sarah_b: Blog

How did this happen?

sarah_b — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:10:56 +0000

Everywhere I look these days I see something that makes my blood boil: bad graphics. To be more exact, bad illustrated graphics. From magazines to the walls of the shopping center I visit, I see crappy, half-arsed illustration. Not only would I very much like to meet the "designers" behind these frankly lame attempts at modern design, I'd also like to take their places and show what can really be done. Illustration was something we looked at briefly in college, but for the most part I taught myself the various techniques I use today. Why can't I seem to find a job in this field? I don't mean to brag but look at what the hell I can do!! Call me big-headed if you like but I'm fucking talented.

So if any of my UK friends - heck even those across the pond - know of a company in need of an illustrator hit me up with a message!

There is NO Photoshop this is ALL Illustrator CS, every last line of it:

I Miss You

sarah_b — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:21:32 +0000

Its now been just over a year since my friend passed away, far too soon.
Well, I'm still sad we never got to go to New York again (a second trip would have rocked) but hey, I can't be greedy now can I? We had our time and at least I got her tattooed first!!!

Still, wherever you are...

(...just don't go back without me!)

Facade (don't trig just read)

sarah_b — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:33:54 +0000

I don't usually blog stuff that isn't mine (aside from a youtube video now and again for a giggle) but this time I'll make an exception. I love this song and having read through the words I think they're perfect. Actually, don't trig this since its not mine, just comment if you like.

Facade

There's a face that we wear
In the cold light of day -
It's society's mask,
It's society's way,
And the truth is
That it's all a facade!

There's a face that we hide
Till the nighttime appears,
And what's hiding inside,
Behind all of our fears,
Is our true self,
Locked inside the facade!

Every day
People, in their own sweet way,
Like to add a coat of paint,
And be what they ain't!

That's how our little -
Game is played,
Livin' like a masquerade
Actin' a bizarre charade -
While playing the saint!

But there's one thing I know,
And I know it for sure:
This disease that we've got
Has got no ready cure!
And I'm certain
Life is terribly hard -
When your life's a facade!

Look around you!
I have found
You cannot tell, by lookin' at the surface,
What is lurkin' there beneath it!
See that face!
Now, I'm prepared to bet you,
What you see's not what you get -
'Cause man's a master of deceit !

So, what is the sinister secret?
The lie he will tell you is true? -
It's that each man you meet
In the street
Isn't one man but two!

Nearly everyone you see -
Like him an' her,
An' you, an' me -
Pretends to be
A pillar of society -
A model for propriety -
Sobriety
An' piety -
Who shudders at the thought
Of notoriety!

The ladies an' gents 'ere before you -
Which none of 'em ever admits -
May 'ave saintly looks -
But they're sinners an' crooks!

Hypocrites!
Hypocrites!

There are preachers who kill!
There are killers who preach!
There are teachers who lie!
There are liars who teach!
Take yer pick, dear -
"Cause it's all a facade!

If we're not one, but two,
Are we evil or good?
Do we walk the fine line -
That we'd cross if we could?
Are we waiting -
To break through the facade?

One or two
Might look kinda well-to-do -
Hah! They're bad as me an' you,
Right down they're boots!

I'm inclined to think -
Half mankind
Thinks the other half is blind!
Wouldn't be surprise to find -
They're all in cahoots!

At the end of the day,
They don't mean what they say,
They don't say what they mean,
They don't ever come clean -
And the answer -
Is it's all a facade!
Is it's all a facade!
Man is not one, but two,
He is evil and good,
An' he walks the fine line
We'd all cross if we could!

It's a nightmare
We can never discard
So we stay on our guard
Though we love the facade
What's behind the facade?
Look behind the facade!

I miss this...

sarah_b — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 11:55:04 +0000

I swear, one of these days I'm going back and seeing it all again...

Building bridges...

sarah_b — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:42:34 +0000

...cos I destroy too many.

Time to build / re-build / re-discover a few, yes?

Anyone care to join me?

Tutbury Castle

sarah_b — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:36:10 +0000

I love to photograph ruins, all of the broken walls and various windows help to achieve a very interesting composition.

