I'm back.. Apparently...

Sooooo I've not posted anything for a while, partly because I was busy with other (not very important) stuff, and partly because my gmail account wasn't working anymore, so I couldn't sign in to update this blog. A lot of the functions on this blog still aren't working though, and I still can't change the outlay and background!
It would be a bit of a waste to delete this blog and start a new one. Even though I don't think many of you follow(ed) me. ;)

Anyways, while I think of what to do, you can always follow me on my pinterest page, where I post pics concerning history, fashion, art and tattoos pretty much daily. Xx

Happiness...

‘’Franklin. What are we so scared of?

You only get one shot at this life. There are no do-overs.

Time wasted is time lost.

The past is a ghost, the future  a dream. There’s only right now.

We need to forgive each other , Franklin. Forgive and keep moving forward, because we are all so ridiculously imperfect.

And we need to find a place we call ‘’home’’. A place where we know we’re loved, and we feel  safe.

I see it all so clearly now.

It doesn’t matter if you live in a small apartment or some big mansion on a hill; doesn’t matter if you live in a mental institution or on some sunny beach in Saint Croix.

It’s all in your mind.

Every moment is what you make it.

Pain, love, fear… happiness. You choose to feel each of them.

So choose to be happy, Franklin, choose to be happy. Because happiness is a state of mind.’’

- Jonas Akerlund's ''Small Apartments'' (2012)

Dad Gets a Puppy for Christmas

Feeling a bit down? Watch this, it'll make your day! <3 Good luck trying not to smile! ;)

Help..!

So I'm sliiiightly pissed because I can't seem to change either my blog's background nor the lettertype and -colour. I had these amazing ideas for a new theme, but unfortunately neither of them can be realised this way. Anyone has any tips?

Will be working on it! X

Cutting a Church out of Rocks

Bete Abba Libanos, Lalibela, Ethiopia

Somehow my interest in monolithic (or rock-cut) architecture has been renewed today. Cutting an entire building out of one piece of rock; it's amazing isn't it?! Unfortunately it didn't take long to find out that (many of) the most impressive monolithic buildings are either in countries outside of Europe, or in the most far away countries within Europe. I mean, take the gorgeous and world famous ''Lalibela Churches'' in Ethiopia. There are thirteen of them! (Well, okay, two of them are chapels, but you know what I mean.) Most of them built by Lalibela, in (and around) Lalibela, and built during the 12th and 13th centuries! The most famous of those thirteen churches - and probably the most famous monolithic church on earth! - is of course the cross-shaped Bete Giyorgis (''Church of Saint George''). But how about the less famous ones? The Bete Medhane Alem (''Church of the Saviour of the World''), also a Lalibela church, and probably the biggest monolithic building in the world! Or one of my definate favourites, and also a Lalibela church: the Bete Abba Libanos (''Church of Abbot Libanos''). A beautiful little church that is still connected to the rock it was cut out of, at the top. Or the curious Bete Yemrehanna Kristos (''Church of Yemrehanna Kristos'' - also a Lalibela Church), built in the 11th century in Aksumite style, but within a cave.

Bete Yemrehanna Kristos, Lalibela, Ethiopia

But surely there must be monolithic churches closer to home, I thought. And I was right: there are. In Turkey to be exact! In fact; the Göreme region in Cappadocia, in Turkey, is the home of multiple monolithic churches, showing gorgeous 10th and 11th century Byzantine frescos, whole underground cities, and of course a valley of ''fairy chimney'' rocks.

Byzantine 11th century fresco on the ceiling of the
Karanlik Kilise (''Dark Church''), Göreme, Turkey

And even closer to home, there are the Église Saint-Jean in the southwestern French village Aubeterre-sur-Dronne, and the 11th century Église Saint-Émilion in Saint-Émilion, also in the southwest of France. Though very beautiful, these two churches lack the gorgeous decorations that the Ethiopian and Turkish buildings have. And where the latter look like mysterious oriental palaces, full of details and refinement, that have withstood ages of human contact and (bad) weather, the European buildings - though overall less old than the ''African'' ones - look like they've been subjected to horrible wars and tornados every day for the past 400 years. But I must say I like their ''Romanesque-ish ruin''-looks too! 
           

Fabian Ciraolo meets Frida Kahlo

I love, love, love Fabian Ciraolo's modern interpretations of historical rebels. They all wear great clothes, listen to hipster bands, and have lots of tattoos.
My absolute favourite is the one he did of one of my heroes: Frida Kahlo. Even though he put her in modern clothes, she still has that Frida Kahlo ''air''. She's still wearing her flower ornaments in her hair, has her characteristic eyebrows (or uni-brow actually ;D), is still wearing red nail polish (even though in his pic it's on long fake nails) and is smoking: something she apparently really liked doing..

