Viewing entries in the Lonely Ocean category
Back To School
What started out as a fleeting thought has transpired in my return to full time study. For the next two years I’ll be completing an Advanced Diploma in Engineering Technology specialising in Jewellery – that’s right I’m going to be a qualified metal engineer.
I’m bristling with excitement at the the thought of being surrounded by people actively involved in the local fine jewellery scene on a daily basis, and am galvanised by the myriad of ways this move may transform (or solidify) my aesthetic direction.
Although I battled internally for a couple of weeks about whether returning to study was the right move for me, the process of enquiring, interviewing, and enrolling in the course all took place over just 7 days; and I have orientation on Monday. Naturally this seemingly sudden, compressed agenda has my head reeling a little.
Now that the whirlwind of administration has settled I’ve begun thinking (panicking) about my back-to-school style. In the studio I wear whatever sloppy get-up is appropriate for the weather, most of which isn’t suitable for leaving the house in. I have to be as practically dressed as possible but I’d still like to represent my aesthetic identity convincingly.
An old acquaintance who has done the same course recommended I may like to get myself a little wheely luggage bag as I will find myself dragging heavy tools to and from campus. The rest of the items pictured above are some work-bench practical ensemble ideas straight from my wardrobe. Thanks to my culling efforts I’ve now got a pared-back wardrobe that may not allow for a full-time study schedule so it will be interesting to see how my rather small collection of clothes will cope being worn, remixed and repeated.
Counting Down
Diptyque Baies Scented Candle
It’s exactly one month until my birthday. In the spirit of not indulging in things I don’t need, this year I might skip the cake and blow out the flame on a gorgeous Diptyque candle instead. Elegant and sweet smelling, the BAIES candle definitely falls into the “functional and beautiful” category of home accessories.
I’ll probably end up with the white candle because I think it’s smaller and therefore, kinder to my bank balance.
Resolutions
For the last few years I’ve been writing a list of resolutions that I hope to achieve (some realistic, others more idealistic) in the following year. I make my list in a book and then put it away; at the end of the year I pull the list out and see how many I can cross off. Each year I’ve been pleasantly surprised that I am able to cross almost everything off my lists.
I wrote a few months back about how my future no longer had certainty and for the most part this still rings true. It didn’t stop me from crossing many things off my list for 2011 – but there were changes in my life during the year that has vastly changed how I will be making resolutions for 2012. No longer content with small goals on a long list, I really want to embrace changing my entire lifestyle in 2012 to one of considered minimalism.
After a particularly inspiring conversation with a friend, I realised that I was hanging on to a lot of things I don’t need because of some twisted form of nostalgia. This nostalgia directly conflicts with my productivity; it is literally holding me back. I walked away from that conversation with a new agenda – the ”anti-accumulation of meaningless stuff”. But the agenda is more than simply not bringing new stuff I don’t need into my life; there is also an urgent necessity to get rid of what I’m still holding on to.
The easiest way to begin a minimalist lifestyle is by taming what’s tangible. To purge is to cleanse, a feeling wrought with satisfaction in control. To be in control is to be productive, to be cleansed is to be open to infinite possibilities. With this in mind I intend to start by throwing away the material things I do not need or extract extraordinary joy from owning, and finding better ways to store what is left so there is less visual clutter.
When it comes to my wardrobe, I don’t have a “I mix high street with high fashion” philosophy; it encourages over-indulgence. I simply shop wherever I can find what I need. This agenda is about being discerning, not discriminating.
I recently wrote about true love – the objective that one should not settle for less than exactly what they want. There is a saying that one should only ever surround themselves with things that are either functional or beautiful. In a well-edited wardrobe each item should be both functional and beautiful. This concept sits in perfect harmony with my new agenda – I will no longer be a slave to filling gaps just for the sake of it.
As I stated earlier, I intend to apply this agenda across many facets of my life, not just my wardrobe. On a consumer level I’ve already begun investing in other items of better quality from bedding to shampoo and conditioner; and throwing away all the poor quality substitutes I’ve been hoarding. On an emotional level I’m making an effort to spend more time with people who delight and inspire me, and less time stressing about the little things.
Through the “anti-accumulation of meaningless stuff” I resolve to make 2012 my year of possibilities and productivity.
What is your new year’s resolution?
Happy New Year
Happy new year to all my friends, old and new.
That’s you.
Your visits, comments and e-mails are adored and appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read my little blog, I sincerely enjoy reading yours, although I may not comment every time I visit; please know our mutual exchange of thoughts, ideas and inspirations is absolutely important to me. I hope we can continue to inspire each other in the new year and beyond.
Here’s to another great year with you.
I’m making an effort to be more active on Instragram, trying to post at least one image a day… here are some of the snapshots I’ve been sharing. If you have an account, you can follow me as @aliciahannahnaomi. I’ve also added a “Latest Instagram” to my sidebar for those without an account who’d still like to keep up with my posts.
