Be gentle with yourself…

Hi Chaps!

So, first of all apologies for going off the radar for a while; it's safe to say June has been my busiest month this year! I have started a new job, which involves travelling a lot (and learning a heck of a lot!), spent a week in New York, had my birthday and journeyed to Cornwall for a wedding... And it's still not even July!

Okay, so this blog post is a bit of a morning “brain dump”! I was fully intending to do a delayed Magical Monday update, and as I started writing, I realised there was something else I felt compelled to talk/ write/ brain splurge about. So I rolled with it…

I've been keeping up with my art fairly consistently, steadily building up a new body of work for something exciting happening in July (more on that another time!) But alongside all the upheaval, changes and travelling something had to give, and that something was blogging.

Anyway, I'm back! I've acquired a tablet, which I'm hoping will enable me to be able to blog on the move more as my commute to work is pretty long so all time is even more precious. In fact, I'm writing this post on my tablet right now, on the train to London!

I think the key to making anything successful or lasting is to persevere and not get down if things go a bit wonky or pear shaped. That's how I approach my art and that's how I'll also be approaching blogging. Sure, I've slipped by the way side this month. But it's been a damn busy month!

As someone who thrives on goal setting (and achieving!) I have big fat yearly goals that I work towards by breaking them down into bite size monthly goals. It was a little painful at first to review how June's goals had fared as I definitely set the bar too high considering how packed my diary was.

However, past me had also set a goal of "be gentle with yourself" as I think past me knew future me would be feeling a bit glum at not getting everything finished. Isn't that a nice goal to have? Be gentle with yourself. Thank you, past me! It's good to know how well I know myself! As soon as I read it, it made me smile. And even though I didn't have as many “ticks” or "completed" or "achieved" in my diary as I desired, that is just fine!

I really do feel passionately, that in anything you do – learning a new skill, running your own business or just doing something for fun; it’s so important not to constantly beat yourself up on not progressing fast enough. After all, as cheesy as it may sound, the smallest of acorns can grow into the largest of oak trees! One step at a time, no matter how seemingly small or insignificant is still a step. And I’m confident that one day, I will get to where I need to be… And I’m going to damn well enjoy the journey of getting there!

I hope that whatever journey you are currently walking down, that you remember this and it helps you when you need it:

Keep on doing what you love, persevere and don't let the bumps dictate the ride!

Happy Tuesday chaps!

Magical Monday

Hi Friends and welcome to another Magical Monday! I hope these share posts are bringing you a little bit of joy at the start of the week : -)

This Monday heralds my second week at my new job - I was at my last job for four years, so I've not been "new" for quite a while! It's been a whirlwind of battling on tubes, early mornings and lots of learning. For a long time now, I've not experienced "Monday Dread" (or "Sunday Evening Dread") and I hope that if any of you feel glum the night before or the morning of the working week, you can remember that a day is just a day. And how wonderful is that? The possibilities are endless...

Monday's Music Share 

I LOVE Florence and the machine. I remember the year before she got big, I saw her on the BBC alternative Stage at Reading Festival. I had followed her on myspace (remember that?!) for a while and was really digging her sound and vibe. None of my friends were that keen, but I was super excited so I just went and watched her on my own. It was fantastic, there weren't that many people there and I had a front row view and just danced and revelled in what I knew would become very special music to me. The following year, she performed at the Radio One stage and it was rammed to the rafters ; -)

I'm loving Florence's latest album, How Big, How Blue, how Beautiful. After several listens, I think Third Eye is my favourite song so far on the album... Load it up, listen in and enjoy your Monday!

Mummy Moose and her babies having a right old jolly time.

I came across this adorable video on Bored Panda - it's of a mother moose and her two calves being cooled down by someone's sprinklers in their garden. I never thought moose (mooses?!) could be cute but oh my gosh - you cannot watch this without getting the serious feels! This really made me smile, their frolicking and joy is definitely infectious.

Watch the moose water dance here!

Dragons!

South African artist Lynton Levengood has created a series of quirky and cute illustrations of dragons in the modern world. With everything from dragons befriending alley cats and sneaking up behind garden gnomes, these beautifully detailed pictures are very much smile-inducing. My favourite one (although it was a tough call1) are these chaps chowing down on some eggs:

Check out the rest of the dragons here.

Baby bunnies - what's not to love?

My last MM share is of a photographer's project of keeping tabs as his baby bunnies grow up. It has everything you could need with regards to small cute fluffy bunnies - tea cups, yawning, fluff. 5 years ago, I accidentally bred rabbits with my housemate (we thought my rabbit was a girl so she bought a girl... Turns out mine was a boy!) and had the pleasure of watching 8 baby bunnies grow up, so this post made me feel very nostalgic!

See more of these gorgeous cute baby bunnies here!

And here is my bunny when he was a littleun at 2 weeks old:

This is him now!

Thanks for reading, chaps! Have a wonderful week - Next Monday, I will be in New York for work! Exciting! 

- Emily (aka Little Lyra) xx

What I wore this week...

So this week was my first week at my new job, which I am absolutely loving! In anticipation of all the learning and early mornings I would be facing I decided to save myself some small decisions and plan out what I would wear each day in advance - something I've never done before!

Anyway, I have been wanting to do another video and was feeling a little stuck for inspiration and short on time, so I went for an "outfit of the day" video with a twist!

Hope you enjoy!

