I just recently read this extraordinary amazing book called Sempre by J.M Darhower! It originally began with a twilight fanfiction called Emancipation Proclamation and I was excited to hear that it was going to be published. This story is about human trafficking/slavery, which crosses the boundaries of love, taking sacrifices, fear, choice, freedom, betrayal and life and death. This is not your average young adult story. I really enjoyed reading about the characters, especially from Haven and Carmine's perspectives. They are from two completely different worlds, yet they found a special connection with each other. As the story progresses, they find out that they have more in common than they think, as their world collides. 5 stars, I highly recommend! My favourite book of the year. Read my full review on Goodreads.

This is a vision of Haven and Carmine and this is the book cover. 

Book Review: Sempre by J.M Darhower by bittersweet89 featuring crew neck sweaters

Laser Cutting!

This is the first time I did laser cutting at my Uni for my last project. I've never used it before and really wanted to try using it because I know I want to experiment with perspex plastics for my third year. After carefully drawing my bird design on illustrator, this was operated on the computer's laser cutting machine to cut out the perspex. I had trouble with that complicated machine because it would engrave, but it wouldn't cut out the shape :/ so I had to literally recut it three times. The third time, it did slightly cut through but not enough, so I had to literally pull my shape out with much force. The holes managed to cut through but not the entire shape which was strange. I was annoyed because it should have been straightforward. I was told the machine works better with black perspex because it absorbs light, apparently. 
I managed to pull some designs out and these were brooches and jewellery. Hopefully better luck next time. 

Concerts of 2011: One Night Only & Arctic Monkeys

It feels a bit old talking about this now but I wanted to write about these two great concerts I went to last year :) My friend chose a band she really wanted to see, which was Arctic Monkeys and I chose one I wanted to too, so it was equal. I really wanted to see One Night Only the most! They're my favourite band. I love their songs, favourite is 'Chemistry.' When I saw on their website that they were playing in London at the XOYO venue, I jumped into the chance! Tickets were quite cheap too, they were only £12.50 - bargain! I think it's because it is a small venue, not like the O2 Arena for instance. But it was a really great night, loved every song they played, including their new ones - Games and Long Time Coming. I think I actually saw George once on Oxford Street! But wasn't really sure if that was really him and he was walking really fast, but I liked his dress sense. I just remember just staring like a weird person. Anyway, I would really love to see them live again! I think I prefer the smaller venues than the large ones. For starters I didn't get crushed in the crowd.

One Night Only at XOYO 2011:

The pictures above is of George Craig, lead guitar and vocals. My favourite picture I took from the gig! (Too bad someone's head was in the way at the left hand corner). This is the ONO drumkit! Taken by a lovely Italian girl we met :) I love George's leather jacket, I think it is from Burberry and also his patterned green shirt. 

My pictures taken from the Arctic Monkeys at the O2 Arena 2011:

 

Jens Ignvarsson, Photographer Muse

Jens Ignvarsson is my new favourite photographer, I just recently discovered his work. It was mostly of these photographs I've seen floating about on via tumblr of model Nastya Kusakina photographed in a lovely cherry blossom background. In some of the pictures, I think looks like an older version of Dakota/Elle Fanning. These photos below are some of my favourites of his work that I'm influenced by. I love the subtle tones from the black and white photos, with the cherry blossom background, I like the innocence in which it represents within the soft pastel colours. Check out her tumblr and website. 

Zen Sevastyanova by Paul de Luna in Meliae

I found these photographs saved on my old desktop and did some googling to find out who took them because they are really beautiful. Later on, luckily I found out that it's starring Zen Sevastyanova photographed by Paul de Luna in Meliae for Blank Magazine. What caught my eye is that I really love the double exposure techniques edited on these editorial photographs. I think they illustrate emphasis an of mother nature within the natural environment of these shots and the soft cyan colours creates a subtle and serene concept and overall mood.