Saturday, January 14, 2017

Christmas time 2016

Christmas time 2016


Christmas 2016 was a lot of fun, I had a great time at my work party and got to spend a large amount of time with loved ones over the period. 


Moby was his usual photogenic self.


He was best friends with my dad once again. 


I am very grateful for my family, friends and loved ones. 
Thanks for making the end of 2016 a good one. 

Sunday, January 08, 2017

Instagram December

Instagram December


1. I made some super cute Christmas Illustrations.
2. Moby revealed he was part prawn (and fell in love with my Christmas bedding).


3. Discovered gingerbread ice cream and my life will never be the same again. 
4. Had a lot of fun in a photobooth with these goofballs. 


5. I started reading this lovely book 'The Guest Cat'.
6. I followed some waddling duck footprints.


7. I sketched one of my favourite Youtubers, I do want to make this into a series. 
Take note future self!
8. It's my 2016 best loved instagram photos as found on 2016bestnine

Check out the rest of my monthly instagram posts below:
JAN - FEB - MAR - APR - MAY - JUN - JUL - AUG - SEP - OCT - NOV

Check out my 2015 review here.

Saturday, January 07, 2017

2016 in Review

2016 in Review

Well what can I say, 2016 you were tough, for reasons I won't get into.
Don't get me wrong there were some great parts, I have had the most commissions ever this year, I got a swanky promotion moving into my very first managerial role, my sister and her partner got engaged and I went to America for the first time. 

- January -
On New Years day my family and I went to Rufford Park, and we took some fun photos.
I did a lot of drawing - especially Lara Croft, and it snowed a little.

- February -
I saw Deadpool in the cinema, and had a lovely birthday morning of breakfast in bed with presents, Moby loved the wrapping paper.

- March -
I went to see Dylan Moran Live and spent a long weekend in London with a Proudface and took my chance on a Zoltar machine.

- April -
I drew lots of art and bought some beautifully illustrated books.

- May -
I got my first scrawlrbox in the post, now I just can't wait to get them each month and I made sushi for the first time - Yum!

- June -
I bought myself a Wiley Fox Storm phone - not just for the name! - I went for a ride on a rather wooden pony and visited friends in York.

- July -
I bought a Kigurumi Kawaii Fox onesie and ate french afternoon tea.

- August -
I had a visit from Proudface and Kat where we stuffed our faces with Thai food.

- September -
I went to the cinema twice to see Magnificent Seven and Bridget Jones, and painted my favourite photo of my sister and I. I took a rather funky selfie on my way to a wedding reception.

- October -
Holiday time! I visited California, more specifically San Francisco and LA.
Walking around Union Square, riding Cable Cars, drinking Andersen's Pea Soup, following the walk of fame and munching on a turkey leg and a chimichanga in Disney Californian Adventure.
Read more about my trip here: Hello San Francisco!, and here: You're so LA.

- November -
I went to the cinema twice again to see Doctor Strange and Nocturnal Animals, it snowed again and I painted this little floral illustration.


- December -
I made these cute little Christmassy illustrations and posted them throughout the month to get myself into the spirit of Christmas. It was my work Christmas do and we spent rather a lot of time in the photobooth. :) and I ate anything and everything!

Here's to a wonderful 2017!
I also have reviews for previous years here: 20152014 and 2013.

Wednesday, January 04, 2017

Reading Bug 2016!

Reading Bug 2016!

In 2015 I read a total of 57 books(graphic novel, books and audiobooks), this was awesome. I went from barely reading anything to consuming fiction in its many forms. I wanted to continue this throughout 2016 and this is my year long wrap up. During 2016 I decided to set my goodreads goal to be 50 here's how I did:

My 2016 reading list
(All books are marked out of 5*)

-January-
****

-February-
Stars Above(The Lunar Chronicles) by Marissa Meyer
*****
The Sirens of San Francisco by Jacquelin Deleon
***
Gotham Academy Volume 1 by  
****
Fairest Volume 1 by Bill Willingham and Phil Jimenez
***
One More Thing(and other stories) by B.J.Novak
***
Paper Girls by Brian K Vaughan, Cliff Chiang and Matthew Wilson
****
Rat Queens Volume 3 by Kurtis J. Wiebe, Tamra Bonvillain and Tess Fowler
*****

-May-
Giant Days Volume 1 by John Allison, Lissa Treiman and Whitney Cogar
*****
The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma
****
Lumberjanes Volume 3 by Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis and Brooke A Allen
****
The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood
*****
Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling
***
Hinges Book 1: Clockwork City by Meredith McClaren
***

-June-
Giant Days Volume 2 by John Allison, Max Sarin, Lissa Treiman and Whitney Cogar
****
Bee and Puppycat Volume 2 by Natasha Allegri
****
1984 by George Orwell
****

-July-
How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran
****
Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver
****

-August-
These broken Stars(Starbound Series) by Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner
***
Paddle your own Canoe by Nick Offerman
***

-September-
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
****
Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman
****
Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes
****
Boss Pants by Tina Fey
****

-October-
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
***

-November-
Bodies by Si Spencer, Tula Lotay, Phil Winslade
**
I Love Trouble by Kel Symons
***
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
****
We are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson
*****
Animal Farm by George Orwell
***
The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy and Other Stories by Tim Burton
*****

-December-
The Last Boy and Girl in the World by Siobhan Vivian
****
Manifest Destiny Vol 2 by Chris Dingess, Matthew Roberts and Owen Gieni
***
Heartless by Marissa Meyer
****
The Mistletoe Murder and Other Stories by P. D. James
***

I have reviews of a few of these books featured on my blog and good reads page.
Check out last years wrap up here!

This year I have read a total of 31 books, and 17 graphic novels.

So for me the best book I read this year was Illuminae, I actually listened and read along to this book. But the layout and design elements within the book made it so interesting and very hard to put down.
The best Graphic novel I read this year was Rat Queens, I really love this series and group of girl characters. Oh so sassy and the art style is my favourite.
The best Audio book I listened to this year was the Handmaids Tail, fantastic book read by Claire Danes - Go pick it up!
The best series of books or graphic novels I read this year was Giant Days, a down to earth graphic novel with interesting characters and a beautiful art style.

I still keep up to date with quite a few book-tubers on Youtube. I find it to be a great way to discover new books while getting a quick synopsis, concise review and recommendations.

Here are a handful of my favourite Book-tubers:
booksandquills / katytastic / littlebookowl 
kristinahorner / peruseproject / abookutopia

What were your favourite books of 2016? Do you have any recommendations?
Let me know in the comments.


post signature