art

BULLET JOURNAL LAYOUTS for scheduling everything from Birthdays to Dance Goals // ...I went to the movies

10:15 AM




Last night, amidst the pouring rain, me and the familia traveled a half an hour to go see In Our Hands, the Battle for Jerusalem.
I've actually never been to a movie before...THAT WAS MY FIRST TIME IN A THEATER. How? Well, one reason is that we all are homebodies around this place and mostly prefer to eat our home made popcorn and watch stuff I pre-ordered from the library and waited 5 months for.

Dad was always telling me these stories about gum smashed everywhere and people  yelling down in front and such. I feel a little bad for him because when we got there, the seats were legit brand new soft an' cushy lean-back sorta seats.
I mean this whole place was brand new.

The movie was good, I thought, although it wasn't exactly a movie but a documentary-film of a sort. It was focused on-of course like the title says-the 6 Day War over Jerusalem. And by the end I thought it was very impacting...knowing how brave those men were and how big the Biblical significance of it was. Only a one-day showing, for that hour, for the day they reclaimed Jerusalem.

Besides going to the movies for the first time, I'm also sweating it because my school's dance recital is in 15 days and I've still got to perfect my pirouette and land it in fifth. 0_o

That's where the bullet journal comes in.
Because this summer, I really want to be working towards intermediate and step (or chaine, or chasse) away from beginner. So I'm laying individual goals out for individual moves, which, has already helped.

And then there's all that other stuff besides dance like life. I made a small layout for that too.


So that's what early summer break looks like for me.
Whether or not my landing was good, or my Dad believes me, I turned 3x in a pirouette the other day. While listening to NEEDTOBREATHE's Hard Love. Of course.
#tooexcitedtoquit

What are you doing for summer break ?

Did any of these layouts inspire you?

Did you hear about "in Our Hands"?

Christian

GOD OF THE HILLS AND VALLEYS = You are not alone

10:11 AM



When I'm standing on the mountain aft, didn't get there on my own
When I'm walking through the valley end, no I am not alone!
You're God of the hills and valleys!
Hills and Valleys! God of the hills and valleys
And I am not alone!

~Tauren Wells
There is really no better way to say it than with those words, made into lyrics from the Psalms.

Truth is, sometimes we all feel alone. 
Like we have to struggle through life, pull our own weight, get through our own issues. No person can feel what we are feeling...even sympathy can't lighten our burden. So we thicken our skin and build our muscles.


But then...it hits you.

Your not alone.


You never were alone. That pain you're harboring, those tears you cried in private, God felt it too. 

And most likely He felt it more than you, because, He loves you more than you love yourself.
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
 -Isiah 41:10


This burden isn't yours alone; it never was. At the moment it happened God was there. And He's there now...and now you realize this. Through this whole time, you've been treading a lonely path when you never were alone.

art

WATERCOLOR HAND LETTERING...4 pointers I remember when using watercolors

10:00 AM


Ballet and watercolor are a marvelous pair. Both are fluent, elegant, and art.
Both are colorful. Both take talent to perfect.

My watercolor style often verges 'water-doodling'...but, yours will be whatever comes out of you.

When I touch the paintbrush, here's 4 things I'm going for.


#1 Simplicity and aesthetics 

Create an untouched, peaceful backdrop complimented by what appears to be 'effortless' art displayed in center. I like to shade, shadow, and go over when I've already done my first lines (and the black paint has turned a lighter gray) to add definition as well as character. A mistake can be more easily fixed this way as well...
......and can be made *shrugs* *cries* *falls over*.


#2 Adventurous letters

I like lettering. Lettering is not always my thing. It's easily messed up, and I don't like doing it sometimes because I can't keep a word straight. 
How people used to write without lined paper....*shiver*.
However, the transparency and fluent beauty of words painted in watercolor has got to be tried out. I'm definitely not an expert at this, but, after I paint them (and they are still wet) I sometimes go through with the same color and dab it on edges to create an even more texturey, pintresty, artsy look.


#3 Playing with color

So...I mentioned this in my last post, about color having THE WORLD TO DO with this style of painting. Not necessarily color in general, but the way you play with it. The ballerina above (wearing pointe shoes *cringe*) is shades of all different blacks and gray tones. I left her colorless, and then used a dark blue color to emphasize the George Balanchine quote. This way, our main focus is both the dancer and the letters. 
The letters being bold blue, and the dancer's pose demanding attention = nothing missed by viewer.
And the dancer is just more romantic in black and white. 


