tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4927525923100394032024-03-06T07:17:37.051+00:00The Diary of an Art Student ...Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06047661379011498022noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-492752592310039403.post-64207226876395842982010-03-24T22:47:00.005+00:002010-03-24T23:11:26.720+00:00A New BagHi Blogspot<br /><br />I'm a bit hacked off today ... some Chinese games company has stolen £50 from my Paypal account. I sent them a truly rude e-mail demanding immediate repayment or else the UK Police and Interpol will be informed but I don't suppose it will do any good. I just have to hope that Paypal will refund the money. :o(<br /><br />Anyway ... I'm on to a new bag now ... a 'Man Bag'. :o)<br /><br />I was going to do the rock pooling bag next but I was chatting to one of the girls I go to knitting club with and we were reminiscing about how our older brothers always used to break our dolls ... my brother didn't just break my doll ... he sawed her up with a hack saw, painted the raw edges red and proceeded to blow her up in his fort! I am still internally scarred by this memory, even today!<br /><br />So, in honour of this sad, sad memory I am creating a 'Man Bag'. It will be a cross-the-body style, in dark brown fake leather and very plain on the outside. It will have a lift up flap on the outside which will allow access to the zip closure inside. On the under side of the flap and on the inside of the bag I am thinking of putting cartoon style war noises - ka-boom, bang, whoosh - that kind of thing in the usual cartoon style explosion stars or clouds of smoke. I'm thinking of putting in a row of bullet holes too ... not real ones ... cartoon ones!!!!<br /><br />I can't use too much fabric or embroidery because it will take away the 'manliness' of the bag ... but just using paper is too simple with no skill involved. I spent today matching up the noises with the right explosion stars or clouds etc on paper and testing out colours to make sure they add to the cartoonishness. Tomorrow I'm going to try cutting out felt pieces and satin stitching them onto a fabric similar to the lining of the bag to see what they look like. If they're not too feminine, I will purchase some lovely, exciting stuff called "Plasti-dip" which comes in various colours but the one I want is clear. Basically, you can just about dip (or paint) anything with this stuff and it gives it a plastic coating. Ohhhh ... the things you could coat in plastic ... the list is never ending!<br /><br />What I'll do with the bag once sewn together is buy up lots of old, broken dolls from Charity Shops and break them further (possibly sawing them if I can bring myself to do it) and painting bits red and leaving other bits just broken ... just like my brother did in his fort ... and placing all these doll bits inside the bag. Of course, I'm going to have to write the story up properly into the little story book that goes with each bag ... I need to try and express the sense of horror at finding my brother in the garage - saw in hand ... and the sense of loss at seeing her repeatedly blown up in his fort afterwards. And amazingly, he says he can't remember doing it!!! <br /><br />Anyway, that's my plan. Unfortunately the buying of the dolls is going to have to wait as the theives that stole the money off my Paypal card today have only left us with £3 until next Tuesday. How nice of them! It's a good job I'm not in charge of the SAS or anything because if I was, I'd be sending them in there right now to get my money back - by any means ... the more painful the better! Damn these bad people. :o(<br /><br />Thankfully, God only made me an artist so all I can do it take it out in my work ...<br /><br />See ya!Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06047661379011498022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-492752592310039403.post-38537522207554828132010-03-12T08:56:00.013+00:002010-03-12T10:06:40.514+00:00Why Do I Always Get Ideas Early In The Morning?Morning Blogspot. <div><div><br /></div><div>My brain is bursting with ideas right now about the next bag. For ages I've not been able to even start thinking about the next bag, but suddenly this morning ... ding! ... ideas are tumbling over themselves to get out.</div><div><br /></div><div>So ... next bag ... rock pooling (yes, again) but on a bigger scale. Type of bag ... across the body - the kind you would take to the beach. It will have a 'flap over' style at the front ... ie, you lift the flap to gain access to the inside of the bag. The flap will be made to look like rock (somehow!). The 'across the body' strap will be made from some fake brown leather stuff I found in a charity shop the other day. With that, I'm thinking that I could cut out the shape of various types of seaweed but rather than having individual pieces stitched together to form the strap (which will create areas of weakness along the strap), I'll just piece the pattern shapes together and cut out their sillouette in one long piece of this fake leather stuff - 2 pieces actually top stitched together to add strength. To add additional strength to this strap I was thinking that I could insert a piece of ribbon (it has to be something that is flexible yet flat - so wire, plastic boning strip or string are no good) through the two layers of strap and pull tightly at each end. This will help prevent weaker areas of the strap (ie, where two pieces of seaweed join together) ripping apart when the handbag is filled with everyday 'useful' crap!</div><div><br /></div><div>Back to the flap ... under this rock looking flap I was thinking you could have the seaweed around the 3 outside edges (1 edge being against your body when you walk, therefore needing to be plain) hanging outside and dangling and bobbing around when you move. Under this overhang of seaweed I could attach applique shells, fish etc to make it look like a rock pool. Other things, perhaps a prawn or a starfish etc I could make as broaches and attach those onto the bag so they look as if they're part of the bag but they can be removed if the wearer wanted to use them as an accessory.</div><div><br /></div><div>I hope this spiel makes sense ... my brain seems to be projectile vomiting ideas out!!