I am still thinking about getting Frida tattooed on me.. Probably on my right fore-arm, above the other tattoo I have there. Problem is; I haven't found to right picture of her yet. I'd like it to be very colourful.. That's all I know. Do I want a tattoo of one of her self-portraits, or do I want a photo-realistic tattoo of an actual photo of her? I even thought about asking a tattoo artist who's style I like to make his/her own interpretation of Frida and her style.. But I'm afraid I won't like what they come up with since I am so focused on it representing Frida and what she made and stood for.

Opinions or suggestions? I'm happy to hear them! X Puck

Hong Kong Garden

I know, I know; still no pics of ''my'' Marie Antoinette. I started to colour it and am now half way through, but I HATE how it looks! x'D Should I start over, or just continue with this one and see how it turnes out? What do you guys think??
Anyways, instead here's two tattoo-ish drawings I did of a peony flower and a random traditional Chinese girl. Hope you guys like them!

It's called FASHION, look it up..! ;D

 

If it happened at all...

From E.M. Forster's ''A Room With A View'':

Lucy Honeychurch, George Emerson and Mr. Emerson watch the fresco ''The Ascension of St. John'' by Giotto, at the Santa Croce in Florence.

Lucy: ''Now did this happen, or didn't it? Yes or no?''

George: ''It happened like this, if it happened at all. I would rather go up to heaven by myself than be pushed by cherubs; and if I got there I should like my friends to lean out of it, just as they do here.''

Mr. Emerson: ''You will never go up. You and I, dear boy, will lay at peace in the earth that bore us, and our names will disappear as surely as our work survives.''

George: ''Some people can only see the empty grave, not the saint, whoever he is, going up. It did happen like that, if it happened at all.''

''Let Them Eat Cake!'' #4

Tadaaahh! Here's the last post on Marie Antoinette inspired tattoos, and maybe the funniest one. Because this one is about the most awful tattoos I could find! And unfortunately for Marie Antoinette and tattooing, but fortunately for us, there were loads! I'm not just talking about tattoos that are badly done, I am also talking about tattoos that in my opinion portray MA in a really odd or horrid manner, even though they're technically done well. If you don't agree, please let me know. ;D Enjoy!

P.S. I don't know who did these tattoos and I don't own any of these designs.

 

Left: okaaay, so I have seen several Marie Antoinettes as mermaids. Why? What's the link between MA and mermaids? The tattoo isn't that badly done, but it's just very ''what the F did I just see?''.
Right: the MA tattoo next to it however, isn't done that well. I think the tattooist tried to show Marie Antoinettes flirtiness in a kind of burlesque way or something, but instead it turned out kind of trashy. Like an 18th century Peggy Bundy. :') And what's with the white dress? With a subject like MA you can go all out with costumes, hair and accessories! So I say: you just waisted an amazing designing opportunity!

 

Left: this tattoo must be the stiffest tattoo I've seen in my whole life!! I guess it has to be a bit stiff seen as it's supposed to be a (neo)traditional tattoo. Okay, the linework and colouring are good, but jeeeez.. The face looks like they took it straight off a random pin-up tattoo, the wig is grey (why?! What's with the grey wigs?!!), the bow on the wig looks totally out of place like that, right in the middle of the wig, and the boat - although very Marie Antoinette - looks like they pasted it on there last minute. By the way: they didn't wear collars like that back then, but whatever.
Right: the zombie Marie Antoinette; I've seen several of them (doesn't matter if they were meant to be zombies or just turned out that way). This tattoo is VERY well done! I'll give you that one. And I get the idea, it's supposed to show MA as a zombie and/or as the decadent, spoiled etc. creature some people say she was. But Marie Antoinette as a zombie in a strapless dress, holding a Martini, just doesn't work for me.

 

Left: I think you can all see what's wrong with this tattoo: the proportions are totally off. Her head is huge compared to her shoulders, her arms are really short and slim, her feet are too small and her legs are as long as her torso. Which is a shame really, because this is one of the only tattooists that has used all the fun, extravagant assets of the fashion whims from back then. I like the wig and it's accessories!
Right: if you look really, really, really closely you should be able to see the beautiful actrice Kirsten Dunst as Marie Antoinette (in the movie with the same name), as she is shown on the movie poster and DVD cover. A picture I love by the way, and so does the lady in the pic. Unfortunately she chose the wrong tattooist to put it on her back. This is seriously ghastly! Don't let Kirsten see this!!

(P.S. The banner underneath the right tattoo says: ''L'Amour pour moi qui je suis, pas qui vous voulez être à moi'', which literally translates to: ''The love for who I am, not who you want to be for me'', but I guess it's supposed to say: ''Aimez-moi pour qui je suis, pas pour qui vous me voulez être'' / ''Love me for who I am, not for who you want me to be''. Should've studied her French a bit more before she got it I guess! ;'D)


And now, not to leave you guys behind with a horrible headache from all these tattoos and all my babbling, here is a gorgeous Marie Antoinette-esk drawing with an insane wig and hat I found somewhere on the internet. Unfortunately I totally forgot where I got it.

















Gorgeous isn't she? ;)
'Till next time! X Puck