updates

I've said I would avoid updates posts this year but I've realised I've been absent for a bit around here and there's some explaining to do. I've had a tough week or so and blogging has been at the back of my mind because of it.

On Friday the 4th of March (same day as my blog's birthday) my little baby cat, Gemma passed away after either being hit or falling. We don't know exactly what happened, but here we have been desperately sad and it's been very hard. I just thought I would like to remember her here on this blog as she was very special to me and my family. Rest in peace Gemma.

There's also been some other personal issues which I'm getting through with the support of my wonderful friends. I promise the normal blogging will be back soon. In the meantime, go and enter my giveaway (prize pack worth $300) on Instagram.

I've also been very busy finishing my art internal and I thought I should share with you some of my favourite pieces from it. This year my focus is rock pools and the seashore so I've been drawing seashells and rocks and lovely ocean themed things.

I put together this little collage that I love so much, it's been so fun adding pieces to any photo/collage with my Wacom tablet. I might do a video about how I use it soon and how I blog altogether which I think you will all enjoy.

Back soon
- Harri xx

back to school

Like many of you, I go back to school tomorrow and I'm certaintly not ready to go back to the chaos and work that school brings my every day life. This year my goal is to give myself more time to do fun things and spend more time with people I love. I'm going to have a good year at school as I finally get to choose more of my subjects! Though I'm taking the challenge of taking three arts - I shall be very busy!

I can also say that the only part of me that's ready for school is the stationery. I've changed up my printable book covers from last week's post for my own use. I've used black paper for the front and back and the triangle pattern for the spine! My favourite part is that I've used summer photos printed on my Instax SHARE as the labels. Now I can always be reminded of summer during school. Actually, currently I can't decide if this is a good thing or a bad thing!!

Good luck for those going back to school or if you already have, I hope it's not been too bad!

- Harri x

recent things

{sparkly winter jumpers}

The winter cold finally hit auckland last week and no one is dealing with it very well. I am well and truly quite upset to farewell summer. Most mornings has involved a hot chocolate before school and hiding in the library by the heaters to stay warm.

So when I forgot about this blog for a month (!!) I had become quite busy with exams and school work. Doing this in the cold was not fun. Just want to say to everyone, thanks for staying around and not unfollowing because I haven't posted. It's reassuring to know that you are all going to stay around no matter what.

So when I haven't been stuck in my school uniform that provides no warmth, only very uncomfortable, I've been living in this jumper from Huffer. It's sparkly and blue!! My favourites.

{printing new instaxes}

{creating compositions for visual arts }

{clear days and clear sunsets}

have a lovely week everyone!
x Harri

music moment

♫ Collide - EVVY ♫ Gun - CHVRCHES ♫ Somebody Find Me - Milkman ♫ Don't Save Me - HAIM ♫ Seeing Stars - B0RNS ♫ 

I've been so busy lately, and music has probably been keeping me going really. When I'm sailing, when I'm in the car and when I'm doing homework.

So I've found a lot of new music as well and I'm addicted to HAIM and Ellie Goulding - her new song is also a favourite!!

- harri xx

school

I'm sorry my posting as been a bit low...school has started back and it's been pretty busy with homework along with sailing two nights a week and swimming.

I've got a special post coming for you mid next week so look out for it!! Gosh, I'm missing the freedom of summer holidays and having all the time in the world.

Currently Gemma has been causing havoc chewing pens and sitting on the car roof and when she isn't causing trouble, she is lying on my bed as I work.

Part of the reason I've been so busy is the year 11 art program. We have straight away started working on our first internal and I've been working on my art every night. I'm very pleased with the results and I get to hand my first two sheets in on Tuesday!

- harri xx

february

can you believe its February already. January and the summer holidays has just flown past and of course February means school again.

This year is my first year of NCEA, the exams that actually count and this first week we have been thrown into this world of credits, internals, standards, dates and externals. Why do I already know my external dates for November...It all seems so weird and new.

