My thoughts on The Handlebards- As You Like It

On Wednesday night, my drama group went to an open air performance of Shakespeare's As You Like It. I'm not sure what I was expecting really. What we were told was that it was to be performed by a group of people that travel the length of the country on bikes and that it would be outside, in the rain, and we weren't allowed umbrellas. Regardless, I handed over the money and hoped for the best. 

I woke up on Wednesday to the sound of rain pounding my bedroom window. I kept checking the weather and it just seemed to get worse and worse. My heart now goes out to those women who had to cycle all the way from York! Thankfully, by six o'clock when we met up with my drama group, the rain had miraculously stopped.

 We set our blanket down on the grass with everybody else and were greeted by somebody in shin high green socks who told us if we couldn't see, to move right up to the red line. "We don't bite...but we do smell!"

Now sitting within an inch of the performance and the other end of the gardens to the rest of the group, it felt as if we were part of the action. When I say I was surprised by what I saw, I mean I was literally mind blown. 

There were only four actresses in the play, each with multiple different roles. They could be the beautiful Rosalind one minute and the rough Orlando the next! Audience participation was at it's finest, even if some people looked a little offended when they stole their picnics!

I am in love with this theatre group and will definitely see more of their work if I get the chance. They are touring across the country until September, so make sure to catch them!

All images were found on The Handlebards' website.

As You Like It dates and venues: http://www.handlebards.com/tag/as-you-like-it/

 Get your tickets: http://www.handlebards.com/tickets/

Health and Happiness,

Marti xxx

Love From Lexie by Cathy Cassidy

   What a literary genius. Cathy Cassidy has only done it again- melted my heart with an empowering new series!

 Following The Chocolate Box Girls, the first instillation of Cathy's new series, The Lost & Found, was released earlier this month. One of the things I love so much about Love From Lexie is that it's universally applicable. You don't have to be the 'target audience' (which by the way, I'm assuming is children/YA) to understand the issues of today's society like domestic violence and the stigma surrounding sexuality. These topics are touched upon with the kind of  sensitivity understanding that the world needs much more of.

Lexie has been living with a care family ever since her mum went missing. Although she loves her new foster parents and even sister Bex- she can't help but hold them at arm's length incase her mum comes back. It's with the help of Bex that she sets up a group at the local library and The Lost & Found is born...but where does a band, a bunch of letters and the constant threat of library closures come into it? Well, you'll have to pick the book up yourself and find out yourself! 

Final Thoughts: Read it. Just read it :)

Health and happiness,

Marti xxx

Being Gay in a Heterosexual Society | An Interview with Ella

1.       Heya Ella! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions and being so open! Firstly, would you mind telling me a little bit about yourself? For example: what are your passions and interests?

My interests are playing video games, photography, writing, drawing and reading.

2.      Do you think that labels are necessary when it comes to sexual orientation? Are they restrictive or do they provide comfort and security?

I think labels can be restrictive depending on the person really. Some people like that they can name their sexual orientation and be able to tell others exactly and others feel freer without labelling. I label myself because I like be able to explain to others easily what exactly my sexuality is.

3.      When did you realise that you weren’t heterosexual? Was it something you learnt as you got older or something you’ve always known?

It's a bit of both really. I had small crushes on other girls when I was younger but I wasn't bothered about it. I was about ten when I started questioning and then a year later I realised properly.

4.      Are there ever times that you find it difficult to accept your feelings towards other people? Does society ever make you feel pressured into acting and behaving a certain way?

There have been times where I've thought being straight would be easier but I've been raised so that I know that homosexuality isn't wrong so I just accepted myself.

5.      Have you ever experienced discrimination or prejudice based on your sexuality? Do you think that it’s because we live in a society where straight people are favoured that people think it’s acceptable to belittle people who don’t fall into this category?

I have faced discrimination from people who see it as a joke. Like when someone asked me if I had a girlfriend in a very mocking tone to make fun out of me. I've also heard some girls say that they don't want me to have a crush on them.

6.      How does it make you feel to know that in some parts of the world, it’s still illegal to marry as a same sex couple?

I think it's very upsetting to be honest that people are still against it but hopefully there's going to a rise in the future of people supporting same sex marriage, especially for Australia!

