Tag Archives: creativity

My 5-Minute Photography Project- Letters

November 14, 2012

You may remember way back when I wrote a blog post looking for one day projects to keep me occupied, well today I decided to go even smaller and start doing five minute photography projects. These projects will consist of running around the flat taking photos on a specific theme. The idea (obviously) isn’t to take amazing photos which will one day sell for millions, the idea is to get me being creative. These projects are something which (1) bring me happiness without completely draining my energy, which is good for my depression; (2) they keep my creativity alive, which is good for my writing; and (3) give me something to get out of bed and do outside of my degree work (I plan to continue them when I am well enough to begin working again) without taking much time away from my studies.

I was inspired to start these projects by two bloggers which I will write about in due course. For now, I just want to quickly share my very raw and unedited photos with you. For me, this blog is a fun way for me to showcase what I’ve been up to but the last thing I would want to do is put readers off if they’re not very exciting for you to look at, so if you would like me to share more photos pop a comment below or tweet me, and if I don’t get much response, I won’t share future projects on here. Sound good? Ok, here’s today’s photos:

Famous opening line of which novel? Ten points if you guessed ‘Pride & Prejudiced’.

I LOVE Austen. What better way to read her novels than with her little face looking at you?

: Quick quiz- who wrote all of these books?

K-K-K-Katie, K-K-K-Katie, you’re the only K-K-K-Katie I adore…

Smile for the camera!

This was sort of an accident, I didn’t mean for the Queen to be poking through an ‘m’ but sort of worked out quite well since she is your Majesty.

Posted by chronickatie in 5-Minute Projects Tags: 5 minute project, Art, creativity, fun, letters, Photograph, Photography, photos, project, words

5 comments

November here I come!

October 29, 2012

I have decided to do something this November that I have been wanting to do for years. I have finally decided to take the plunge and do NaNoWriMo. If you’re not a writer you’re probably thinking I accidentally sat on my keyboard or if you’re English, you probably think that’s a Welsh word. Both are wrong, NaNoWriMo is an abbreviation of National Novel Writing Month. It began in America so is now actually international, but aside from that, the title is pretty self-explanatory. For the month of November, people pledge to write an entire novel (defined as 50,000 words). Most people try to write 2,000 words so that they have a little bit of manoeuvre room.

Whenever I think about what I am really about to attempt, I begin to wonder how the heck I am going to manage it, but I am absolutely determined to do this. I used to write everyday simply because I love it, and although I am still writing non-fiction regularly for this blog and my column, I really miss writing fiction. I just can’t seem to find the motivation for fiction anymore. As NaNoWriMo founder Chris Baty writes in No Plot? No Problem!,’the biggest thing separating people from their artistic ambitions is not a lack of talent. It’s the lack of a deadline.’ I don’t think my novel will be amazing, in fact most participators never actually read the novel they wrote. The reason I am doing this challenge is because I need to prove to myself that I can actually write everyday and produce a novel on a deadline, i.e. that I might actually have what it takes to be a writer.

I am not going to this blind-sided. I am making some preparations, I don’t just mean as in planning my novel and working on characters. I am reading Chris Baty’s book which I mentioned, reading lots of articles online and watching the NaNoWriMo youTube videos. I am planning to split my 2,000 daily words into either three or four writing sessions. I did a quick time check yesterday and it should take me about 15-20 minutes to write five hundred words, although this obviously depends on how well I get into the writing flow. Yes writer’s flow an actual thing, no matter how cheesy it sounds. I am hoping that by 9.30am each day I should have at least five hundred words down.

One of the great things about being in university is that I can also be apart of the NaNoWriMo group. I can make friends and get motivation and support. No one wants to be the first one in the group to quit…

I know this is still going to be a huge challenge but this is something I really want to achieve. I keep picturing how I will feel come the 1st December when despite my tiredness I will have written my first novel. I was talking to Paul earlier about what my undertaking this challenge will mean for him, and I realised quite how much I want to do this. If I end up giving up, you can expect one very unhappy post from me. So the less posts you see from me for the next month, the better you know my novel will be going. I’m off to make a visual board for my novel!

Love Katie x

Are any of you thinking of doing Nanowrimo too?

