The Travelling Wilbury

This is my best Legolas impression. Sad, isn't it? It could also be a Yeti impression...

 

Hiya Readers,

How have you been? I've been away for a long while, but don't worry, everything is fine. In fact, life has been verging on wonderful. While I have been away, I have been trying to absorb my surroundings and the artistry that I have been exposed to. It is my hope that you notice an improvement in my artwork. Not only that,  I have also been busy compiling ideas for new posts while I've been gone and have so much artwork to share with you. This blogger turned traveller has stories to tell of the places that I have had the privilege of visiting, the people I have met, and plenty of pictures for you to peruse. Seriously, I've spent DAYS cropping pictures to be able to upload to the blog. Just take a look at this screen shot!

 

It's actually been a little...nay...massively inundating trying to summarise 3 and a half phenomenal months into a couple posts (I've got 26 drafts in the works...Brace yourselves, people!). Part of the reason why I'm so excited to blog about my trip is because I've been dreaming about travelling to these places for years! For instance, I've been able to cross so many places on my 2003 edition of The Life Goals of Jana LaPine. This list also contains classic goals, many of which I do not foresee fulfilling like "26. Get cornrows." and "37. Try out some new hobbies like hovercrafting." For the record, I don't even think I know what HOVERCRAFTING IS! Is that in Back to the Future?

 

Nevertheless, I can't wait to share my experiences with you all!

 

Wait! I haven't even told you where I've gone! Well, I went to...

The Palace of Dalkeith in Scotland (one of many estates belonging to the Duke of Buccleuch)... 

West Sands Beach in St. Andrews, Scotland (Chariots of Fire)... 

The Eagle and Child Pub in Oxford, England... 

Transportation Museum in Glasgow, Scotland...

 St. Andrews Castle...

 Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, Scotland...

 Rydal Mount, Grasmere, Northcumbria, England (Poet William Wordsworth's Estate)...

 The Queen's Royal Yacht Britannia docked off the coast of Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland...

 Hill Top, Cumbria, England (Beatrix Potter's Cottage)

 London, England...

 Glasgow, Scotland...

 Edinburgh, Scotland...

 Dalkeith Park...

 Highclere Castle (sigh)...

 Forest Side Hotel in Grasmere, England...

 Edinburgh, Scotland...

 Haddon Hall in Bakewell, England...

 Roslyn Chapel in Roslin, Scotland...

 Edwinstowe, England...

  Bodleian Library in Oxford...

Hyde Park in London, England (Guest Appearance by Mimi A.)...

 The Conan Doyle Pub in Edinburgh, Scotland...

 The path around St. Mary's in Dalkeith, Scotland...

 the steps of Bowhill in Selkirk, Scotland...

the stoop of a shop on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland...

 Nottingham Castle, Nottingham, England...

221b Baker Street (The Sherlock Holmes Museum)...

 

and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, England leaving me with oh so many places and stories to describe!

 

You can look forward to blogs on some of these places in the near and I promise if I ever get cornrows or go hovercrafting, I will post pictures for you to laugh at.

 

 

Thank you for not giving up on LaPine Design!

 

So Long 2012

In 2012, I was met with grief as it was really difficult to say goodbye to my beloved German Shepherd in September. The pain of not having her a part of my daily routine left a gaping hole in my existence. I know it's a bit dramatic to say this, but for someone who is annoying and neurotic to a severe degree, there aren't many people who will tolerate my antics. Yet, for some bizarre reason, this rotund dog treated me like I was the most agreeable person in her world and was acutely tuned to my ever-revolving moods...Plus, she never shirked off my bear hugs. I miss her.

Looking back on this emotional year, I must now survey my attempt to meet the goals I set. I actually started a never-ending checklist that will not be posted because...well, it's pretty much a glorified shopping list, and I'm doubtful anyone would care to read it. (But there are tons of things crossed off!)  Ah, but here is the list of goals I made last January on LaPineDesign and how I faired.

Find a church to attend on a regular basis. UGH...Unfortunately, this was not met. Please pray for me that I find a church in my next community this spring.
Go to Moldova.  This did not happen. Instead I was able to take several classes this summer. I knew it would have been a longshot, but with God all things are possible, so I wanted to be expectant and open to the possibility.

