How r u January?

Hey. Hi, How r u. It's been a minute. 

I'm gonna skip over the whole 'Where have I been??'  'What the hell have I been doing???' (questions I have been asking myself for the past 17 years)  because I assure you, the answers are not interesting. However I shall tell you that something I have been doing is making myself make things. I've got back into journaling, something everytime I do it I think THIS IS SO GREAT Y DON'T I DO THIS MORE?? then proceed to not continue it for around 2 months when the whole process will start again (I also go through this same process about making pancakes.) But this time I've not been so flaky with myself and have been trying to write down/draw/paint my life vibes in a way that makes sense to me. The following drawings are all taken from my journal...

If you wanna see more of the things I have an art blog where I'm trying to post semi-regularly www.annadymond.tumblr.com (go go go) In terms of this blog I wanna get back into it again, so be prepared to once again hear me babble about art, music and my general life musings. I really like this whole sharing a playlist with you thing, music informs my life a lot-it moulds the art I make, the clothes I wear, my general life vibe, so sharing a collection of songs with y'all is basically my way of saying what's up. This playlist is one I made a while ago, I've also gotta share the video for the TOPS song because you know my undying love for any kind of dancing in a music video (but especially solo dancing) Enjoy and we'll talk soon.

                                                 

Move on

You know when I said I wasn't gonna have massive gaps between posts anymore? Well, sorry. 
Anyway I thought I might try a new little take on the outfit post. As a general nosy person, I'm always interested in what people are listening to so I thought that along with my outfit I would share my top 3 songs of that week.

I recently refound my old umbro trainers. I have found them to be ridiculously comfy and have just the right amount of ugly to them.  God bless you, you old PE rejects.

Umbro trainers ft. my pale freckly legs

Painting by me

The video for the last song is just so so gorgeous that I have to put it in.

Take A Chance On Me (Yourself)

First week back and lordy was it crazy. But amidst the grey haze of forgotten-to-do summer work and the shock of returning to the early morning people's world COOL THINGS have been happening! To start off with one of my art pieces was chosen to be part of an exhibition.

(my adoring fans)

It was a fabulous if somewhat surreal evening; seeing my own work on a white wall in a gallery surrounded by amazing young artists' work was truly humbling. Plus with free wine on offer who can really complain?

Next up was an evening spent listening to some incredible slam poetry. This is my second year attending a slam and it certainly didn't disappoint. The energy of a slam just can't be beat. The buzz of nervous yet excited energy courses through the air as another poet bravely takes to the microphone, a silence of held breaths blankets the audience. Thank god they make you holler and stamp your feet to support your favourite poets otherwise I'm pretty sure the audience would implode. And it was on this night where I met one of the strangest men I have ever met. He goes by the name Tekla, a poet, and whose thoughts tend to process at twice the speed of an average human. We ended up having a lengthy chat with him during the interval, ranging from how he made his own clothes to the youth of today to what poem he was going to do next. Unfortunately, as with every poetry slam, the best poet didn't win-Tekla had not made it to the final round. But as we turned the corner into the foyer we were greeted with his vivid blue ensemble once more and after assuring him that he was truly robbed, he asked if we wanted to hear his would have been last poem. We of course said yes. So after that and some talk of a Tekla book we hugged him goodbye. We walked out in a dazed state wondering if that evening had really just happened. When it finally dawned on us that it had we ran screaming down the harbourside and into the night.

So, what have these self indulgent stories of my life been building up to? If you guessed ABBA then well congratulations.

But WAIT! This isn't just any ABBA this is invaluable life advice ABBA! What these events have taught me is to take a chance. Imagine that the dulcet tones of ABBA is actually your soul singing to you. Take a chance on yourself! Take a chance on life! Put yourself up for things you don't think you'll get! Drink the free wine! Talk to the Teklas of the world! I watched an excellent documentary on Yayoi Kusama (who is a total babe if you didn't know). What really struck me was watching her work; straight onto canvas with acrylic paint, no sketches no nothing. I realised what a fearless way of working that was and how I don't do that enough in my art or in general life. I'm by nature a very cautious person and while this has probably saved me from dying a few times it simultaneously holds me back from gaining new experiences and having more stories to tell. 


To conclude, in the words of almighty Niké- JUST DO IT.

Lonely Love

               
I made this playlist a while ago, let it be the soundtrack to your own tale of unrequited love.