The "Napoleonics" re-enacting battle. Those cannons kicked ass! They were so loud when they exploded. The guns went off too, smoke everywhere, awesome! I had no idea they were going to be there, I thought we were just visiting an ordinary ruined castle. So imagine my delight when I saw loads of people dressed as soldiers! One of them looked about my age and so damn cute in uniform, haha. I might upload the sneaky pic I took...maybe...

I had to crop this. The bee was on the lavender outside one of the ruins. The smell was lovely.

These owls were gorgeous! Especially the little one called Nibbles, she was so soft and tiny (my sister thought she looked like an old man lol).

>

Armor in the Great Hall, dating back to 1597.

I'm sure this is a Plague Doctor mask. I remember seeing loads of them around Venice and they've creeped me out ever since.

The chair in the Great Hall.

No, the cake wasn't mine...the tea was though. I drink waaaay too much of that stuff.

And a few other things...

I'm BACK

sarah_b — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:23:06 +0000

I didn't choose to become bored, low and grumpy. Nor did I choose to become unmotivated and uninspired. It just happened. Well fuck that!
I'm back and ready to kick every ass in the room.
I'm back and want nothing more than to create.
I'm back and my tastes have grown and changed.
I demand more. I AM more.
The fire is lit once again...

THIS IS

sarah_b — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:48:19 +0000

Since the album is currently set for a re-release, newly mixed and re-done, I thought I'd post this for everyone to read. I wrote it AGES ago, before I became a freelance reviewer, but hopefully it'll give you a good idea why I love this band and this album so much! Looking at it now its hardly the best thing I've ever written, but hey practice makes perfect, right? Enjoy!

Lizette& - THIS IS

There are two things that MySpace members, both old and new, often have to put up with. The first is slimy hackers trying to steal their identity. The second is endless friendship requests from bands trying to make themselves known. Given the sheer amount of both new and established talent ready to sample on this gigantic online community, users are both spoiled for choice and frequently pestered at the same time. But before you hit he 'Deny' button for the millionth time, be sure you are not overlooking any hidden gems...

Gems like Lizette & for example. If you manage to get over their hilarious Worst Fuck video (featuring the lead singer, Jesus and a song about crap sex) you'll no doubt discover a band with a twist.

This Is, the title track of the band's album, is nothing short of addictive. The song may not break much new ground musically, but it'll have you happily singing along in no time. With a catchy chorus that is easily remembered it is an ideal opening track. In total contrast the simple, minimal sound of Breathe proves that less really can be more. Lizette's voice is the main focus, along with simple yet effective lyrics making the track the musical equivalent of cool fresh air. The hypnotizing music draws you in to a state of calm, making it the perfect song to chill out to. This stripped sound is a key part of the album's sound, meaning that Lizette's lyrics are easily heard. And because her talent for writing songs is not lost amidst a brash wall of noise, it makes for a far better listening experience. Highlights include the rougher sound of Evil, the dreamy Within and Bright Side Of The Moon, the musical equivalent of a starry night sky. Closing track Nothing feels like a black hole, cut down to the bare basics, but with a surprisingly effective result.

But it's not all calm, oh no. With all of the relaxation comes a much more fun side. Next time your getting ready to head out for a night of fun, getting dressed up and feeling great, be sure to play No One, Did I and Must I at full volume. Must I in particular is a great song to dance to, focusing on the edgier side of the band's music.

If there is one thing that This Is defiantly has going for it, then it is the experimental twist that is displayed throughout. The electronic rock sound created by Lizette & is as refreshing as it is intriguing. But - as every music lover knows - there is one thing that makes an album great. It's that exciting, unidentifiable something that you just can't put your finger on. This Is will get into your head and stay there long after you turn it off. It.'s not hard to hear the influence of Linkin Park creeping in, however is may also be possible to hear similarities between this and Madonna's Ray Of Light. With such a mixed bag of musical elements thrown in it is rather hard to categorize exactly what genre this album could fall into.

It's not rock. It's not pop. It's simply...Lizette &.