</div><div><br /></div><div>As for making of the overhanging seaweed, I don't want to make it out of acrylic paint again. It does give a good representation but (a) it's too fragile and (b) when it gets cold it gets really hard and crispy which is not good for scraping hands against it nor does it help with the fragility issue! Anyway, we had a textile artist come and talk to us yesterday - Nicola Donovan - very interesting and entertaining lady. She suggested I try something called plasti-dip/plasti-coat. Apparently there's a website which I can go to direct. All you do is take your acrylic piece of seaweed and dip it into this stuff which gives it a smooth and supple plastic coating that retains its 'bendability' whatever the weather. Another idea I was thinking of was to make clay molds of my seaweed pieces and then fill those molds with latex. The problem with this one is I need to know how I can colour the latex ... for instance, if I paint it with anything afterwards, will the paint peel off over time ... or if I add die to the latex will that work (mainly because latex seems to come in strange colours in its raw state)? Mind you, saying that, there is some latex solution up at Hobbycraft which might be ok - and that stuff looks white ... hmmm ...</div><div><br /><br />I haven't read this through yet, so I hope you're all keeping up with my brain! My body isn't!!</div><div><br /><br />The outside of the bag ... (it's time for a cigarette and more coffee)</div><div><br /></div><div>... right, the outside of the bag. We did an experiment in a paint workshop at uni using palette knives. I've never used them before (I'm not a painter remember) so thoroughly enjoyed using them, slapping down great thick sweeps of acrylic paint and then blending colours together. I was thinking ahead slightly at that time (unusually!) and used a variety of blues and greens - wondering if this technique would be any good for my rock pooling bag. I'll attach photos of the finished experiment:</div></div><div></div><div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4K7a3mNjhtNnETsLonI6hYVVkI7kUrLE15TwMEMm9Ty_flbFnJNgKOgEAW5JtNRLRg8rqATKz0G5qzWXqLOzzyA_3EZBVP5sgmReGgtjMFzNgMxkNEkdNwKahtwN0uA4wZtLin4Sx0cw/s1600-h/P1010911.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 212px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 136px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447680349988436978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4K7a3mNjhtNnETsLonI6hYVVkI7kUrLE15TwMEMm9Ty_flbFnJNgKOgEAW5JtNRLRg8rqATKz0G5qzWXqLOzzyA_3EZBVP5sgmReGgtjMFzNgMxkNEkdNwKahtwN0uA4wZtLin4Sx0cw/s200/P1010911.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3_h8CMmu3qbibcgWkqnAfcCCbJd9LWKRCBb_YpK9-fXlUmb651aFPWIogjAx9DJSQ4XayPSltGbT34sbH6kC67rM91o5PHpDKISDk4pImVcq40kAe7c9nbexNT6WK6l-qb6PHsvaHPo/s1600-h/P1010913.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 209px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 137px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447680364272294258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3_h8CMmu3qbibcgWkqnAfcCCbJd9LWKRCBb_YpK9-fXlUmb651aFPWIogjAx9DJSQ4XayPSltGbT34sbH6kC67rM91o5PHpDKISDk4pImVcq40kAe7c9nbexNT6WK6l-qb6PHsvaHPo/s200/P1010913.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7zitVrJaLKcktTx25P66WkOA0GBcgvePVvdXJttlHeO5JqWr7AswL3Y3Hq0WGTWJy18c2WrkAeaTA9KlkOCQSlbonIE7PEGZkz-YxdIJtGgZc9YTC-d4W8VZ5wrKe0AYaU8o95y94gs/s1600-h/P1010912.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 190px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 138px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447680356412809938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7zitVrJaLKcktTx25P66WkOA0GBcgvePVvdXJttlHeO5JqWr7AswL3Y3Hq0WGTWJy18c2WrkAeaTA9KlkOCQSlbonIE7PEGZkz-YxdIJtGgZc9YTC-d4W8VZ5wrKe0AYaU8o95y94gs/s200/P1010912.JPG" /></a><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div> </div><div><br /><br />To me, it does look quite sea like. I was initially thinking of knitting the outside, like I did with the original purse - but this is a bag so will be much bigger and I've already shown my knitting skills with the razor bag, so I want to do something different and something a little unusual for this bag. The problem I have with this experiment at the moment is that it is very fragile. I had to paint the acrylic on to cling film as I didn't have any baking paper at college. I think baking paper would allow me to use thicker layers. The other problem I have with this experiment is that it is quite rough to the touch in places - where there are peaks of paint. This is no good for cold hands that will scratch easily or for delicate fabrics (if I were to wear any) with the bag brushing against them repeatedly while I was walking. So, I need to think a little more about this and experiment some more. But I like this idea ... and, it's rain proof. I could probably use this technique as well for the 'rock' looking flap. Hmmm ...</div><div></div><div> </div><div><br />If I do go with this acrylic outside, it will of course be lined to give strength and I'll use expensive, top quality acrylics which will be harder wearing hopefully. I wonder if that plasti-dip stuff will work? Hmmm ....</div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>Anyway, that seems to be it for now ... the ideas are out there and my brain feels empty now.</div><div></div><div></div><div>The razor bag, by the way, is coming along nicely. Hopefully it will be finished by next week.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>:o)</div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>Byeeeeeee ...</div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div>Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06047661379011498022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-492752592310039403.post-76216592453434684782010-03-05T05:33:00.012+00:002010-03-05T06:42:14.091+00:00Excitement!Ding ... eyes open!<br /><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Time: 4.15am. </div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>Reason: Elivs (one of our cats) wanted cuddles.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Brain then goes into overdrive because some of my handbag supplies came through the post yesterday - the handbag clip clasp and some base strengthening plastic. Very exciting ... but slightly disappointing too because it wasn't the £36 worth of beads I've ordered!</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Still, it means I can now get on and finish my razor bag ... whoohooo!!