- Emily (aka Little Lyra) xx

Happy National Doughnut Day!

Happy Friday chaps, and Happy National Doughnut Day!

I thought I would spread a bit of sweet treat cheer today seeing as it is National Doughnut Day! Here are some shares of some super awesome doughnut art, jewelry and links to other dough-tastic bits and bobs I found on the wonderful interweb! All images headers link out to their original sources.

I need this print as either a T-Shirt or wall art - so, so cute!

These doughnut necklaces on Etsy are perfect for quirky jewelry lovers. 

I love this style and the bird is fantastic.

I am forever on the hunt for sweet and confetti inspired nail varnish and love this design.

A rainbow holding doughnut riding a unicorn through the stars. Need I say anything else?

I'm definitely going to seek out some of these places on my travels.

Hope you guys have had an awesome week, make sure you top off today by chowing down on a delicious doughnut!

p.s. the story behind National Doughnut Day can be found here.

- Emily (aka Little Lyra) xx

An artist will always find somewhere to create...

My art studio-cross-office is probably not something you’ll want to re-pin on your dream home pinterest board or find on a trendy blog of “beautiful spaces to make your heart sing” however, I love it whole-heartedly.

I'm lucky enough to finally have a dedicated space for my creating and working, having muddled through shared houses and tiny flats for the past couple of years. Shared with my boyfriend, half of our spare room is his office-cross-computer space, the other half (okay… I have spread to maybe 2/3 the space!) is my creation station. 

A humble second hand table, a chair nicked from our dining room, several flowery storage suitcases, a canvas shelf, pin board of inspiration and purple lamp is my sanctuary.  

Having previously worked on my lap, the floor or on a horrible DVD cabinet (the only piece of furniture aside from my sofa bed I could afford at the time) it has been an absolute joy being able to have this permanent space I can create in. It’s probably the place I spend most time in and has really helped me focus on my creative projects and get inspired for new things quicker. Going from no-space to a small space has defiantly helped me appreciate how important it is to have a dedicated go-to creative area in my home.  

If you are currently working from home or don’t have much space, don’t feel bad or embarrassed. Last summer, I met another artist in an open studio visit. When she asked if I had a studio and I told her how I mostly worked from my lap, she said to me, “it doesn't matter if you have no space. An artist always finds somewhere to create.” Her words have stuck with me, as it is true. A large, separate studio is a wonderful thing to have. One day I look forward to having something like that, but for now I am very much happy in half of our spare room and know that no matter what happens, I will always find somewhere to create. 

My art studio when I first moved in 6 months ago...

My new double pin board of inspiration <3

Do you have any studio pics you'd like to share? Comment or link me below : -)

- Emily (aka Little Lyra) xx

Magical Monday

So for me, today has been a very Magical Monday indeed... I started my new job! After a month off work, I have thoroughly enjoyed having some "me" time and relished the opportunity to really get stuck into painting, playing with my bunnies, vlogging and blogging. But... As an extrovert and people lover, I definitely have missed being at work!

Today's musical share is also a post, as this version of "Take Me to Church" by Hozier is accompanied by a very special ballet piece by Sergei Polunin, directed by David LaChapelle. I love dance, and ballet I find can be so expressive and just beautiful - especially when performed by a man - and this dance is just breathtaking. It actually made me cry when I first saw it! So, in my humble opinion I suggest you pop to YouTube and watch this before reading on... One day, I will paint this man in one of his beautiful expressive leaps!

The Caring Hand

This is a sculpture from Switzerland I stumbled upon via Pinterest... I just love the simultaneous intensity and gentleness it evokes, mammoth stone fingers reaching through the earth to cradle a tree. It reminded me of an old stone creature or giant from eras past! Any sort of sculpture that incorporates the Earth or nature I am a big fan of, and this is definitely one of my favourites I have come across.

[The source link here.]

Stunning Moleskine Artwork

From one of the many art accounts I follow on instagram, Beautiful Bizarre is definately one I wuld highly recomend. They always share stunning new artwork and talented artists and exhbitions. One that really caught my eye is from the Moleskine Project IV at the Hashimoto Contemporary.

A celebration of the sketchbook, over 70 artists feautre in this exhbition (oh, how I wish I could go!) and all of the art featured looks bloody stunning! I use a moleskine for my own art journal, and I have to say, I am in love with it! There's something very old-worldy about a leather bound journal and the paper really holds up to all the battering of collage and watercolours I give it on a frequent basis!

After much deliberation, I had to pick the below artist as my favourite one of the lot - by NC Winters, this artwork is just simply so beautiful. It reminds me a lot of Brian Froud (whom I have a deep arty love for) and the mix of stunning realism and magical fantasy is very much up my street!

Check out the rest of the stunning moleskine art here.

The cutest bird bath you'll ever see!

The last but not least share for Magical Monday, is this adorable video of a man cupping water in his hands so his beyond cute pet bird can have a little bath! I am in LOVE! The bird looks so darn happy and it really makes me envy Snow White and this chap at being able to make friends so well with birds!

Watch the video here!

Aaaand I do not have a round up of last week's artwork - sorry! Simply because I am far too tired to upload and edit them and quite would like to have dinner before I fall asleep face down at my computer (we are ordering in as a first day at work treat!). I'll post the latest as soon as I have a spare minute to do so! 

Hope you have had a Magical Monday!

- Emily (aka Little Lyra) xx