Halloween!

 HAPPY HALLOWEEN BLOG BUGS!!

Sorry for the state of this dusty old blog, luckily the season of the dead and the damned has brought me right on back :)),

This years Halloween has had me buzzing about really rather busily here and there to three count em three whole parties! one of which I hosted! (spoilers that's basically the only one I speak about)

Me Melissa and Ben had a group costume which worked out absolutely as perfectly as possible, (including a deeply photogenic orb) we went as the classic trio David Bowie, The Worm and The Mrs (Photo reference above)

We made lovely tasty treats from a charity shop gem book find of themed treats (scurrying mice and a creature feature featuring the creature to be specific) and Melissa made up a big old batch of Rat's Breath in the Cauldron to share with all the lovely people who came along.

Here is a small yet artful collage of some of the attendants, all of whom are lovely and nice :)

HONORABLE MENTION:
me dressed up as THE hobgoblin for a party in the hobgoblin flats!

buh-bye!

Deadly on a Mission: Ferreiros (2/2)

My name's Erin Beresford, and this is my search for the Deadly 60; that's not just animals that are deadly to me, but that are deadly in their own world! My crew and I are travelling the planet to find the weirdest and the wildest, and find out what challenges they face; and you're coming with me EVEERY STEP OF THE WAYYYYY!

Ferreiros is in the middle of 

absolutely

NOWHERE!

Surrounded on all sides by mountains with a small population, Ferreiros is a town which feels completely untouched by the outside world, making it a safe haven in which wildlife can thrive.

Its scorching hot climate and lack of consistent water makes for an environment in which species have to fight and adapt to survive. This is something which we had to keep into account too, taking frequent breaks for water on the rocks, which is where we found our first contender!

The Lagartija Iberica, or Wall Lizard is a cunning omnivore that is native to central Europe. In the wild, these critters are ambush hunters, meaning they pounce out from the shadows at their prey. They have an excellent sense of smell, which they use to track down any friends or foes nearby. Unlike similar reptiles like geckos, who use millions of tiny fibers on their feet to create Van der Waals forces to 'stick' to walls, these little guys just use their claws to climb around!

Although they can be very good friends and listeners, don't be surprised if they don't lend you an ear, because they lack external ear structures! Instead, they sense sounds through vibrations through their chest and lungs.

Get ready to find something to hide behind, because the next creature on our list is quite the creepy crawly! Racing through the mountains, me and my crew found one of the oldest churches in the area to see this ancient Palo Verde Tree growing right outside, and you can hear it from here they're making a massive racket in there!

Palo Verde Beetles are large long antenied beetles in the Cerambycidae family. They live a majority of their lives in a fossorial state, meaning that for the first 3-4 years they're wiggling about as grubs! They are unusually large for invertebrates when they get beetle-y, reaching from between 3/3.5 inches in length and sometimes reaching up to 5! Although their madibles seem formidable these critters are not a serious danger for anyone, as once they molt into their final form Palo Verde beetles don't eat. They instead opt to burn through the reserves they had built up in their previous stage, and because of this they only last for one month in this stage. They use their newfound wings (Literally they can fly!) to find mates and start a new generation and lay new eggs at the base of the tree.

See ya next time, for more deadly 60!                                    deadlyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Friends in wolf town! (1/2)

I went to Spain with Ben, Melissa, Emma and Erin (Me)! The place we went to is known for its wolves which is quite fun! we didn't end up seeing any but their presence in the area gave the air quite the tang. It was super duper lovely and about a million things happened over the week we where away, so I'm splitting it into two posts :), I'll go into more of the bugs and beasts in part two so stay tuned for that, but for now let me show you some cute holiday pics my friends took that I doodled all over!

✩

Melissa rode a dragon which was pretty awesome, apparently they're old friends :)

We got to Ferreiros in the middle of a heatwave, so we spent a lot of time slinking about in the water near the house. Because it was so nestled in the mountains there was plenty of different places we could dunk into, all of which flowed with cool fresh water that was crystal clear. The hot sun made the surface of all the lakes and streams look like quicksilver, and the damselflies, which fluttered above them, danced about the light and glittered softly. 

✩

Ben, Melissa and Emma hitched onto a ledge on a waterfall!

One of the places we visited was called el Pozo Caido, which was a huge waterfall that tumbled down a sheet of rock into a lovely circular pond that we could swim in. We where the only ones there for quite a while and it was breathtaking. Once we sat on the rock for a moment we realized we where sharing our spot with a happy handful of butterflies, which where using the warm surface to bask in the warmth of the sun and the rock like us. Some where a bright stained glass blue, others yellow and others brownish. They where lovely company, it felt a little bit like being in a butterfly greenhouse mixed with the rainforest cafe, or at least how I remember them being when I was a littler lad.