Probably the only good part of the new school year is new stationery and book covering. This year I finally made my own book covers and I love them. Not many people cover their books at my school but I've also liked to.

I used a grid for the front and a black and white spotted spine. I love the minimalist look and I know I won't get sick of it by the end of the year.

Also the past few weeks I've managed to get some new stuff for my room. The first thing which I haven't photographed because I want it for a surprise for my new room tour (!!!) is I got a wooden shelf above my desk. I've been wanting one forever and I was so glad when we found this perfect one.

I also got a new lamp (first picture) clock for my bedside table. I got the lamp at Waiheke and I love it. It's a simple wooden angle lamp and the cord is black and white which is so nice. The clock is Karlsson and I've been wanting it for so long, but they have been sold out in every shop since Christmas and finally got my hands on one. I love the copper with the white face and black writing, it stands out so much!

I've also been loving some new music lately. I've been searching spotify and friend's playlists for hours on end to find new stuff that I love.

Some of my new favourite songs that are stuck in my head are

+ Love Me Like You Do - Ellie Goulding
+ Gun - CHVCHES
+ The Wire - Haim
+ Somebody Find Me - Milkman
+ Years - Alesso
+ Yours (Color Code Remix) - Ella Henderson

I'm planning my blog posts for the rest of the summer, are there any posts you would like to see? Let me know in the comments.

- harri xx

music of the summer

It's summer and I'm away on holiday meaning sun, swimming, windsurfing (more soon) and a lack of wifi. I'm trying to post but it's a bit difficult. I'll post some nice photos next week!

Here's my favourite songs for the summer - set on a beautiful photo I took a few days ago.

I never want this summer to end, though I say this every year and luckily every year summer rolls around again.

Hope these might be some new things to add to your playlist!

- harri  xx

spring time mixtape

hello!

here's some of my favourite music at the moment. I really hope that you might not have heard of these songs yet. Most of them are New Zealand artists! 

This photo is my definition of spring. Spring is when the sailing season starts again properly and this was taken on one of my early morning walks to the yacht club for work. How I love living where I live, sunrises like this make me appreciate everything so much.

x harrri

Q + A

Hello!

Sorry for a bit of a gap between posts. School started this week so I've been a bit busy settling back into routine after 3 weeks off!!

So I'm here with the promised Q + A. I hope all your questions are answered otherwise leave them in the comments (vv) and I'll answer them, so please check back

...and finally, before you all ask. Above is my visual diary (make your own here) and I'm planning to share inside of my one soon and teach you how to put a dust cover on one as well!!

So divided these into a few sections as well...

PERSONAL

Where do you want to travel to? I would just love to go to Europe - Paris, London.... but also I love Australia (Sydney) and Hawaii, I hear is beautiful.

Kikki.K or Typo? This is a tough call...I think Kikki.K though! Why are you making me choose..!!

What subjects do you take at school? I'm only in year 10 so I have to take the compulsory subjects of maths, science, english, social studies. But for my options I take business studies (introduction to economics + accounting) and art of course!!

What do you like to do in your spare time? umm....blogging!! haha. Actually I really love sailing. I'm training to become an instructor this year so it takes up a lot of my time.

PHOTOGRAPHY

What camera do you use to take your photos? I have a Canon EOS 1100D with a EF 18 - 55 Lens. I also use an iPhone 5 for my videos as the video part is hard on my camera.

How do you edit your photos? I edit my photos with photoshop which I talked about here

How do you get such good light for your photos? I edit my photos to get better light but finding a bright wall/desk without direct sunlight is the key.

What time of day do you take your photos? For my room, in the winter 11am is the best time because my room faces east but the direct sun has gone. But in the summer, as long as it is a bright day I can take them anytime. Winter is sometimes such a pain because there are days when there is no light.

BLOGGING

What inspired you to make a blog? I originally found a blog called Lost in the Haze which is a fashion blog. I started fashion blogging but then discovered that there was bloggers doing things like crafting and sharing inspiration which was a childhood passion of mine.

what are some tips for someone starting a new blog? Being original is number one, but you also need to put lots of work into your posts so that when people do come to your blog, you give them a good first impression.