</div><div></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Let me just take some photos so you can see what I'm talking about ... (grabs coffee cup and camera)</div><div><br /></div><div></div><p>... back again.</p><p></p><p>Here's some pictures of the bits I've received and what I've done with them so far.</p><div></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqtHO4zIUjz8MsZGygiLDkN46LazPRDIdN6F8aqSL5qkVxLa_kFclNtDah7ZT5qjc2l4hj85bxL9emgyxk7dvhKV4jfnMtAfAPGJur7MXjy80F3rMyUpSMI6L-Zy99_B78kIMnY8KTH_s/s1600-h/P1010863.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 166px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 120px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445027271387422866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqtHO4zIUjz8MsZGygiLDkN46LazPRDIdN6F8aqSL5qkVxLa_kFclNtDah7ZT5qjc2l4hj85bxL9emgyxk7dvhKV4jfnMtAfAPGJur7MXjy80F3rMyUpSMI6L-Zy99_B78kIMnY8KTH_s/s200/P1010863.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK779Xn4GBD_vVS0YZ6nJi2qSgaU2S9_0LDDFQif2peAo4s_QCOjlVnCy7YwnItpiigZzxZ1nha1r6PO-5pCbjRmddeCRRseWeeItsHrXDJMXHZeRxnXKr5iHi9zE_edbfGEqxKElDdBU/s1600-h/P1010860.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 174px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 120px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445027269705473362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK779Xn4GBD_vVS0YZ6nJi2qSgaU2S9_0LDDFQif2peAo4s_QCOjlVnCy7YwnItpiigZzxZ1nha1r6PO-5pCbjRmddeCRRseWeeItsHrXDJMXHZeRxnXKr5iHi9zE_edbfGEqxKElDdBU/s200/P1010860.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtggpkdGACCa1YJonjEJMxJSjoE7wWfOrCV1vmDFLptkUmhFRiydy3w2rPep2d5fOmmaGth4btM0hbmvvTglmWxTJ9s_JJP3zBAwJ5SVrIpi_SHMiGxoOQmvIabJE24GM76jg80du6Khs/s1600-h/P1010859.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 174px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 121px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445027278930449474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtggpkdGACCa1YJonjEJMxJSjoE7wWfOrCV1vmDFLptkUmhFRiydy3w2rPep2d5fOmmaGth4btM0hbmvvTglmWxTJ9s_JJP3zBAwJ5SVrIpi_SHMiGxoOQmvIabJE24GM76jg80du6Khs/s200/P1010859.JPG" /></a><br /><br /></div><p></p><div><br /><br /><br /></div><p></p><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div>The first image is the plastic strengthener. You're supposed to just use it for the base of handbags. It helps them to keep their shape at the bottom and it doesn't matter if it gets wet in the rain - unlike cardboard which will just go soggy. The second picture is the clip clasp - a 7" one. The third picture shows how I've cut out the strengthener which I'll use to support the sides as well as the base of my bag. Because it's going to be knitted and have blades and beads attached, if I don't strengthen it, the whole thing will sag under the weight of the blades and beads.<br /></div><div></div><p></p><br /><br /><br />I've done some small knitted samples and found that the best knit comes from using size 2 1/4 needles - it's tighter and therefore firmer. Fortunately, by some miracle, knitting on this size needle means that each stitch on the needle matches exactly to one of the squares on the strengthener. Therefore, my strengthener is 45 holes across the front - so I'll need 45 stitches on my needle - plus probably 2 each side for a seam allowance. This is going to make the whole knitting thing a lot easier - I can count the rows on the strengthener to see how many rows I need to knit ... rather than just leaving it to guestimates. Phew!<br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><br /><br /><br />All I need to do now is thread all the beads and blades on in the right order. I want to have a bead, then a blade, then a bead ... but when threading them onto the wool I've got to take into account the turn around at the end of each row. I figured the best way of doing this is to lay all the beads and blades out on a table in the shape of the bag and then thread them on that way. <p></p><p></p><p></p><br /><br /><br />I've also got to knit the front and back separately, the base and the two sides separately. I'll therefore have 5 pieces which I can then sew together. It would be impossible to just knit the front, base and back in one piece because of the way the razors will hang down. To explain: if I were to cast on at the top and knit a couple of rows, then knit in some blades and beads, for the next few rows I will be fighting the blades and beads out of the way all the time as I knit downwards. Therefore, I have to knit from the base up so that the blades and beads don't get in the way.<br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><br /><br /><br />And I was wondering ... when I come to knit the base, whether I should knit in some blades across the base which will add protection to the knitting. I'll think about that one some more while I'm making up the rest of the bag.<br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><br /><br /><br />Anyway, good times ahead - a weekend of knitting ... and I can start tonight at Knitting Club! (A group of us get together every Friday night and spend the evening knitting, chatting and drinking tea! Perfect for a tea-totaller!)<br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><br /><br /><br />I'm off to sort out beads and blades!<br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><br /><br /><br />See ya! <p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /></p><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div>Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06047661379011498022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-492752592310039403.post-2346441857229530422010-03-02T04:43:00.011+00:002010-03-02T05:57:47.608+00:00Descriptive Nightmares - And An Update!Morning Blogspot ...<br /><br />It's 04.43 and I'm wide awake; partly because I have a cold and can't breath properly, partly because someone sent a text to my husband's phone at about 3am which made it beep really loudly and partly because my husband snores so loud, I can't get back to sleep.