✩

Big Little Guys!

We also tottered down to the river (This isn't a picture of it but I wanted to make me and Emma look like faeries soz). We ended up following the river up by clambering through wet river rocks and moss and plenty of mini waterfalls. This was another haven for little guys, including frogs, fish and even brighter damselflies!

✩

Poking a huge terrifying demon skulking in a water cave with a stick

One of the things that caught our attention where this system of man made tunnels whose entrances ran along side a path that we where walking down. Some of these tunnels where flooded with water, and where home to a bunch of newt-y looking guys! At first we thought they where just blobs in the water, but we poked around the water with a big stick and which gave up their true identities as little nymphs.

✩

A lovely view in Porto at the end of the trip!

All in all the trip was an absolute success! It was my first trip with friends and my first time in all the places we went. I feel so incredibly privileged to have such lovely people to drag along mountain tops and through riverbeds, it feels surreal to be surrounded by so much love and friendship :)

Hopefully next year I can expand operations and bring along a few more tender friends! 

✩

The jammiest case of them all.

A new case recently came across my desk. I get these all the time, but this one, was different. This one, was jammy. So let me tell you a story of teapots, croquet and crime.

🃑🃒🃓🃔🃕🃖🃋🂣🂡🂡🂤🂧🂧🃑🂹🂻🂳🂵🃎🃃🃃🃍🃇🃉🃌🃒🃎🃃🃃🃍🃇🃉🃌🃋🂣🃓🃔🃕🃖🂹🂻🂳🂵🂡🂡🂤🂧🂧

Not more than two days ago today, June's sun peeked out through the trees to dapple upon the most extraordinary thing. A tea party hosted in honor of The Queen of Hearts had been laid on the greenest pasture in all of Wonderland, with a place saved for the highest of noblemen.

Attendants included;

The Cheshire Cat, The Caterpillar, The White Rabbit, The Mad Hatter, The March Hair, The Fish and Frog Letter deliverer's and of course The Queen of Hearts!

Festivities where abound, and it was all going swimmingly! The Queen was way a'head' of everyone in croquet, and The Cheshire cat was bringing with it an air of whimsical menace which was met with a winging choir against the little beastie by the others. Everyone was actually getting along! (ish)

Or at least, they where, until-

!FWTH-WHACK!

'!WHO STOLE THE JAM TARTS!'

Screeched The Queen of Hearts! having lifted up the cloister which was marked 'Jam Tarts', and revealed nothing but a sad little puddle at the bottom of the tray.

Everyone immediately scampered, clambering into the bushes and hiding their necks in fright. This didn't last long though, and soon increasingly jammy fingers pointed to and from increasingly crumby mouths, each faster than the next to throw the other to the axe. It was chaos. Looking around the wild-eyed crew, the case feels near impossible to crack. With this rag-tag group it almost feels like the question isn't 'Who stole the Jam tarts?', but 'Who didn't?'!

But of course, dear readers, that was just it. For the red hand which points oft bears its own harshly wielded admonishments, and there was not a soul that day who was not guilty of that crime.

And with that our jammy case, is closed.

Thanks for reading :)

🃑🃒🃓🃔🃕🃖🃋🂣🂡🂡🂤🂧🂧🃑🂹🂻🂳🂵🃎🃃🃃🃍🃇🃉🃌🃒🃎🃃🃃🃍🃇🃉🃌🃋🂣🃓🃔🃕🃖🂹🂻🂳🂵🂡🂡🂤🂧🂧

(p.s. love having lovely jubbly friends!)

The Angel Maker Nicola Toth!

Okay so maybe I did finish my project... AGP 504 has been sending me through the ringer! University projects are difficult old things to put together and this one has been especially trixy. I decided that this time around I would try something different to what I would usually do and put together a little video thang and I have learnt plenty doing so!

Mainly that I do not actually particularly enjoy the filming or editing processes of film making, but boy oh boy is making big guys and props really fun :) My project was inspired by The Magnus Archives, which is a horror audio drama that I am entirely normal about and not at all obsessed with.  

Anyways here's the link to the video! I am pretty unhappy with it if I'm entirely honest but oh well, I think I made some pretty cool props for it so that's something :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mV_is2Q7qcs

Let's do the time warp againnnnn!