7.      Is there anybody who has helped you in any way that deserves any recognition? Whether that be simply being a friend who has stood up for you or a public figure who has fought for your rights?

Well, I look up to celebrities like Ellen Page because I find it amazing that they're proud of who they are and they stick up for lgbt rights in America.

8.      Finally, do you have any advice to give to anybody reading who is either questioning their sexual preference or considering ‘coming out’?

Well, for someone who's questioning their sexual orientation, my advice would be just to wait, be patient and be proud of themselves no matter what and for anyone who's thinking of coming out, make sure you're in a safe place and your parents are accepting. If not, maybe move in with an accepting friend or extended family if you feel you are in danger or wait until you move out.

Again, thank you so much for giving me this opportunity Ella, I wish you all the best! :)

Health and happiness,

Marti xxx

Art with Claire O'Brien!

1.  Heya Claire! Thanks so much for taking the time to collaborate with me! Would you mind starting off by telling us about who you are and what you do?

Hi Marti, thanks for having me! I live in Leeds, I’m 36 and I’m a mum of two boys. Having left my job in university administration two years ago I’m now working full time on my artwork and writing projects. I struggled for years with managing the right work-life balance as well as trying to develop my art skills so I made the decision to quit my day job to commit to it fully. I’ve recently reached a point where I’m ready to share my artwork (which is quite scary!) so I’ve now started to post some of my work online (see my Facebook page here www.facebook.com/claireobdraws ). So far, I’ve shared some of my traditional drawing/painting of portraits but I’m also working on moving into illustration and sequential art. 

2. What is your preferred  creative medium and why? Is it pencil and paper, sculpture, textiles or something else entirely?

When I began drawing I worked mainly with paper and pencil (or charcoal for life drawing). About 18 months ago I invested in a digital drawing tablet and it’s completely transformed the way I work. Digital is a forgiving medium which allows me to edit and correct mistakes easily but you can also play around with composition, texture and colour.

3. Where do you find your inspiration? 

 I take inspiration from all sorts of places; personal experiences, places I’ve been, things I’ve read. Film and music are important influences in my life which is what led me to start drawing portraits of musicians. I’m a huge fan of comics and graphic novels so this style informs a lot of my work.

4. Are there a specific message you are trying to communicate through your work?

In my portrait work there’s no specific message, other than showing an appreciation for the subject. But when it comes to my writing and narrative art, I take a more personal approach. A large part of my work is autobiographical so it’s just a way of putting a part of myself out there. I’m quite a shy person so being able to express myself through my art is important to me.

5. Which art movement or artist would you say influences your work most?

I was always interested in impressionism in school, not only from a visual point of view but also because my other great love in life is France (I studied French at university). I love Manet’s use of contrast, Renoir’s city scenes and Degas’ poses. At university, I took a course in photography and discovered Henri Carter-Bresson and Robert Doisneau. I was captivated by a photograph’s ability to tell a story and it made me want to create something which you look at wonder “what’s the story behind this?”. 

6. Are you working on an projects currently that excite you?

A while ago I wrote a script for a graphic novel and once I finished it I didn’t know what to do with it. At that stage, I didn’t feel like my drawing was good enough to illustrate it myself and I didn’t have the confidence to approach an artist to collaborate with me. I feel like things have moved forward since then so I’m starting to work on the art for this. It’s a big project but I’m really excited about taking on the challenge.

7. How would you define the word 'creativity'? Does a piece of work need to be admired by others to be creative or is it more about the process and ideas that have gone into it that make it creative?

Wow, great question! As far as I’m concerned creativity is the act of making something and it doesn’t matter if something never gets seen, let alone admired, for it to be creative. I have so many pieces of work that will never see the light of day but it doesn’t take anything away from them being creative. Of course, admiration for work is nice but it shouldn’t be the reason for creativity. 

8. What is the biggest challenge you face professionally?

Having a family and a career has always been a bit of a juggle and creative work doesn’t necessarily fit into a 9-5 pattern! There’s also the fact that I came to art a little later than most so I feel like I have to work much harder to catch up. It took 10 years working in an office for me to realise that what I really wanted to be was an artist!

9. You have the opportunity to invite a famous artist from the past round for dinner- who would you choose?

 I would really love to meet an American street photographer called Vivian Maier. She worked as a nanny and spent her spare time taking thousands of these incredible photographs while she was walking around the streets of Chicago. Sadly, her work wasn’t discovered until after her death. She was supposedly quite an eccentric character and had a really fascinating story. 