<br /><br />So I'm here ... trying desperately hard not to go on Facebook and waste my time on there. I've got so much I need to do to stay on top of things for my degree ... especially my file of evidence, which although looks pretty stacked with stuff, none of it has been evaluated and critiqued yet. And the longer I leave it, the more I'm going to have to do at the end. :o(<br /><br />I have to say that I am a bit disappointed in myself with this blogspot. I really intended to write in it regularly - almost weekly I suppose - but I haven't done that. In fact I've barely managed to write in it on a monthly basis. The problem is I think that I have trouble downloading what's going on in my brain - whether its in words or in drawings ... I can't seem to do it very well. It is a problem that was picked up in my Disabled Students Assessment but there's really not very much anyone can do about it - there's no special computer software that can help, it's not a case of having someone sit down and write down what I'm saying - I can do that perfectly well on here. It's organising and describing what's floating around up top and then putting that into words or pictures.<br /><br />I've just gone to take a swig of coffee and my cup is empty ... I'm going to make some more and have a ciggie, then I'll be back - hopefuly able to download some more of what is floating around in my brain ...<br /><br />... I'm back, cup replenished and nicotine inhaled.<br /><br />Where was I? Hmm ...<br /><br />So anyway, let's talk about these damn handbags! They're not 'damn' handbags really, they're 'yay, handbags' ... but I'm still on my first one - the razor blade one and I'm getting a bit fed up of it now. So far, I've blunted and polished 100 blades (60 for the bag, 40 for test samples). I really don't want to do any more. It's very monotinous work and very dusty which, even though I wear a facemask, still gets onto my chest a bit. I've also bought some beaded trimming which was threaded onto a ribbon at intervals - the kind of stuff you would edge a cushion with. I took off 90 of the beaded drops and threaded them on to jewellery 'pins' - the long metal bits used in dangly earrings. I've also nearly finished putting both the razors and the beaded pins onto silver split rings so that they're ready to knit with. I'll get the rest of them finished today hopefully. What I've been waiting to do is buy a 7" clip lock closer for the handbag. Unfortunately we've just not had any spare money at all for the last month so I've been a bit stuck - but, wheyhey, we have money in our account today with the promise (via my husband) of £150 coming to me so that I can buy all the bits I need to finish all my handbags. I don't think I'll actually get to keep all of the £150 because "shit happens" as they say and no doubt some unexpected expense will land in our laps this week that we haven't budgeted for! But all I need to get this razor bag finished is £7.99 for the clip lock closer + p&p of course. Then I can get on with the knitting which will hopefully only take a few days - the fun part! And then bag finished! :o)<br /><br />What I have been doing in the meantime, apart from polishing blades and threading beads, is investigating various things to put in my file of evidence. I've come across some really useful websites and magazines that will really help develop the 'business' side of my artwork next year - if I get onto the BA(Hons) course ... and it's all really exciting. I think I've actually managed to find something I want to do long-term. Usually, about half way through any project, I start realising that I don't want to do this kind of thing ever again ... but with the bags, it's different. Each bag will be different so the monotony doesn't have a chance to kick in. And I can incorporate my first love of beads and embroidery! I did notice actually that blunting and polishing 100 razor blades was really boring and very tedious, yet stringing 90 sets of drop beads was very pleasureable!! (Every time I got bored of the beads, I held them up to the light, wiggled them and then watched them glint in the light ... simple things please simple minds, eh?!!)<br /><br />I've also managed to find myself a 'mentor' for next year. (I really hope I get on the course now!) Her name is Jan and she lives in Devon and does the most amazing embroidery and beading and makes bespoke garments and jewellery for her own customers or for other designers. I'm guessing she's about 15 years old than me - so about 55ish I reckon. She's been teaching embroidery for years, has just completed her MA at Bath Spa Uni and her designs are gorgeous. Her website is <a href="http://www.janknibbs.com/">www.janknibbs.com</a>. If you get a chance, check it out. I think this lady can really teach me a lot ... and hopefully I can pass on some of my newly acquired business acumen from next year, as she has trouble marketing herself and getting her website noticed.<br /><br />What else have I been doing? I've spent about a week sorting out my application for the BA(Hons) top up course, getting the wording right for my statement of why I want to do the course and I've had to complete a 30 page form to get my Disabled Students Allowance continued - I had to spend two days hunting down my original birth certificate for this which wasn't where I was supposed to have filed it! Why do I do this? Why can't I just file things away in the right place first time round? Why don't I ever learn? It's not like I haven't done this before either ... I do it plenty of times, mis-filing things ... and yet I never learn! Anyway, it's been found and it WILL be filed in the right place once I get it back from Student Finance England ... if I ever get it back from them. They're not at their most efficient at the moment so it's with some trepidation that original documents are sent off to them!!!<br /><br />Coffee cup's empty again ...<br /><br />I've been on de-caff coffee all night but my brain refuses to feel sleepy yet ... it's so annoying. I'll be really tired in the day now - the day we can actually spend money on stuff that isn't food or bills - how exciting! I fancy a trip to Hobbycraft but it will be a bit of a wasted trip because I don't know what I want to do with my other bags yet ... but we'll wait and see what the day brings.<br /><br />I think that's it for now really. I ought to get on with some of the evaluations for my file of evidence rather than wasting more time on here - which is almost as bad as wasting time on Facebook! And I really ought to tackle a bit more of my sketchbook but I'm having my usual trouble with that - which takes me nicely back to where I started actually - the trouble I have describing stuff that's floating around in my head and downloading it into some form of comprehensible format.