Friday 1 May 2015

Tagged: Liebster Award

There's a phenomenon called 'tagging' in this online world. It's a form of virtual, social round robin. Most people are already familiar with this, but I suppose a brief explanation is appropriate for anyone new here who are unfamiliar. A tag usually comes in a set of questions. These questions are set by a person who created the tag or receives a tag. When someone is tagged by another, they are expected to answer the questions given and tag another group of people by setting new questions for them (depending on the rules of the tag). Eventually, the tag is repeated and passed on to an infinite network of bloggers.


A month ago, I was tagged by Elsa who was previously from Crafty Hands and Pretty Nails for the Liebster Award, and over the past month, Elsa has since changed her blog to Totally Elsa. I really appreciate her nomination. At the same time, I had been busy with personal matters so I didn't manage to complete it. In this tag, I was given eleven questions to answer. :) The word 'liebster' was completely indistinguishable to me. And being curious to know what it meant, I did a little research, eventually finding that it's actually a German word for 'dearest'. Usually used in the beginning of letters, 'liebster' is a way to address to a very intimate person. :)

To be honest, I've expressed my reluctance previously when responding to 'tags'. As a reserved person, I tend to avoid discussing topics of my pesonal life online. This might explain why I haven't been active on other social networks. I do realise that this sounds silly because being open and gregarious is in fact some of the attributes or functions of bloggers. Refraining from being this might be a setback, since blogging is undeniably a form of social networking - personal blogs are created so people will know who bloggers are, what their lives are about. Yet this wasn't my agenda in my initial venture.


I wanted this space to inspire others. A large amount of readership would just be a plus point because the more readers, the greater number of people my lettering work manages to reach, and the greater number of people it will eventually inspire. As long as people felt motivated with the lettering quotes, pinning them or sharing them, the message has been understood, and there was already a triumphant sense of achievement. :)

The Challenge

I made a decision that instead of the usual way of answering questions from these tags directly, I'd explore a different way to approach it. I've taken some photographs displaying all the answers to the questions given by Elsa in her nomination/tag with hand lettering + illustrations. It's a neat new game I'd like to propose and give as a challenge. The answers shown are not direct, some are just doodles, and it's up to the reader to  interpret it. It'll be an interesting to see if you can match the answers to the questions in the photographs and test your deductive/visual skills. Some are pretty straight forward and relatively easy. Remember, every clue in the photograph counts - whether it was the person who said the quote or the content of the lettering. It's all in the details. :)

Questions from Elsa

01. Where would you like to travel to most?
02. What is your favourite food?
03. What is your favourite colour?
04. Do you like your first name or would you like to change it if you could?
05. What is your dream pet? (It can be anything.)
06. Do you have siblings and how well do you get along with them?
07. What are your favourite blogs/
08. What is your favourite TV series?
09. Talking or texting?
10. What is your worst fear?
11. What is your favourite activity?

Answers 
You may match the answers in the lettering + illustrations to the questions. (The photographs can be enlarged for zooming in with a click.) 

If you do try this challenge out and you'd like to see the individual lettering work from the photographs and the answers, the individual lettering work + their descriptions can be found here. (How many right answers did you manage to match?) This was made in the hope that people can put their deductive skills to the test instead of reading this tags in the usual manner, and be inspired by these quotes too. :)

And, as part of the rules of this tag, another eleven bloggers are meant to be tagged too. :)

Neal // Daily Diaries
Kanra // The Lunar Descent
Bryleigh // A Little Yarn Blossom
Envy // Picking Up The Pieces
Fatima // That Delete Button
Gina // Life and Lights
Kathie // A Sea Change
Imogen // Gossiping with Dragons
Amy // Little Moon Elephant
Olivia // Life As A Young Lady
Eve // Eve of Womanhood

The questions required to be answered for this tag are as follows. (The photograph can be enlarged for zooming in with a click.) 


I do realise that some of these bloggers have already completed this tag, but I have an exhaustive list of bloggers I am acquainted with, so it's completely optional if you intend to repeat the tag. Besides, these tags are just meant to be a virtual round robin, so if you don't wish to complete it, it's understandable because you can choose not to. :) I also intended to tag a few other bloggers I know of because I'm appreciative of their support, but the number of followers they have exceeds 200, and unfortunately, they didn't qualify to be nominated. 

My sister taught me this once - someone's personality can be sieved into their work and ultimately be inferred by others, whether it was their writing or any other form of expression, like lettering. It doesn't need to be explicitly shown. I'd also like to think it helps a person stay genuine - his work and life open to interpretation, and I do very much prefer being elusive.

This is not to say that I despise these 'tags' either, it's a great way to get to know others, and others to know myself. :) I'm also very much sincerely appreciative of the nomination from Elsa. I'd just like to make a confession that I'm not very good at these things. I prefer to be a little like a mystery, not the one that teases and leads people on, but one that isn't so vulnerable with private things. Someone whose motives are pure and obvious, but everything-else is something to discover. Apologies for this extremely long post. 