How many followers did you have on Instagram in the first week of your blog? I had Instagram before my blog but probably only 20 or something because they were friends and family.

how many readers did you have after your first week, month and year on your blog? I doubt I had anyone on my first week because you can't expect that. After first month maybe I had 20 but probably not. After my first year I almost had 300 (this was in March)

How do you get so many viewers and followers on your blog? You just have to keep working at it and have really good quality posts. I've been working on my blog for 1 1/2 years. I promise you the first 100 followers is hard to get to then it gets easier.

how do you get sponsored? For my big collaborations, I have contacted the brands about collaborating but you have to have a good pitch email to send to them as well as really good content (I keep going on about this) for them to read and see what your brand is actually about.

Can you do some coding tutorials? I'm currently in the process of making 2 e-courses. The first being 'simple code' being released end of August and another course about blogging in general and getting sponsorship etc.

INSPIRATION

What are your inspirations ? My inspirations are tonnes of bloggers including uhm chelsea, chestnut, a little birdy and a beautiful mess. But also the world around us is inspiration.

where does you inspiration for all your blog posts come from? The world. Everywhere is inspiration. Maybe something on pinterest or craft gawker but more likely to be from something I've seen. Sometimes ideas just come to me as well!!

How do you take inspiration and create something out of it? You have to see it differently from what it is. You have to see something and be able to think up something new with a base from your inspiration. You could sketch it out, change the colours, change the shape etc.

keep inspired
x harri

new things

hello everyone!!
so there is heaps of things going on around here lately that I thought I should give you all a bit of an update on
this blog just keeps growing and growing and sometimes I just can't keep up.

first of all...shopping
I can't resist some good shopping after watching #tfios to drown away my sorrows
I went to typo and got the bunny pen and the washi tape which is just so cute!!
Then I went to Kikki.K and bought the wooden pencil cup, gel pen and mechanical pencil.

I've also obviously been playing around with my instax. It's been so much to do my collaboration posts as well as for personal use. This camera will be well used for years to come!

what else has been happening

+ I got an amazing shoutout from Heart Handmade UK. Thank you so so much for your kind words and my many new readers that have joined us!!

+ I'm doing another survey. It's been awhile since the last one and I've changed some stuff a lot. Take the survey here. I really appreciate your feedback

+ I've set up a sponsor page. Sidebar Ads start at $5 with only a select few available per month as well I am offering brand collaborations, product reviews and blogger collaborations

+ I'm working on some new stuff for the shop - more art as well as some more exciting things (think HTML coding and blog help)

have a great week, stay inspired and enjoy the little things
xx harri

P.S. issue 2 of mailing list mag goes out today. I found a better way of making them and will now be monthly so I really hope you enjoy

loving // feat. bespoke zine

hello!!
so much loving in my corner of the world right now
It's magazine week and I also got sent a zine which I'm sharing with you
...and the best movie ever!!

now let me start with the fault in our stars......this shall be long
so I went and saw the movie last weekend with my friends for one's birthday and it was amazing
all those one liners that I just love, and Gus is the perfect boyfriend that I want!!!
but then it is so so sad, and we all just cried from the moment they got to Amsterdam
My favourite part was actually the end - I loved when she lies on the grass and reads the letter.
I also love the part at the oranjee when gus speaks - shall I remind you of the amazingness

"I'm in love with you, and I'm not in the business of denying myself the simple pleasure of saying true things. I'm in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we're all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labor has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only earth we'll ever have, and I am in love with you"

I'm crying just writing this for you ;(
...then now, I just have the album on repeat. It has the best music including artists like birdy, ed sheeran and one republic. My favourite song is best shot or what you wanted (the trailer music)!!

I'm definitely off to see it again, but can I take the emotions again. I think so!!

magazines!! It's this time of the month where I end up buying all my new magazines and my frankie magazine arrives!!!