Has anyone else read this book?

sarah_b — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:32:25 +0000

Over the weekend I was thoroughly engrossed in a book, which is rare for me because as much as I enjoy reading I do find it hard to get started. In fact, it's been something like seven months since I finished 'The Heroin Diaries' and I can't remember having read anything after that, until this weekend. I really do have to talk myself into turning off the Mac, turning off the music and just reading in peace.

Anyway, the book I read was 'The Invisible Man' by H.G. Wells. Having already read - and very much enjoyed - 'The War Of The Worlds' I was already aware that he was a brilliant writer. I refuse to label his work as Science Fiction, because to me the stories I've read have a very human heart and are focused far more on human emotions and struggle. Having felt everything from pity to hatred, fear to sorrow for the character of the Invisible Man it's fair to say that while this tale is not all that long, it is one of the best books I've read.

While I openly admit that reading is not my thing all the time, I'd like to think my choice of literature is actually of quite good. Aside from 'The War Of The Words' and 'The Invisible Man' I have also read all of Sir Author Conan Doyle's famous 'Sherlock Holmes' stories, I currently have a copy of 'Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr.Hyde' by Robert Louis to start, I love 'Of Mice And Men' by John Steinbeck and of course I'm sure we've all peeked at a few volumes of 'Harry Potter'! Once I'm done with Jekyll and Hyde I have 'The Time Machine' - another Wells novel - to read. Then I'll tackle some of the bigger books and read the original stories of 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker and 'Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus' Mary Shelley. I wonder how many of us here make the mistake of thinking that Frankenstein is the name of the monster and not that of it's creator, Victor Frankenstein? Hmmm...

So, it looks like I'll finally be catching up on my reading again. Hopefully the reading will also inspire new artwork and ideas, which really do spill out of me the moment I can feel the spark of excitement and creativity with in me...

Sx

Pics from the weekend (Warning: very big!!)

sarah_b — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:38:30 +0000

^^^ My new bracelet, I love this Looks expensive but believe me it wasn't!

^^^ New Skullcandy headphones!! Pink and silver freakin' awesome!

^^^ Thats Layla playing

^^^ The new addition to Layla's family, Golden Labrador named Kandi (her name at the kennels was Sheba, but thats a cat's name really...)

^^^ Koss is a German Shepard crossed with a Mastiff, so if he wants the sofa its wise to move or he really will just sit on you lol

^^^ A few photo opportunities I spotted in the churchyard.

^^^ From the garden at Telford Park.

^^^ A few images from Wonderland, I have more to come...

EDIT

sarah_b — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:28:37 +0000

OK then lets do this the easy way, shall we?
Very soon I'll have a re-vamped page at myspace.com/littlepython
and a Google web page at littlepython.googlepages.com
both of which will be coming in a few weeks. I have too many pictures and stuff to sort out at the moment! {phew!}
And I'm making the pages so that whenever I ask someone to check out my work they are less likely to be faced with a string of technical errors. Its hard enough to get my work out as it is.
FYI I'm not leaving Trig cos there are people here I like to chat to.

Sx

I just have to blog about this RIGHT NOW!!!

sarah_b — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:52:30 +0000

I was in need of some new music and having heard so many good things about Thin Lizzy's 'Live And Dangerous' album I skipped over to last.fm to see if it was there...

Holy shit this is some hot music right here!! My soul is on fire right now.

'Excuse me while I go add them to my list of bands I adore. Why the fuck did I put off checking this album out for so long? Damn I'm an idiot!

