Nerdy Needlework

I've got a tattoo that I feel needs a bit of work. I don't like it much, but don't see it so don't mind too much, either. I would like it transformed into something fabulous, though.

Browsing today I came across a few interesting ones, tattoos with a maths/science theme. Here's a couple of my favorites.

Left: Subatomic doodling. Right: Tuning in


Left: Logarithmic spiral Right: Entropy


And not so much a nice tattoo, but a hilariously practical one for some. I'm sure my chemistry exam results would have been a bit better for having had one at the time.

Happiness Via The Post

I got a parcel in the post today, which is always nice. This one was a gift from myself. I bought some prints from the very excellent Kate Banazi. I've been ogling Kate's work for some time, but was prompted to flex the plastic this time because she's generously donating all proceeds from her sale store to the Red Cross Bushfire appeal. I love the prints I unrolled today, and she even threw in another artist's proof as a bit of a bonus. What a gal.

Readers outside of Australia will not have much of a clue how big this bushfire thing is*. It's a very big deal. And I don't want to detract from that when I say this: if you are of a mind to donate some money please consider splitting it and giving half to the flood appeal. While the bottom bit is burning, the pointy bit is seeping and gushing and rotting. People are doing it tough up there, too; it must be galling to have become second-rate news.

*ABC coverage of bushfires. Note that I am avoiding this news as it's too distressing. You can make your own choice, but you've been warned.

ETA: Sorry, perhaps that should read "she even threw in another Artist's Proof". I don't mean a proof from another artist, but an "artist's proof". You know, a trial run before you start printing the edition. She just sent me an extra print, OK?

Valentine's Day is for Twitchers

And I don't mean birdwatchers. In addition to being the patron saint of lovers, St Valentine has charge of epileptics as well.



It's hardly a great surprise that epilepsy has a patron saint; it's so frightening and seemingly inexplicable that it was thought for a long time to be the work of the devil. What else could a sufferer and their family do but pray, pray, pray?

I've been reading a bit about epilepsy recently, and there's a lot about it I didn't know. I didn't know how many different types there are, for example. It's not all the dramatic thrashing about we see in the movies and on TV. An episode can take the form of just blanking out for a while, experiencing phantom sensations such a tastes or sounds, fluttering eyes, all kinds of things. And it's not genetic. I assumed it was.

So this Valentine's Day -- if you're not too amorously engaged to have the time, that is -- take the time to have a quick read of this first aid information for epilepsy.

Yay Me!

Two of my designs have been featured in the Remo General Store newsletter: Ligature Star and Remo Record. Perhaps I'll do up a Suburban Safari one to give to everyone for their birthdays this year. ;)

Site: Grain Edit

Grain edit is focused on classic design work from the 1950s-1970s and contemporary designers that draw inspiration from that time period.
Site content includes interviews, articles, designers’ libraries as well as examples of rare design annuals, type specimens, Ephemera, posters and vintage kids books from our bookshelves.

I stumbled across this site by happy accident as I hunted for something else for work. I'm a big fan of this style of design, so I'll be visiting here often.

Link.

Artist: James Jean

Books full of beautiful sketches of the everyday.

Link

Festivas

Last year's tree. This year it's up high, out of reach of little hands .

In fact, it's mounted on the wall.

Happy Festivas, dear reader. Hope it's a good day for you and yours.

We're keeping it pretty low key this year. Instead of a great haul of presents all at once, we've been giving the kids one present to open each night for the past few days, so that they get the hang of opening them, and so that they're not overwhelmed by them all in the morning. And it's been a good way to go, I think.

And the day itself it also pretty quiet. We have no extended family event to go to. Lofty's sister's lot are devout Catholics, so spend pretty much the whole day at church, and his brother lives interstate and so is unavailable. My lot are otherwise engaged, too, so we're going it solo. Hooking up with a friend in the afternoon for a bit of lazy snacking is about as energetic as it's going to get. Lucky us, and I say that with no sarcasm whatsoever. We do, however, have an obligation to be at a family do on Boxing Day.

Now that I'm a parent I feel that I should have a bit of enthusiasm for the whole shebang, but frankly I'll be grateful when it's all over and we can hit the road for our annual sojourn at Belli. I have vowed, though, to hit the post-Christmas sales to stock up on decorations for next year, and put in a big effort. It's good to suck up the chance to be slack about the whole thing while the kids are too young to know any better.