Illustrate a children's book written by my cousin, Katie. I made a lot of sketches, but am still hoping to develop


this. I did illustrate a book that I wrote for a class. I forced myself to make the book rhyme, so it took forever. It's called The Passport of Ellen Magellen.  It's also the size of an actual passport..."And, he IS, he IS on TV."




Design www.JanaLaPine.com and launch site.  hahaha...nope.

Paint a pomegranate. I sketched a pomegranate on a canvas in hopes to paint it...Does that count? Here's the still life
photograph I settled on.

Read The Hobbit .  YES! And it was AMAZING! The film was fantastic too...don't try to tell me otherwise.



Refine the next 8 cards for the 2012 Line of Ice Box Cards. YUP! Finished these babies too!

To take a peek of the finished cards, click here.

Wear dresses more often. Yeppers! All the time!

Have a Titanic Party on April 14th, 2012. Well, this happened to be one of the highlights of my year. Thank you ladies...and dad, for making it so much fun!

Go water skiing. A clue...No.

Go rock climbing. hahahaha I know, I can't picture it either.

Record: "The Stairwell", "Photographs", "It's Christmas Time", "Sad Song", & "Overtly Overly." ha. Definitely didn't happen.

Beat my blog record from last year! (136) hmm...I reached 67. I'm okay with that.

Call my grandparents once a week.  Ah, I don't even think I made this happen once a month. You know I did call them, but I didn't always get to talk to them. A lot of voice mails. In my book this doesn't constitute as a good ol' call.

Become friends with James. I'd say there was a nice 2 week period when this was fulfilled. I don't know about the current status at the moment. This will be a carry over goal.

Draw my friends and family. hmm...haha I think I did draw Hannah early on in the year. It was a terrible likeness. I'd like to continue to work on this goal too.

Host 3 giveaways on LaPine Design. Okay, only hosted 1 giveaway.

Finish reading all the books I am in the middle of; Out of Africa, The Way of the Master, Anna Karenina (ughhhh. this is never going to happen), Sherlock Holmes: Volume 2, & Tom Jones. I'm still chiseling away at Sherlock Holmes: Volumn 2...that will totally happen. Not too concerned with finishing the others.

Make truffles. Um. I'm embarrassed to say this didn't happen. On second thought, I'm sure everyone is pleased that I didn't do this..

Be quiet. This sadly didn't happen either...working on it though.

Spend more time in prayer. I'd say this was better, but will definitely be a life long goal to spend more time in conversation with my Saviour.

Well, there's an awful amount of blue (unsuccessful) in this list. I'm hoping next year will bear favourable results. I have a feeling it's going to be crammed with a lot of accomplished goals.

Thanks for reading LaPine Design!

And have a Happy New Year!

Here's a little Mariah for you to ring in 2013:

Glimpses

It wasn't until just recently that I discovered that the DVD's that I own all happen to be period films.  I stumbled upon these splendid images and couldn't resist reposting. Aren't they grand? They inspire me so much and are making me ever so antsy to get my computer back.  I never thought I'd say this, but I actually miss my Photoshop.

Images sources from Period Films &c. and Pirate Lawyer: Archive , eredmaynes , magic-prophecy

Conan Doyle Rules!

According to the Baker Street Irregulars, today, January 6th is the birthday of Sherlock Holmes. This is not to be confused with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's birthday which falls on May 22nd, nor Robert Downey, Jr.'s which is April 4th. Sherlockians from around the world gather together at the Algonquin Hotel in New York City to celebrate the day, why they do not converge in London remains a mystery to me.

Though Conan Doyle did not create an actual birthday for his most infamous character, William S. Baring-Gould ("Jan Levinson-Gould, I pressume?") who produced the first annotated version of Sherlock Holmes, claims that the story, "The Valley of Fear" begins on January 7th. In the story Holmes is irritable. Why is he irritable? Perhaps, because he suffered from a hangover. Why did he have a hangover? Well, Baring-Gould believed that Holmes was out celebrating the night before-Why would Holmes do that? Because it must have been his birthday and that's what obsessive, bohemian detectives do. How is that for sound logic? This is unsettling for me. 

Maybe he was irritable, BECAUSE HE IS A COCAINE ADDICT!

Nevertheless, The New York Times published an article in 2009 that proposed an alternative date for the fabulous boy of Baker Street.