Music update

sarah_b — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:51:52 +0000

Just for fun, my updated list of bands/artists/composers I love:

Epica
KoRn
Motley Crue
Domain
Thin Lizzy
SIXX:AM
The Sisters Of Mercy
My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult
Roisin Murphy
System Of A Down
Serj Tankian
Hecate
Mike
All Saints
Gemini Five
Dragonforce
Moloko
Delain
Bullets And Octane
Tarja Turunen
Evanescence
Leaves' Eyes
Nightwish
Within Temptation
Sirenia
Tristania
Lacuna Coil
Juliette & The Licks
Vanity Beach
Starlit
Deathstars
The Luchagors
Aiden
Bon Jovi
Arch Enemy
Rammstein
Type O Negative
To-Mera
Edguy
P!NK
TLC
Jonathan Davis
Satyricon
No Doubt
Ozzy Osbourne
Blink 182
Marilyn Manson
Lizette &
Mary Magdalan
Hammerfall
Sonata Arctica
Madonna
Michael Jackson
Janet Jackson
Moonspell
Camille Saint-Saens
Ludwig van Beethoven
Fall Out Boy
Sweetbox
Christina Aguilera
Enya
Gwen Stefani
Tarot
Maryslim
Ramones
The 69 Eyes
Paramore
Wednesday 13
Metallica
Eternal
Slayer
Nouvelle Vague
HIM
Diamanda Galas
Mindless Self Indulgence
Jeff Wayne
Alice Cooper
The Cure
Jaded Halo
Billy Idol

Buxton

sarah_b — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:55:07 +0000

Since the sun was shining brightly this weekend - much to the delight of us Brits so used to miserable weather even in Summer - my family headed out to Buxton. I love the Pavilion Gardens there, described on their website as representing "a significant part of the Victorian splendour of Buxton", which is very true because the architecture of the buildings is splendid and the gardens are a joy to walk around. Of course I also drank from St. Ann's Well, the source of Buxton's pure mineral water. Nothing added, just straight out of the ground, up through the pipe and out of the lion's mouth...

I took my camera of course. I didn't even know if I was going to use it, it was just in case I happened to see something of interest. I came back with 102 shots...damn my eye for composition.

So here they are, the best of my pictures (a little short but I don't want to post too many so 12 is quite enough) to hopefully show you a little of the things I saw this weekend. Enjoy!

SarahB xx

The gardens, behind which there is also the Opera House. There was a jewelry fair going on so I picked up some nice stuff :D

St. Ann's Well

War memorial statue

Random shots

There is also an indoor garden / greenhouse

MY HERO

sarah_b — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:03:22 +0000

Photography part 4

sarah_b — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:56:35 +0000

OK so four blogs later I'm done. I'm an obsessive photographer, everything draws me in, everything has potential. I'll take 200 photos just to get 20 good ones. Obsession is a good quality in an artist! BUT this will be the last of this stuff for now, I'm gathering ideas for a much bigger personal project. Let's just say it involves living dolls...you'll see...

Until then...

SarahB x

Photography part 3

sarah_b — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:47:37 +0000

Photography part 2

sarah_b — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:42:33 +0000

Photography part 1

sarah_b — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:37:40 +0000

I really will photography anything...
Flowers? Too many. Jewelry? Done it. Kitchen sink? Actually did that but I ain't gonna post it!
I love to take beautiful things and bring them to life. I love to take mundane things and make them interesting. I'll photograph over, under, in between...sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Whatever. Rules were made to be broken. Enjoy.

Blog 5/5 -- very big!

sarah_b — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:47:24 +0000

OK, last one. Just some of the views I captured. Fort Nothe was the best, it was sunny both times we visited (we went back because of the mice...don't ask. Lets just say theres 56, not 45). I've been to Weymouth so many times I know my way around better than my own home its not hard to walk all the way around from the fort to the harbor, to the town, to the beach then to the Sea Life / golf area.

SarahB

Blog 4/5 -- very big!

sarah_b — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:38:17 +0000

Whats a holiday without being random?! Theres some nice pics of me and Layla, others are just plain stupid ha ha! I just had to get those pirate chicks, they were hilarious. The squirrels were running around outside Fort Nothe, staring at us lol the rest is mostly dumb shit

It was Layla's birthday on the 10th and her cake had those candles that don't blow out lol in the end we had to immerse them in water over night cos they kept sparking up again! And yes thats a golf club I'm holding, we played the pirate crazy golf twice and I was beaten by my sister

SarahB

Blog 3/5 -- very big!

sarah_b — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:23:32 +0000

Weymouth Sea Life Park is awesome! Now I know many people in my friends list are American and you have those big-ass parks with dolphins and wales, but you gotta understand that stuff like that doesn't exists here so for me anything with sea lions and sharks is awesome

It was really tricky to get decent shots, especially of the seahorses and turtles, because flash photography was not allowed. To be honest the flash would have bounded off the glass anyway which just results in crappy photos where you can't see a thing. But of course animals don't sit still and pose, so its not easy to get a decent composition.

