northangel27: (Default)


:icondonotplz::iconusemyartplz:

What did he know of teaching? Severus Snape knew the subject of Potions inside and out, but he hadn't a clue of what to do with children, and the First Year students filing into the class now, were most certainly children (had he really ever been that young?).

He let the old familiar walls fall into place. Not the slightest chink would show in his formidable mental and emotional armour. The students would see a rock--a cold, unmovable wizard of considerable power, and vast knowledge. 

But the truth was, he was terrified.


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This piece is for the 'Snapetember 1981' challenge over at #Spinners--End

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Model stock by ~maryfenja-stock here: [link]

Robe stock by ~akirastock here: [link]

Background stock by *struckdumb here: [link]

Rock texture from *enframed here: [link]

Table stock from *unholy-stock here: [link]

Objects on desk stock from `lockstock here: [link]

Textures from ~SolStock here: [link] , and ~LastAutumnShade here: [link]

northangel27: (Default)

Stressed, like me? Perhaps some chocolate from Kohler Original Recipe Chocolates will help.




















Tea Time

Sep. 14th, 2009 11:10 am
northangel27: (Default)
Life's been a little stressful lately, and for some reason, whenever things get hectic, all I can think of is settling into a comfortable chair on a soft, rainy afternoon, with a steaming cup of tea and a good book.  Sadly, there is little to no rain here in South Texas, and there never seems to be time to enjoy a book, so all I can do is share the joys of a nice cup of tea with you here:


I found a really fantastic set of brewing instructions over at
Harney & Sons tea company, a personal favorite of mine:

Brewing Basics
Bring fresh filtered water to a full boil for black teas, herbals and some oolongs. Use less than boiling water for whites, greens, and some oolongs. Using a teaspoon, (the perfect tool for measuring tea) measure one level teaspoon of loose tea for each cup desired. Pour prepared water over tea, steep according to the brewing instructions below, and enjoy!


Water Temp
Steep Time
White Teas
180F
3-8 minutes
Green Teas
180F
1-3 minutes
Oolong Teas
180F-212F**
1-5 minutes**
Black Teas
212F
5 minutes
Herbals
212F
5 minutes


There are quite a few teas I want to try, if I ever get the time.  My favorite tea companies are Harney & Sons, Mighty Leaf and Zhena's Gypsy Fair Trade Organic.

From the afore mentioned
Harney & Sons I would very much like to try the following teas:

Chinese Flower
Green Tea with Flowers and Lemon A reinvigoration of the senses. Chinese Flower, flawlessly blended of hand plucked Chinese green tea, three types of flowers, and citrus flavors, yields the most high-caliber tea experience. A synergy between tea, flower, and fruit, every part gorgeously synchronized - crisp citrus aroma that bursts and floral notes that woo, Chinese Flower grasps the sensations. It is a rare jewel in the teascape, its bold vitality spellbinding.


 

Florence
Since we can't always be sipping hot cocoa while sitting in the Palazzo della Signoria, we can sip this decadent blend of chocolate and hazelnut and dream we are there.





Top Ti Quan Yin
This tea is from the birthplace of Ti Quan Yins. It is an intense mixture of butter and honey, reminiscent of great Burgundy white wine.





White Christmas
Recline in front of a glowing fire while the snow drifts, and the tree lights twinkle. A sip from this warm and nutty blend completes the perfect winter wonderland. Hand-picked white tea blended with almonds, vanilla and cardamom, accented by white chamomile flowers.




Sally's Secret
Sally's Secret is our celebration of life, love and fine tea. We present this aromatic blend in memory of our co-worker Sally, whose expert blending, steady friendship and love of all things pink we miss each day. Enjoy a cup of this lovely blend of our Earl Grey and pink rosebuds with a friend.


 


Rose Scented
This beautiful blend of large leaf Ceylon and Keemun is scented with rose oil and rosebuds. The scent alone makes a tin of this tea memorable. The addition of pink rosebuds lends a romantic touch to this fine tea.





Dragon Pearl Jasmine
This is a masterpiece from Fuan, China. Beautiful little hand rolled pearls are gently infused with the floral essences from Jasmine flowers. The tea is a delight to look at and its brew also delivers. The light colored brew is full of floral and sweet aromas. Always a delight.




Mother's Bouquet
A blend created in honor of all Mothers. A great gift for Mother's Day or any time you think of Mom. Or perhaps you are hosting a Mother's Day Tea? This is the perfect choice. A beautiful blend of chamomile flowers, rosebuds, cornflowers and orange peel, infused with citrus flavor, which creates a surprisingly refreshing caffeine-free cup.




northangel27: (Default)
I found a few collections that last couple of days that really appealed to me, and had to share. I love the romantic layers and textures, and the slightly vintage feel. Be prepared for frequent fashion posts over the next four weeks until Fashion weeks are also over in London, Milan and Paris. I tend to get inordinately excited about these sorts of things!