<br /><br />Oh well, I'd better go give it a try.<br /><br />See ya!Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06047661379011498022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-492752592310039403.post-26415565418170740272010-01-12T10:37:00.019+00:002010-01-12T11:52:51.820+00:00A Rather Delayed UpdateHi All<br /><br /><br /><div></div><div>I haven't posted in ages ... I know ... but with one thing and another, life has run away with me again.</div><div></div><div></div><div><br />What's happened since October? Well, my husband started a training course at college which unfortunately brought the schizophrenia back in a big way. We knew it was a gamble but he was doing so well ... but sadly, it didn't work out so that has taken time to get him back on track again. And I've been busy organising an exhibition which my college group are holding later this month ... they voted me to be the Chairman - which I didn't want to do - but I got a do or die look from the tutor!! So organising that has kept me quiet too. Not that the group would say that ... they're probably sick to death of my emails ... I know I am!!!</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br />Anyway ... as you know I'm working on handbags for my final show in June at uni. (Well, it's not actually my final 'final' show because I've still got another 2 years to go studying for the BA Hons top up, but it's my 'final' show as far as my Foundation Degree is concerned.)</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br />So far, I've discovered that the razor blades handbag is going to look pretty good. I just have to motivate myself to blunt down and polish about 100 razor blades ... and it's a very time-consuming job! And tedious actually! But I need to add some 'glamour' to the bag in the way of beads or fringing otherwise it will look too 'gothic' and I don't want that ... even though there's probably quite a big market out there for that!</div><div></div><div></div><div><br />Here's a sample photo for you:<br /></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJy4lL-C8lI9ox901LUZvBv_OIlAqcVYpCUjoSs7GUusON_IYxw80HotIuIb4C4wN2Rghzatvgd1mMrZQ6iyLTYZEwgzcDyxW2x1OF0qGXBwBvuc6w-G7FWwNBguzSaHCkCGQU19XawQo/s1600-h/P1010691.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425803925913969154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJy4lL-C8lI9ox901LUZvBv_OIlAqcVYpCUjoSs7GUusON_IYxw80HotIuIb4C4wN2Rghzatvgd1mMrZQ6iyLTYZEwgzcDyxW2x1OF0qGXBwBvuc6w-G7FWwNBguzSaHCkCGQU19XawQo/s200/P1010691.JPG" /></a> </div><div><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigrLUk0igAeLiF-JYlG2TRu-ArnwRkwEXkHNYAVrfWekF5uWuxLjee4gUSongCaxuC2YI4IW1p5AJ0OA4H0o7NE1k-2xAFNIQNUCazrLedvwJMxi57gwL7FBs8OT22vbvx8EcjCi_mcDw/s1600-h/P1010711.JPG"></a></div><div><br />I'm really pleased with the way the blades are turning out ... but to get them this shiney, you have to polish each one about 10 times ... times that by 100 blades ... it's going to take ages and I just can't find the motivation at the moment! </div><div><br /></div><p>As regards my rock pooling bag, we did a quick three week project at uni in November looking at 'Artists Books' ... not as in published books but as in pieces of art. Artists books are one of the hardest things to describe. Our tutor had trouble explaining them to us and now I have trouble explaining them to other people! Basically, an artist can create a piece of work that's a book, but doesn't necessarily look like a book. Err ... that's a rubbish explanation - you'll have to look them up on the internet, that's the best thing! </p><div>Anyway, I decided to make an artists book about rock pooling ... a mini experiment to see if the handbag thing would work. </div><div><br /></div><p></p><div>I knitted a shaded blue purse in wool with a silk lining, sewed in some acrylic seaweed (made from paint) and fastened a clip purse fastening. That way, when you open up the purse, you have to put your hand through the seaweed, which actually feels quite life-like, to get to the other goodies at the bottom of the purse. </div><div><br /></div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08Jj0miAj8eeeDAFmLzhujnRppshKuV19Kz8G0yuL1_tq83t1bzBrqhVMIM61b8Y175UK6nTh0sPKKFNSgmGf83Yga4gDmtHAI0dIgfIUHqRO4NPZMd3tLx9Caha_AslPJt3M9l5aZDQ/s1600-h/P1010683.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425809922758339554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08Jj0miAj8eeeDAFmLzhujnRppshKuV19Kz8G0yuL1_tq83t1bzBrqhVMIM61b8Y175UK6nTh0sPKKFNSgmGf83Yga4gDmtHAI0dIgfIUHqRO4NPZMd3tLx9Caha_AslPJt3M9l5aZDQ/s200/P1010683.JPG" /></a></p><div>The other goodies inside the purse are an embroidered star fish, a knitted clam shell, a woven limpet shell and an embroidered prawn. I also placed some stones I've collected from Lyme Regis (the place we used to go rock pooling when I was a kid) and a bit of sand too so your fingers get a real sensation when investigating inside the purse.</div><div><br /></div><p><br />The picture above is of the purse laid out in a box with other sea shells and stones I've collected over the years. I placed the purse in a box because that's the way my memories are filed away in my head ... in boxes. There's a box for child hood, there's a box for school years, there's a box for mum's death ... there's lots of boxes - some I (mentally) open up reguarly, some I leave closed.</p><div>Here's the star fish and the prawn:</div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjApuf9mO1In90I5O0lC3zblcw7M8Hzd0n7dAWvhsBCnqL_451kI1GK_z5W_SAbzkZZQzoI4emaJ9op3YeIAjhRs8cMg_b3wOXb2CroPzSm97mNUNlYW3G0Zhu6ZHlZC6wPWRV1FWuWWT0/s1600-h/P1010729.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425812880260577906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjApuf9mO1In90I5O0lC3zblcw7M8Hzd0n7dAWvhsBCnqL_451kI1GK_z5W_SAbzkZZQzoI4emaJ9op3YeIAjhRs8cMg_b3wOXb2CroPzSm97mNUNlYW3G0Zhu6ZHlZC6wPWRV1FWuWWT0/s200/P1010729.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXpor-sjF-EoSlawJyNwRAONxUdm9dpNO65QZ7N93Xg-HVrWBSeTm6gHjyT2I8_713Th6Gy94TReik6c8d4ciaMtlO3gTvaz1FSvZcZp3NnG8xbcqvekConJyT5T9T4CjAJFAj5hrleQ/s1600-h/P1010730.