The sea lion keeper was hot One of the females kept seeking attention, if she wasn't getting all the fish and all the attention she'd slap her paw on the water like "look at meeee!" ha ha!

SarahB

Blog 2/5 -- very big!

sarah_b — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:04:44 +0000

I think some images just beg to be in black and white, it creates a certain atmosphere that full color can't achieve. Again there is beach pictures as well as the horses in the fields that surround Osmington Mills, the broken mannequin head was in a skip full of broken parts at Fort Nothe (I think they were changing/restoring some of the exhibits) and the necklace is something I bought on the last day.

The footprints belonged to strangers who had long since left the beach before we got there, but it was two sets, side by side, like a romantic stroll or something. Quite poetic...

Anyone have a personal favorite?

SarahB

Blog 1/5 -- very big!

sarah_b — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 08:33:34 +0000

I have a lot of photography, random shots etc to post and they would take up far too much gallery space. So even though I wont get anywhere near as many trigs by blogging instead, this is the best way (besides, do we really care about trigs that much these days?).

I had my old Kodak digital camera as well as my brand new Nikon with me so I ended up taking around 300 pictures in total. Some are very arty, others are just plain stupid, ha ha! Still I hope you enjoy them, I photographed everything from the beach to the stream that ran through the caravan park, hot pirate chicks (you'll see) to seahorses...

I had to leave a few out since my sister and my parents don't want their pictures online, which is a fair request. Me and Layla however don't give a rats ass

SarahB

Blog about...everything!

sarah_b — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 17:48:39 +0000

Time for another long blog. Why? Because I feel like it, thats why! Lots of things to write about, if only for my own enjoyment. I've never fully understood why blogging is so popular and so much fun (real blogging, not some three word rant or a YouTube video, thats just shit). But oh well, it passes the time and lets face it anything is more productive than watching the "highlights" *ahem* of Big Brother.

Holiday time again!

On the 4th of July my best friend Layla will be staying with me and my family, then the next day we'll all drive away to the South. Weymouth is a beautiful place, as is the surrounding area. Countryside and seaside are two things guaranteed to make me feel wonderful, and have always been the destination of family holidays. This will be so much fun! So if I don't happen to be responding to comments and messages from the 4th to around the 13th then you know why.

Memories

So, right now I'm playing some real old Janet Jackson songs, and my goodness the memories it brings back...

New York City, 2005, me and Natalie. Taking in the sights, shopping, exploring with a few mates, watching Basketball, laughing harder than we've ever laughed before...

Natalie is no longer alive. When I think back to that time I can't believe she's gone. Only a few years ago we were both so alive and living it up in spectacular fashion. Its not so far in the past, really. She caught our adventures on tape and even though I think I look like a real DORK on 99.9% of the footage I do love that video. We were young, I was 19 and had a million ideas about what NYC would be like. What happened during those few days was something I could not have imagined. Lets face it, you really can't plan the best days of your life no matter how many ideas you have. I still have her mobile phone number saved in my contacts list. I don't have the heart to delete it despite the fact that its useless to me now. I guess thats the final thing really, she's totally gone the moment I delete her. No way! Its not that I have unfinished business between us, more the fact that I feel blessed to have known her and it would be nice to just say a nice Thank You. I do dream about her sometimes, its strange to say the least. If I could re-live one event with her, it would be March 2005. One last yellow taxi ride to the park, one last stroll through the trees and the skyscrapers. One last laugh.

What is it all for anyway?

