Where I want to go - 2 landscapes

I always have a feeling of wanting to escape to somewhere. A beautiful and interesting land where I can build a home and live freely. I'm not sure how realistic this fantasy is, I don't know where I would go, and I don't really have the means to do so. So instead I illustrate what those strange and wonderful places might look like if I could go there.

Triangle home in adventure landscape.

Cave home with veggie patch in adventure landscape.

These are largely inspired by my love for the Adventure Time series; a show which perfectly captures that illusive feeling of home, freedom, and adventure.

I want to achieve this feeling for myself one day, a real place where I can feel at home.


These illustrations were made using free software Firealpaca.

Prints are available in A4 & A3, e-mail Jodie at sleepyvoodle@gmail.com to make an order.

In the garden 23/8/18 (Winter)

While it is technically still wintertime, the weather is already starting to warm up, and the daylight hours are increasing, always good. : )
I've been spending more and more time out in the garden, getting lots done, but also trying to remember that we have to move in 6 months time, and not to get myself too invested.
I would like to get a digital journal thing happening so I can look back and see the progress of things growing during our limited time here, I never get tired of seeing the awesome transformation that occurs as plants grow.

 This is the progress of one of the small veggie beds.
3 April 2018

 10 April 2018

23 August 2018

Everything in this bed has done really well, we got several good harvests of cos lettuce, some are now starting to bolt, & I will save seed once they're ready. The viola(left) & snapdragon(right) flowers are both doing exceptionally well, my love & appreciation for flowers continues to grow. The herbs are also growing happily, the broad beans are flowering vigorously, and the cabbages are getting closer to harvest time.

Here's a closer shot of my biggest cabbage, what a beautiful thing. <3

Not much to see here, yet, but these are full of seeds starting to germinate, which will be planted out once they are strong seedlings and the weather warms up a little more.
Grow babies~

 

I will post with an update on these once there's a bit more to see. : )

This is the large veggie bed, which took lots of effort to clean up and make progress in. I have done some direct sowing, and also plan to start more in trays to plant into this space, may also grab some more seedlings from BAAG, including more flowers! I'm really excited to follow the progress of this bed as I have a bit more space to work with. Can't wait until I have acres to work with! :0

Spirits and Mortals 2020 - week 3 & 4

I'm still at it!

Week 3 'Pillow fort'

Be careful when messing around with summoning spells, you never know who, or what might show up...

Week 4 'Footprints'

Traversing the rainbow badlands is not a task to be taken lightly, especially whilst tracking a creature that can walk up walls.

Illustrated using free software Firealpaca <3 <3 <3

>>>Follow me on Insta<<<

Spirits and Mortals 2020! Week 1 & 2

I'm at it again! and this year I will complete the challenge!

Week 1 'The library'

Complete with a poltergeist specimen. Fanceh~ *glitter*

Week 2 'Cold rain'

The moral of this story is, don't steal stuff from wizards!


I'm off to start on week 3!!!

If you'd like to keep up on Insta, you can follow me!

Time sure does get away... Spirits and Mortals 2019.

It's been just over a year since my last post, aaand I'm a little ashamed about it.

My last post was the first drawing in what was supposed to be a weekly art prompt drawing challenge called Spirits and Mortals, started by JakeMorrisonArt on Instagram.
I started off pretty well, I was keeping up, having a great time doing the challenge, and I think it was really helping me improve in a lot of ways.

And then... and then I moved away with my girlfriend, and we didn't move just anywhere, we went hundreds of kilometers away, to live in a decrepit, off-grid house out in the Otways (a beautiful area in south-west Victoria). Great! What an adventure! and it was, for a while, but there were a few drawbacks, one of which was, I had NO PC!

Of course I couldn't keep up with the drawing challenge, and in the end I only got 9 of the 50 completed. : (

Good news is, I'm doing it again this year! But before I start posting about that, here are the drawings I completed for last year - 

Week 2 'Torch'

Week 3 'A bridge and stream'

Week 4 'Moonlight'

Week 5 'Hidden treasure'

Week 6 'Red cave'

Week 7 'Pond magic'

Week 8 'Geyser'

Week 9 'Dungeon entrance'

That was all for the 2019 challenge, I'm sure I can do better in 2020!

Totally go ahead and Follow me on Insta if you like. : )

Spirits and Mortals weekly art prompt. Week 1

Hey everyone~
 
A couple of weeks ago I decided to join in on the #spiritsandmortals art prompt created by one of my favorite artists on Instagram jakemorrisonart.