Fashion Under the Cut )
northangel27: (Default)
This is a gorgeous publication:



And the Dries Van Noten Editorial in the most recent edition is exceptionally gorgeous: Photos Under the Cut )
northangel27: (Default)

Photo care of LIFE Magazine


In the Artist's Studio
One face looks out from all his canvases,
One selfsame figure sits or walks or leans:
We found her hidden just behind those screens,
That mirror gave back all her loveliness.
A queen in opal or in ruby dress,
A nameless girl in freshest summer-greens,
A saint, an angel -- every canvas means
The same one meaning, neither more nor less.
He feeds upon her face by day and night,
And she with true kind eyes looks back on him,
Fair as the moon and joyful as the light:
Not wan with waiting, not with sorrow dim;
Not as she is, but was when hope shone bright;
Not as she is, but as she fills his dream.


I've just been musing on poor
Lizzie Siddal the last few days.  A fine example, if ever there was one, of the emotional torment and strain of being a Muse.
 
 
 
 
northangel27: (Default)

Well, Spring 2010 fashion week has started off in New York, and as is usual with the early shows there wasn't a great deal that caught my eye, but there were a few things that felt right. I'm hoping that the flowy chiffon, light khaki, denim, and flowing styles I've seen in some of the early shows is a theme that is picked up and expanded upon by some of the bigger designers later on. The Elie Tahari show was especially nice.




All Photo by Style.com from the Spring 2010 Elie Tahari show
northangel27: (Default)
After almost a year of drought here in South Texas, it is raining! And not little sprinkles, but one of those wonderful, full-out, all day rains.


Photography by dienuca on DeviantArt
northangel27: (Default)

Thanks goes to mybreathingselfagain over at DeviantArt, for turning me on to the the wonderful Cecile Corbel. In a strange synchronicity, I also found out today that photographer Malgorzata Maj, also known as Sarachmet on DeviantArt did the photography for the cover of Cecile's newest album, "Songbook II".


I also just love the atmosphere of Cecile's video for the song "La Fille Damnee". Sort of creepy, but undeniably gorgeous. Wonderful stuff!



northangel27: (Default)
I just love Zooey Deschanel's quirky sense of vintage style, and she just seems to be everywhere right now. The recent editorial by Susanna Howe for InStyle magazine captured both her beauty and her wonderful sense of style.


Go Under the Cut for the Pretties )
northangel27: (Default)
I have been following this photographer/film maker at DeviantArt for awhile. Check out his work. His photostories and short art films are amazing, and he seems to only get better with each new thing he produces.

Seatopia from Jean-Sebastien Monzani on Vimeo.

northangel27: (Default)
That title could very well apply to me, as well as this journal.  More to come...

Art Update

Aug. 19th, 2009 11:17 pm
northangel27: (Default)
I haven't been posting my individual art pieces here lately, I suddenly realized. Shame on me, so you can see all the newest ones here:



northangel27: (Default)
I have mused, and mused lately over the source of my writer's block, and have yet to discover it, but I have discovered some interesting things along the way--things about love.

One of the reasons why I started writing Harry Potter fanfiction in the first place was to try and work out for myself the real meaning of love, life and death (which I think was actually Rowlings reason for writing the series in the first place, but that is only my personal opinion based on things she has said in interviews, etc.). How they intertwine, how they are related to one another. No small assignment! You can see these themes threading all the way through "The Alchemist", "Once" and "Solace".

But, I think the real question I was asking myself, at its core, was, does love give life enough meaning. Is love enough to imbue life with divine purpose, or is life simply meaningless. It is so fleeting and brief, and the older we get, the faster it seems to fly, the more we seem to lose those dear to us. Most of us live simple lives, and I think it is fair to say that the majority of us are not going to be famous in any major way, or even leave anything concrete here that will be remembered after our deaths, so it is natural to ask the question - "Why are we here then? What is life really for?" Could love be that reason?

It's been quite a personal journey for me the last three years. I have lost several people dear to me to death. I have had relationships fall apart and mend, only to begin to unravel again. I have had new loves begin. I've had everything I thought I believed about life and love shaken to its very roots. The person who started writing "The Alchemist" in the winter of 2007 no longer exists. She is gone, probably forever. The girl who wrote "Once" in 2008 is gone too. Even the person who wrote "Solace" only a few brief months ago is gone.

There are things I thought I knew or was discovering about love when I began writing those stories, that just seem silly and trite now. They don't exactly seem like lies, but more like they are far too simple. The more I live, the more I lose, the more I love, the more unknowable love seems to get--the more mysterious and numinous. And I think that is the way with anything worth knowing. The old adage "The older you get the more you realize how little you really know" really holds true.