10. And finally, what is the best piece of advice you can offer to people who want to be more creative?

If you’re interested in in art, even if you’re a beginner, seek out local art classes you can join. It’s a great way to meet like-minded people and I found doing this increased my confidence. Online drawing tutorials are great or even just get some paper and pencils (or whatever you have!) and just draw anything: your family, friends, pets, or use your imagination to create characters. Don’t worry if you don’t feel like you’re any good straight away, keep at it and you’ll notice yourself get better every time. Art is a skill, not a talent! 

Veganism with Rosie!

First of all, how long have you been a vegan and what drew you to making the big switch?

 I have been vegan for around 10 months now. I was interested in veganism for a while before I made the transition. The thing which drew me towards it, was the environmental impacts, as well as the ethics behind it. I knew quite a lot already, as I had been vegetarian for 5 years, but then I watched Cowspiracy and realised how much I didn't want to contribute to that cruelty and climate change.

Have you faced any setbacks or experienced any negativity along the journey?

I haven't found any personal setbacks thus far; I can almost always find alternatives and vegan recipes. However, I have experienced quite a bit of negativity from other people. My family are really supportive of it, however, quite a lot of people can tease you and say stupid things, so I'd say this is one thing to prepare yourself for :))

What does your typical day look like in terms of mealtimes?

I usually have breakfast around 7.30- I like having more time to make yummy things on the weekend, so usually my weekday breakfasts are pretty weird haha. Lunch time is at 1;30 at school so I eat it then, and dinner around 7-ish. These tend to change in the holidays though :) I also have a few snacks and mini meals during the day

Would you say that changing your diet has had effects (both positive and negative) on your mental and physical wellbeing?

4)  I feel more positive since becoming vegan and it has really put things into perspective for me. I haven't really noticed many changes to my body as I didn't go vegan for that, but I do have more energy, feel less tired, and need less sleep.

What's your favourite thing about veganism?

5) My favourite thing about veganism would have to be knowing I am making a difference! I also love all the yummy vegan alternatives :))

Does your ethical attitude extend past the dinner table? Do you support cruelty free cosmetics and fair trade?

6) It definitely does! I've always considered myself an environmental and ethical person. I am very passionate about human rights and politics. I am extremely conscious about the environment, and plan to spend my life working for the world and its people. Although I don't wear makeup, I make sure all my items I use such as soap, toothpaste, etc, are cruelty-free, preferably vegan, zero waste, recyclable, etc. I support fair trade as well; I try not to buy unnecessary things, however, I ensure that anything I buy is either second-hand, or ethical and fair trade

Would you say that you have inspired anybody else to go vegan? How does this feel?

7) I don't think I've inspired anyone else to go full vegan, but 2 of my friends became vegetarian, which felt great! I think I've inspired some people around me to be more environmentally-friendly too, which makes me sosososososo happy!!! <3

There are lots of different 'fad' vegan diets out there. You are given the choice of either eating all carbs (like the potato diet) or all plants. What's the verdict?

8) I don't think I would ever choose, as I want to have enough nutrients and foods from all groups hahah

What's your go to vegan meal?

9) I have so many ahhh! But I especially love Asian food, so maybe something like a Thai Peanut or Pad Thai. I also love pasta and rice based dishes with lots of veggies! But I can't choose just one thing, but if I had to it would be some sort of Asian dish :)

And finally, what advice would you give to somebody who wants to make the switch to an all vegan diet?

10) Educate yourself! Watch documentaries, read up, etc. Prepare yourself for people asking lots of questions. Make sure you know all the things you need to eat. Make sure you will be getting enough calories. Talk to your parents and let them know about the lifestyle. Good luck! <3

Resources:

http://www.cowspiracy.com/facts/

http://bonnyrebecca.tumblr.com/whyvegan

http://www.nationearth.com/earthlings-1/

https://www.forksoverknives.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79GtQ58CEMc

And if you have netflix, check out Cowspiracy!

Thank you for interviewing me!! <3

http://rosiemaearoha.blogspot.co.uk/

And thank you very much for giving me this opportunity! Some fab answers here and I found it very interesting to read about your perspective!

Health and happiness,

Marti xx