PSYCHOdelic

My blog title has changed yet again. When I can muster $10 together I'll get a custom domain too. Ch ch ch ch changez. The reason for the alteration is sort of not wanting to plagiarise because it was previously an altered album title. The Ditzy part of the new one means 'silly and scatterbrained' which basically embodies the fact this whole blog is basically just a splurge of thoughts, usually not cohesively, and the 'whimzy' bit is a variation of whimsy which means playfully quaint or fanciful, meaning attractively unusal or old fashioned and overimaginative and unrealistic respresenting my infatuation with the past and slight romanticism of it. I think it fits well? I promise IT SHALL NOT CHANGE AGAIN.

From watching Grease (specifically the opening sequence which reminded me of the Beatles' submarine sort of era) a couple of weeks ago and the series called Lightfields (lots of yellows AND while I am here GFD#FKNpDBNjAL watch it it was so good, possibly even on a par with Marchlands which I saw two years ago and this series was a follow up to) that was recently on ITV and with the approaching changing seasons I've been really into wearing psychedelic patterns, (hence the blue paisley dress and the beige dagger collar shirt I wore last week and two other items of clothing I bought but have yet to wear) but in a more sort of subdued manner as well as in brighter colours. So, repeating patterns, mod dresses, nature (and Nat Geos in general), 50s disneyland, Peter Blake etc but in beige and hazy tones as well as opaque, primary ones. I sit here writing this in beige 70s platforms. I have already included way too much text in brackets.

I love this photoset by Julia Baylis for the muted colours afore mentioned and aspect of the unknown captured within them, foreign places, adventure. The sort of promises summer holds. I have had a surge of wanderlust recently and my desire to travel as I get older only increases. About a month ago a friend and I spent an hour in Waterstones in the travel section, admiring the handbooks and spinning the model globe in front of us looking at how big the world is, in comparison to our tiny island, how much there is to see, pinpointing the places we wish to visit, skimming our fingers across the matte surface as it spun around I couldn't help but daydream about what is out there. A burgeoning interest in photography also makes me want to see interesting places now I can appreciate the beauty of them more, I only notice cool looking stuff more frequently as time progresses. My previous journal was all made from old National Geographic cutouts and most excerpts from the diary part of it are about ~dem deep thoughts~ like time being almost tangible and irreversible. I don't feel much different mentally from when I was 13 but I could have achieved so much in the two years that have passed since. I feel like I am wasting time, most of the time. Moments like standing in a field in Iceland outside our log cabins  in the pitch blackness with only the moon for light, slightly illuminating the silhouette of the mountains that were literally SURROUNDING us, gossiping and laughing about the days events with snow starting to fall while we shivered but couldn't feel the cold because of the pure elation make me realise how special things can be. I want more of these moments. It is a weekly conversation how good the school trip I went on to Iceland last year was, and it has made everyone desire to see more of the world, I think. It was so breathtaking and surreal YET real. The following picture moodboard/arrangements (sources relevant to pictures going clockwise from top left) follow the same theme, (unattainable?) fantasy, psychedelia, surrealism, the sorts of places I guess you'd be more susceptible to believe exist if you were on an acid trip or inside a Kaleidoscope. Also see Rosie Hardy and Tim Walker.

John Austen, Ro Van Derbeat.

Peter Blake, The Wizard of Oz, 1960s colour blocked fashions in Sputnik Magazine, Beatles print.

The print of my shirt.

Biological by Air (I think my parents are sick of hearing this song).

Synchrodogs' new photos in Novembre magazine #6, John Austen, Fantasyland  in 1956.

The opening sequence to grease.

Various Beatles art.

Hyperballad by Bjork ""I find it so amazing when people tell me that electronic music has no soul. You can't blame the computer. If there's no soul in the music, it's because nobody put it there." - Bjork". If you want me to talk about how brilliant Iceland is again I can start right here with Bjork???

