Natalie Allan

My first go at making icons in years, they’re nothing fancy or patterned or anything. Some turned out ok, others turned out crappy.

Feel free to use, credit to nallan_1986 if reposting on other sites.

Don’t own any of the pictures I used, if they’re yours I’ll credit.

Feedback welcome.

Ville:

Burton:

Gas:

Linde:

Mige:

Random Shiz:

Since I began decorating our home over a month ago, I’ve sneaked in three small novel writing sessions where I can to work on Draft 4 of Village of Vampires. I’ve been working so damn hard, I’ve been too tired by the end of it to get any real hard labour in on my novel. It’s a shame, my schedule has gone right out the window.

Before I started decorating, I was already two months behind schedule for finding a literary agent and seeking publication for Village of Vampires. Where am I now? at least four months behind, if not five or six. I so badly want to sit down and breeze through this draft, but I can’t because my home comes first. Don’t get me wrong, I want my home to come first — and my husband. I want to have nice decorations, clean walls and new floors. But the niggling dream of getting this book published never leaves the back of my mind. I’m becoming irritable because I want to work on it so badly.

Poetry

Since I haven’t been able to work on my novel, I’ve needed to keep that writing part of my brain open and still firing so I’m not rusty when I come back to it at a later date. So, I’ve been picking up the old fashioned pen and paper and catching a short poem here and there in between painting walls. So far, I have twelve good quality edited poems to show for it and I’m really happy with them. Who knows, one day I might even publish a small book or pamphlet of my poetry.

Paintings

I’ve also worked on a painting to hang in my fresh-painted lounge (when I have time to put it up). It’s very simple and I haven’t painted in over two years, but I’m very happy with the outcome. Here it is, I called it “Autumn Breeze”:

Autumn Breeze, acrylic on canvas, 27 Feb 2010

Autumn Breeze, corner tree detail. Metallic bronze and copper paints in the leaf detail makes them look as though they are highlighted by the sun.

Autumn Breeze, middle tree detail. Metallic bronze and copper paints in the leaf detail makes them look as though they are highlighted by the sun.

Autumn Breeze, distant trees. No metallic paints were used on these to create depth in the composition.

Autumn Breeze, cloud detail.

Autumn Breeze, cloud detail.

Autumn Breeze, sun painted with metallic gold paint to make it appear as if it is glowing off the canvass. This looks awesome when daylight catches it.

Autumn Breeze, grasses and my signature.

Puppies

On Sunday, a new addition joined our family. Her name is Saffron (call name “Saffie)  and she’s a four month old Papillon crossed with a Jack Russel Terrier. She’s very adorable and gets on really well with our two year ol Springer Spaniel, Rosie. Here’s a couple of pictures:

Saffie and Rosie

Saffron ("Saffie")

I Quit Smoking

This post does exactly what it says on the tin, so to speak. At midnight last night, we both quit smoking in a bid to save more money for home improvements. Well, that and the added health bonuses, of course.

How has the first day been? Good, actually. I was a bit snappy earlier on, but since I’ve increased the strength of the coffee at about eleven am, all seems to be going well. My husband’s been going through food and snacks like they’re going out of fashion. The thing I’ve missed is standing in that one corner of the kitchen every half hour. By God, how much more time I’ve had today, it’s incredible.

Helsinki Vampires

The syopsis for HelsinkiVampires is well under way and I’ve managed to outline eight chapters so far. All seems good. Village of Vampires is still with my beta reader for the time being. I can’t wait to see her thoughts on it.

Snow Pictures

It’s been snowing heavily all day here. When I woke up at 7:00am, the ground was dry save for some hard frost. Here’s some snowy pictures to get you in the snowman making mood:

Quick Editing Update

I’ve hit chapter 15 of the 3rd draft of Village of Vampires, and I’m still on track for my 15th January deadline for this draft.

I started and copmpleted chapter 14 all in one day yesterday! W00t!