05/ FESTIVAL SEASON

I can't be the only one who fantasises about what they would wear to a festival, right? 

Well, If you lived on a tiny island in the middle of nowhere as well, then I'm sure this thought wouldn't seem as crazy. 

Every time spring rolls around and as the amazing line-ups for festivals all over the world start popping up, I avidly read them all... then cry a little (to myself) as I think about all the bands I love performing in one big muddy, place. Festivals seem like a distant dream, mostly distant - because they don't exist where I am. 

But well, thank goodness for technology - live streams and youtube. If we're counting those, then I've been to Coachella and Glastonbury for the past 4+ years, haha. 

Hopefully, one day soon, I'll be there in real life, but for now... a girl can dream (in wellies)!

LISTEN/ BEL HEIR

Any better,
We couldn’t get any better
-Bel Heir

It's not often while that you find a new band in which you love all their music ever made, especially when all their music is free to download.

A few months ago I was perusing my emails from noisetrade.com, and after way too many emails to count, I stumbled across Bel Heir.

Bel Heir is that rare gem of a band I was talking about.

From the first listen of ‘Envy’, I was hooked and immediately downloaded everything that was available and continued to listen on repeat for weeks. When I reached that point after listening where I needed to know more, I found their Tumblr, and just when I thought I couldn’t love them any more I read about their year long journey.

Bel Heir released one single and accompanying B-side each month, for a year – two songs a month, twenty four songs over the course of a year. It was what I could only imagine to be a heavy feat... which was brilliantly accomplished; resulting in dreamy, intoxicating music for everyone to enjoy. Smooth vocals, intriguing beats and not to mention aesthetically pleasing artwork, Bel Heir is one of my favourite new bands of the year.

When the beginning of this month rolled around, I excitedly awaited the new music to listen to. Unfortunately I missed the small detail of the date of original Tumblr post (which was July 2013). But being the amazing, generous band they are, Bel Heir released all twenty fours songs in one magical album '12 // 24' (with an A and B side, naturally) for download free on their official website.

The album is still available to download, and if I were you, I wouldn’t miss out on the opportunity. Check out some of my favourite songs listed in the photo above, and listen to the song that got me hooked below.

All photos via Bel Heir

DRAWING INSPIRATION/ 01

I had to draw Giambattista Valli's Fall 2014 Couture collection when I first saw it.

I loved the drape of this dress, the silhouette and the graphic quality of the black and white stripes.

Somehow in all my excitement though, I had forgotten the pain of actually rendering stripes - well stripes to this extent at least (It took me straight back to Design Illustration 1)... and let's not even talk about my decision to use a pen.

I do love how this illustration turned out though, the stark black and white plays up the almost optical illusion of the stripes.

To see the actual look, check out my previous post about my love for this collection and don't forget to check out the tumblr for more!

COLLECTION/ GIAMBATTISTA VALLI COUTURE FALL '14

Beauty, ease and sophistication - combined.

That's how I would describe Giambattista Valli's Fall 2014 Couture collection. It was by far one my of my favourite couture shows.

My love for a good shirt and cape could be what draws me to this collection, but a sense of 'fashionable ease' in clothing is something which I always strive for in my own designs and am very much attracted to. Which is exactly what Giambattista Valli's collection has. There was a lot happening - structured jackets and capes, draping, floral embellishments, stripes, metal accessories, it is a couture collection after all...  but the models looked as they were effortlessly strolling around in their pyjamas, in the most sophisticated way possible.

Check out my favourite looks and details from the collection above and stay tuned for a way overdue illustration from the collection!

P.S. I would definitely recommend reading Tim Blanks' review on style.com, the narrative he creates is so on point -  a wonderful way to describe this collection!

Photos via style.com

DOODLE/ 02

Sketches of some faces  - who would've thought I used to hate drawing faces?

04/ LET'S GO SURFING

If there's one trend that I love right now, it's surf inspired swimwear.

Rash guards with bikini bottoms, chunky plastic zippers and neoprene everything - the trend is so refreshing, especially when you live on an island surrounded by teeny weeny string bikinis.

I've wanted to design my own 'surf inspired' croquis for a while now. I finally took the plunge (pun intended hah) after listening to Bondax's Baby I Got That, pretty much on repeat. The music video is full of classy high waisted bikini clad girls (which is a bit of an oxymoron there).

But well, here are my own lilac haired, bikini girls ready to go surfing... and just in time for Shark Week, too.

ps. check POLY-COTTONBLND's Tumblr for a special shark week edit ;) 

03/ PINEAPPLE HEAD

For some reason pineapples are a huge trend these days. Anyone else notice this? I'm not sure how or why this trend started, all I know is that pineapples have been popping up everywhere lately.

I remember a while back looking at Young & Sick's Instagram where he had these weekly #pineapplesaturday drawings of pineapples, which I thought it were quirky and random, much like the rest of his work. Then I had a good laugh as I saw pineapples scattered around his Coachella stage. So, I wasn't really surprised when I read an interview that said he just likes pineapples. 

I was surprised though, at how quickly an abundance of pineapples started popping up after that - in every magazine and on every website. I couldn't go far without seeing a pineapple.. clothing, jewellery, sculptures, photos, in album artwork.. I almost lost it when I got a pineapple candy instead of a mint at a restaurant.

People are just crazy about pineapples. Personally, if we're talking taste, I'm not much of a fan. However, I couldn't resist drawing a quirky pineapple inspired croqui... the pineapple influence is clearly a strong one.

MIXTAPE/ SUMMER JAMS

Ode to the summer

This feeling 

Be sure to remember me 

- Syd Arthur

Each and every summer, there are always songs that you hear so often that they become your official summer jams. Summer Jams... you know, the songs you hear a snippet of anywhere after August and you're immediately flooded with sentimental memories and good times from that past summer vacation to reminisce upon.

Well that is, unless you're like me and have a horrible memory. 

But, I've decided to be proactive this year and make a playlist as I hear it. So, every day throughout the month of August, I'll choose a song that I'm digging that day - one that has some effect on me, my life and what's happening or just because it has that 'summer vibe' to it - and add it to a playlist. Whatever the feeling, I can guarantee that there will be a song for it and by the end of the month we'll have a snazzy summer 2014 mixtape full of jams for everyone to listen to... It's a win-win situation really.

Follow along with my daily song posts on tumblr, tag your own jams with #summerBLND and stay tuned for the ultimate ode to the summer - the SUMMERBLND mixtape at the beginning of September!