I'VE MOVED

Come and join me at my new home. I'm still settling in, so excuse the mess... but head over to www.lucyolive.co.nz and check it out!

See you there kids.

INSTAGRAM :: SUMMER MOMENTS

The summer break was, quite frankly, awesome. Even though a quarter of my holiday was shaved off (I was called into work early, which is all good!) the summer break was exactly as it should be – jam-packed with adventures and happy moments. So much so that when selecting images from my Instagram account to feature as my holiday wrap-up, I had trouble selecting which ones summed up my break best... and that's just from Instagram pics! Part of the trouble is that New Zealand is probably the most beautiful country ever, I wish I was just as photogenic. Did you have a nice time welcoming in the new year? Without further ado (and in no particular order), here is my collection of summer bliss:

2012 :: IN A NUT SHELL

I did not expect that I would start 2013 sprinting through an old graveyard at midnight, giggling with terror. Sounds like the beginning of a horror flick, doesn't it? Minus the giggling, that is. But no, it was not the start of a scary movie, it was the start of a year that promises to be full of all kinds of amazing things. Just some of the sweet things in store for me this year include my brothers' wedding (of which I am Maid of Honour! And am doing the invites for, of course!), and also a much anticipated girls only trip to Hawaii (I'm saving up for the shopping!). As one year ends and another begins, I did a little reflecting on the year that was 2012. It was a cracker of a year I must say! So many amazing things happened to me. I thought I'd share a snap shot of what my year was like!

HOLIDAYS :: AUSSIE, MATE

Does it feel like every waking moment is spend in the presence of some kind of electronic device? I'm almost surprised I don't plug myself into the wall to charge over night instead of sleeping. I'm sure some of you can relate! One of my fave things about my recent Australia getaway to small town Rockhampton was that it was screen free. That's right – even my cellphone was out of service. While the first day away did make feel a bit like a recovering addict (I kept feeling for my phone to check it!), the subsequent says were so lovely. I traded electronic time for having fun with the Aussie family and kinda feeling like a kid again.

TREADING WATER :: WHERE I CAME FROM

What are you doing?

OK, so I get that you're reading this post right now, but I've got some big questions to throw at you. What the heck are you doing? Did you have a good day today, and furthermore, will you have a good day tomorrow? You may feel fulfilled in some ways, whether it be with your home, your career, your relationships, but how is everything else going?

Is life good?

Sometimes we get so busy getting through 'the list' each day that we forget to step back and look at the big picture... and I mean really look it. It's something I've been doing lately, and I've seen a lot of gaps in my life's portrait that I haven't been taking enough notice of for a long time. It's easy to get caught up in your goals, and having a mission or sense of purpose is a very motivating, comforting thing. As much as I love doing what I do, I just remembered lately that I am a living breathing thing (amazing huh!?). I am not a machine – I do not need to drive incessantly towards each goal until I retire. I need to look around, smell the jasmine, go with flow sometimes, and look after myself and my family. I can't go back in time, so am I making the most of myself? Are you?

WEEKENDS :: CLUTTER RECOVERY

Hello, my name is Lucy Olive, and I am a recovering clutter addict.

Ok, so my habits could have been worse, but for a while there in my younger days, I had issues. My bedroom was so crammed with stuff that I pretty much had to swim through it. It's a common side-effect of being a bit of a magpie – I just couldn't throw out anything that looked appealing to me, and was constantly adding to the collection. I hoarded all kinds of thing, from photos and bottle caps to figurines and acorns.

WEEKENDS :: MY BIRTHDAY

Saturday. Birthday. Wake up. Car stereo loud. Buy new top. Dye hair black. Family time. Grandma's famous sponge cake. Spoilt. Five course dinner. Video store detour. Couch cuddles. Cupcake flavoured jellybeans. Sweet dreams.

Sunday. Wake up. Art supply stock up. Treasured friend. Rhubarb and blue cheese tart. Computer. Leave home with dog. Return home with dog and stick. Family time. Layer cake. Boutique ice cream. Sweet dreams.

Monday. Sudden urge to get back into running.

STRESS LESS

While stress can be harnessed and used for good, it's still something that can make a horrid situation go from bad to worse. I find this especially true when it comes to working through a creative process – and no one wants a shortage of creative solutions at a critical point in time! One of the strangest symptoms of a stressed out Lucy include compulsive nose rubbing (Ben reckons I'm like that mouse that lives in the teapot from Alice in Wonderland, but I need more than jam on the nose to calm my nerves!). What do you do when stress hits?

WEEKENDS :: WORRIES

It's been a bit of a worrying week in the Olive household... there's been some health scares with our furriest family member. No no, not Ben – I'm talking about our rascal pooch, Juno. It all started on Wednesday night when she began acting very strangely indeed, and I fretted that she was experiencing the onset of a seizure.

OUR BOOK REVEALED :: YETIS

Holy grand reveal, batman! I'm so excited to finally show you what Ben and I have been working away on in secret... we're thrilled to announce that we are the author/illustrator team behind this new book, 'Yetis... and how they discovered the cold'! Go on – click here and have a nosey!