People come, people go, in and out of our lives like guest stars in some strange TV show. What is it all for? Weather they die, they walk away or we kick them out, not everyone is totally guaranteed to stick around. Yeesh, it sure would be nice to know if there really is some grand plan going on here. Is there a reason why Natalie was not allowed to stick around? A reason why a certain someone became so selfish? A reason why I felt the need to tell a so-called friend to get lost? A reason why Layla is like the sister I never had? A reason why I do have a real sister and I love her despite the fact that she drives me mental? A reason why he kissed me and didn't mean it? A reason why they forgot me? A reason why some gals just click with me? Not that the world revolves around me of course, haha! What I mean is if we really are part of a plan/destiny/meant to be kinda thing then what roles do people play? If there is no meaning at all then why even bother making good friends, taking out the trash and building bridges? Personally I'm very much starting to believe in "meant to be". Not to the point where I feel my life is pre-planned, but to the point where certain things needed to happen in order for us all to progress in whatever direction our destiny is taking us. But it sure would be nice to get a hint as to what the heck is meant to be happening here!

OK, thats quite enough of that. Its past midnight as I'm wring this and thats a little late for philosophy!

Etsy

www.sarahbarker.etsy.com is the web address for my web shop. It has 7 mixed media pieces at the moment, as well as a set of two postcards. One piece has already been sold via this website - The Siren to the lovely Amanda - and hopefully there will be a few more in the future. If you want something but feel you can't afford it then just message me, I'm always open to talk about price.

Mild depression

Not so long ago I was talking with my mothers and she seems to think I have mild depression. Now I am the kind of person who thought I'd never get it, ever. That depression was not something that would even creep into my mind since I'm always trying to see the good in everything these days. However, I think there is a chance I do have it at the moment since my temper is a little more raw than usual, everything is pissing me off, I don't have the attention span I once did and of course I put a stop to my freelance since I'm in no mood to be told what to do (see previous blog). Its also reached the point where I don't even miss Helsinki any more and have no interest whatsoever in the next Trash Fest. Yup, my current mood means I don't really care for it. Messed up, eh? Anything to do with it is not interesting me at the moment, I hardly have the attention span to even read about it. Now who knows, this may well change soon enough. But right now I feel I'm looking for something and can't put my finger on what. I feel something is missing from life, I feel a lack of excitement, like the world has gone stale. I'm hoping my holiday will help to unblock this feeling or at least take my mind off it for a while. Until then I won't be making any flight plans just yet...I did it once, do I really need to do it again?

Crows Fly Black

Nothing in the entire world - and I mean NOTHING - can compare to music. Not only to music, but the thrill of hearing something new for the first time. Today I came home with four new CDs, one of which was the Tarot album 'Crows Fly Black'. To say it impressed me is an understatement, because frankly it was about time I had some new music in my ears to get excited about again and my oh my this is it! Sure, I've made new purchases recently and I firmly enjoyed them. There are a lot of new CDs in my collection to put a huge smile on my face. But 'Crows Fly Black' set my soul on fire! I'm not saying that everyone should own it. Heck, I bet some of you would hate it. However, for me personally this album is the pick-me-up I've been in desperate need of! The cover art blows but who cares, this shit is heavy!

For those who don't know, Tarot is the second band Marco Hietala is a member of besides Nightwish (actually I don't know which one he was in first. Interestingly I think Tarot may have come before NW...). Since I'm a big fan of his powerful voice - which was so powerful it actually echoed off the walls of the Apollo and totally stunned me - I figured I'd take a chance even though I hadn't heard a single note. I'm sure every single person reading this knows the feeling. Hitting the 'Play' button and finding yourself sucked into something you simply couldn't have predicted. No doubt I'll be playing this in the office on Monday when I'm feeling ready to commit bloody murder, haha! Actually, does one really need pounding Metal to soothe a bad temper? Hmmmm...

The only other music that has really touched me recently is an old Nightwish song called '10th Man Down'. Its been in my collection for years but I recently pulled out the old discs again, listened to it for what felt like the first time and momentarily lost my senses, haha! But anyway, this Tarot album is Metal to the core, with more than a little Viking spirit tucked away in there lol. Marco's voice is so powerful and unique and the music is just what I need right now.

Fuck drugs, fuck booze, music has always been and always will be the ultimate high.