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425812889221453042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXpor-sjF-EoSlawJyNwRAONxUdm9dpNO65QZ7N93Xg-HVrWBSeTm6gHjyT2I8_713Th6Gy94TReik6c8d4ciaMtlO3gTvaz1FSvZcZp3NnG8xbcqvekConJyT5T9T4CjAJFAj5hrleQ/s200/P1010730.JPG" /></a><br /><br /></div><p></p><div><br /><br /></div><p></p><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><p></p><div><br />Anyway, I think this purse worked out ok so will continue with the rock pooling bag - only with the handbag, the rock pooling items will be on the outside so that the inside can be used as a proper handbag.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br />That's as far as I've got with the handbags so far. It's been quite a busy time for me really, even though I haven't produced much practical work. I will say, however, that my theoretical work is coming along nicely. For some (strange) reason, I have found working at the computer on boring stuff more enjoyable than the practical stuff, for a change.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br />I've also set up my own website now. It's still in the newby stage with improvements being made all the time and I know there's a list of things that I need to work on which is building up, but take a look when you have time. </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br />It's <a href="http://www.lucyadamstextiles.com/">http://www.lucyadamstextiles.com/</a></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br />There's still a lot to be done on it though ... but it takes time and peace and quiet at home, which at the moment, is not happening!!</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br />Anyway, that's it for now. I've got to get back to organising this bloody exhibition again. I'll be glad when it's over and done with!</div><div></div><div>Speak to you soon, hopefully!</div><div></div><div>Lucy</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06047661379011498022noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-492752592310039403.post-40182720590748963352009-10-01T12:44:00.002+01:002009-10-01T12:55:44.069+01:00Here We Go ...Hi <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Blogspot</span><div><br /></div><div>I need to type this up now so I don't forget what we've just discussed or the ideas that have come to me during the discussion.</div><div><br /></div><div>We've just given our first 'initial ideas' presentation and I think we (the whole class) agreed that handbags would be the way for me to go. This is great. This is the way I've been leaning too - doing a whole collection of bags, each describing something that has happened to me in the past - an event or a memory.</div><div><br /></div><div>Some of my ideas so far are:</div><div><br /></div><div>A razor bag - re my wedding day</div><div>A <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">rock pool</span> bag - re memories of when I was a kid</div><div>A family tree bag - I do come from an 'interesting' line!!!</div><div>A travel bag - with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Erol</span> the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">scorpion</span> featuring heavily</div><div><br /></div><div>There could be lots of ideas ... I need to sit back and remember!</div><div><br /></div><div>Another idea that came up via Sophie was to do a small booklet with each bag which can describe the story behind the bag. For instance, Erol would be really hard to tell, just on his own, but with a book I could explain the whole saga behind him. AND, my dad's still got all my original e-mails which I could potential screen print or include within the books.</div><div><br /></div><div>Things I could use to make the bags are razor blades - and perhaps latex dyed to the colour of flesh for maybe the lining or even the outside fabric of the bag, or maybe to use the latex as part of the booklet to go with the story. I could use a map for the travel bag, highlighting where I've travelled - and with it being made of paper, I could fold or pleat it and stitch it in unusual ways. </div><div><br /></div><div>We were also thinking that each bag should be different - not just on subject matter but also on style - so a travel bag would be different to my razor blade bag etc - and for the family tree, I could use a different type of bag for each person - so a pauper would probably have a scruffy, dirty jute bag, my GI auntie would have a going out bag etc etc - all of which could be included in one large 'family' bag.</div><div><br /></div><div>These are just quick ideas that are floating about in my head at the moment. I'm writing them down now so I don't forget. But this project, I think, will be fun for me to do and fun for the audience to see - and detailed enough to keep me busy for a year.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, that's it for now. I'm typing this up at school and if I stay on this computer for too long it will probably chuck me off and blow up, so I'll leave it here for now and carry on when I need to at home. </div><div><br /></div><div>See ya ...</div><div><br /></div><div>:o)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06047661379011498022noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-492752592310039403.post-16471569345488544442009-09-26T11:01:00.002+01:002009-09-26T11:04:32.079+01:00RWA SubmissionHi Blogspot<br /><br />Well, today I've handed in my hat for the RWA 'Open' Exhibition which will go on show in November/December this year. Fingers crossed that it gets through the initial selection process and this time will get 'hung'. You never know, miracles do happen!!<br /><br />Nikki has also handed in two of her hats so with any luck we'll both get selected and they (the RWA) can have a special sculptural hat section! Three hats are better than 1 ... hopefully!<br /><br />Anyway, that's it for now. That's all I wanted to say. I have a busy day ahead of me today so I'm off.<br /><br />:o)Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06047661379011498022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-492752592310039403.post-69918652325913514302009-09-25T15:23:00.007+01:002009-09-26T11:20:12.429+01:00First Week at SchoolHi Blogspot ...<br /><br />So, we've just had our first proper week at school (uni) and I'm still struggling with ideas.