                     

Faded lavender

This time is always a strange time of year. Summer is breathing its last breaths and that cool autumn wind is slowly curling around our ankles. However, I do enjoy these strange inbetween days. Little rituals of winter start to return; jackets reappear from the back of wardrobes, old receipts and tickets are found in coat pockets, even putting on tights feels like a whole new venture. But we're not at that winter coat stage yet (though who knows I do live in England.) we still have these last moments before the start of a new school year (or back to work for those of you who are proper humans.) I'll be going into my last year of sixth form which is rather bittersweet, but more and more I feel a yearning for independence, new experiences and, above all, to find out what kind of person I am around people who don't know me. But, before all of that we've still got this chunk of summer. Enjoy it.

(P.S. for anyone who cares the shirt and jacket are charity shop finds, my skirt is H&M  and my shoes are from Paris darlinggggggg)

Paris, what happened?

Hello. Sorry for the long time no post thing that's been happening. I've been doing cool things like eating ungodly swathes of dairy milk oreo chocolate and sitting in various parks hoping to catch a slight glimpse of some British sun. I also went to Paris. This is my photo series from then; if you want to look at more things I make, I have an art blog- http://annadymond.tumblr.com  Enjoy.

Poetry Corner-Phil Kaye

I thought today I'd introduce you to one of my favourite spoken word poets -Phil Kaye. If you have an affinity for spoken word, poetry or just words in general then, trust me, you need to know this guy's poetry.
I first found him through going on a Button Poetry binge and watching his incredible performance of his poem "Hip Hop Lullaby"; you can tell immediately through Kaye's lyricism and natural rhythm that he's a natural born poet. Unsurprisingly he's won a few accolades for his performance; such as being the two time recipient of the National Poetry College Slam award - the only person to receive the award twice. He's performed in venues all around the world, coached in schools and even taught poetry workshops in maximum security prisons; so an all round pretty cool guy.

A collage I made using lyrics from Kaye's poem "Repetition"

Most recently Kaye been part of a series with Button Poetry called "Poetry Observed" which I have really been enjoying. It showcases an array of different spoken word poets, performing away from the stage, in quiet spaces in their environment, such as an abandoned playground scattered with crisp leaves or a small lane at the back of an apartment block, the walls adorned with graffiti. This poem "Repetition" shows off Kaye's sensitive word play and allows him to flaunt his rhythmic combinations-a guaranteed chill inducer.

Tennis Vibes

Let me set the scene. A summer afternoon, a Topshop store, a pale girl, frenzied, searching through a sale rack, she stops, an emerald glow dawns across her face and finally out of the mishmash of strange plastic leopard print skirts (literally what) an asymmetric iridescent beauty is presented. Now wasn't that dramatic? But really I was pretty proud of myself as I did manage to nab the last of these skirts and surprisingly it was actually in my size. Topshop have a range of asymmetric designs at the moment which I am loving. Popping with bold emeralds, rich tartans and clean fresh whites, they give me super summery vibes. I paired it with a white shirt which makes me looks like some poser tennis player who just sits on the court eating orange slices (aspirations). It also reminds me of the huge beetles which seem to be everywhere at the moment, apparently they are called Rose Chafers for anyone who's interested. Fuck florals for summer it's all about the beetle aesthetic.

FLIP-The Grain

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to nab a ticket to Printout Bristol organised by Mag Culture and Stack with the help of Bristol Independent Publishers. It was a glorious night of printed goodness, featuring a panel of editors creating born and bred Bristolian magazines. Featured was (from left to right) Daniel Humphry from Off Life a free bi-monthly magazine packed with beautiful and hilarious comics, Rachel Taylor from Another Escape, which describes itself as a 'creative exploration' it showcases inspiring individuals from around the world, Mike White from Boneshaker, a quarterly publication documenting the beautiful things that happen when people and bikes come together and finally Rosa Park from Cereal, a quarterly magazine about travel and lifestyle with a very minimalist style. I have ordered Volume 5 and I cannot wait to show you all this beautiful publication. 

The discussion about the printed world was insightful, ideas about magazines becoming less transient instead becoming collectable objects, more technical questions about distribution and printers and the the inevitable Is Print Dead? question. (which of course the answer the was no.) Unfortunately I wasn't quick enough to grab Volume 6 of Cereal (which was so new we were told to be careful as the glue was still drying) however I did manage to snatch an Off Life and this new magazine titled The Grain. I thought I'd do a quick flip through to show you all. I was really impressed, it features some interesting articles and some gorgeous photo sets, I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for Volume 2.

CRUSH-India Salvor Menuez

India Salvor Menuez is an artist, actress, model and all round total babe. A born and bred New Yorker, she resides in an apartment in the Chinatown neighbourhood of Manhattan which she shares with fellow Luck You Collective member Jack Shannon.  

