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. :)

Tagged: 'Sisterhood of The World Blogger' Award

I appreciate the nomination/tag for the Sisterhood of The World Blogger Award by Neal from Daily Diaries. I was given 10 questions to answer, mostly about books.

Attempting not to be a wet blanket, I used to believe awards nominations / tags like these with questions put up illusions. I don't suppose many will be interested in my answers, but it'll make one believe so. I never anticipated I'd ever get involved in it but it's definitely a beneficial method to connect with one another in the blogosphere. I'll probably just approach this as a compilation of mini book reviews and make this quick.☺

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(What is) your guilty pleasure? 

I feel completely rested when sleeping for long hours but it leads to such an unproductive day. I'm working towards obtaining a regular sleep cycle and having healthier sleep. 

(What is) one book you wish you could read all over again for the first time? 

I'd like to experience the thrill of reading Joyce Maynard's After Her again. It'll be fascinating to delve into the suspense of the book, while learning the identity of the murderer. Putting pieces of the crime and its suspects together as the protaganist approaches the answer she seeks all over again is indeed engaging. It will be more apt for one to feel exhausted after reading as if they've chased the perpetrator itself and followed the investigation. Having to read it once again to experience just the sudden excitement would be pleasant. 

(What is) the worst book you've ever read? The one which disappointed you the most. 

Ice Cream by Helen Dunmore is a book that consists of various plots and characters that I was confused with initially. First impressions are important when it comes to reading a book and Ice Cream had made the otherwise when it introduced it's mundane characters. Perhaps it depends on each reader. The reviews given on Goodreads were fairly acceptable, but I was disappointed when it wasn't as satisfying as expected. 

If books could talk, like actually talk, which book would you like to talk to? 

Some might have heard of this book. Scott Westerfield's Uglies is a science fiction novel set in a future dystopian world in which everyone is turned "Pretty" by extreme cosmetic surgery upon reaching age 16 (even males). Before they undergo the operation at 16, they are known as Uglies. It tells the story of teenager Tally Youngblood who rebels against the society's enforced conformity, after her newfound friends show her the downsides to becoming a "Pretty". They show her how being a "Pretty" can change not only your look but your personality. 

This book was up for the big screens but production was halted, so it's a shame, but it would be wonderful to be able to ask the characters about their feelings living in such a world that is in fact similar to ours, where beauty is venerated in our image-obsessed society. I'd like to hear the voices of those who remained an Ugly and escaped the operation and learn more about how they managed to navigate the challenges.

(What is) your favourite character from any book you've ever read? 

Najwa in Leila Aboulela's Minaret is one of my favourite characters in a book.

Minaret tells the story of the spiritual exploration of a young woman, Najwa when she is forced to leave her country, Sudan, with her family. Najwa is a determined girl whose family was initially privileged, but becomes exiled when her father is involved with the coup forces. Her family is taken into political exile in London, impoverished, where she finds herself in a quiet fortitude learning to improve on her faith. At the same time, she becomes a maid to a wealthy Sudanese family and meets Tamer, her employer's son. The two forge a friendship and a common bond in faith that will eventually blossom to something more. The book is also an insightful novel about a wink of the Islamic faith that the Western world are only beginning to understand. 

I find Najwa's experiences in learning more about her faith compelling. I admire her optimism despite the dishonour that had fallen upon her family, and look up to her strength and nobility after her father had passed. She is a great example of resilience in her spiritual beliefs in this multifaceted world. 

(What is) your favourite song, artist and band? 

We're Not Alone by Echosmith is the most played song on my playlist and my favourite song, Echosmith is my favourite band at the moment, but I get pretty interested in new bands quickly, so that might change.

Echosmith is an alternative + indie pop band composed of four siblings. Their album Talking Dreams brought a fresh, original vibe to the indie pop scene. We're Not Alone is an anthemic song that focuses on positivity and reminds us that we should always give a hand and support one another, finding strength through goodwill. It allows us to glean some morsel about life and reminds us to focus on our dreams regardless of any constant barrage that negates what we have done.

If you are writing a novel and you want to include someone you know, who would you choose? 

I would include two people I know - my twin and a good friend, who I've known since we were in secondary school when we were in Girl Guides. She has a unique personality that would make a rather likable character for the novel. 

What genre do you usually go for? Which is your favourite book outside that genre? 

Mystery and Crime has always been a genre I enjoy. A book that sits well with me in another genre, Fantasy, is perhaps J.K Rowling's Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban. 

(What is) a book that made you cry after/while reading?

Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner is a perfect book to cry over, and although with much disgrace, I profess I didn't shed a tear while reading it, it did make me feel extremely sorry for the characters. However, I did tear up a little while watching the film. Hosseini is a brilliant writer who never fails to tug on the heartstrings of his readers. The Kite Runner is a beautiful novel exploring love and loss and its unfortunate turn of events is the most liberating feature of the novel.

(What are) your views on the Twilight movie or book? 

I believe every author has a different approach to writing their novel, and as much as a I'm not interested in books that are mainly based on romance, I respect Stephanie Meyer's decisions into making the book something that explores the desires, fears and frustrations of young adults, that in fact many can deeply relate to,  and eventually become a fan of.

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Until next time! ♥

Lettering by me, photos by me.

I don't usually update my books here, but you can find me on Goodreads.