<br /><br />I'm going off the two ideas I had over the summer holidays ... I'm not sure they're enough to stretch me - I think they might be 'safe' ideas. Is now the time to play safe or should I stretch and explore? I think the latter would score more points - and points is what I want. I WANT to come out of this degree with a First. I'm not going to get another chance to do a degree again, so I want to push myself as hard as possible and get a top grade. I'm willing to put the work in ... but do I have enough talent and academic ability to achive my goal? I'm not sure, but I hope so.<br /><br />Anyway, back to now. I've been to the library, I've raided my bookshelves and I have about 15 books to look through for ideas. I'm interested in crazy textiles/fashion, mixed media with textiles, tailoring, metals, nature ... all sorts of things really.<br /><br />I've done giant flowers in the past which got a mixed reaction from the tutors but the public love them ... and I do have a fascination with all things giant - sea creatures, vegetables - there's nothing better than a giant fish or marrow or cabbage!!! Perhaps I should go down the giant route again and make something huge that dwarfs the public as they look around it - something like a giant acquarium or vegetable patch in textiles?<br /><br />Another idea would be something to do with crazy fashion. I used to hate the weird stuff that came down the catwalks as a teenage but now I love it! And it might tie in nicely with what I want to do after this degree ... I would like to teach fashion and textiles to age 18+ students. I have loads of experience with textiles but only my own dressmaking skills for the fashion part. Perhaps I should stretch and push that part of my ability? Will it be useful? Will it be relevant?<br /><br />What I don't want to do is continue on down the path I have been going down which has been focused on my husband's schizophrenia and my role as his carer. I started doing work relating to that because I needed to get it out of my system - to release it. But I've done that now and I don't want to continue with it ... (a) because I'm no longer inspired to, and (b) because I find it quite depressing. Having dealt with it for the last 2 years, I need a break from it and want to do something more humourous this time. I love putting humour in my work - I've done it before and REALLY want to do it again.<br /><br />However ... and I'm not sure if I'm being manouvered back towards the mental health arena by the tutors or if I'm subconsciously manouvering myself back there (the more likely answer) ... but I'm feeling pressure to stick with it because it's always given me high marks and the public like it. AND I've already been asked by my tutor WHY I want to explore say, giant fish or shells or whatever. A question I couldn't answer. With a personal piece - like my mental health work - it's easy to answer that question and I can make a political statement about it. With something like giant stuff, what is the reasoning behind me doing it and is there a statement there that I can make?<br /><br />This then leads me to the question, do I have to make a statement or have a reason behind my work at all? Has every well known artist always had a reason behind their work or have they all made statements in their work? I don't think they have - I've got a picture of Monet's waterlillies in my head at the moment ... so if they haven't in the past, why do I need to now? Is this perhaps a good theme for my 4,000 word essay which I need to do in conjunction with my exhibition piece?<br /><br />What I don't want to do is pigeonhole myself into one area or one medium - I have a very short attention span - always have had. I flit from one thing to the next - one minute I spend my time knitting, the next I do patchwork, then I have a love affair with the internet, then books ... I flit. I always will. It's who I am. That's why I have skills in most areas of textiles ... not just tapestry or cross-stitch or dress-making or embroidery. I do something for a while, get bored of it and move on to something else. Why can't I do this with my artwork? Where does it say that we have to stick to one thing?, that we have to have a personal message behind our work?, that we have to make political statements in our work in order for it to be fully appreciated? This is sounding like quite a good essay question to me ... ... !<br /><br />Maybe this confliction (is that a word?) I'm having should be expressed in my artwork? Maybe I should question, within my artwork, what is art? Who decides? Why should my art always have a reason behind it? Does all art have a reason behind it? Do all artists only do work with reasons behind it?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So, dear readers ... this is where you start to see the reason behind my blogspot. All this stuff is jumbling around in my brain, day in, day out, like a mini tumbledryer. I need to get it down on paper (ok, screen). I'm not moaning about anyone in particular, anything in particular - in fact I'm not moaning at all ... I'm loving it. I'm using this blogspot as a sounding board. By the tutors questioning what I do, I then question myself about what I'm doing which then ends up in a right two and eight (state) in my head. By getting it out into the open, I can then look back at this and sort through what I'm trying to say and hopefully come to some sort of conclusion which will then result in a piece of artwork that is exhibitable ... and hopefully a decent essay question which I can ramble on about for 4,000 words!!!<br /><br />Anyway, my head's fairly empty now which is a good thing and means that this blogspot has worked. I'll come back soon and ramble on about something else!!!<br /><br />:o)Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06047661379011498022noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-492752592310039403.post-33582970538022599982009-09-25T14:09:00.005+01:002009-09-25T15:23:31.355+01:00Initial Summer Holiday IdeasHi Blogspot ...<br /><br />So, we have been given the task of finding ideas that we can work with and develop into a final exhibition piece at the end of the year.<br /><br />Now, I did actually start doing this over the summer holidays and I came up with a couple of reasonable ideas.