Ugh, it's been a while since I last posted...life just hasn't really permitted me lately to post on this blog, this year. I recently began classes with the Ocala Piano Conservatory, and I'm also trying hard to finish my studies with ICR so I can get started with college stuff. Ayyyyy, and those are just two things.
Anyhoo, it's also been a while since I did a review here on Apassionata.
So guess what we have today!? Something really cool and unique from Love Infinitely Gifts!
It's an OUAT Snowing Shipper necklace! In case you don't know what "Snowing" refers to, well....actuallyyyy, you probably won't care about this post at all in general, if you're not an OUAT fan. Haha. But anyways, Snowing refers to the 'ship name' of Snow White/Mary Margaret and Prince Charming/David.
^_^ I love deeez peoplessss so much. They are positively adorable! And contrary to the 'traditional fairy tale romance', their story isn't all just smooth-sailing and fluff. What they've been through to be with eachother....gahhhh. <3
Some of the other OUAT couples I don't care for, *coughCaptainSwancough* but these two? I shipped them so hard from the moment they both got on screen. And what's even cooler is that the actors actually got married in real life. (I hope they stay together!)
I have mixed feelings toward the screenwriters of Once Upon A Time. On one hand I'm kinda aggravated they decided to include Frozen in this next season. I'm also mad how they murdered most of my favorite characters (is that anything new, though?) and ended up pairing Emma with Hook. But one thing they got right was Snowing. So I guess I can forgive them.
Anywayyys so now that's out of the way, let's get to the review shall we?
I was so excited to see a whole collection of OUAT-themed jewelry on this Etsy shop. And then I saw this piece....
It's just so gorgeous! I love everything about it. It's constructed well, easy and lightweight to wear, and all around perfect, really.
As the Etsy description says, it truly is a beautiful piece in person. The sword and snowflake really pop out at you.
Ever since I got in in the mail I've been wearing it everywhere, with everything. New favorite fashion statement!
I don't agree with some of the stuff from this shop, but I really like the OUAT collection. And if you're into this show then I know you will too. So what are you waiting for?! Go give it a peek already!
Note: I was provided this item in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed remain mine and mine alone.
I am pleased to announce the release of a brand new piano composition!
This one is slightly different than the others I've recorded, in that it is considerably longer than the rest. Well, it's almost seven minutes long, total running time! Eeesh. That's a long song if I do say so myself.
Anyhoo. It's, as of right now, something of the 'theme song' for my medieval novel Rehoboam. More of a montage of different themes for it, really.
Here is a very vague list of references in the song to these such themes:
Some of y'all have already been introduced to Rosyar, Kelita, Arden and Sholan. I did a drawing of Rosyar not long ago, and I did one of Kelita last year but...well, yeah. That was last year.
I hope y'all enjoy! I was excited to get this up, because obviously it's been a while since I've posted any new music.
It took me four hours today to record this. Nobody will understand how this could be, unless you've tried recording a musical piece yourself. Pair that experience with the fact that you're a perfectionist about your creative work, and voila, it's quite possible to spend a large amount of time dwindling on recording a single song. Ugh. At least I was able to record it though and get past the mistakes I made in the process...which hopefully none of you peeps will notice...*looks bashful*
Anyyyways!
I am so thankful to Jessie for letting me use her keyboard. I couldn't do this at all if not for her kindness!!
I trust y'all have had a restful weekend? I have...for the most part. Took a small break earlier in the week, when my family and I had a short beach hiatus. It was pleasant, and I didn't write or edit for two days which was verrrry nice considering all the craziness involving the screenplay lately! Beach breaks can do a world of good y'all.
It's a Labradorite Double Viking Knit necklace. It originally caught my eye with the title alone. I mean "double Viking knit". That tells you something right there doesn't it? Being a major fan of medieval and ancient styled things, I was immediately interested.
Unfortunately my pictures don't capture the beauty of this necklace.
