Portfolio Review!

Today it's sunny outside and I am going for a portfolio review at The Cube Gallery. A panel of designers will look at my portfolio and give feedback, interesting! I am really happy I got this opportunity because I feel my portfolio could use a facelift. When you go for interviews they don't usually say much, just a few "hmmm"s here and there so it will be good with some honest advice.

This is what my portfolio looks like at the moment. It is a box that contains sleeves and some books and a cd cover.

When it opens up it looks like this:

I think the box looks really nice when it is displayed like this, but it's really unpractical to carry around, so I'm thinking of changing to a 'book'-type portfolio.

I am also going to bring my cute business cards from moo.com, hopefully I can do some networking!

And The Oscar Goes To...

This year's Oscar nominations are here. Usually the films are boring artsy type-movies and I care more about the dresses on the red carpet, but this year there are some really good ones in the mix! I also realised I have seen quite a few of them, so here are my mini-Oscar-reviews:

"Invictus" (Nominated for Best Actor - Morgan Freeman/Best Supporting Actor - Matt Damon)
Having no interest whatsoever in rugby I thought this sport drama would be snooze-worthy, but the cast makes up for what the story lacks. Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon are well worth the nominations (especially Freeman) but the direction of the movie was bad. The heart of the film, which is the Rugby, isn't dramatic enough. What could have actually been an exciting and interesting movie failed to keep me interested throughout, and I would only recommend it to rugby fans!
Rating: 3/5 A.P.O.L Oscars

"Precious" (Nominated for Best Picture/Best Actress - Gabourey Sidibe/Best Supporting Actress - Mo'Nique)

Precious is a very strong, hard-hitting drama. Sometimes hard to watch because it's just so dark, but the acting is absolutely brilliant. Both actresses up for the award are great, and as crazy as it sounds, Mariah Carey is also very good in this movie!

Rating: 4/5 A.P.O.L Oscars

"Avatar" (Lots of nominations, for example Best Picture/Best Director)

One word: Amazing! I just loved the whole world they created with incredible special effects, I want to go and live on Pandora! Good story, great acting and so entertaining! It was my first 3D movie and I loved it!

Rating: 5/5 A.P.O.L Oscars

"Coco Before Chanel" (Nominated for Best Costume Design)

Anyone interested in fashion should definitely watch this movie, although I would have liked to see more of Chanel's workin life. I guess as the title says this movie is about her life before she became a famous designer, but for me her design is definitely the most interesting thing about her. Great French cast though, so it's still worth watching, but doesn't reach the same heights as "La Vie En Rose."

Rating: 3/5 A.P.O.L Oscars

"Up" (Nominated for Best Animated Film/Best Picture)

I loved this film, it is moving as well as funny and cute. It had both me and my boyfriend in tears after only 10 mins! A must see!

Rating: 4/5 A.P.O.L Oscars

"The Hurt Locker" (Nominated for Best Picture and more)

This war drama didn't really do it for me. Some scenes were brilliantly done, but the story didn't go anywhere. The actors are ok, but I lost interest half-way through.

Rating: 2/5 A.P.O.L Oscars

"Fantastic Mr. Fox" (Nominated for Best Animated Film)

Using old-fashioned stop motion technique, this is a visually stunning film. As someone who is interested in animation, I really enjoyed the style, and it's very charming. But it did lack a little bit in the story which was quite repetetive, and didn't have that little bit of adult humour that many animated films do these days.

Rating: 3/5 A.P.O.L Oscars

The New Header is Up!

Finished my new "cake" header image. What do you think?

East London

Job Interview!

Today I'm going for a job interview at a design agency. I'm not too nervous because I have been to a few interviews now and I'm starting to feel more comfortable for each one. But there is always the dilemma of what to wear... Especially when the job doesn't have a clear dress code, graphic designers can look like anything! Anyway, I decided on this outfit.

Maybe I should wear my glasses to look more intelligent? Or is that trick too obvious?

V&A Illustrator Awards 2010

I am a contestant in The Victoria & Albert Museum Student Illustration Award 2010. I am competing with three images from my children's book "Isabella & The Mystery of the Chinese Locket." Cross your fingers for me to win! Click here for V&A's website to see the rest of my entries plus lots of other great illustrations!

Babies, Jesus and a Winter Wonderland

No that's not Oasis' new album but how I spent last weekend!

I went to Sweden to attend the christening of my beautiful Goddaughter Maya. I had to read three prayers in front of the whole church, in a microphone! But it went really well, and I really enjoyed being part of the ceremony. Although my arms hurt for two days afterwards since my lovely Goddaughter weighs 8 kilos! Bless!

As a christening gift I gave her this adorable teaset with little dogs on it!

I wore this dress, but had to add black tights and a cardigan since it looked like this outside...

Then it was vino with the gang at Sofia's flat. I tried this new hairdo, sadly after running for the bus it was no more...

Now these photos aren't actually from that night, but since I forgot

to take pictures I'll show you another night at Sofia's just like it!

And that was my weekend! Lovely!