This months Frankie is so pretty and I love the new yen and fete press as well!! magazines are just so so pretty!!!

thirdly....ipadding. I love my iPad at the moment. I've been using it so much lately, in the morning before school to check emails, Facebook, instagram and blogs. I love pinterest as well! 

I'm falling for pretty things so much right now...it's so hard to resist

please comment your pinterest or favourite pinterests because I need new ones to follow

lastly...the lovely people at bespoke zine sent me a couple of issues of their craft magazine all about NZ & Australia creative people!! It's really nice and I found a couple of new illustrators/artists to follow along with and some crafty projects as well.

visit their site // www.bespokezine.com

Now I have the most exciting collaboration ever coming up in the next week or sometime so look out for it
see you next time
x harri

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, and all opinions expressed are my own. I was sent bespoke magazine free of charge in return for an honest review and feature. Many thanks to Robyn @ Bespoke Zine for sending me these goodies to try out!

lately..

I'm so sorry it's been over a week. I haven't been going so well lately with a schedule
but of course the thing known as school and exams has gotten in the way again (along with my sailing and working) and I just haven't had the time
so right now and lately....

1 // revising for exams
yes we will start on the slightly boring part. The thing we all hate. Exams. So I am a bit tied up right now but have many posts planned. Just need the time to take photos!!
But you can't help but like the pretty stationery from +Chloe Larkin's DIY
it still makes me smile at school everyday!

2 // my art project

I shall still continue with school but this is more interesting

we are doing a project at school at the moment in art to make a quilt about WW1 (for the centenary). we all have to make an individual patch but also have to create a visual diary to research and plan out

3 // mailing list launch
now for some blogging news
I've started a mailing list for you to all join
to receive exclusive (so VIP sounding) content, freebies, giveaways in a bi-montly email
I really would love if you would join (theres a little button in the sidebar before the copyright)

what else has been happening.....

+ yen magazine liked my photo on instagram. Out of millions of photos they liked my little photos of their creative issue!! It may not be a follow but it's still just....ahh the happiness!!

+ I got 2.7K followers on instagram. 2.7K HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE LIKE SERIOUSLY WAS ONLY 200 A FEW MONTHS AGO. 

+ I'm changing the design around here as you might have noticed. But I think my brain is too clogged up why algebra to think right now but I kind of like what I've done so far

+ I've started my new visual diary/scrapbook. I'm so excited to share it with you as the actual journal took forever to arrive (I ordered it on the 6th April and arrived last week)

see you next week, i've got something planned for you!!
x harri

mixtape // changes of the seasons

hello!!
once again, I have neglected this little blog
I've got exams in 2 weeks plus a big art project due so my life has been pretty hectic and busy!
and thank you so much for 400 followers!!

and it's getting colder down here in NZ
I was actually cold yesterday when sailing with brilliant sunshine. brrr...!
so it's changing of the seasons and there is some great music around....

if you have any suggestions, as usual, I would love to know!! Leave them in the comments
x harri

loving in may

hello lovelies
can't believe that tomorrow is May. I've got lots planned for this little (and slightly big) blog
also thanks for last week, I got 40 followers in one week and 15 overnight. It's some record I think plus I got 2.5K on isntagram thanks to the lovely +fetching_tigerss
I've got all this stuff I can't afford but can love right now so I'll share it with you
thank you so much for the amazing response to the video! Have gotten over 400 views which is amazing!!

1 // morning calm lip butter
like oh my. this lip butter is just so nice looking. The packaging (you know I fall so bad for packaging), the thought of the rose flavour and just the feeling on your lips....ok. you get the point

2 // douglas + bec angle lamp
i just love angle lamps and even though I could probably find a cheaper one (this one is almost $700) I just love this one that my mum and dad have in there room. I just adore the red wiring

3 // biscuit tape holder
I've decided I can't live without this! It's just so perfect and so so cute. Perfect for that ever growing washi tape collection.