According to the Etsy listing for this piece, "The technique used to make this necklace is called Viking Knitting, which has been around for centuries. This ancient method of weaving metal wire, forms an intricate, flexible chain, that looks like very detailed chainmaille. The stone paired with this hand woven chain is labradorite- believed by the eskimos to have the northern lights trapped inside.
This necklace was woven with a double viking knit weave in copper. The pendant at the base of the necklace is a gorgeous piece of faceted labradorite with a stunning flash blue flash (some green/gold/purple too!). I have oxidized and polished the chain to give it an earthen finish. The necklace ends in a handmade S clasp that is easy to work yourself."
This is truly a piece that I would wear in my medieval garb/wardrobe. In fact, everything about it screams medieval to me! I absolutely adore the S clasp. It's one of my favorite things about this necklace.
The labradorite pendant is lightweight and lovely, and depending on how the light catches on it, it can
sport a number of varying hues. Beautiful!
And of course, the wire working is extremely intricate and I can't honestly say I've ever seen anything like it.
Overall verdict? It's a fascinating, lovely piece. If you are into medieval styled jewelry you should definitely check out Odds and Ends by Kaley! There are many other similar pieces, and also some contemporary themed accessories.
Hope everyone is having a blessed summer! I know a lot of people are starting up school once again. It's a crazy thought that the year is more than half-way in, isn't it?
Welcome, welcome... to a long-neglected WriterlyWednesday post. I have some fun and exciting things to share with you today...er, this evening, so stay tuned.
One of them namely, is music related.
A fellow writer from GTW, Sam Graber, transposed my arrangement of Enya's Boadicea!
Sooo, you can now grab your own PDF sheet, right here! Isn't that exciting? I'm really thrilled about it- it's the first of my covers which has been officially made into sheet music. *does happy dance*
A big shout-out to Sam for taking the time to do this!
Let me tell y'all - for you people that are already playing piano, this song should be a breeze for you. And yet, even though it's so simple and easy to play, it still has that awesome Enya ambience to it. So it's a win-win situation! (Go check it out!)
Now. Just the other day, I was asked to expound a little on Arden and the Rehoboam medieval-fantasy novel which my song "Marred Legacy" was inspired from.
I wasn't originally planning to post anything directly from the manuscript, not for a while anyways, but after a bit of work on it today, I figured - heck, why not. I'm pretty pleased with it so far.
So, here you go, guys. I hope you enjoy it! Please don't be shy about giving honest feedback!
PROLOGUE
Things
have not always existed as they do today.
History
repeats itself, but change comes in a
variety of different forms.
Just
as castles crumble to dust within the passing of time, so the purity and
perfection of mankind has dissolved since the day that we allowed ourselves to
be deceived by a Serpent.
Change
can be an evil thing, and all too often it is thus.
But
in years long past among the souls of the great country Apriori, it was not
so.A change of a good tide had rolled
over the nation’s great borders.
Swords
were exchanged for plows and tilling tools and fields of corn stretched for
miles underneath the giant golden sun.
The
great land of Apriori had just awoken from a dark age of war against one of the
most fearsome enmities in its world. Apriori was free once more, and no longer
did its people lay to disintegrate in great seas of crimson blood.
Rosyar
was a peaceable man, in those times.In
that age, he was a man content on going about his own business, and he didn’t
care to mingle in the affairs of others. His heart retained good and mercy, even though
he was a man of few words and generally approved of keeping to himself.
Now
it happened that one day; this solitary fellow was going through town making
his routinely errands, when he spotted a thing that normally would have not
have caused him to take notice. His eyes beheld the weekly auction taking place.
5 young children stood, fettered, in the center of the meeting place courtyard
- a small crowd gathered around, talking amongst themselves.
For
a moment Rosyar didn’t take much thought of this, and silently he kept walking
onward.
But
for whatever curious reason, he found himself stopping; looking at the small
younglings huddled together with pieces of iron bound on their wrists and
ankles.