Posted by Katie Bennett-Davies in Inspiration, Social activities, University, Writing Tags: blog, blogging, CFS, challenge, Chris Baty, creativity, fibro, fibromyalgia, fiction, illness, inspiration, M.E., NaNoWriMo, No Plot? No Problem!, novel, November, spoonie, writing

3 comments

Making Memories

October 17, 2012

At the beginning of the trail you had to take a photo of yourself to identify your film, this is a copy of mine and Paul’s. Sorry the quality isn’t great.

When Paul and I returned home from honeymoon, there was one over-riding thing I was certain I wanted to do- lots and lots of new things. While stuck on the sofa during that week and a half I had a lot of time to think, and I knew that this year I wanted us not to just do the same things we did the year before. While we absolutely loved and got so much out of our cinema membership, that time has passed now. We still love going to the cinema but we don’t have the time (and I don’t have the energy) to go as often as we used to, and we’d rather do something more sociable these days.

The societies fair seemed a great place to start in finding a new hobby, we found the perfect match in the photography society. We have a good digital camera but we don’t have a swanky SLR and I doubt either of us will become photographers (although you never know), but it is something we can do together and have fun. We would both enjoy learning more about photography and developing new skills, especially when it comes to using the darkroom so we both joined up. So far we’ve thoroughly enjoyed all of the meetings/activities.

A fortnight ago we did a photo trail which involved using a disposable camera to take photos on seven themes. Once the photos were developed, they were judged and prizes handed out for the best in each theme. We decided to work on one camera together because we thought it would be easiest and make it more of a joint activity. P and I really enjoyed trekking around town, finding ways to creatively interpret the themes. We both said we would love to do it again, and it really opened up our mind to think about taking more creative photos. I’m seeing opportunities everywhere now.

It was such a beautiful day to take photos. This is just a quick snap I took of Cardiff Castle on my phone but the sky looks so blue in it.

We got our photos back last weekend, and unfortunately a lot of them didn’t come out (bad flash) but the ones which did come out we were quite proud of. On the day P was content to just come up with ideas and let me do all the photo taking, but I managed to persuade him to take a couple. The day of the social and prize-giving P wasn’t feeling too good at all, so it was doubly good when he came first in one of the categories. It was great that we worked together on the photos and shared ideas, but it was a big confidence boost for him that it was his photo which actually won. Of course he tried to share the credit (and the prize) with me because he’s always so kind, but I think the glory belongs to him and I am very proud of him. Needless to say that brought a smile to his face.

Even though the photo trail wasn’t an official date afternoon, it was probably the best afternoon we’ve spent together since we’ve been back home as newly weds. We’re building memories together as a couple, learning new skills, and making new friends. What more can a girl ask for from a society?

I’m curious to hear of the best dates you’ve been on, whether with friends or a partner. Please share with me via twitter (@Chronic_Katie) or in the comments box below.

Love Katie x

Posted by chronickatie in Activities out of the house, Depression, Inspiration, Social activities, University Tags: Art, Camera, cinema, competition, creativity, culture, dates, Disposable camera, films, hobby, inspiration, making new friends, marriage, nature, new hobby, newly weds, photo trail, Photograph, Photography, photography society, prize, social, Techniques and Styles

I have an Olympic gold medal…

June 3, 2012

…well I would if sleeping were an Olympic sport.

Daily readers will know that a few weekends ago my mummy came to visit. She came to watch the Olympic tour pass through Cardiff with me, P and my sister, it’s not my daddy’s sort of thing so he stayed at home.

P made me a gold medal when I gave him some leftover clay to play with

I didn’t enter the ticket ballot because even if I could afford the tickets and a trip to London, it would be a massive struggle to handle the trip. With some creativity I have found some ways to get involved. I am inspired by Holidays From Home, a website which sells holidays to those who are bed-ridden. Claire Wade came up with the idea of virtual holidays when she was stuck in bed with M.E.. Holidays From Home are doing a special trip to London this summer but I couldn’t justify spending £30 on it when we’re saving for a honeymoon. Plus I just want to focus on the Olympics really, not a whole visit to London.

So here is my quick guide to a virtual Olympic experience:

The first and most important step to a virtual holiday is preparation. In order to feel like we’re really at the Olympics, P and I are going to decorate our flat with British flags, bunting, etc. I’m going to be searching the internet for ideas over the next coming weeks but we’ll wait until we actually move to our new flat to put everything up – I’ll post some photos when we do.

Next is fun activities, we’re going to invite friends over for championships on games consoles and silly tasks like holding ice in your mouth the longest, and paper tossing. If I can I’ll even make medals. It’ll be like an Olympic party.