Unknown, bottom half of a the Vivian Girls album, Unknown, Courtney Love still from Violet.

Lightfields trailer.

Andes, south America by Dmitri Kessel, Source, Source, Source.

Kate Compton by Neil Favila, styled by Yuka Iwasaki and Mia Cirelli at Salvation Mountain.

Salvation Mountain.

2 pictures of Iceland by me, 4 pictures by Petra Collins from 'Summer of Love, part 1'.

60s psychedelic album art (TR Jimi Henrix, BR The Zombies).

Unknown, Petra Collins, Unknown, Nat Geo scan of mine.

Grease, Jimi Hendrix, Unknown, Source.

This music video directed by Petra Collins AND the song itself is amazing.

-Hollie

mint fantasia

My Journal (that Ibe gave me) where I tried to copy the type font of a disney vinyl, a vintage postcard and a picture of me last summer.

Last week I said I felt as if I had given up on this blog but since then I have been weirdly motivated to come on here more. I DON'T UNDERSTAND MY BRAIN. But it's good because I know I definitely want to carry on blogging. It might be to do with the fact I'm off school and the fact I'm able to choose what I wear instead of being confined to school uniform. Maybe it's making me think more. I am primarily doing revision these holidays (she says) but I hopefully am meeting up with some blogger people on Friday and doing a photo shoot on Monday (she says).  Most of my plans seem to fall through though so I don't know.

My sister in my room.

Arrangement in my room with the record I tried to copy the font of below.

A picture I took of my sister by the same place.

I have been trying to make my room into more of an organised mess rather than a chaotic mess. It has resulted in colour coding and grouping of similar objects together kinda by accident. I got that DECCA radio about 3 years ago at a car boot sale, lace/broderie anglaise square from my textiles teacher (she offloads anything lace onto me), candle from my primary school, spelling bee book from a car boot sale, SA broach, eBay necklace, vintage postcard, Enid Blyton books, a journal, random patch, glow in the dark star and 40s picture.

All my records, stones I have collected, candle from Ibe, fan from Malta, random patches, SA medicine bottle and daisy ring.

More books and a journal, Joni Mitchell CD in the background and a record.

~my pile of school books is really tidy~ ~my legs are really pale~ ~hair is too triangle shaped when i wear it down so bjork buns it is~ 

70s panel skirt I scavenged for on eBay after I saw a similar one on Tessa's Etsy. Except that one was nicer (I am just poor).

Another picture of Harriet in my room.

More attempted/failed copying of text.

Boscombe beach on Friday.

American Apparel socks, eBay glitter sandals.

The last picture I took of Harriet.

- Hollie

marble men

I am becoming obsessed with taking pictures on film and it is/will cost me an arm and a leg but #carpediem #richmansyolo #gappyfringeforever. This was at Compton Acres yesterday. Etsy dress, American Apparel socks, Converse. I'm posting it alone because I don't think it really goes with any other pictures I have saved on my computer and I have an outfit post with this dress already. Happy Easter. Happy April Fools day. This isn't an April Fool. 

there's thieves among us, painting the walls

I went to Bridport today because one of my mum's work friends recommended it for the vintage/antique shops there. I was more simply dressed than usual because I hate that no matter what I wear it'll be covered up with a coat so I'm looking forward to the summer to be more creative. Oy vey! British problems! Hate life! I didn't intend to spend money because I'm trying in vain to save for the summer but I couldn't resist so I ended up with two dresses. But I did refrain from buying objects because I'm trying to declutter my room. Otherwise I'd have bought loads from The Old Albion and this other huge warehouse we visited.

The Old Albion.

The Old Albion.

I felt like a crazy tourist.

The Old Albion.

Etsy top, eBay panel skirt, SA coat, Hi top converse in cream, random tights.

The Old Albion.

Reminded me of a teenage bedroom.