A
chill entered Rosyar’s being, and the man stood motionless, haunted by the scared-looking
little faces in the courtyard. What a
peculiar thing this was, indeed – many a day had he quickly observed the
events at the public auction, and many a time had slaves been sold before his
eyes. Why was this moment any different than the others?
But
somehow, it was. He decided to venture over to the crowd of onlookers, and observe
quietly the outcome of the children.
He
watched keenly, captivated. Maybe it was the protective arms of the older girl,
clinging to the baby against her chest. Or perhaps the middle-sized boy,
holding the hands of his younger twin sisters.
Rosyar
had never been very acquainted with youngsters. He could only remember one
relative, a niece, when she was a baby. It was nothing phenomenal and hardly
even remained a point in his memory.
So
thus he did not recognize any of the children to be from any state of
importance, let alone very different than the usual street urchins. Still he
was drawn to them, for a reason unidentifiable.
He
tarried, absorbed in studying the five, and was about to leave when he heard
someone call out a bid.
“80
shekels for the two elder ones together” A voice penetrated the low hum of
voices. The older girl’s free hand instinctively reached down, encircling her
other siblings protectively.
Rosyar’s
heart was pained suddenly at the sight and realization the children would be
split up if this person were to obtain them.
“What
of the other infants? I want them all to go together so I may be rid of them
entirely.” A thick, masculine-in-appearance woman said firmly. Rosyar studied
the female quickly. She must have been the owner of the five.
The
person who had previously inquired shrugged, but raised his hand higher to
confirm his bid. “I still want them. I can always turn the littles out in the
forest if need be.”
“Fine.”
The woman replied, emotionlessly. “Anyone higher than 80 shekels? Do I hear
90?”
Rosyar‘s
hand rose up, almost involuntarily, in fact. All eyes turned to him. He
swallowed, realizing what he had just done. What
in the world had gotten to him? He looked at the big-eyed children,
standing there in the midst of a sea of strangers.
Suddenly he felt a resurgence of compassion
for them, even though he had no clue what in the world he might do with the
little family. “90.” He announced, clearing his throat.
The
woman appeared pleased. “Anyone higher than 90? Do I hear 95?”
A
hand rose.
The
woman inquired again, “Do I hear 100?”
Rosyar
released a long sigh. What was he doing? 100 shekels wasn’t a small amount of
money, and it would take him a good while to earn it back.
“Going
once…”
Besides,
what would he do with these little peasant children anyway? He had never raised
a child in his lifetime, let alone five.
“Going
twice…”
But
that didn’t really matter. Besides, he could always use them to help with farm
labor and such.
He
raised his hand.
“100.”
So
there the fellow was, going up and asking that the children be unfettered.
He
had bought them, now they were his responsibility. But whatever would he do
with them? Especially the 3 littlest, a baby and two toddlers? For the love of Zenith.
Examining
each member of the clan, he quickly escorted the children from the bustle of
the auction.
“What’s your name?” He asked the oldest girl,
a dark haired child with searing ice-grey eyes.
“Kelita.”
She answered quietly, still gripping the infant as tightly as before.
“Kelita?”
Rosyar repeated. That sounded awfully familiar.
His
heart sunk, as the girl nodded distrustfully.A sick sensation plagued his stomach. O, it couldn’t be!Suddenly
he realized the connection. Was it possible this scrawny girl standing in front
of him now was the baby niece he had held in his arms years ago? The daughter
of his brother Rudekk?
No,
it couldn’t be.
Why would she be here, now? Whatever did happen to Rudekk and Virgata, anyway? And
who were these other children?
“Are
these your kin?” He inquired of Kelita.
“Aye,
my brothers and sisters.” The girl replied, undaunted.
Rosyar
stood back and looked at the group again. Sighing, he pondering to himself the
possibility. It was true, yes quite true that the last time he’d seen Kelita
was when she was a baby. Thus he didn’t know what she would have looked like in
the present day, if he were to see her again. There was no way to know since he
had not gone to visit Rudekk and Virgata since the war’s beginning.