4 // crochet succulent pots
these are adorable. I wish I could make them! Well I might just do that, but for now I will admire my desktop picture of this gorgeous photo

5 // bonjour cactus print
I just love chloe's art. This print is my favourite I think. It's something that I might just have to order. Her whole shop is amazing and I'm so sad that I missed out on the kitty cat purses (if you are reading this chloe, please sell more!!!)

6 // instax mini 
how many times have I added this to my shopping wish list. I really really want one of these. I always think of places where it would be really nice to have a roll of film. Like when I went camping last weekend, it would have made a great scrapbook of polaroids. right now that is just a dream....but anyway maybe one day!

look at all that pale pink that I just love
hope you are having a great week and sorry that I haven't replied to many comments. I was away in the weekend, so I'll try and have a catch up today or tomorrow
harri x

Hello!!

Hello!!
Yes I do still exist.
But it has been over a week since my last post
and on that note thank you for such a cool response to my room tour
you guys seemed to love it just as much as I did which is super cool!!

So I thought I would give you guys a little update post before I post a new proper post next week
I'm just so excited (I may have hinted last week about i) but all I can tell you that it is pretty!!

So what have I been loving and doing lately.
I may have been away from the blog but I've been falling in lovely with so many things lately!!
like.. the blogging world has done so much since I have disappeared! Moving on.....

1 // Chloe + Le Chat

Oh my gosh....chloe has done it again, she has made the most perfect shop ever and I want everything from it.
I've been recently planning my own design and illustration shop (blog headers coming your way) but I can't ever imagine mine being as amazing as that!!!
My favourite product will have to be the kitty cat coin purse. I think I'm going to get it for a phone pouch!!!

2 // A Beautiful Mess Actions

I've been on the fence on buying a pack of ABM actions since the release day and I can't tell you how overjoyed I was to find out that they have released a 'mini collection' for only 10 dollars. I'm definitely going to buy them as I'm keen to get my photos looking even better.
But I am still eyeing up the fresh collection

3 // Flora Waycott

How can you not love this art to pieces. She has such a cool way of drawing. In art at school at the moment, we are drawing tools and kitchen utensils and it's really inspired me because I didn't particularly want to draw tools - but if someone can draw tools like hers then I can too!! And I'm pleased to say I got excellence on my unit of work!!!

4 // Drawing

Wow I've been drawing so much lately. I guess planning my shop and things has kept me busy but I've constantly got my sketchbook open after it being closed so much over the summer. I do wish I had got some drawing done in the holidays but boats and paper just doesn't work together and I chose sailing!

well I'll see you early next week - don't worry I won't keep you waiting for so long this time!!
harri x

summer hits // playlist

Hello!
This is something I've never really shared on here, but I really love listening to music
I'm not a very musical person though - like I can't read music or play an instrument...
but I love listening to music and this summer I've found some new artists that I really LOVE!

Everyone (except Swiftites) probably criticise me for listening to only Taylor Swift, (even though I have around 1000 songs on my iPod) on repeat non stop everyday, so I definitely wanted to get a bit more creative with what I listened to and I love what I have found

So I found a thing called Grooveshark, which puts together embedded playlists together for you to share with your friends/bloggers on the web!

If anyone has any suggestions on great music, I don't mind what type, I would love to know because well I'm terrible with music and finding it!!
x harri

200 Followers (+ school)

Hello!!
Sorry I've been a bit absent the last few days. I've been on holiday and the time has flown. I can't believe I'm back to school tomorrow! I really did sail the January away (by spending time mucking around at the yacht club!!)

And omg already I have 200 followers. It's only been two months since I reached the big milestone of 100!! Thank you for all your support, you are all amazing and couldn't do it without you all. Thank you so so much

So back to school....means not getting up and sailing everyday :( but to keep on the brighter side (as chloe said in her latest post) you get to start a new set of stationery. I know how I'm going to decorate my books this year - with Chloe's printable of course!!!

So I hope you all have a lovely start to the new school year, I really can't believe the summer holidays are over. x Harri