Bring me Sunshine........

So, it looks like I'm a sucker for a 365 project - I finished my 365 self portrait project the other day, and am straight into another one. This time, I'm not the subject (thank God), and I'm allowing myself some freedom so I don't have to take a photo every single day if I'm not in the mood - as long as I have 365 at the end of the year, I'm happy. 

Having discovered Obitsu dolls this year, I just knew I had to create one myself. They are so much better than Barbie! So, meet Sunshine. She has a Parabox child head with a sunshine yellow wig, on a 27cm 2-part soft bust white body. I tried her head on the smaller 21cm and 23cm bodies, but I much prefer the shape of the 27cm - it's more curvy, and it's much easier to buy clothes for.

I plan on making some other outfits for her at some point, and converting a cardboard box into a house (well, a room at least). This will make photos easier too, as I'll always have a good backdrop for them. Not quite sure how this will turn out yet, but it will be a work in progress for a good while. I've got quite a few little toys I've collected for props and photos generally, and I'm planning on using lots with her over the year too. 

I already know Sunshine loves nature, and I'm sure she shares quite a few of my other interests too, which is handy! If I do run low on ideas I plan on creating some photos for Flickr challenge groups, like Macro Mondays or the These Moments Challenge group, to keep up my interest. 

I hope you enjoy seeing what she gets up to this year. Please feel free to comment or ask any questions. It can get a bit lonely here sometimes!!

Best of...January

Since my post the other day on the reasons behind 365 projects and the benefits of reviewing your goals, I thought it might help to do a little review of each month - the best photos, any news, things I learnt or did, etc. It would also help me remember what goes on in my life too. If I can remember back that far, I'll fill you in on January (I have to do all 12 months of this year else it will trouble me!).

♥ So, 2012 began with the obligatory New Year's resolution to stop biting my damn nails, and I made it through the month with my trusty Nail Biting Solution. I've lost count how many times I've tried to do this in the past, with very varied degrees of success. Maybe this time it will be different (yeah, yeah). 

♥ It was very sad taking down the Christmas decorations, but I replaced them with the many origami models I furiously made throughout the month.

♥ I started taking outfit posts every weekend which has already helped with posing and the practicalities of using a tripod and timer, and with focusing the camera completely unaided.

♥ 4 little fishes joined my household, I found the best mug ever in Poundland, and my phone got a late Christmas present.

♥ I learnt to knit! (sort of)

♥ Lego Bench Monday began!

♥ I discovered the fabulous 'colour sketch' effect on my Nikon D5100.

♥ The worst part of the month was the awful news that Picnik is closing. On the brightside, because of that I discovered Camera Bag 2! Still not found anywhere to create such awesome collages as Picnik, or to do some of my favourite other effects. I'm still angry. Grrrr.

♥ Ellenburg Photography started a Project 52 which I love taking part in and challenging myself to come up with fresh ideas.

♥ My favourite 365 Self photos of the month:

30 Before 30 Project Update

After a bit of a quiet time on my 30 before 30 project, I realised I only have 4 months to finish the whole list! Queue the panic. While I thought I'd been plodding merrily along, it turns out I've only actually ticked off 6 items. That is just 20% of the list in 67% of the time!!! Oops. In my defence, 4 items can't be completed until practically the last day, but that still leaves 20 things I haven't done yet! You might be able to tell that my tension levels are increasing as I write this. Perhaps I need that meditation class right now. 

So, I need to start tackling the list methodically. In the next couple of weeks I think I can complete numbers 3 (chopping), 10 (tea), 12 (earrings), 13 (embelish), and 18 (egg). 

Numbers 7 (Eye), 11 (camping), 14 (cruise), 15 (Zenit-EM) and 19 (lanterns) need warmer weather so they can wait until the spring. 

The 4 that can't be finished until the last day/month are 16 (365), 23 (music), 24 (scrapbook) and 25 (recipes).

There is a meditation class on this Thursday I can go to. If I wimp out it is on for the next 2 Thursdays as well, so that takes care of number 4 (meditation).

Numbers 5 (books), 20 (films) and 28 (run) are in progress, but need to be sped up.

I need to save the money for number 22 (massage).

So that leaves numbers 6 (Photoshop), 9 (eyes), 17 (wig), 29 (wine) and 30 (shop), for which I have no excuse. I think I need a big dollop of bravery and a push to get on with them!

Feeling motivated, I'm off to carry on with number 5 right now!..............

Number 1: Spend time alone in a coffee shop

I thought I should update my ongoing '30 before 30' project. I have been plodding on with lots of the items on the list but some can't be finished until June anyway. I can tick number 1 off the list though. When I took a day trip to Hastings back in August, I ventured alone into Costa coffee. I read my book, people watched out of the window and looked through the days purchases while I drank my favourite skinny caramel latte.