 

:0

If there's a theme and a reason to have a little dress up... I'm THERE. Me n' some buddies went to see a drag performance of The Rocky Horror Picture Show this Sunday and it was bloody lovely :)), It was put on by an acting troupe for Brighton fringe and they did such a wonderful job! It was a lot of the performers first time on stage and they where all so excellent :,))

Things have been politically hair-raising when it comes to trans rights in the UK for a while now, but especially recently, it was so nice to see a queer space full of singing and dancing and joy! Rocky Horror was poignant when it came out and remains depressingly relevant today, it's hard not to let it all get to you, but it's important to keep as much hope and happiness in the face of all this horrid gubbins as you can :) 

Anyways yay happy dress up times!

9:30 on a Sunday xx

Scaredy-Cat

Scaredy-Cat

I have an evil little being that lives in my top pocket. These days, it usually stays quite quiet and meek, but sometimes, when I'm down again, It pounces out of my pocket, cradles itself against me and wraps its tail around my neck. Then, gently, it purrs a soft droning melody into my ear;

You don't have to, you know. that big wide world out there, whatever it is under your bed, whatever it is on the other side of that door, it doesn't have to worry you. Not one bit. It's here with me that you're really safe. 

There is a beauty in things that rot, you know. A clam stillness and serenity that can only be felt by the oldest houses, wrapped tightly in warm swaying blankets of ivy and moss. Bones bundled in soft mud, given the rest they need to seep into everything around them, become more content than they ever where before.

It's harsh out there. Things can go wrong. They do, for thousands and thousands every single hour of the day. There is no shame in settling in a sunless spot and letting soft paws of mould press upon your skin until you're enveloped in a thick duvet of feathering decay. Lay down with me, my dear. Be still. Be calm.

Its a siren's serenade, sung from the whiskered lips of something that wants me dead.

But it's such a sweet song.

Because the nectar in a Venus flytrap is so much sweeter than any honey could ever be. It's a thick indulgent darkness the likes of which can only be found at the very back of a set of very slow moving, very wide open jaws.

It lies though, that evil little being that's pushing its face against my cheek like a kitten. And it lies because deep down in its inky black little heart it's scared. It's Scared of the big wide world and the myriad of ways that we can and will be hurt by it, it's scared of what lies behind each and every door for the very same reason. And for such a supposedly fearless little kitty it's scared of its very own tail.

I try not to lie beside my kitten, or follow its voice down damp familiar paths. But I have empathy for myself when I do, and I try to have have sympathy for the scaredy-cat that's trying to lead me back to the misguided comfort and camaraderie it feels sunning itself beside a rotten fig tree. 

Melissa is so cool! (Magnus Archives Mentioned?!)

.

Last night, a strange green glow was seen emanating from under the door of room 401.

Strange sounds where heard; some the high pitched whirring of computers, others long drawn out and droning.

This was followed by the disappearance of three archivists, all of whom, for reasons unknown, seem to have had all traces of their past existences wiped from all records. For all intents and purposes they have never drawn a breath on this earth.

We wouldn't even know of their existence if it where not for these photographs, embedded within the code which ran relentlessly through a sea of monitors.

.

the gang :)

The gigs up it was all Melissa! She made this really awesome set with a bunch of assets she made herself, she also made the coolest mask in the existence of the entire universe because of course she did! it looks really great :)) here's some of the photography she took of me being an eye beast/ gremlin --->

The moral of this post is that Melissa Amalir is the coolest cat in town, thank you and goodnight x

My Wild Night Out!

MY WILD NIGHT OUT!!

(aka what your 20's are all about)

Not to brag or anything but this social butterfly has just sprouted a second set of wings! Only gone and made another bloody connection on the way back from the ol' 9-5!

Me and my new mate! 

Bit of an odd egg! but she's a GEM! 🔷

We talked for hours and hours! At least... we must've? I don't know I don't have many memories from the night, I must've gotten absolutely blasted, LOL

Anyways here are some of the piccies from my little moonlit rendevouz, ROCK ON WEIRD LADY!

(Ben took the pictures he's an absolute ledge! Haven't heard from you in yonks m8 get back to my messiagios!)

Appreciation Post to my Mothers Excellent Automobile

Hello Car-heads and welcome to this edition of cool cars! Today We're taking a ride to Linda Beresford street, capital of coolsville. Now, Lets take a look at this cool cat...

Wait- Is that a 💪Nissan Cube?! No... this can't be, hang on... those interiors.... are they- NO

VELVET LINED INTERIORS, A SHAG CARPET AND A MIDDLE CUP HOLDER PLANT SHELF?????

This is one WILD RIDE!

But wait, what kind of tunes does this kitten spit?

