wonder I was so stressed when I was interviewed by Christopher Sanderson (Future Lab's co founder) at Graduate Fashion Week for the Strategic Marketing award.  I have other images, many others, but these in particular give across a current mood of mine.  Whimsical, wishful, ethereal...now I just need a project to focus these.  Suggestions on a postcard.

I'm employed...wooo hooo

This is obviously a regular topic of mine but it is one that currently seems to baffle everyone.  A friend of mine wrote as her Facebook status the other day: "I'm employed!!! Wooo hooo!! :)"  Everyone that read this was of course over the moon and asked what job in the police she had got....as this was her aim.  Rather than replying that she had got Christmas work in a department store she merely said she had only got a temporary post and was still pursuing the police full time.

Now, she should not be ashamed of something she was so excited about.  Indeed, at the moment having any kind of job is marvellous.  People don't seem to understand that though.  Graduates feel they have almost failed, despite not actually standing a chance, whilst non-graduates feel sympathy for those poor 'young ones' wasting the talents that have got them into so much debt.

I can't lie, sometimes I wonder why I am not doing what I dreamt of.  Or in fact why what I dreamt of doesn't necesarily seem like the right thing for me any more.  When in the midst of those dark moments I have a little moto "at least I'm employed".  Doesn't sound like much but hundreds of gradutes have gone back to bar jobs, work in Topshop/River Island/Debenhams or do as I have and relish an opportunity thrown out by family/friends/acquaintances.  After all, it's better than nothing.

I do have something to dream about though...I am going to meet Peter Ruis from John Lewis and Fred Uribe-Mosquera from Burberry next month.  God bless Graduate Fashion Week.  After all, blogs don't pay the rent...not even Sophie Power's amazing Trendspiration.  She was invited to London Fashion Week as a guest of Canon and could only make one day as she had to work...typical!

Masks are the way forward...

My wonderful flatmate at university was scared of masks...well IS scared of masks.  In first year Halloween came and she refused to leave her bedroom just in case.  Good job as one of the boys we lived with decided to prance around in a Michael Jackson mask...not good.  Needless to say, when we became all girls we didn't wear masks so she could at least partake in the getting ready.

Well now she doesn't live with us I am relishing in the idea of a mask, something that has never appealed before.  Whislt I want to go masquerade (though my costume may never arrive...in which case I'm going to be a doll) I couldn't help but be inspired by The Cool Hunter's 'Creative Halloween' article.

From simple cardboard cut outs to 3D masterpieces... My idea of a mask has been well and truely put to shame.  The green one is my favourite, it has a Wicked Witch of the West feel to it, though the lightning bolt concept is sheer genius.  Maybe I should bugger off the masquerade idea and get inspired with weather...I could make a cloud outfit right?

Miss Led: Celebrating two years in Dreamland

iss Led, who I have recently wrote about, is celebrating two years of her fabulous Alice in Dreamland series of images.  Alice has often featured on walls within boutiques etc and she has now made it to print.  Following new interior successes a wall piece from D & Me boutique is now available for a limited time...You can purchase new, colourful Alice imagery at Miss Led's store or read more about it on her blog.

 

 
It's very psychadelic, reminding me very much of what the smoking caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland might see.  There is something surreal yet lovely about Miss Led's Alice...

Alice in Dreamland for Meg Matthews, February 2009

Anna Rusakova: My Moleskine

I discovered Ukranian illustrator Anna Rusakova on Behance and just fell in love with her sketchbook imagery.  Her portfolio of illustrations is brilliant but it was her "my moleskine" section that appealed to me most.  I loved seeing where and what had inspired her....from pressed flowers to the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam.  It's like seeing into someones creative soul.

It is what I always say I will do but don't.  Gadgets now lead what I do...my laptop and my iPhone would give you all the information you need about me...but there is something so distanced about that.  I long for the days that I would pick up a pencil and sit and draw...maybe if I'd carried on my illustrations would be better.

Rusakova's cute and quirky illustrations tap into everything from family trees to "small objects" where origami swans are contrasting with delicate sketchs of guns...

Here are some of her sketchbook images.  Be inspired...

You've Changed...

The other day I gave a last attempt at making a university friend actually reply to my messages.  This may sound rather psychotic but it's pretty simple...things were weird with us when we left university and we buried our heads in the sand.  I didn't want to lose her forever for no bloody good reason.

Turns out she thought I'd changed when I thought she had... stress of university?  Addition of a new boyfriend taking up more time?  Maybe it was actual change?  The last worries me most because that we can't really fix.  They say a leapard can't change it's spots but I definitely believe they can evolve to look slightly different.  If this is the case maybe if/when we finally meet again it'll just be odd still.

God I hope not.  In my mind we'll go for buffalo chicken wings, a cocktail or maybe a strawberry milkshake...dependent on where we are.  A leapard can't change it's spots but with all this cosmetic surgery around I'm sure someone could.  If we can change maybe we can change back.  Maybe we'll evolve together to fit once more.

Relationships of all kinds are stressful but relationships with friends are the most important.  You don't break up with friends.  Maybe I should send her flowers and chocolates...boyfriends get away with that as apologies right?

I'm sorry if I changed, I didn't mean to, I still love you...as always xxx

The Importance of Language

I am currently attempting to complete a rather tedious application form.  It has several rather annoying essay questions...annoying because whilst I could answer them very quickly they wouldn't be brilliant...they'd just be ok. OK isn't good at the minute...especially when this fellowship is pretty awesome.  One question though gave me A LOT to write...

"How much does it matter, if at all, that texting and twittering treat spelling convention with little respect?"

Well this of course raises many questions.  To me this is not just about the importance of spelling convention but of language as well.  The issue of whether newer forms of communication disrespect language and spelling convention is essentially a debate concerning whether or not spelling convention is needed if there is still a universal understanding of what the writer means.

In most modern day cases the shortening of words and use of “initialisms” is not because society wishes to alter or disrespect language but for speed and space saving.  Twitter and text messaging in particular limit the characters available and therefore the writer needs to condense where necessary to successfully give across their message.  Technological and social change inevitably can bring about language change.

There are individuals of course who change words such as maybe to ‘mebbe’ saving neither time or space.  For my own sanity I like to think it is purely to represent their accent or merely to show informality between friends.  It may just be because they think they are 'cool'.  Merely thinking this makes you extremely uncool.

I believe language is a beautiful thing and encourage new mediums that allow us to share and communicate.  I live in the hope that intellectual people will keep conventional spellings safe.  It's not just spelling but ensuring the ability for universal understanding and the prevention of annoyance.  After all...it's common for us Brits to find American spellings frustrating....color?  No my dear friend it's colour.  It's called English for a reason...follow our lead.