The basic idea is a word, or a few words for each week, which artists can interpret however they like and create something pertaining to the word/s for that week, inside the broad theme of 'spirits and mortals'. : )

I am slightly behind, still, but I will catch up! I'm working on week 2 at the moment, but here is my drawing for week one; 'a sweet boulder' -

and here are a couple of close-ups -

It worked out quite nicely, I'm quite happy with the atmosphere, and I hope you all like it too. c:

Handy farming resources. Biointensive and Veganic principles.

Hi everyone!

Recently I have been brushing up on some growing techniques and principles. As much as I like allowing things to grow a little bit wild, I am now refining my focus towards strategies which will more effectively and reliably feed a family, as well as provide extra to market and profit from.
 
My vision fits somewhere between an intensive market garden scheme, and a more relaxed home veggie patch, combining elements from both to find a happy middle that is enjoyable, not too rigid, but also creates profit.

To that end I have explored John Jeavons bio-intensive method, which outwardly seems like a near perfect system, and it also happens to fit Veganic (Vegan+Organic) principles. I will not know for sure until I implement the design for myself, and follow through for a number of years to discover the full potential of this method.

You can watch the Grow Bio-intensive Guide on Youtube > HERE
This short series is a great beginning point to gain familiarity with the basic principles of Bio-intensive growing.

On the subject of Veganic principles; I happened upon a video featuring Will Bonsall, in which he shares knowledge and ideas surrounding Veganic farming, which I found to be very insightful, and also coincided with many of my own observations and theories developed over years of casual gardening.

You can watch Wills talk about Veganic principles on Youtube > HERE


All of this lead me to further consider my diet. Generally I am quite mindful about eating healthy, but there is always room for improvement, and it's so easy to slip out of good habits and fall into the trap of too often eating 'whatever' with little thought towards nutritional value.

To help myself out I made a document based on the 60/30/10 guide from the bio-intensive method and listed crops under each section, which is also useful to reference when planning meals.

I have only included gluten-free crops because I am coeliac, and prefer to avoid any contact with them. With the exception of those few crops, I tried to include the best examples I was able to find from various sources, undoubtedly there are many more, including perennial crops.

A side note regarding my diet; I am Vegan and Coeliac, but I prefer to avoid eating grains at all. I am not completely rigid on this point, I will eat some grains here and there, however I much prefer to gain my calories and nutrients from fresh water-rich fruits and vegetables, most nuts and seeds also agree with my rather sensitive digestive system.

I hope people find this interesting and useful, as always I cannot encourage you enough to grow as much food as possible, it is invaluable!

Happy growing everyone. c:

Super street food style noodles with easy Vegan egg -RECIPE- Vegan Gluten-free

Time for a brand new recipe!
The other night we had a craving for something like 2 minute noodles, and way back in the day my Dad used to add egg. In the cupboard we had some mung bean vermicelli noodles along with a packet of Orgran vegan easy egg, so we came up with a loose idea, gave it a try, and it turned out really delicious!

Ingredients:
- 250g packet Mung bean vermicelli noodles
- Orgran vegan easy egg
- Massel Chicken stock cubes
- Spring onions - Finely sliced - To serve
- Changs Gluten-free fried noodles - To server (adds great crunchy element - optional)
- Sweet soy sauce - To serve

Method:
1. Prepare and cook some Orgran easy egg according to instructions on the packet. Once your vegan eggs are cooked set them aside.
2. Cook the mung bean vermicelli according to instructions on the packet, once noodles are cooked add or remove water according to how much broth you prefer. Gradually mix in 'chicken' stock until the broth is lightly flavored.
3. Dish up some noodles, add some of the prepared vegan egg and a handful of sliced spring onions, lightly drizzle some sweet garlic soy sauce and finally garnish with a sprinkle of the GF fried noodles.

M U N G E !
Serves 2-4 depending on how hungry/greedy you feel.

Great as a snack or a quick meal, let me know if you try this one, and if you have any suggestions. It reminds us of street food, and we're a bit addicted. I'm keen to share some with friends to see what they think too.

Enjoy~

Sweet cranberry garlic soy sauce RECIPE - Vegan Gluten-free

This has become my go-to sauce for almost everything, from steamed veggies to noodle salad, it goes great on most everything, and it's nice and easy to make!

Ingredients:
1 cup Gluten-free Soy sauce
3/4 cup raw Sugar
1/2 cup Cranberry juice
1 glove of Garlic - Very finely diced
1/2 an Onion - Very finely diced

Method:
1. Add all ingredients to a small pot, and stir constantly over a low flame until sugar has completely dissolved.
2. Once sugar is dissolved gently simmer on low flame for 5 minutes, turn the flame off and allow to cool.