As co-founder of the Luck You collective, India is undeniably cool. And seeing as this collective had its first show in 2008 when India was just 15 (*insert life re-evaluation here*) it's no wonder that she's such a fascinating young artist. She often collaborates with friend and fellow babe Petra Collins, this includes covering her naked body in coconut vodka jello for her performance entitled 'FREE BODY SHOTS' at the opening of Petra's group show 'Pussy Pat'. This performance was simultaneously a celebration for International Women's Day and to be quite honest I can't think of a better way to celebrate. India has also featured in the film 'Something In The Air' plus the video below (my new obsession) for Rita Liefhebber's  Spring/Summer 2014 collection. This video is beautifully created and intensifies my envy for all those who can whistle properly. Be prepared to fall in love with the captivating India Salvor Menuez.

Don't save me

Although I'd heard their name kicking around for a while, for some reason I never thought to look Haim up. But with the start of the Easter holidays I suddenly remembered - Haim. I'm glad I did. The first song I heard of their's was "Don't Save Me" and from first listen I was hooked. They're a band that simply oozes cool- 3 sisters, hailing from LA, armed with guitars- ready to kill. Plus it's just nice to see female musicians being given some recognition, Haim are signed to Roc Nation, topped BBC's sound of 2013 and won Best International Band at the NME awards this year. Their videos are a must-see too. (Anything with synchronised choreography in it just makes me happy.)

Crawling back to you

I though I'd give you a round up of some of the best new music around (or soon to be around) at the moment. A lot of artists have put out some great fresh sounds for us to vaguely shake our bodies to. I have been playing AM by the Arctic Monkeys on repeat ever since 'Why Do You Only Call Me When You're High?" slinked its way on to the radio. The album won Best British Album at the Brits this year and you can certainly see why. This album will make you want to slick back your hair, shrug on a leather jacket and slink your way through the streets; feeling like possibly the coolest person ever.

In the new category there's Lakutis' new LP-Three Seashells. His last LP 'I'm In The Forest' is often heard blaring from my speakers, so I was waiting in anticipation for his newest offering. The LP is released on Himanshu Suri's label Greedhead. I have heard a couple of the tracks before-'Body Sceam' and 'Too Ill For The Law'; I have found that Lakutis' music is the kind that you don't love at first listen, but then somehow by the end of the night you've played the LP at least 10 times and now know all the words. He's released a video for the single 'Jesus Piece', featuring fake blood, animal heads and gold paint-oddly compelling.
Stream the LP here.

And finally in the nearly category Chromeo's newest delight 'White Women'. I cannot even put into words how freaking excited I am for this album. I managed to fall in love with Chromeo quite by accident; they were playing a gig near me and my sister was going so I bought a ticket on the door and I congratulate myself on that decision every time I hear some funky synth or a talk box put to great use. Seriously SEE THESE PEOPLE LIVE. You will not regret it. The atmosphere is fantastic- everyone strutting out their best moves; in fact one guy managed to clamber on to the stage and dance his way out of the security guards' grasps (he was later rugby tackled to the floor but you know). They've released some songs from the album on their soundcloud and have made a video to their single 'Come Alive'. If you're not dancing by the end of it someone must have removed your funk gene. 'White Women' will be released on May 12th, better practice your moves.

For the love of hats

Jumper-Homemade, Dress-H&M, Shoes-Primark, Hat-New Look

Fashion tip #357-Buying a hat will make any outfit look fancy.

I had also been an admirer of hats from afar, secretly envious of those who could just wear a hat so nonchalantly. I think that my envy stemmed from the fact that I could never just so blatantly wear something that was in no way necessary. You can't even play it off as a way of keeping warm. However, with the new year in full swing, I thought god dammit Anna. You're 16. If you want to wear a hat for nothing more than vanity's sake then just buy one already.

 So I did. This beauty came from New Look for a not unreasonable price; I also love the wide brim on it as it frames the face perfectly. So, my advice for you secret hat enviers is just do it, you may feel like a bit of a prick at first, but my my the world does look good from under this brim.

No gifts to give

While listening to one of the Christmas playlists on Rookie, a less upbeat song crept up, with lullabying melodies and hushed piano-it drew me in. This song was Christmas In The Room by Sufjan Stevens. The song is beautifully romantic and sweet with a soft sadness to it, so when you begin to feel sick from all the sweetness and goodwill surrounding this holiday Sufjan Stevens is my prescribed antidote. And with a song called "Did I make you cry on Christmas day? (well you deserved it)" you'll see why he's the perfect palette cleanser.

Quand j'écoutais à un des playlists sur Rookie, un chanson moins entraînant s'approche, avec des mélodies de berceuse et du piano calme. Cette chanson était <<Christmas In The Room>> de Sufjan Stevens. Le chanson c'est très romantique et adorable avec un peu de tristesse aussi, donc quand tu commences d'avoir mal au coeur de tout la bonne volonté de ces vacances, Sufjan Stevens est mon antidote prescrit. Et avec le chanson s'appelle "Did I make you cry on Christmas day (well you deserved it)" tu verras pourquoi il est vraiment rafraîchissant. J'essaie practiquer mon français, donc je suis désolé pour tous les erreurs et s'il vous plaît me corrigez!