#4 Go with Mistakes


*whispers*...here's a secret. I painted the top leg first (the one in the scorpion) and it came out dis-proportioned with the lower one. So I made the knee fatter---you can see my flaws *cry* *cringe*. And the proportions turned out right.
Granted, I do not favor this odd knee...no. But the painting was not a complete mistake, and I sort of "closed the wound" to make it view able.
Lesson?
DON'T ALWAYS GIVE UP ON MISTAKES.

I painted this in less than a half an hour for my dance teacher on teacher's day! I was so happy with the way it turned out...and apparently other people were because I may have my first watercolor job.

5 of your art pointers?

Have you tried pointe shoes?

How did you show your teacher appreciation?

fashion

playing in BEAMS of LIGHT {Ballet tie-up sandals and natural colors}

12:56 PM




Spring is the best time of year around here. The view, the clothes, the scents, the food (which, of course, I mean by ice cream). Lately I've been going for natural tones...no, we are not going to discuss the electric hot colors I wore in my pre-teens *hu-hu*.
I can't tell you HOW BADLY I wanted a pair of lace-up ballet flats. Unfortunately, I either didn't find a pair, didn't have the money to spend, or, didn't like the style of the ones I saw.

THEN.
Then, we all packed up and went to Old, Town, VA, for a day (it was beautiful...I saw a real-to-goodness steamship with those wheel thingies and it was yellow and white. We ordered a pizza at the Wholefoods there and it took an hour no kid and we hadn't eaten for 6 hours so I had a foot long piece. Wholefoods makes huge pizzas, alright, don't judge) on the way home I saw a cute pair, bought them on clearance for $18.00, and took 'em home. Easy-peasy.
Now to get used to the point.

Shirt Hummingbird (T.J Maxx)
pants Plugg (thrifted)
Shoes Report (T.J Maxx)
bracelet Hobby Lobby 
Necklace Dandylion Shoppe (made by myself!)


Are you a Maxxinista too?

Have you ever eaten at Wholefoods?

Do you 'play' in sunbeams?

lifestyle

WHY I WANT TO GO TO ENGLAND and why you do too

4:25 PM


Since I was a wee lass, I've been reading the Chronicles of Narnia. Watching Peter Pan. Winnie the Pooh. British accents all 'round. When I began to grow up (dear me it's a trap. I'm not even joking) I started to read Jane Austen, watch British films, and happily indulge in the quirkiness of the Great British Baking Show (as I quoted to Dad, the difference between Americans and Brits is the "knitty gritty" and "needy greedy"). I also learned I'm at least 15% British...and I'll hold on to that with every cup o' tea. This American girl has a board full of England travels on Pinterest. So no, the following are dreams and not my own pictures besides the watercolors; but someday, someday.

So...why do I exactly have this thing for everything British?


Castles. Castles everywhere



I'm a fantasy girl. Castles, knights, old fairy tales and old books. Old church graveyards with mossy old tombstones. America, however amazing things she does have, does so not have the castles. I mean LOOK AT WINDSOR. The history!! And all those amazing Pinterest-y photos of Big Ben, the London Bridge, little rolling meadows in fall. Ahh. These are the true consequences of Jane Austen, people. 
Basically, the older the better. Medieval or Victorian...it's a castle. And castle is just a synonym for adventure.

The best accents world wide...just ask the new Star Wars.



AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO NOTICES DISNEY'S FREQUENT USE OF BRITS?? And it's the best because British accents are...the best. Period.
For instance *cough* *cough*
Americans can say "splendid" but it doesn't sound "absolutely splendid!" like only a Brit can say.
EVERY song in The Sound of Music wouldn't be as cute as they are if they weren't sung by Julie Andrews, and her classically British singing.
You can try and be deadly factual when you are debating someone, but if you don't have that cutting 'matter-of-factly' Brit tone, it's no use.

British Lit. I.e, the birth place of great fiction.

I basically only read British literature. Okay...I mostly read British literature. Matter fact, most of my favorite authors aren't American. And aren't alive. I'm getting off topic
When you really think about it, Americans are EXTREMELY influenced by England. Sometimes I wish I could have a 'fortnight' in Jane-Austen era England. You all wanna come along??

Think about it for a moment. Let it sink in. Do you have an old form of a British accent 0_O ?

The royalty and their little ones


Okay so I'm not obsessed with royalty. I just google them every once and awhile and 'awe' over the cuteness of George. Look up 'Prince George' right now and you won't regret it...his cover photo for google is the bestest thing.
Plus, most of Princess Kate's style is worth copying. For the most part, she wears lots of modest outfits that are supremely adorable. With class.
And their royalty...so their a few generations down from Queen Victoria...*MIND BLOWN*


Do you dream of England??