DONE! ✩⚫꒳⚫✩

Character design - Backpack theme

You may be familiar with the Character Design Challenge on Facebook, well I did this drawing for last months theme 'Backpacker', but I didn't get it finished in time, so I didn't submit it. :I failment

The idea I had was based on myself and my doggo soulmate Jiji. She has bad legs, but I always want her with me, so strap her to a backpack why not!

Here's my drawing -

Appreciate your dog friends, they are the best. <3

Meditation - artwork + app recommendations

Meditation (version one)

As you may guess from the title, I have started meditation practice again after many years of neglecting my poor brain.
My mood can sometimes be unstable, and I have collected anger from lots of different sources, and this was starting to take a toll on my everyday life.
Since starting daily meditation there have been major improvements in my thoughts, mood, and reactions. Even after just a short time of daily sessions, I find I can cope in difficult situations much better, and my anxiety has greatly reduced. c:

Maybe it goes without saying, but I do highly recommend meditation practice for everyone, no matter if you have obvious troubles or not, it will benefit anyone~

The concept of meditation is very simple, however the practice is quite challenging, and requires... practice~ The idea is to relax, stand/sit/lay comfortably, clear your mind, and focus on your breath, when thoughts arise you must gently push them aside and return your focus to your breathing.

There are some useful apps which can help guide you as you learn, here are three I have been using:

1. Oak Meditation - This is my go-to app, it is simple, easy to use, and totally free. I do a breathing exercise and a 20+ minute 'mindful' meditation each day. This app has some good features and a nice design. This would be my first choice regardless of your experience level.

2. Relax Meditation - This app has many features, but most are locked unless you buy a monthly or lifetime subscription. My favorite feature is creating a soundscape which you can meditate to. Relax has a lovely design, and plenty of features, this is a great app if you want to try some different sounds and guided meditation sessions.

3. Head Space - A standout app that has a fresh modern feel, the design is fantastic, complete with some really cool artwork and animations, and plenty of features. This one is at the higher end of the price range, but it may be worth the investment if it works for you. I completed the 10 day introduction to meditation, however the first two apps work great for me, so I opted not to pay for this one.

One other app which I have only tried briefly is 'Insight Timer', it has a huge amount of content, much of which is free. This app is somewhat more complicated, but worth a look if you want more variety.

My personal preference is something simple and straight to the point, which is why I think Oak works so well for me. There are plenty of other meditation apps to try, if you have any recommendations please don't hesitate to leave a comment with your experience.

Meditation (version 2)

Art catch-ups

These are a few artworks I completed from last month, and a couple this month.
I have a few new ideas to work on, but I've been finding it difficult to sit at my computer from long stretches lately. *shrug*

Illustrative style -

^Reference this chart to figure me out. ;D

^'Good day~'. When things kinda jump out of the fridge at you.

^The papillon.

^Plant spirits having a secret chat on a window sill.

Painted style -

^Soul bonded. My little family.

^Inspired by the song 'I like giants' by Kimya Dawson.

^Camouflage 'mirror jacket'. One from my list of ideas.

That's the lot for now!
Check back for new posts soon~

Vegan milk (mylk) blend recipe. *REFINED

I have been making soy milk fresh at home using a Joyoung soy milk machine for a few months now, and I recently decided to experiment by making a milk blend. This is simply mixing different Vegan milk ingredients together to create a kind of hybrid milk, incorporating various nutrients and qualities from different sources.

Most people are pretty familiar with Vegan milk options, two of the most popular being soy, and almond. There are more options becoming available, and some innovative companies are creating milk blends, my experiment was inspired by a milk made by Rebel Kitchen.

If you don't have time/energy/motivation to make milk yourself at home then you could simply buy a few different vegan milks from the store and try mixing them in different ratios to find your own preferred blend.

Here's how I make mine:

Tools-
*Vitamix blender
*Joyoung soy milk machine
*Milk bag or Muslin cloth

This is our Joyoung soy milk machine.

Ingredients-
- 800-900ml Fresh Soy Milk (Make some using a soy milk machine, or follow a recipe).
- 1/2 can good quality Thai Coconut Milk - *Give the can a good shake before you open it.
- Filtered Water
- Pinch of Himalayan or Celtic Sea Salt

Method-
1. Make a batch of fresh soy milk using a soy milk machine. *You can make soy milk without this machine, but it saves lots of time and effort.
2. Once the soymilk has cooled, position a strainer over a large bowl to support your milk bag or muslin cloth. Carefully pour the soy milk into the cloth, and gently strain to remove all the fiber from the soy beans, this results in a smooth mylk.
3. Shake the can of coconut milk well, open, and add half the can to the soymilk in the bowl, along with 1/2 a teaspoon of salt. Stir gently to combine.
4. Bottle your mylk, and refrigerate immediately.