<br /><br />The first one was to continue with my 'Boundaries Bag' and continue that further by creating a whole collection of bags which had personal themes. <br /><br />For instance, I was thinking about doing a bag made out of razor blades. The story of my life behind razor blades is on the day my husband and I got married, about 30 women from my husband's family (he's Indonesian and we got married over there) man-handled me into a room and stripped me. They then divided themselves into groups - one group dressed me, one group did my hair and one my make-up. It sounds horrific but it was actually almost cartoonish and very amusing ... it was a very small room, it was very nosiey because they were all talking at once and I was the only white woman there who towered above the little Indonesian ladies. All was quite amusing until the lady with the razor blade came forward from the make-up group. My Indonesian is very basic so I couldn't understand a word they were saying. I saw the blade and wondered what they were going to do with it - was it some kind of Indonesian slashing of the white woman ritual before the ceremony? Turned out she wanted to shave my face. They sat me down - all 30 woman stopped and crowded around me and watched as the woman with the razor commenced dry-shaving my face. With every sweep of the razor a little cry of wonder went up as the held up the large amount of white fluff that she had removed from my face ... I was letting out a cry of horror as I saw the amount of 'beard' that I had ... dreadful! ... Anyway, that's the story behind the razor blade bag. <br /><br />Another bag I thought I could make was of buttons because when I was a kid my mum's sewing room doubled up as my bedroom and whenever she worked in there, I would get out her button box and rummage through all the wonderous buttons she had and sorted them into size or colour, textured or furry ... I spent hours doing that and I still have her button box now ... and I still get the same 'oooo' whenever I open it!<br /><br />So anyway, that's the kind of idea I had for bags - a whole array of them (because I've got a year to do it in) and all made up of different things that have had an influence on my life. It's quite a nice idea but is it enough ... or is it good enough? I'm not sure ... I'm still considering it.<br /><br />The other idea I had was to do something in textiles of my family tree. I have relatives on both sides of my family who are currently working on our family tree ... which turns out to be quite an interesting family. We're certainly not linked with royalty, sadly, but we do have some colourful characters! <br /><br />For instance, my great, great, great-grandfather John Price had an extra finger on each hand - 5 fingers and a thumb! I think he was a shepherd - most of the men folk in our family way back when were shepherds or farm hands! Another great, great, great-grandfather I had was a taxidermist and apparently the whole house was filled with stuffed dead animals of various shapes and sizes ... we still have one last piece of his at my grandma's house - a red squirrel with a nut in its mouth mounted on a log in a glass box hung on the wall. I also had an auntie was very 'popular' (if you catch my drift) at the local GI base in WWII. At some point she got 'sent away' for a period of time but came back nice and slender and carried on as before!!!!!<br /><br />And these are by no means the only 'interesting' characters we have in our family ... the list goes on!!! <br /><br />What I was thinking of maybe doing, if I can bring myself to do it ... was to great a large (takes a deep breath before she says it) ... wall hanging (urgh, I hate that term!) and recreate my family tree in say, patchwork with each square being a member of my family - a picture of them if we have one - printed onto fabric and perhaps an interesting fact or story about that person which I can recreate in thread or mixed media of some kind.<br /><br />However, I'm now starting to wonder if this idea is interesting enough ... hmm ... I'm not sure.<br /><br />Anyway these are my summer holiday ideas. <br /><br />There'll be more blogs with more ideas as they come!!!<br /><br />:o)Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06047661379011498022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-492752592310039403.post-54150670901746514452009-09-25T13:48:00.003+01:002009-09-25T14:07:45.571+01:00Introduction to my Blogspot<span style="font-family:verdana;">Hello Blogspot ...</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I've revamped you because I wanted to create a kind of on-line diary which I can use to vent in or to air ideas or to just think things through for my final year at uni which will culminate in an exhibition in June 2010.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Why? Firstly, I can get so much crap going around in my head that I need to get it out onto paper - nowadays screen - which will help clear my head a bit. Secondly, because I find myself arguing with myself over some ideas, again it will help me to write it down so I can clarify what I actually want to say to myself . Thirdly, just occasionally, I need to vent about stuff that tutors have said to me. Well, it's not really venting ... well, yes it is actually, but it's constructive venting which will help organise my thoughts and arugments for or against any such comments, and fourthly, I think it will help add to my 'evidence of study' stuff if I can produce a file full of postings ... and it's probably quite useful for the tutors to be able to dip in and out of my on-line blog if they want to see what I'm doing and to keep up to date with my work.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">So, anyway, that's my introduction. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Hopefully, regular postings will help me to keep on track of what I want to do and will add to my body of work for the final grading. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Oh yeah, I've set the permissions so that anyone can read this because feedback is always useful and it will be interesting to see what other people have to say, if anything, about what I'm saying. I will say though, that if anyone does want to leave feedback, please make any criticisms constructive, because they are much easier to work with than ones that just say this is a pile of old crap!!!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Thanks.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">And see you soon.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">:o)</span>Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06047661379011498022noreply@blogger.com0