21

Since I last blogged, I have turned 21!

It was my birthday on Wednesday, the 28th, and all-in-all I had quite possibly the best birthday ever. I chose specifically to stay in Falmouth to celebrate my 21st; persuading my best friend, Lindsay, to come down for it and my parents joined us yesterday. I couldn't have asked for better weather, and although not everyone is still round (as it's the second week of Easter) I had a large group of friend join me on the beach for a bbq. I even had a nice little sea swim.

So, for once, I actually took photographs at a social occasion – and throughout the day in general.

Card from Becca included lots of 21s.

"It's my birthday, I can have coffee AND juice."

Good present. (It will receive it's own blog soon.)

Lindsay treated me to lunch at Pizza Express.

We sat outside looking at this.

Birthday beach. Beach birthday.

A cloudless sky.

Birthday contentness.

Bbqs.

Then we went to the pub.
I didn't take any photos, I was too busy drinking…

Books books books

I like books and I like my Kindle. Most of all I like reading. I sort of set myself a New Year's Resolution this year to read more, which I'd like to think is inevitable with my Christmas gift of a Kindle. So far this year I've read four physical books and four ebooks. I could have quite happily have read the physical books on my Kindle instead but I borrowed or got them from the library thus it was free to read!

I plan to buy a few more books on my Kindle soon. In fact, this morning I bought a new one. I like getting lost in a good story, it doesn't matter if I'm reading it in a massive hardback book (like the book I just finished) or on a paper-simulated screen. It's the story that matters. Of course, as a designer, I appreciate the design of books a lot but your average paperback doesn't exactly have much graphic design to it, aside from the cover. It would be quite nice if my Kindle showed me book covers… but then it is black and white.

Maps

I bought this book almost a year ago in a second hand book shop in Redruth (I blogged about it briefly here). Today, as I've been clearing out my room, I decided it was time I properly scanned in some of the maps and used them for creative means. So here's as far as I've got scanning-wise. Only up to Hampshire, from Cornwall.

At the minute my creative idea consists of me putting lyrics from Frank Turner's England Keep my Bones on top of the maps. Hence the focus on Hampshire and the South West so far – he's from Winchester. Wessex Boy. Perhaps in the style of postcards. But I hope I can do more than just that with these beautiful maps.

Drawing letters

I have spent quite a lot of time over the last couple of weeks drawing letters. It's been fun and does mean that I now have a logo for my major project.

Lyrical letterpress

Or fake letterpress at least.

Now it's actually the Easter holidays I'm not quite sure what to do with my time. I spent much of the day in the studio at uni so I figured it was probably wise or at least wouldn't be wrong to take the evening off. Problem is, I can't seem to switch off.

So what I've done this evening was creative/fun but not at all uni-related. I've been playing with LetterMpress. The first "print" is a line in Frank Turner's I Knew Prufrock Before He Was Famous, that I've been meaning to do something with for a while. I think I just like the banjo reference.

Another nice wallpaper for my desktop.

This is just one of several gnome-related quotes I have noted down.

Forest Party: Link

For my pre-birthday party, on Thursday, I had a forest theme. I was Link.

I also made a tree for the kitchen pillar.

The shield and hat were my favourite parts of the costume.

And Ellinor made me Bløtekake, which was much enjoyed by all.

Victorian typography

So I'm at the logo drawing stage of my Major project and I have been taking inspiration from hand drawn lettering, letterpress printing and, what I'm about to share here, Victorian-style type-heavy posters.

From this book which is indeed filled with Victorian Delights.

Pretty much only photographed this page for the word "Gaslight".

Sea bathing, not far from sea swimming. And yellow too.

Intrigued as to what a "rock harmonicon" is?