The Magic of Music

This post is in honor of all you guys who stood up and preformed tonight at Symphonic's Showcase! Everyone did so great! Sharing music really helps you get to know someone on a deeper level, and I feel like everyone who got up there truly shared a piece of their soul tonight.




-Anna Lynn

Spirit Animal Family Portrait

A while ago everyone in my family decided on a spirit animal for themselves, and I thought it would be fun to try to draw a family portrait :)



You probably can't read the names and might not even be able to tell what everything is so let me explain...

Magpie = Aunt Tina
Spider (hanging from magpie) = Raef (her son)
Baby pygmy goat = Mimi
Koala = Lily
Cat (he decided later he was a ferret) = Josh
Brown Bear = Me
Hamster on bears nose = Chloe
St. Bernard = Dad
Fluffy Cat = Mom
Wild Cat = Thalia
Otter in a barrel = Howl (Tina's other son)

I suggest doing this for fun, because it was really fun :) and funny to see how your family would look.

Comment your spirit animal!

-Anna Lynn

Writing Prompt: Jail

A few weeks ago I filled up my random writing book (It always feeling like such a big accomplishment.) Anyway I made a new one today (look above.) So even though I posted something I wrote in yesterdays post. I'm going to post another today. This is the first random story in my book...

I based it off of this prompt:



"Well this is a nice change of scenery."
"It's a prison cell."
"I was being sarcastic." Well sort of sarcastic. It was nice to be out of that jungle, even if that meant being caught by some crazy bounty hunters and thrown in jail. Personally I would have preferred being caught by some bell hops and thrown in a five star hotel. All in all I was getting quite sick of this ruff treatment. So what if we had stolen a million dollars worth of magical merchandise and then lost it all in quicksand. We could always work off the cost and it was highly unlikely the potion bottles and strange relics would do anything bad to the jungle. Though there was that one incident with the dragon getting loose at the North Pole, but this was nothing like that. No real harm done.

"I'm going to kill you." Roxane, my older sister, said. I could see the murderous rage rising up inside her. It was the same thing every time. Her eyes would lock onto me like some wild animal about to leap onto its prey. Her eyebrows would twitch. Back and forth, left then right. It was impossible to take her seriously with them twitching to rhythmically.
"Don't worry." I said, "Nan will get us out of this. She always does." Roxane stood sharply and pointed hard at me.
"That, that right there is what's wrong." She started to laugh maniacally. I sighed we were just going through the steps. Same old, same old. "Don't you see Jul?" I rolled my eyes. She slumped back down with a loud drawn out sigh. "Why do I always let you rope me into this sort of thing. I have a future to think about. I can't be involved in petty crimes like this."

"Are you saying we should aim higher? Because I though grand theft was pretty high on the scale?"
"No, no. I'm saying that its time we stop this all together. You're still pretty young so maybe it won't stay on your record. But me, I could get kept out of colleges for stuff like this."
I wanted to say 'Roxane, chill. You're 12' but our cell was opened before I could speak.
"Looks like you're free to go."
"Thanks Louis." I said and waved to the burly security guard. Roxane didn't say anything.
I jumped off of my coot and skipped down the hall. Roxane came trudging behind.

Nan was waiting for us. Nan was a large plump lady, and much taller than most of the men in our city. She could incase you in a hug, or paddle your backside with as much force and veracity as a gryphon that got woken to early from its nap. At the moment I wasn't sure which side of her to expect. She did nothing. Simply stood there towering over us with her hands on her hips. I shuffled my feet nervously.
"We're sorry aunt Nancy." Roxane said.
"Three weeks!" She finally spoke, her voice squeaky with tears. "You were missing for three weeks! Wanted posters everywhere. And the interviews, so many interviews 'are you aware that your nieces are wanted criminals? what do you think drove them to this desperate act?'" I could see the Roxane in her seeping through, "I worried about you, its never been this long, and all for what I might ask? Petty theft?" We looked sullen down at our feet.
"would it help if I told you it was grand theft?"

-Anna Lynn

William Adolphe Bouguereau's Art

One of my favorite painters is William Adolphe Bouguereau. He was a French artist who lived from 1825-1905.

I really like his work because it stands out as very different from the rest of the art that was being made around this time period. So many paintings were so stiff and no one really seemed real, if you know what I mean. He painted a lot of children and every one seems genuine like he really captured the personality of each child. 







This is a self portrait. 


I first learned about him when I was in Italy. This painting of his below was being solid on the streets everywhere!

I really love this one. Its commonly known as "The First Kiss". It's of Cupid and Psyche :)

I highly recommend looking up more of his art (though I should warn you he also does nudes (one of his most famous is "The Birth of Venus")

-Anna Lynn

Les Miserables + Cats

Somehow Chloe and I got off on the topic of Les Miserables done with cats... it would be awesome. Anyway there's so much people into cat fan art out there that I was really surprised when we looked it up for Les Mis and there was almost nothing. So... even though I am in no way an artist, I just thought I would have to do my own... 

This is "Meowius" and "Epawnine"

-Anna Lynn

1930's Hollywood Glamor

Sorry I didn't post yesterday, it was along day. I worked until 3 came home and was sewing from 4 until 2 am :P Then I got up at 7:30 and finished the project. I was soooo tired today but may I just say I think it was worth it...


This is my 1930's Hollywood Glamor dress :)
Each month I've been studying the fashion through the decades, and made a dress from each (I'll show the others in a later post.)

  - This is what I based the rap off of.

The original dress pattern doesn't have this over rap but I really wanted this style because I makes it feel more time period so at 2 am I was designing this without a pattern. Let me just say it is very important to remember we have shoulders :P

   

 
These details in the back and front are crazy! so much gathering and layering and stitching!!! and the one on the front is making me feel so OCD because the two sides aren't perfectly equal.


And what good is a 1930's outfit without a fur lined coat?
We bought this coat from DI then I hand stitched on the fur around the collar and the cuffs.

This is just another reason why my mom is so great! If it wasn't for her I wouldn't have been able to do any of this! Thank you mother for being so wonderful :)

-Anna Lynn

Agony in The Garden

 "41. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

42. Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

43. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

44. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: band his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." (Luke 22: 41-44)

I love this painting by Franz Schwartz. It is of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, when an angel is sent by Heavenly Father to comfort His son in his greatest hour of need. 

This picture really touches me. So many pictures of the savior make him look unable to feel pain or any other emotion, but this picture perfectly shows that he felt all that we have gone through and more. He suffered so much that he was fragile and in need of comfort. It helps me connect more closely to him, and it helps me more fully appreciate all he has done for me, and everyone. 

The angel looks so much to me as a mother figure, bringing strength and comfort to him. Like a mother would truly do for her children. I can't help but wonder if this angel was a really great mother in her life, or life to come. God couldn't comfort His son himself but still cares and morned with him as a father would do. 

Jesus is perfect, but still suffered. We can do our best but we will still have our struggles in life. But God is loving and cares for us, he will send us "angels" when we need them. Look for the tender mercy's in your life. Then thank your Heavenly Father and return that favor by helping others in their time of need. 

Ps. This weeks posts will all be about the tender mercy's I have seen each day in my own life. 

-Anna Lynn

Willy Wonka. Let it Begin!

Today was the first rehearsal of Willy Wonka. I'm the co-director for this play at the Clearfield community arts center. Just have to say I love our cast! Its so great to see (even from the first rehearsal) how well its come together.

Here is a sneak peak at the costume design for Wonka. I have lovely costume drawing skills don't I.


-Anna Lynn