Until next time ♥

Lettering + Photos by me

Click here for the direct answers to the tag. + Update: I've created a new collection called The Minimalist Collection where I've round up some of the best minimal and simple lettering pieces including some from this post. You may also find it in the Work tab on the menu. Will update the collection occasionally with more lettering work based on simplicity and minimal graphics. :)

I'm finally back from my break, it's so refreshing just to dust off this little space and do a little spring cleaning. Glad to be back and hear + catch up with everyone. + Let me know what you think of this way of completing tags as well by leaving a comment, I'd love to hear any constructive feedback. Thank you. :)

17 comments

  1. Dian ... I like your approach with the lettering for answers.... I got a few but had to go over and read them. I can understand why you want to stay anonymous... mine is like an open book... there is not much of me that is not there but that is me.. we're not all the same. I loved your answers, especially the travel ones... Spain is at the top of my list, right after Portugal... love those kind of countries ♡

    Good to see back and I'm looking forward to you next post xox

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    1. Thank you, Launna. :) The stories you share are always so uplifting and inspiring. I actually wanted to tag you for this award too, but your blog had more than 200 followers and unfortunately it didn't qualify. Spain does seem like a beautiful place. I appreciate your kind comment. Have a lovely week. :)

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  2. I love how you came up with this idea for answering. I think it's amazing ♥
    I love the show Criminal Minds and I have recently just started watching Daredevil and I think the show is amazing!
    Thank you for the tag!

    -Kathie K
    A Sea Change

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    1. Thanks, Kathie. :) Criminal Minds is such a great show. And yes, Daredevil is wonderful too, you'll definitely enjoy it. :)

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  3. These were absolutely beautiful- you were very creative with your answers! I tried deducing which was which but I kept getting side-tracked by the pretty writing and the other quotes in the pictures :\ so I sort of cheated and read the answer page directly (I'm sorryyy Q.Q)
    I don't usually execute tags either, but yours is just to amazing to let slide. I will be doing it soon, InshaAllah :)

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    1. Haha, that's okay. Thank you for your kind and sweet comment, Kanra! :) I'll be looking forward to reading your answers. :)

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  4. Loved this Dian! Thank you so much for tagging me! I'm not sure if you saw but the roof of our house caved in. We were without a home last night and it's all very stressful at the moment trying to work out insurance. So I won't be able to answer until I get the chance! Hope you're well, Gina xx

    www.lifeandlights.com

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    1. Thank you, Gina. And no problem, you deserved the tag. :) I'm sorry to hear about what happened, that's so unfortunate. :( It's totally alright if you can't do it anytime soon. Hope things will get better in Sydney. Take care. :)

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  5. Hey Dian!Did I tell you how big a fan am I of your work yet?A pretty big one!
    This is the best tag post I've read and probably the best I'll ever read.So creative and so well written.I thought that bear and courage quote was for your favorite pet that you would like a bear as a pet but you want a Panda so that's almost same, right?I got a few of the answers but had to go to that page for the rest it was just so fun reading this.I had saved your post for reading at last after reading other blogs and I have to say I made a good decision now by saving the best for the last :P
    I didn't know your name meant candles it's a lovely name.I read it wrong though until today :P
    My real name means 'Good for all' I don't know what Neal means though :P
    I've been trying to avoid doing awards these days you know it feels weird because I' usually never awarded anything in real life but this is one I'd definitely do because it was just so much fun reading your post :)
    I think it's okay to not share much about your personal life on a blog as long as you are true to what you share and are posting good and positive stuff.I think your blog is really inspirational and you always have something positively constructive to say :)
    Keep up the amazing work :)

    Neal Kind
    Daily Diaries

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    1. Thank you so much, Neal! :) A bear is quite close to a panda, so that should count, haha. Great that you had fun reading this and managed to get a few answers. There are people read my name wrong when they first see it, so that's expected, but it's okay, now you know. :) 'Good for all' is a nice meaning too.

      I've read your post and I must say your answers are really funny, I did mention this in the comments. I was smiling while reading it. :)

      Thank you so much for your support and I appreciate your generous comment. Have a lovely week. :)

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  6. Okay, I've never seen anyone do the Liebster tag like this before and I absolutely love it! I'm definitely doing it too, but it might take a while before I post it, because after seeing yours I don't want to do the usual Q&A filled post. You've really inspired me! :)

    x Envy
    Picking up the Pieces

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    1. Thanks a lot, Envy! :) Glad it inspired you, and I'm definitely looking forward to read your post. I'm sure it'll be really awesome like your other posts! Have a great week. :)

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  7. Thank you so much for nominating me! ^^ Your lettering is so amazing, I wish I could do it!

    O | Life as a Young Lady

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    1. Your welcome, Olivia. And thank you for your comment. :)

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  8. That was sooo fun to do! This was the most amazing Liebster Award I've ever seen. You are so creative! I got seven right. :) I think I spent half an hour simply zooming in on the photos and trying to find clues. ;) Thanks for nominating me! I haven't done the Liebster Award in quite a while, and I would love to do it again!

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    1. Thanks, Eve! :) Wow, congrats on getting seven out of eleven right, that's a really good score. Great, looking forward to reading your answers! Have a great week. :)

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