- Hollie

fortunes told

I seem to have given up on this blog. I don't know what I want it to be and I don't know what it is at the moment. It also feels overly narcissistic? I don't know how seriously I should take it and what is good enough to post and what isn't and whether it will just be a huge cringe to look back on? The end of my school year is approaching and everything at school is so rushed but simultaneously slow and sloggy. Countdowns to prom, coursework deadlines, countdowns to our first exams, countdowns until study leave and the lack of motivation from anyone is just a constant reminder of the fact time is passing. Every one is turning 16 and teachers are treating us more like adults. I feel like I've finally caught up with people physically (braces are off, not as short as I once was) but constantly naive and innocent - I'm not oblivious to the world and stuff - it's just people I've known since we were 11 have suddenly all started attending parties and I feel totally inadequate in that I'm not the same. It's not even that I want that particularly, but I don't feel like I could be like that. It's all confidence that is the root of not wanting to post here because I feel more like I am proclaiming things because I know who frequently reads this blog. It's like I am wanting to tell them something specifically because I don't post often, it seems pretentious and forced. I think it's the same in real life, it's not even awkward situations it's just on a basic level that I hate things like conversing with certain people - how can they sound ok saying something but if I were to repeat the sentence it would come out differently. I'm just not very good at communication. I have missed so many opportunities with blogging; ignoring emails and tumlbr asks to submit things to stuff - I'm just really reclusive and it restricts me a lot. I have been waiting for next year for what seems like forever because it's like a fresh start and I will have to mix with new people which is good - I don't have a set group of friends, not the type I could ask to go to town with me or invite to my house spur of the moment or go somewhere to take photos with and know they would actually want to, instead of because they feel obliged to - It's my own fault because I push people away which sucks. Maybe the fact I think this blog is really narcissistic is because I don't do much else than spend time on the internet, school work and have confined thoughts about aesthetics and clothes and what I strive for myself to be. 

 Anyway, I wasn't going to post these here but If I am going to make an effort with these I figure I should post things in real time instead of cramming it all in to one post disjointedly. My auntie's uncle gave me a box of cameras recently, including a Canon ae-1 and a canon f-1, as well as a load of lenses and accessories. The first roll of film I shot on the ae-1 didn't come out, apparently it hadn't been used in so long that the mirror kept getting stuck and the film inside exposed, but I just sat there advancing the lever and clicking the shutter button for ever until it ran smoothly. I took it to school to test it because nothing I do at weekends is interesting enough to photograph. I took these last Wednesday and Friday and I like that they look real instead of posed. Everyone was already in those positions, I was either just like 'look at the camera' or 'move to the left so you're in shot' etc.

Mary-Ann and Katie.

Sweets in One Stop where I go every single day to buy food to motivate me to do homework which I then eat without completing the homework.

Mary-Ann and Katie.

Flora and Ella.

Amber in One Stop.

Dress I have been making in Textiles classes and the majority of lunchtimes and after school for the past few weeks because all our coursework is due after Easter.

From the top of the textiles stairs. They were gossiping about something and the composition seems so stereotypical of 'high school' with the movie like perspective.

Half a locker from another frame and some costumes in the drama store cupboard.

Me in the PE changing rooms.

Lizzie and Mary-Ann with the cakes we made for Amber's birthday.

Frankie, Pam, Ellen and Lizzie in the PE changing rooms.

I hate that time is running out and the fact it is a year since I went to Iceland on a school trip tomorrow (and I  still have undeveloped film from the trip) is scary. I took my Canon ae-1 to school again today and took some more pictures because it was the last day of term and I am getting nostalgic for the uniform. In 28 days time I'll never have to wear it again because in sixth form you wear you wear your own clothes which is daunting in itself. I'll probably edit this post and add those pictures from today here when I get them developed if any are decent. I don't know how to portray myself as happy to end this post because I'm honestly not even that upset about all the things above, it's been like this for over a year so complaining is redundant anyway. Laugh at my dumb trivial thoughts while there are more pressing matters like world poverty to address. 

- Hollie