There was a slight chance….maybe….
“Do
you have any parents?” He led the group away from the town’s commotion, to his
own abode in the woods.
“We
did…”
“Where
are they now?”
“I
don’t know.”
“Are
they alive?”
“I
don’t know.”
“Where
did you come from?”
“Sabatia.”
“Isn’t
that a rather dangerous place for such young children?”
“We
had to escape the soldiers.”
Rosyar’s
eyebrows furrowed. Was this child telling the truth or was she simply
attempting to give her new master the hardest time she could muster?
He
didn’t recall Rudekk’s family residing within the realm of Sabatia. Maybe this
was indeed a wild, insane notion after all.
“What
were your parents’ names?” Still, he must at least know a bit more exposition
on these children, if he was to keep them under his own roof.
Kelita
was silent, her eyes shifty and doubting as they stared up at Rosyar. The girl
was clearly distraught.
“Please
tell me child, I may know of their whereabouts.” He lied, hoping to gain her
trust.
The
man thought he saw Kelita’s eyes almost light up in hope. “Honest?”
He
smiled, persuasively. “Honest.”
“Rudekk
and Virgata.” She replied slowly, as if the words were knives cutting her
tongue as they slipped across.
Rosyar
caught his breath, and his gaze shot away from the children, absentmindedly.
Was
he hearing things? How in the world….
Was it just some incredible coincidence that this girl happened to have the same
name and parents’ names as did his kin? It didn’t seem possible…but what else
could it be? Could it truly be his little niece?
“Do
you have any relatives?” His heart rate increased in dread.
“Such as cousins?”
“No…aunts,
uncles, that sort.”
“Well,
mother said once I had an uncle still alive somewhere,” The girl’s tone was as
indifferent as her facial expression.
“Did
she tell you his name?” Rosyar found himself swallowing, none too happy with
the way things were looking so far.
“Rosyar.”
The
words fell as if they were a rock, a great heaving boulder. Rosyar almost choked stifling a cough, feeling
like a tremendous force had slammed through his body.This
was simply impossible.
Arriving
at the front door of his homely bungalow, the fellow turned around quickly, his
long black tresses swinging over his shoulders.
He
hadn’t intended for any of this to happen. None
of it, none at all. This event was the last thing the introverted man had needed
to enter his life.
“Did
you ever live in Bloodwort?” His voice
snapped, agitated.
Kelita
nodded subtly, staring up at him with fearful eyes.
“What
happened to your father?” Rosyar whisked out his house key from a side pouch on
his left hip, and inserted it into the front door’s keyhole.
“He…
was called away to fight.” Kelita wrapped her petite arms more protectively
around the miniscule baby, as it started to whimper.
Rosyar
swallowed, pausing a moment. Rudekk…his brother…could easily be dead this very moment.
For all he knew, he’d been dead for years.
Rattling
the iron key roughly in the keyhole until it finally caused the door to open,
he growled
“What
of your mother?”The man swung open the
door with such force it slammed against the wall, startling the infant, who let
out an ear-piercing wail.
“She
stayed behind to distract Varchess’ soldiers...” Kelita began rocking up and
down on her small heels, in an attempt to comfort the child. “…So we could run
into the forest.” She continued to stare
at the ebony haired man, in a mixture of contempt and distrust.
Rosyar
closed his eyes, taking in the news. He didn’t know quite rightly what to say.
It was very likely both Rudekk and Virgata were now dead –leaving Kelita, and
apparently his other nieces and nephews, permanently orphaned. What a
fine fix.
In
those days, Rosyar was a man who would risk his life to save another’s, but
only if it proved the utter last resort. The fellow wasn’t fond of heroic
efforts or patriotism, nor did he stick his neck out for just any person that
cried for help. Why in the name of all the heavens had he done such a rash
thing, on this day? What insanity had
stirred within his indifferent heart, that such a choice would be made?