Merry Christmas everyone.

Uh huh honey

Sorry for the gap in posts, I've been ill/busy/in my pyjamas crying over Breaking Bad so yeahhhh excuses excuses. My new tripod arrived so I can actually do outfit posts now (rejoice!), so what I'm wearing is a vintage blouse, Jaeger jumper (get me being fancy) (jokes it was my auntie's) (I have no money), cheapest stretchy black skirt thing and my Doc Martens. Which are the clumpiest, comfiest things ever, plus they make me feel slightly better while clomping my way up the hill to sixth form in the dark and the cold. In other news, I've been listening to some Yeesuz lately. I have most of Kanye's other albums so I thought I'd take a listen, pretty good but I'm still not sure if I'll buy it. Definite favs though were Blood On The Leaves and Bound 2. I'm sure many of you will have seen the video for Bound 2 which features Yeezy on a motorbike with a naked Kim Kardashian curled around him (yeah I don't know either), however this video is definitely rivalled by James Franco and Seth Rogen's remake Bound 3 . Which instead of Kim Kardashian features a naked Seth Rogan I still haven't quite made up my mind as to which is better yet. It is actually pretty impressive as they made the video shot for shot and some ingenious person has put both videos side by side so you can see for yourself. Something about naked Seth Rogan being curled around James Franco is terrifying yet strangely mesmerising...

Skateistan

This story has been floating around on the internet for a while, but it's only now that I have decided to take a look to see what Skateistan is really all about. It caught my attention when I saw pictures of these (what I think we can all agree on) bad ass girls doing their thing on the skateboards.

Skateistan is an international, non-profit organisation which provides skateboarding and educational programming in Cambodia and Afghanistan. Pretty cool right? They began as a grassroots 'Sport for Development' project in Kabul in 2007 and have now won a load of awards for their, frankly awesome, work. They work with ages 5-18, 50% of their students are street working children and 40% are girls. They provide access to education (focusing especially on girls and working children), develop leadership opportunities and build friendship, trust and social capital. All fantastic things. They've recently brought out a book about Skateistan so go check that out if you want to find out more. Also go like their page on Facebook, it'll be a ray of sunshine on your newsfeed between those selfies and passive aggressive statuses. (which gotta be said I do also love.) 

I think we'll all have to accept that we'll never be as cool as these girls. Keep on rolling guys.

Get your creep on

Halloween is upon us again, the time of vast quantities of sugar and fake cobweb spray. I thought I would give you my own lil' halloween round up before I go out and eat my own body weight in haribo.

First up- COSTUMES! Arguably the most important thing of halloween, here are some of my favs that I've seen.

Tavi and Petra (Rookie) as Wayne and Garth.

These girls as Pussy Riot, Angela Chase and the classic Wednesday Adams.

VIOLET YOU'RE TURNING VIOLET! Props to you lady this is one hell of a costume.

FILMS! We all love a scary film even if it's an incredibly cheesy American one with hilariously bad acting (looking at you One Missed Call) Here's a list of all you need for your halloween movie marathon

 http://pretty--drones.tumblr.com/post/65621915662/made-a-better-list-just-click-on-it-load-it-and

Now that you're terrified from all those terrifying films you've been watching here's a video explaining why things are so goddamn creepy.

Stay spooky everyone.

You can watch from your window

I've recently come across a young singer-songwriter by the name of Lorde. I'd heard her name before, but I'd never thought to check her out because I'd dismissed her as yet another white girl with an acoustic guitar. Luckily I had to take back my prejudging words and get myself lost in the enigma that is Lorde. However what really got me interested in Lorde is the video to her song "Tennis Court". It caught me eye because of its bare simplicity, the video features Lorde staring at you with a ghostly white face and dark lips, mouthing to a distorted voice sneering "yeah". The whole video is more than a little unnerving and I love it. Somehow because of it's stark simplicity, you can't help but get lost in Lorde's dark eyes and be lulled by the ever present "yeah". 

As for Lorde herself, she's already pretty damn successful. She's the first New Zealand solo artist to have a number one in the United States, oh yeah and did I mention that she's SIXTEEN. The same age as me and while I'm sat at home chain-eating Pringles watching Breaking Bad, she's off having number ones in America and basically being amazing. She's released an EP entitled The Love Club and has just released a studio album called Pure Heroine. But for now just be positively bewitched by Lorde-Tennis Court.