Some argue Sherlock Holmes’s birthday really should be pegged to Dec. 2, the real-life birthday of Dr. Joseph Bell, the professor Doyle is said to have used an in inspiration for Mr. Holmes.

I did not make this up. I have no reason to oppose the claim that Sherly's birthday was the 2nd of December. In fact, I rather like that school of thought- mainly for the vanity of it. The alternative date would mean that we share a birthday. Of course, this is all speculation. And, I'm not really going to be the sort of person who brags that their birthday lands on a day that some consider to be Holmes' birthday. Who am I kidding? Of course I am. I'm even blogging about it now. That sure beats sharing a date of birth with Britney Spears!

Well, I plan on spending January 6th, the official birthday (for now) curled up in a corner with a box of truffles and an edition of Sherlock Holmes: Volume 2 ( I'm in the middle of His Last Bow) which I have yet to finish.

Or, maybe I'll catch Guy Ritchie's film for the 4th time... You know it'd be worth it to see the end credits alone.  And to think, people actually get up and leave at that part. It's a tragedy.

Does anyone else enjoy how the credits are likened to Sidney Paget's illustrations in The Strand in the way the text to "The Final Problem" surrounds them?

This entire film was a feast for my eyes.
Just gorgeous! 

Or, I could finally play this Master Detective Game which I bought last July and still have not played.

Until you have played The Miami-Vice Board Game, you simply cannot understand why I have been petrified to play board games ever since, thus neglecting a game that I would thoroughly enjoy.

Pay heed to this warning--If someone ever asks you to play The Miami-Vice Board Game make like a bread truck and haul buns. 

I may even read a couple more chapters of The Sherlockian which has proven to be quite the surprise for this wannabe-Baker-Street-Irregular.  Originally, it was purchased for its innovative cover art, but I have found its contents to be wildly entertaining. 

While reading The Sherlockian, I began to imagine Conan Doyle in the creative process. I'm not sure why I had never done this before, but I think it would have to do with being so engrossed in Conan Doyle's London that I forget that Holmes and Watson imaginary, thus eliminating the creative process altogether.

The Sherlockian author, Graham Moore used Undershaw--Conan Doyle's home as one of his settings. I thought, "Surely, Undershaw must be a tourist attraction to this day!". I was sadly mistaken. On the contrary, it's unfortunately dilapidated.   Here are photographs of Undershaw from an incredible post from Kara of  Teen Sleuth: The Haunted Library.

Isn't it sad to see the windows boarded up. It is now in ruins- Left to criminals. Can you imagine its potential? Kara of Teen Sleuth: The Haunted Library had a scathingly brilliant idea.

Murder mystery dinners, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year (in my calculation: $79.99 a head x 20 x 365 minus the cost of a bloddy slab of prime rib and some pudding = a lot of money). Haunted Halloween House. Holmesian story reenactments. Haunted tours on the moors (moors tours). Anyone? (Stephen Frye if you are reading this please contact me about a potential business opportunity).

  

I'm trying to decided if Conan Doyle was anything like Holmes. I could see Holmes riding this motorized bicycle...But I have a feeling he was more of a Watson.







And, don't you love Watson's description of Holmes' levels of expertise?

1. Knowledge of Literature – nil.
2. Knowledge of Philosophy – nil.
3. Knowledge of Astronomy – nil.
4. Knowledge of Politics – Feeble.
5. Knowledge of Botany – Variable. Well up in belladonna, opium and poisons generally. Knows nothing of practical gardening.
6. Knowledge of Geology – Practical, but limited. Tells at a glance different soils from each other. After walks, has shown me splashes upon his trousers, and told me by their colour and consistence in what part of London he had received them.
7. Knowledge of Chemistry – Profound.
8. Knowledge of Anatomy – Accurate, but unsystematic.
9. Knowledge of Sensational Literature – Immense. He appears to know every detail of every horror perpetrated in the century.
10. Plays the violin well.
11. Is an expert singlestick player, boxer and swordsman.
12. Has a good practical knowledge of British law.

--Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, A Study in Scarlet

Any excuse to post a photo or two of RDJ as Holmes is fine by me. So, I guess we can celebrate January 6th as Holmes' birthday after all and maybe on December 2nd, I'll have to celebrate again.

Happy Birthday, Sherly!