Samantha Oehley is a 20 year old undergraduate at the Wanganui School of Design in New Zealand. Her interests include the 1960s and 1910s, the Beatles, politics, reading, music and drawing. She has a thing for Priests and Authority figures, and has the habit of always exaggerating things to a more dramatic scale read more_
Hello lovelies,
I just passed some etsy shops that I just knew I had to share with you all. I love etsy, I just can’t always afford it—the postage and packaging from the US is ridiculous!
Anyway, I came across: www.behidadolic.com’s shop on Etsy. They have these totally gorgeous 20’s inspired hats. I dream of owning one!
And lastly but not leastly, Oxford Heaven, which is heaven in the form of an etsy shop. For those who are crazy about shoes, you’ll love these even more than I do!!
These cutie shops are making me consumerist! Or at least wannabe consumerist!!
And so I shall leave you with a quote….
What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies. ~ Aristotle
My dears, I am so sorry for the absence. My course has started again, I have moved *twice* (I am in a much prettier flat this time round, I shall post photos eventually) and with so many things happening in my life I haven’t even had time to touch personal projects, let alone projects I’ve promised to do for my friends. In a time where everyone does everything so fast and with the use of technology, it’s a puzzle how we still have no time to do everything.
Anyway, here’s a photo of my new hair cut, and in the next photo are Iona and Stef, two classmates of mine who have an amazing fashion sense. Iona—green hair? Only these two could putt it off I’m sure! They’re identical twins too but clearly they’re different in many ways.
Do you know what I’m obsessed with at the moment? Anne of Green Gables. This summer I discovered the (movie) sequel, and one of my friends down here had a DVD of it, so I’ve been watching it over and over. It’s not true to the books, but I actually like it more. After the first one, the rest weren’t good, and it felt like everything was rushed. There’s a 3rd movie that’s apparently completely unlike the books, but I’m sure it’d be good anyway. The cast are a lot older in that one, yet still amazingly talented. If anything, that Jonathan Crombie guy is much better looking when he’s older.
Anyway, here’s the trailer of the first and second Anne o. G. G. movies! Nostalgia anyone?
Hopefully I’ll be back soon! Just waiting for internet at my flat!
Just a quick update to let everyone know where I’ve been!
I’ve recently moved to Wanganui for my final year of university. My course starts in a matter of days so I’ve been focusing all my attention to the move and settling in the flat. I had to drive 5 hours straight yesterday so I’m very tired. But everything’s good, and it’s good to be back in lil old Wanganui. But I’m missing Hamilton already!
Thanks for people’s feedback on my illustrations. Hopefully I’ll get some more stuff up shortly. Time is just the issue here.
But before I do go, I want to put a spotlight onto Canadian-Kiwi Anna Paquin. I like her fashion because it’s simple and elegant but not boring. My unwritten rule for fashion is that fashion isn’t about being different or crazy (unless you’re Lady Gaga), it’s about what works for you. and all these outfits work for Anna!
I’ve been wanting to get serious about my artwork, and I have. I’ve been working on some art as of late, and I’ve produced two pieces (so far) for a new series I am calling We are not ‘Mused—a pun on Queen Victoria’s famous quotation. It’ll be a series of drawings of girls and women in my life who I have found visually interesting in some way. My first two, however, I only know via the blogging world. Some of you may know them. Let me introduce them:
Emily
About a month ago I was blog surfing, as one does, and I came across a blog of Emily, a sixteen-year-old fashionista. When I saw a photo of her showcasing an outfit, I immediately fell in love with her. She was just so beautiful—and her hair! I love, love, love auburn hair. So naturally, I asked her if I could draw her and surprisingly, despite my paedophilic and lesbian tendencies towards her, she said yes, thus For Emily, wherever I may find her was created. (The title of this piece is taken from the Simon & Garfunkel song). Mind you, I am not 100% happy with this piece. I may draw her again in the future :)
Louise
Louise was totally the perfect muse. She is so beautiful and classy, and it’s not hard to like her. It’s not hard to draw her either—she was so painless to draw, I think even my pencil was in love with her. I stumbled upon her blog not long after Emily’s actually. For me, what stood out about Louise was how photogenic she was. The way she held herself flattered her best features while still looking sassy. Actually, what I loved the most about Louise was her nose and her lips. Somebody should sculpture her, I swear. Anyway, this piece is called Ah, Louise!.
Unfortunately, RGB format is not as beautiful as CMYK. One day I shall set up a service to sell prints. Perhaps on Etsy for now. I’ll get more art done first though.
In other news…
Some of you may remember my news last April about my brother’s book, a adventure novel for kids aged 9-13, being accepted for publication by Scholastic. Currently it’s finally going through the editing stage and today it was finally given an official name! (The editors chose to change the original title to appeal more to boys): The Four Powers of Daren Saner will be released in New Zealand on the 1st of September this year (although I assume it’s available to be sold online too). Depending on it’s success, it may be released in Australia, if Scholastic picks it up there too. Although I’m not illustrating it (they offered me a chance to showcase some work but in the end they wanted someone with experience in the feild), they’re in the process of choosing cover artists and it seems like they’re going to pick a good company to do this.
Honestly, this book is amazing. I hope it sells enough to have it’s sequels published, because the first story is nothing compared… I think I’ll hush up now
Anyway, it’s the end of the week lovelies. Hope you are all feeling swell. Please feel free to leave feedback on my art… And I totally appreciate everyone who comes by my blog. You are all awesome!!
Honestly, lovely colours, vibrant energy, gorgeous details… all these things make me feel so happy!