Do you sing 'Raindrops on Roses' with an accent (like me)?

Is 'the young Victoria' one of your fave films?

Anyone remember how Christopher Robin used to say "Silly Bear"?

dance

How I GOT MY RIGHT SPLIT {5 things Dance has taught me}

4:42 PM


GUYS I DID IT. I FINALLY, FINALLY, (whispers) FINALLY got my right split. After all the butterfly stretches and toe-touching and video watching and trying and hurting and pain and Wednesday nights at dance....I DID IT.

It took me about half a year, stretching almost daily (some days I missed *smirk*). But I know that if you stretch for over an hour each day you could probably get it in a few months. It's just the ultimate feeling to finally have the splits!! Now to get my left...haha.

The two main exercises that gave me my right split are the butterfly, and such things like touching my toes and the hurdler stretch. And by putting one leg in front of you, bent at the knee, and the other straight behind, lifting you from the ball of your back foot and pushing with your hands from your knee, you can easily obtain splits. Make sure you are warm before trying this; never keep going of it hurts abnormally.

I've learned so much from dance. Not just techniques or moves. It has a way of keeping you both humble and making you proud, exciting you and disappointing you. During these trials, with prayer, I'm daily trying to balance the levels of my expectations and humbleness. Please learn a little from my mistakes *awkward cringing*.

#1 Stay Humble. Always.

You may be thinking, "How could I not?" but trust me on this, when you've been thinking yourself the clumsiest dancer in the class, and suddenly you have a front-and-center position, it's hard not to rejoice. All at once you realize, that, maybe you aren't so absolutely clumsy. Being prideful, even just the tiniest bit, messes you up in so many ways. 
First, you expect to have some good feedback. *Laughs*. Dance is thee worst place to think that way. You are constantly being judged by your classmates and your teacher, no doubt. Even if they don't mean to. But dance is about always learning, and once you are complacent, you don't push yourself as hard as you need to.
Second, when you know you have a ways to go, you can learn better. Just a pure n' simple fact.

#2 Be satisfied with your best


Often times we get frustrated from not being as talented or good as we wish we were. This is not being humble anymore, this is merging into ungrateful territories. Remember, dance, just like drawing (or anything else for that matter) takes time. Your not just going to walk into class on your second week and astound everyone. To be better takes work, and lots of it. But there is a balance between stress-working (where you want to do better right now) and practicing. You have to push yourself with dance to get further. It's an art that strives for perfection. But always try your hardest with joy, thankfulness, and humbleness. Don't over-work all at one once, you could hurt your body. Be patient and try your hardest over time.

#3 Calm your nerves

My introverted side has yet to conquer my nerves. In front of the dance teacher, no matter how stupid it may seem, sometimes we just lose our nerves. Because dance teachers aren't always soft-spoken. Nervousness is hard to overcome, but, when you take a deep breath, a silent prayer, and realize it's no biggie, you can dance to your full potential. Worrying and anxiety weigh you down like you have cement on the bottom of each slipper. Try to workout before you come to class, maybe for a half an hour, and that may help. After all, dancers don't just have to do the moves, but remember coordination and order. Nervousness makes a wreak of that.

#4 Practice makes perfect


Practice. Trying to get the final result, trying hard as one can. Truth be told, when I first came to dance this fall, I was inflexible, clumsy, and unknowing of most ballet terms. But you know why I can see that? Because I've learned now. I'm nowhere near perfect (oh gosh no) but, whereas I was so far from the splits, off balance, and could just touch my toes, I can now (trumpet music) complete a right split, occasionally get a double pirouette on my right, and grab both hands on the other side of my feet.
Trust me, people, practice makes perfect. Don't lose hope.


#5 Pray for pirouettes

That's right folks, praying can apply to dance. Often times people seem to doubt praying for small things, like dance, accomplishments, hobbies, etc. But if it's the desire of your heart, and pleasing to God, why shouldn't we pray for it?? Matter fact, this is the most important of all the facts I've learned through dance. God has taught me so much about myself, and the flaws I have that I constantly need to check. I've learned not only some decent French, some moves, but somethings about myself. We are, in a way, like dance. always moving to the tune of life, falling sometimes and spinning others. We have to balance ourselves. And the barre of life is God.

There ya go! I hope you all are having a perfectly splendid early spring day, and that in any small way I can just maybe help your dancer brain and splits with the simple tips above.

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness
-Psalm 30:11 

Have you conquered the dreaded splits?

What are your dance-class tips?