I think that perhaps the writer's block comes from the fact that I have finally, through one relationship in particular, come to realize that love really is a mystery. A beautiful mystery, but a mystery all the same. It is all things and it is nothing. It is pleasure and it is pain. It is sweet and it is bitter. It is calm and it is fiery. It is completely illogical, impractical and instinctual (hard things for me to embrace, being a person who prides herself on being logical, practical and living from the head more than the gut). But that unknowability is what makes it wonderful and worth seeking.

But how does a person put words to something so ethereal? I feel that all the world's greatest poets only scraped the very surface of love's true nature, and the words that poured from their pens were so much more profound than anything that I could ever have written. If centuries of writers, artists, playwrites and poets have not been able to unwrap loves mysteries, then how can I think that I ever will.

But perhaps this is one of those things that is more about the journey, the search, the adventure than it is about the destination. If it is true that we read to know we are not alone, then I think that as a writer, all we need do is write honestly and from our true soul about these issues, which have been at the core of humanity since the first human learned to transform thought to language, and we will somehow connect to our reader through that great universal ocean of common longing.

I fear though, that sometimes that is easier said than done. There is a deep seated fear attached to really delving deep enough into one's soul to drag out the more complicated and painful aspects of love, whether in your life or on the page.

Truth, no matter what you believe that to be, is never born painlessly. It is torn from you wrenchingly, and slams into you like a truck when it is revealed. It breaks you, in other words, and it is only when you begin to pick up the pieces and put yourself back together that you really realize the value in it.

Love--real love is like truth, I think. It destroys as it creates and creates as it destroys. Love, if it is real at all, makes you see the truth about yourself, and you have two choices: you can stay and suffer that pain, face your true self, break into a million pieces so that you can come back together again, or you can run, and move on to something more comfortable, something easier that allows you to remain as you were.

Staying is worth it, it seems. or so I am learning. But the place I am at in this moment, is so difficult to explore with words because it is all instinct, feeling, passion. Perhaps that is why I am drawn more to visual mediums, but even those seem to fail me. My old dusty piano is starting to look awfully tempting. Perhaps music is truly the language of the soul!

Anyway, as you can tell from this long and rambling journal of nothingness, words continue to evade me, and I do apologize to anyone who watches me for my fanfiction. I have no way of telling you when I might pick that up again. My first priority is of course ~Nynaeve-3's kiriban fic, and after that the prize fic for the Snapely Contest all over at DeviantArt, but other than that, I have no idea when I will pick up the fannish pen again, or even if I will. Here's hoping!
northangel27: (Default)
I have a small request. Yesterday morning my grandma (my last remaining grandparent), had a massive heart attack. She was rushed into emergency cardiac surgery, and they inserted a stint into her right coronary artery, which was completely blocked. The surgery went smoothly, but the doctors say that the next 48 hours are critical. My grandmother has requested a 'do not resuscitate' clause be placed on her chart, as well, which means that if she has another heart attack, she does not wish to be brought back.

Obviously this is a very difficult time for my family, especially my mother, as we just lost my grandfather three years ago, and my husband's older sister two years ago. I would appreciate prayers, if you are the praying type, and if not, if you could send some positive thoughts her way, it would be so very much appreciated.

You can see my grandma here (in the pink sweater), with my mom:

northangel27: (snape alone)
For any of my flisties who happen to also be over at DeviantArt, I am throwing a Snape-centric Fan Art/Fan Fiction contest over there.  All details can be found here: http://northangel27.deviantart.com/journal/26399295/ .  Have fun.  There's prizes and everything! :D
northangel27: (Default)
I found out that I can embed a slideshow of my whole art folder over at DeviantArt, so here you go! Oh, and if you want to watch the slideshow in fullscreen, then just hover over the window and click on the button with the four little arrows pointing outward. When you want to stop viewing fullscreen, then just press 'Esc':



northangel27: (Default)
When I'm with you, my spirit soars! :iconsweethugplz:

*****************************************************


My Spirit Soars by *northangel27 on deviantART

****************************************************

Model stock from ~dazzle-stock here: [link]

Background stock from ~dead-brushes here: [link]

Sky stock from ~Diesel-stock here: [link]

Texture stock from ~SolStock here: [link] , and here: [link]
northangel27: (Default)
Luna!!

********************************************************************************


Beware the Wrackspurts by *northangel27 on deviantARTdev

********************************************************************************

Model stock by ~beMojostock here: [link]

Background from ~watergal28-stock here: [link]

Textures from ~SolStock here: [link] , and here: [link] ; and from *Smoko-Stock here: [link]

Brushes by *redheadstock
northangel27: (Default)
She took me to her elfin grot,
And there she gaz'd and sighed deep,
And there I shut her wild sad eyes--
So kiss'd to sleep.

***************************************************************


La Belle Dame Sans Merci by *northangel27 on deviantART

***************************************************************
Model stock by *rammkitty-stock here: [link]

texture stock by ~SolStock here: [link] , and here: [link] ; and by *Smoko-Stock here: [link]

March 2010

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