Of course, the main event will be watching the games on television. We’re hoping to keep track of the medals we have won (and by we, I mean team GB of course). For me to get excited, I really need to understand what’s going on, so I’m going to read as much as I can about GB’s athletes and begin making a scrapbook. That’s right, a new project. I also want to record interesting and fun facts about the Olympics to put in my scrapbook. This will be a memento for me to keep.

When Claire Wade’s mother took her on a dream trip to Greece, she collected items from friends who had visited there so Claire could imagine she was visiting shops and museums. So lastly, if we can afford it (they’re pretty pricey), P and I are going to buy official souvenirs from the Olympic website as a treat.

I wonder what you’ll be doing to get involved with the Olympics? Any ideas for me and other spoonies*?

Love Katie x

*Spoonies are people suffering from a chronic illness. Look out for a post coming soon explaining where the name came from.

Holidays From Home do lots of other holidays for £19.99, visit their website for more details.

Posted by chronickatie in Inspiration Tags: championship, Claire Wade, creativity, family time, games, gold medal, Holidays From Home, imagination, inspiration, London, mementos, Olmypic torch, Olympic torch tour, Olympics, Paul, scrapbook, scrapbooking, souvenirs, team GB, virutal holidays

Writer’s pain

May 30, 2012

I love writing.

For a while my brain was so foggy and mixed up, I couldn’t think to write. Now I can write, there are so many articles, blog posts, etc swimming around in my mind and my body won’t let me write. For most of the time I have been writing this blog, I have just written through the pain. It hurts a lot, but I feel like I’ll go insane if I don’t write. I have always kept a diary for no other reason than I love writing so I hate that I can’t do that at the moment.

I’m even drinking my coffee through a straw because it hurts too much to lift it up to my lips all the time.

With enough painkillers I’ve managed to write for a while but there are times when I simply can’t. It’s hard to explain, my arms just seem to cease up like a piece of wood and refuse to move.

The timing is not great, I have the chance to write some articles for the AYME magazine and some column applications too. I’ve tried using a scribe programme. Does anyone else use Dragon? I can’t seem to get on with it. It takes so much longer to write than by hand or typing, and it just feels so awkward speaking out loud. Does it get better? I mean, will I get used to it and get faster? Or, will it always feel like I’m reading to a very deaf auntie?

I can’t handle writing anymore today.

Love Katie x

Posted by chronickatie in Fibromyalgia, M.E./CFS Tags: arms, articles, author, AYME, blog post, blog. article, brain fog, CFS, column, creativity, Dragon, fibro, fibromyalgia, M.E., pain, painkillers, scribe, tiredness, writer, writer's pain, writing

2 comments

Crafty Katie

May 29, 2012

One of the things I did this weekend with my mummy was to go to the Roath Craft Fayre. I’ve been meaning to go for ages but have either been too busy or ill. The stalls there were fantastic. I wanted to take pictures to put on here but I was afraid the crafters would think I was stealing their ideas.

Paul and I think it would be a good place for me to sell some of the things I make. Most of you probably don’t know that I have a small creative business on the side called Pandora’s Box. It’s not a big earner but it’s nice to have a little bit of money on the side and have something to do with all the things I make.

Since I’ve been going through this bad patch with my illness I haven’t made much, my arms have been hurting too much. I’ve got some stuff already made though, and hopefully having a stall to work towards will give my body some impetus. Getting to the craft fayre and manning a stall is going to be a struggle in my current condition, but I’m going to try and manage it once a month over the summer.

I love the feeling of knowing I’ve earnt some money and can pay for something, even if it is only once in a while.

Wish me luck.

Love Katie x

P.s. If you want to find out more about Pandora’s Box, you can read the story here and the Etsy shop here.

Posted by chronickatie in Inspiration Tags: Cardiff, CFS, craft fayre, creative, creative business, creativity, Etsy shop, fibro, fibromyalgia, hand-made, home-made, M.E., mummy, Pandora's Box, Roath, running a business with CFS, running a business with fibromyalgia, small business, vintage, weekend activities

Tag Archives: creativity

My 5-Minute Photography Project- Letters

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I have an Olympic gold medal…

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Writer’s pain

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My 5-Minute Photography Project- Letters

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November here I come!

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Making Memories

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I have an Olympic gold medal…

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Writer’s pain

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Crafty Katie

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