PLUS! I’m totally loving:
Not only is the Chemise gorgeous, but I love the gift box as well. This overall design, the pink and the delicate details are so me! I need a boyfriend to buy me this… :/
Speaking of which, Valentine’s Day is coming up (oh no, have you forgotten?). And while previous years I haven’t had a sweetheart to celebrate with, this year I do!
But don’t get too excited. One of my best friends and I, my gorgeous friend Shahana, have decided to be each other’s valentines. Because why not? There’s no boys spoiling us, and if we had boys, we wouldn’t be the ones spoiling them (what straight guy in New Zealand is sentimental enough to let *us* flood them with pretty girly things? Someone find me one!). So this year we get to be as sentimental, sappy and excited as we like without worrying if our significant other is going to find it too cheesy or too girly.
So this is what I plan to do for Shahana:
1. Have a picnic at the Hamilton gardens, granted that it’s a warm summer’s day still.
2. Give her chocolate and/or flowers (the standard)
3. Give her a special gift—a mix tape of “our” and my favourite songs, CD case decorated with pretty embellishments
4. Write her an ever-so-romantic love letter (or at least take a famous one from some dark-ages Duke and re-write it :P)
The best thing about Shahana and my friendship is that we sometimes act like lovers, but never in a physical way. It’s like getting the benefits of love without having to be lesbian. Girls, your best friends are more important than fashion, diamonds or your entire shoe collection. Treat them well <3.
If you don’t have anyone to share Valentine’s day with this year, why don’t you do something similar with your bestie? It’s innocent, fun and best of all—you don’t miss out on the hype of V-day :)
On Saturday I went to the biggest Christian music festival in the southern hemisphere, Parachute with some of my friends from Wanganui. It happens to be held in my city so they came up and stayed at my place before tenting out at the festival. All I can say is that it was amazing. I managed to see Switchfoot, Family Force 5, Lee Land, Rapture Ruckus and Nathan King and they were all fantastic!
Here’s my day pass band, they used white ink on metallic material, [which happens to be quite expensive] and note the new Parachute logo rockin’ that Helvetica!
Funnily enough I didn’t buy any Christian-related merchandise (although I intended to). Instead, I bumped into an old school peer who was helping out at a stall (and who had played with her band at Parachute the night before), and I spotted a series of handmade necklaces based on the Robinson Crusoe Series. They were simply divine so I had to share the one I bought with you:
I’m loving the label design
They are all hand made completely and each were based on a certain chapter from the book. I would supply her email (or website if I knew), however the one I got didn’t work, which is a shame. I’ll definitely post it up once I find out.
Anyway, so today I got a ridiculously over-priced haircut, which is terrible unless GHD straightened (note: I courageously wear no makeup!)
And bought myself a new belt!
Unfortunately, the belt is too big and doesn’t look so great on me (though neither does Obama on my t-shirt :P)
Exciting times! Hope you have a lovely February dear readers!
I just saw Invictus with my brother. Oh my word, as a South African this is the greatest movie ever. You won’t believe how much this movie, and the actual ‘95 World Cup victory meant to our country. I loved it! (And don’t listen to the New Zealand fans who reckon the game was rigged and the players poisoned deliberately—they’re just sore losers). Great movie though, much better than that over-hyped-up Avatar! I’m impressed that Hollywood took it on. Maybe America will pick up on this real man’s sport now!
Anyway, to design and fashion!
Here are some items of clothing I’m particularly liking at the moment [click thumbnail for larger image]:
Sweater from Aztec Rose. I got it for NZ$20 (original price NZ$105!). It looks light, but is very warm. Too bad it’s summer and I can only wear it on rare occasions.
This was a fairly cheap item I bought at some random store at a random mall. But I love it!
These pants were worth NZ$129, I got them for NZ$49. Yus! They’re gorgeous little business pants. And like heaven to wear—they have silk lining!
This shirt was a design of my own. I bought a cheap coral-coloured t-shirt, chose some lyrics (”Love me do” by the Beatles) and because I don’t have a sewing machine, I went to an embroidery store and had them attach the letters. Took no time at all and hardly cost me a thing!
I ordered some postcards from Courtney Brims’ website. Really cheap! Here they are:
And I FINALLY got my Smashbox Lipstick in Nude (Charming)!!. So exciting! Getting it online cost me half the price of what I could have paid retail!
And thus ends my shopping spree!
PS: I really, really want this house! Oh, it just soooo “me!”
Hey lovelies. You won’t believe how long it took to post this. My blog has issues posting things straight away. Anyway, I’ve been getting into some illustrating lately (some which I’ll hopefully post before I leave for Uni), and so I wanted to share with you some artists who inspire me, and some who I just think are fantastic:
In other news, I just want to thank everyone who comes by my blog and leaves lovely comments. I read them all and I always return the kindness. I love to see what other blogs are out there!
It’s quite a popular blog, but I’ve only recently discovered it and it’s now my favourite blog ever! Here are some images of Danni’s packaging from Oh, hello friend:
And some random photographs I discovered. Pretty!
Source unknown. If you know it, please let me know!
I love the Oh, hello friend blog, but I must give a shout out to Nubby Twiglet, a graphic designer and fashionista who is totally my idol. Her blog is amazing.. extremely helpful and inspirational. Go check it out!
Samantha Oehley is a 20 year old undergraduate at the Wanganui School of Design in New Zealand. Her interests include the 1960s and 1910s, the Beatles, politics, reading, music and drawing. She has a thing for Priests and Authority figures, and has the habit of always exaggerating things to a more dramatic scale 