The
man let out a long sigh, resting his arm against the pine door frame and
letting his head sink against it.
Today I finally quit procrastinating and uploaded another of my compositions which was recorded...hm...maybe two weeks ago? Well, I recorded it on the same day which "Pursuit of the Dragon" was. So.
Anyways, probably started working on it back around January. Hard to recall exactly when. I do know it's been around for a number of months.
This is probably my favorite song which God let me write, for piano anyways. It's so much fun to play, and I can put a ton of emotion into it if I feel like doing so.
The title is "Marred Legacy" because it was inspired by Arden, the rebellious king in my medieval WIP. The plotline of this manuscript concept was partially inspired by Rehoboam of the Old Testament, a son of Solomon and king of Judah upon his father's death.
Arden, like Rehoboam, didn't heed the words of his father and thus fell prey to the counsel of foolish companions. The gist of the whole story? His kingdom falls because of the unwise decisions he makes. It's a grave, daunting loss; and his family legacy is left forever marred by a tainted name - his own.
Just as I thought of Arden when first messing around with this song, I also was reminded of the history of mankind, in general.
Because of Adam's disobedience, humanity would be forever scarred with sin and imperfection. Human beings would be separated from the presence of their Creator, and require a savior to redeem them from their terrible condition.
The human legacy has been forever marred, just by the choice of one man.
But, while all this may sound dark and dreary, I never like to focus entirely on the bad in life. Therefore, in my music I like to include at least one bit which is of a lighter, more positive mood, even if the rest of the piece is quite melancholy.
After all - nothing is completely hopeless, is it? God did provide a way out for us. He did extend grace towards us, his flawed, rebellious creations.
No, we aren't without hope, in the least bit. Because of the blood Jesus shed on the cross, we can live and hope for a day when we will no longer be stained by imperfections. One day, in His presence, that will all be forgotten. There will only be the mind-blowing magnificence and splendor of getting to fellowship directly with the Maker, who formed you in your mother's womb! Isn't that a thrilling thought?
Anyway.
This song has lots of meaning, to me. I am thankful that the Spirit allowed me the chance to put it together, and hope you guys are blessed by it! Please tell me what you think!
Soli Deo Gloria,
P.s. The blog is now at 70 subscribers!! And you know what that means - a giveaway as promised! I'm going to start putting together one ASAP so keep your eyes peeled!
Ever since I first became a major LOTR/Tolkien fan several months ago, I've been super excited to get to do some reviews related to Middle Earth and all its awesome creatures, details and factions.
This one was no exception.
Today, folks, I'm presenting to y'all an awesome t-shirt from StickerPunx.
This is literally my favorite t-shirt currently. I have been wearing it everywhere.
Let's go through the details of why I like it so much.
Firstly, and quite obviously, it's got an awesome graphic of Smaug (For y'all who are clueless on that reference...it's from the Hobbit, and if you don't know what that is, I seriously would encourage you to go get the book from your library and read it... one of the best classics in existence.) on the front. How cool is that?
Second, the color has really grown on me - I like it. It pairs perfectly with jeans, and I think it's a good, neutral color.
Third - It's super comfy to wear. I requested a size medium, wanting to make sure it was a little loose - It did indeed turn out to be exactly as I'd hoped!
So, it's really comfortable. Personally, a lot of my favorite tops are t-shirts, just for this very reason.
And, as I stated previously, this has become my favorite t-shirt. So, there you have it.
I was also sent a packet of car window decals and stickers, with Tolkien's famous signature on them, and the StickerPunx logo. If I had my own vehicle... or could convince my folks to let me put one on our family van, I would do so!
So, overall, I think this is a great shirt. You can find one of your own, and numerous other designs, here.
Hope everybody had an awesome Independence Day! We sure did. You can watch a video of some of the fireworks we did, here.
Note: I was provided this item from StickerPunx in exchange for my honest review. All opinions remain mine and mine alone.