Finished! Well done! c:

Mylk will be beautiful and fresh, and will last several days in the fridge.

If you have never made your own vegan milk at home before, there are many 'how to' videos on Youtube to watch, I would highly recommend checking one out to familiarise yourself with the process before trying for the first time.


'Good luck in the kitchen' - Francis.

Enjoy everyone~

Ruby Rod super-green smoothie.

 
My most recent smoothie fixation...

Ingredients-
1/2 a Santa Claus Melon (aka. toad skin or Piel de sapo melon) - Cut into chunks.
1/2 liter of Fresh Orange Juice
1/2 cup Coconut Cream or coconut yoghurt
1 tsp Green powder of choice (I use Amazonia prebiotic greens)
3 soft Gold Kiwis
1 Passionfruit - To serve

Method-
1. To your blender add the chunks of melon, orange juice, yoghurt, & green powder, blend on medium speed until completely smooth.
2. Stop the blender & add the gold kiwis, no need to chop them up, just slice in half and carefully scoop the fruit into the blender using a teaspoon. Blend on low for 10 seconds until kiwi is broken up and mixed through.
3. Scoop the passionfruit into a large mug (or jar), then pour in the smoothie.

aaaaand DRINK UP~

Best advice I can give for this recipe (or any smoothie recipe), is to go to a green grocer and find the freshest most ripe fruit you can get! Otherwise the fruit will be hard and bland, which makes for an uninspiring smoothie. Check for a sweet smell from the fruit, nice colour on the skin (yellow/orange/brown), and 'sugar spots' - these are brown spots in the skin that indicate ripeness+sugar content/sweetness, most commonly seen on bananas, but also appear on many other fruits like melons.
Also try to find a really good quality coconut cream for this recipe, check at Asian grocery stores, the cream should slosh around freely in the bottle/can, & feel thick (not watery).


Hope you enjoy this one! I came up with it when I felt like something rich & sweet for breakfast last week. : )

Recipe for my girlfriends tofu scram.

This is one of the quickest, easiest recipes I've ever learned, very useful when you want something to eat in a hurry. It's also quite addictive, so maybe keep a few extra blocks of tofu in the fridge.

My girlfriends tofu scram:

Ingredients-
1 large Onion - Very finely diced
1 clove of Garlic - Very finely diced
1 450g Block of Tofu (firm is best soft is ok too) - Coarsely crumbled
1 tsp Cumin Seeds
1 tsp Dill Seeds
1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
2 TBS Vegan butter/spread (I use Funky Fields Organic Spreadable)
1 tsp Pink Himalayan or Celtic Sea Salt
1/2 tsp Black Salt (optional)

Method-
1. Finely dice the onion & add to a medium saucepan with the Vegan butter & 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Allow to saute over a low-medium heat, stirring occasionally.
2. While the onion simmers, finely dice the garlic & set aside. Measure the cumin seeds, dill seeds, turmeric, & 1/2 teaspoon of salt, placing them in a small bowl & set aside.
3. Once the onion is completely cooked add the garlic & the spices, mix well to incorporate, & gently simmer for one minute.
4. Remove tofu block from the packet & coarsely crumble it into the pan with the onion and spices, gently stir & turn the tofu for a couple of minutes to evenly coat in the seasonings.
5. Once the tofu is thoroughly coated & warmed through, check the seasonings, if it needs some extra salt add another 1/2 teaspoon, feel free to use black salt to add an eggy scent/flavour. Mix well & Serve!

This scram is pretty versatile, add some extra veggies, & it's a nice meal on it's own, or use it as a side dish. One of my favourite ways to have it is in a nori wrap, see below...

Step one: Spoon some of the scram in a line onto the nori sheet (sheet is rough-side-up).
Step two: On top add some fresh butter lettuce &/or rocket, then some cucumber strips, and finally a little drizzle of grapefruit juice (alternatively you could use lemon).
Step three: Carefully roll the nori over & around into a log (like you see at sushi shops).
Step four: Pinch the bottom end so the filling won't fall out, & eat !!!

The tofu scramble is quite rich, so it pairs very well with fresh greens, & the sweet tang from the citrus juice, I highly recommend trying the grapefruit, it's super delicious!


I hope you all enjoy this recipe, of course you can change it up & experiment; try adding your favourite veg like broccoli, peas, or edamame!

Enjoy your time cooking~