WEDDING DAY :: EXTENDED

I gave you a little peek of my wedding day, but here is the extended post filled with photos and the little details that made our day so wonderful. I mean, you only get married once (hopefully!) so I want to keep the day going for as long as I can, haha!

REFRESH

Deep breath in, and out... ahhh, yes.

It feels good to have a decent clean out. Why wait til spring to do it? I've taken this season as an opportunity to do some 'autumn cleaning'. I'm not just talking about the blog (which is looking pretty clean, I must say). Over the past few weeks I've been prodding at my life with all kind of different tools, figuring out what makes me tick and what I want to do next. Now I've exchanged my microscope for a scrubbing brush and, oh yes, that scrubbing feels gooooood.

So, welcome to the new and improved version of my corner of the internet. It may take a while to get used to, but I think it will work out just dandy (and between you and me, I secretly love that harsh chemical-clean smell... all the more reason for another deep breath in, deep breath out).

JUNO'S COLLAR

I'm not ashamed to say that I love my pooch – she's a perfect match for Ben and I! We smile and laugh everyday because of her. Needless to say she's going to be in attendance at our wedding this year, and yes, she needs to wear something pu-retty (she might actually look like a female for once). As you can see, she couldn't wait for her new collar to be finished.

STRAWBERRY SUGAR

A sketchy sketch with a splash of pizzazz. Colours inspired by a gorgeous bunting my mama has, and the strawberry macaron I bought at the French markets today.

MERRY CHRISTMAS :: 2011

Here's the Christmas card my boyfriend, I mean, fiance (!) and I designed this year. We drew ourselves, and Ben also drew our pooch Juno on the reverse. Happy holidays!

CHALKY GIRL

Yes, I'm still here, believe it or not! I haven't had as much time to do my own illustrations as I've been working on other projects for other people, but here's a little something I whipped up this week:

Just for fun. Plus I love, love, love these colours.

It's classic – it's Clamp

I'm a bit of a fan of girls kicking ass, so it's no surprise that I have a soft spot for the Japanese artist group Clamp. This all girl group formed in the 1980s with much of the manga they create translating into anime. I must have been about 14 years old when I devoured the first season of Cardcaptor Sakura, subbed in all its Engrish glory. I thought it would be fun to take an element of this series for my next illustration project!

© Clow

Cardcaptor Sakura is about 10 year old Sakura and her adventures after she accidentally releases a set of magical cards called Clow Cards. Each card has its own personality and characteristics and can be activated to use it's unique traits. I thought it might be a bit of fun to make my own Clow Card... now to decide what the personality of the card will be!

¡Estupendo, -a! Conrad Roset!

My grandma loves painting with watercolours, and recently she gave me some of her old books on the subject. I've been wanting to dabble more with watercolours since my woman of the wood attempt. Well amigos, I sure found some inspiration! Meet Conrad Roset – a Spanish illustrator who’s also a teacher at the School of Design in Barcelona.

© Conrad Roset

In this series entitled ‘Cosas Intimas' (meaning 'Intimate Things'), he adds random splashes of colour to his beautiful illustrations. What might seem like a mistake gives it that finishing touch. The figures that feature in the series have been described as "cheekily dar[ing] the observer; defiantly holding his gaze, so aware of their disquieting power, and displaying all their charms in a delicious multicolor explosion." Vamanos!

Trying my hand – Jamie Hewlett style

Here's my little something inspired by Jamie Hewlett's Gorillaz style. I was going for a profile view to match the art on one of the Gorillaz albums, and I liked the way it turned out. I'm even going to include some development doodles this time, ooooh!

Click for full view

Click for full view

The colouring method is super easy, so I decided to do two very different variations. One has cooler tones and features geisha type make-up. The other one is a warmer, and makes me think she may be someone you'd find out in the desert. I can't make my mind up as to which I like better!

Comic artist + music superstar = Jamie Hewlett

It was only time before this guy turned up on here; he's got a few characters that most of you will recognise. Jamie Hewlett makes up half of the genius that is the Gorillaz, after all. While an art student at Northbrook College, Jamie made his first mark creating a fanzine called Atomtan, which later landed him a job developing a comic strip called Tank Girl for the music/culture mag Deadline. Tank Girl was an anarchic strip about a teenage punk girl who drove a tank and had a mutant kangaroo for a boyfriend. It may sound weird, but it was an instant hit. Later, Hewlett shared a flat with Damon Albarn of the band Blur, and they conceived of the idea of creating a virtual band while living together. And thus, the Gorrillaz were born.

© Jamie Hewlett

Ben and I were lucky enough to see the Gorillaz play in Auckland at the end of last year, and it was an awesome show. Not only did Little Dragon play warm-up (another favourite of mine), but the show was the perfect mix of visual and audible goodness. My little rendition of Jamie Hewlett's Gorillaz style is coming right up!