April 2021
Tuesday, 4 May 2021 20:56![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
iguana
I actually got up to quite a lot in April, despite having just started a new job. Partly because I had four days off for Easter, and I finally took the plunge and ordered both decorating paints and art paints to start that hobby off.Switch
I also bought a Nintendo Switch and a capture card, so I've been both playing in private and streaming a couple of games when I've been feeling more sociable. I've also been streaming some art, more on that below!
I also bought a Nintendo Switch and a capture card, so I've been both playing in private and streaming a couple of games when I've been feeling more sociable. I've also been streaming some art, more on that below!
Painted living room
I'd been putting off decorating the living room because I assumed that the ugly wallpaper was there to hide a really badly-finished wall. But something spurred me to actually check if this was the case, and it turned out to be finished pretty nicely, so I basically binge-stripped the whole wall
I also realised that putting off waiting to buy paint samples until I could go to the stores in person was silly because the swatches on the front are only ever about as accurate as my monitor would reproduce the colours, so I just ordered a bunch and picked my favourite of those.
It took five coats(!!) to fully hide the patchy colour on the wall, but I'm so pleased with how it turned out.
The only downside is that it totally confuses my webcam, making me quite blue!
I'd been putting off decorating the living room because I assumed that the ugly wallpaper was there to hide a really badly-finished wall. But something spurred me to actually check if this was the case, and it turned out to be finished pretty nicely, so I basically binge-stripped the whole wall
I also realised that putting off waiting to buy paint samples until I could go to the stores in person was silly because the swatches on the front are only ever about as accurate as my monitor would reproduce the colours, so I just ordered a bunch and picked my favourite of those.
It took five coats(!!) to fully hide the patchy colour on the wall, but I'm so pleased with how it turned out.
The only downside is that it totally confuses my webcam, making me quite blue!
AMPDG: Beach trip!
The AMPDG I picked this month was to "go to the beach in whatever way is possible (real beach, imaginary beach, watching a beach film whlie lying on a towel in swimwear, etc…)"
I'd been formulating this plan since it last came up in the selection a few months ago, though I picked a different option that time.
I filled up several bits of kitchenware with salt water, set up a towel by the radiator, then changed into my swimsuit, put on the old sunglasses I'd found floating in a river during a hike in Kauaʻi, and sat back with a book and glass of orange juice.
I didn't actually stay there that long (the floor was uncomfy!) but it was a good excuse to do a photo shoot if nothing else!
The AMPDG I picked this month was to "go to the beach in whatever way is possible (real beach, imaginary beach, watching a beach film whlie lying on a towel in swimwear, etc…)"
I'd been formulating this plan since it last came up in the selection a few months ago, though I picked a different option that time.
I filled up several bits of kitchenware with salt water, set up a towel by the radiator, then changed into my swimsuit, put on the old sunglasses I'd found floating in a river during a hike in Kauaʻi, and sat back with a book and glass of orange juice.
I didn't actually stay there that long (the floor was uncomfy!) but it was a good excuse to do a photo shoot if nothing else!
Fluid art
I made four more acrylic pours this month, and I feel I'm finally getting a feeling for the right consistency of paint, and I've been keeping notes too! I streamed the first one and the last two, which was nice to show off what I was doing, though sometimes the need to wait a bit to see how the paint spreads out makes it less ideal for that. For the final two I also recorded the stream, which meant I could look back and basically review the pour and see what I could do differently next time to better get the effect I wanted. (Mostly: stop tilting so much!)
I also bought a blow-torch! They help to reduce air bubbles on solid colour, and encourage cell formation in mixed areas. I may also use it to make a crème brûlée at some point… but for now I just used it on these final two, which I did in one session.
I made four more acrylic pours this month, and I feel I'm finally getting a feeling for the right consistency of paint, and I've been keeping notes too! I streamed the first one and the last two, which was nice to show off what I was doing, though sometimes the need to wait a bit to see how the paint spreads out makes it less ideal for that. For the final two I also recorded the stream, which meant I could look back and basically review the pour and see what I could do differently next time to better get the effect I wanted. (Mostly: stop tilting so much!)
I also bought a blow-torch! They help to reduce air bubbles on solid colour, and encourage cell formation in mixed areas. I may also use it to make a crème brûlée at some point… but for now I just used it on these final two, which I did in one session.
Gardening
April was COLD. (No, really.) It started snowing just as I was finishing planting my cauliflowers out, and three of the eight died due to frosts the next couple of nights. I haven't planted anything else out since.
Inside I have a squash plant ready to be hardened off and sweetcorn, both regular and mini-pop varieties, of which four out of twelve have germinated. Some oregano and courgettes are still waiting to germinate.
The dragonfruit has lengthened its single branch, but I didn't take any photos.
April was COLD. (No, really.) It started snowing just as I was finishing planting my cauliflowers out, and three of the eight died due to frosts the next couple of nights. I haven't planted anything else out since.
Inside I have a squash plant ready to be hardened off and sweetcorn, both regular and mini-pop varieties, of which four out of twelve have germinated. Some oregano and courgettes are still waiting to germinate.
The dragonfruit has lengthened its single branch, but I didn't take any photos.
Friday outings
My new job gives us a "wellness and creativity day" every other Friday, which they specifically encourage us to do things unrelated to our current workload, and management have set examples by going out cycling or walking, or reading, that sort of thing.
So taking that example, I took my bike out on one Friday morning and went somewhere I hadn't been before, eastwards on the river Trent. The next wellness day I walked the furthest I have walked from my house, to Bramcote Hills, which is my local high point at 107m (oh dear!).
I took my camera and got some nice photos.
My new job gives us a "wellness and creativity day" every other Friday, which they specifically encourage us to do things unrelated to our current workload, and management have set examples by going out cycling or walking, or reading, that sort of thing.
So taking that example, I took my bike out on one Friday morning and went somewhere I hadn't been before, eastwards on the river Trent. The next wellness day I walked the furthest I have walked from my house, to Bramcote Hills, which is my local high point at 107m (oh dear!).
I took my camera and got some nice photos.
no subject
Date: 2021-05-05 07:08 (UTC)I like the lava painting particularly also.
no subject
Date: 2021-05-05 11:41 (UTC)