ONLY AND I MEAN VERY LITERALLY ONLY A JAPANESE INSTRUMENTAL COVER OF AN AVRIL LAVIGNE SONG??? THAT IS THE ONLY SONG DOWNLOADED ONTO THE CAR AND IT DOESN'T LET YOU PLAY ANYTHING ELSE??!

You don't see a ride like the anymore folks, this ones a real diamond!

come back next decade for the next edition of car time! Erin OUT.

NYEEEEWWWWWWW

Clowning around!

 I have recently performed an excellent escapade of a jaunty nature with my friends. You will be I am sure astonished to find that it is of the silly, if not goofy variety. Clown night was a strictly professional affair, as the images attached I'm sure will clearly notate. 

CLOWN GRID

One of the most imperative parts of clown-hood is to paint ones face onto an egg; which for a set of professionals such as ourselves proved but to be no challenge at all.

Also this is a poem written from the perspective of my clown, it has some tidbits that you can put together which hint at why she is so sad (It has to do with a simple mistake that had grave consequences).

A Clown's Folly.

To swing oneself 'pon a melodies' trapeze,

Its truly imperative to know to please not sneeze,

As well as stretch and tuck ones toes,

Before from ribbon to ribbon those toes goes,

Flying left and flying right in flight

To an evil-dooers true and light delight to the night!

So now you know how that tale would and always goes

I implore you lady do tuck in those toes!

Making a splash

Hello Miss defunct blog! Long time no speak :), We have started a new module at uni that has been about how to dip your toes in The Industry TM and it has been to use the lightest of terms absolutely petrifying! You'll be glad many conversations about figs and Sylvia Plath and the salesmen of chairs made out of chicken have been thoroughly had. 

In the meantime, I've been a makin' some stickers! I'm pretty happy with how the designs have turned out, and in actual printed out and cut around form they make a pretty ol' bunch. I'm going to try and sell them at the uni shop and see what sells, I think I'll make a glossy print or two of some of the stuff I've already made... and after that there is a secret THIRD (!) thing that is in the works (top secret busyness business).

Anyways here's some of the pngs I got goin awn

A secret about me is that I for some reason refuse to use a digital pen so I made all of these with my finger on a touchscreen because I am unable to be chill for even the smallest of milliseconds <3

Hopefully one day I can make a little splish splash in the art world! Who knows :)

BIG RAZZ

 

Made an absolutely stellar Rasputin music video as part of a class, I believe critics are calling it a 'Must watch' that's 'Well before it's time'. (not my words of course)

WATCH IT!   or don't :)

BIG LIFE UPDATE:

Had a proper look at a snail

Snow and Sea foam

Snow and Sea foam

Don't often get to meet;

Their schedules are full,

Their commitments concrete.

But once in a while,

(Not even once a year)

Someone's voice will cry;

'Look Its snowing by the pier!'

The snow will pitter,

And the foam will patter.

And together they'll have

A good old natter!

Look there, THE RED DEATH!

 Guess who put on a play! 

It was actually really tremendously fun :). I helped write, direct, act and did some cool funky makeup for it! The play was adapted from Edgar Allan Poe's The Mask of the Red Death, which is a short horror story about a prince who is absolutely obliterated by the personification of death itself in a party which he hosts himself in the middle of an outbreak of the plague.

Me as the personification of time, relentless and ever present <33

It was a pretty rocky road getting it all together and in one piece but I'm really really proud of what I and my classmates managed to pull off! I think the final production was stellar and I'm so glad I've had the opportunity to try out so many different things while at uni, its the greatest!

Someone ended up recording it so feel free to check out a video of the performance!

https://youtu.be/Ev37Ljkb22c?si=vIS8XfuvQud9q3lu

The Calling of the Sea

 This is a bit of an old project but since I hadn't started my blog before I finished this I thought I would dust it off and pop it onto here :) For my last project of first year I wrote and bound a short horror book about Selkies.

Selkies are folk creatures which originate from Northern Scotland. They are described as women who can transform into seals whenever they want by taking on or off a sealskin hood, and most stories about them revolve around men stealing their skins to force them to be their wives and taking away their ability to turn into seals.  

Despite this quite sad depiction, the general perception of selkies is that they're sirens that try to lure men to their deaths, and I find this disparity between what really happens in the original stories and the way that they're spoken about quite interesting and tragic.

I can't really share the actual book I made on here, but I did make a short reading of the first chapter of the and uploaded it on youtube :) I tried to distort my voice to make myself sound all cool which was a bit silly because I'm not an audio engineer and it doesn't sound great, but feel free to check it out if you fancy it :)

https://youtu.be/HOlc4lDPybc