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Miss Megs Tattoos now on Deviantart!

  • Nov. 14th, 2009 at 9:40 AM
Tattoo
ANNOUNCING MISS MEGS ON DEVIANTART!



Featuring TATTOOS and only TATTOOS!
If you're a fan of Deviantart, or want to see all my work, go check it out.

www.miss-megs.deviantart.com

Scary Mouth

  • Nov. 13th, 2009 at 10:21 PM
Tattoo
I felt like posting one of my latest tattoos. I'm quite proud of it; plus, it appeals to my macabre side, and it was a LOT of fun to do. I think I'm going to be a black-n-grey fan.

Also, also also, it's on the inside of his arm... ohmygod! How much would that HURT! But he sat through it all really well. And was very entertaining company too. Drawing the design up the other gave me another teeth dream*. I hope so hard that I don't get another one tonight *shudder*.




*You know those awful dreams where your teeth break/split/fall out/chip/ crack like chalk/ generally do anything that teeth would probably NEVER do; and is very graphic in how it feels, and how you feel about your lovely teeth going to hell.
The one I had the other night was really super awful, and involved layers of my teeth cracking off, so revealing the thick red marrow like substance infesting the middle [No, my teeth don't actually contain a marrowy fungus, that is just how horrible my brain is that it can conjure such disgusting images up].

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The StarCupCake WIN

  • Nov. 9th, 2009 at 8:03 PM
pudding

Or in this case, Starcake. :D
I couldn't resist the lure of the adorable star tin any longer, so I pulled out my almost-perfect cupcake recipe and decided to have another go. This time I put the RIGHT amount of bicarb soda in.

SUCCESS! WIN! ALL GOOD! The recipe turned out perfect. I ended up making it a coconut flavour, by adding in 1/4 cup of desiccated coconut, and 1/2 tsp of coconut essence. I added a touch more water too, just to fill out the dried coconut a little. For the icing I used a little warm Nuttelex [olive oil margarine, it's completely dairy free] plus a heap of icing sugar and a TBS of warm water. Oh and a few drops of strawberry essence and red colouring.

And omylord, talk about sweet. This is one of those things you want to save for special occasions, unless you have a good tolerance for cakes and sweet things. I only cut half off, and even that was waaay too much for me. While I was eating it, I kept harking back to my previous epic fails, expecting to hit something bad tasting, so I kept on going even when I was beyond my sugar threshold and well on my way to DiabeteesLand, but lo - nothing! it was perfect! Moist middle, well risen, slightly crunchy edges. I'm still in a little bit of shock [and on a mighty sugar high] so bear with me.

So first, allow me to present - Starcake:

Gleegan cupcakes

Makes 3

1 1/4 c gluten free flour (I used White Wings)
1/4 tsp bicarbonate
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup castor sugar
1/2 tsp van essence
2 drops almond essence [optional]
1 tsp Orgran No Egg in 2 TBS water
2 TBS olive oil
1/2 cup water with 1 tsp lime juice

Method:
Add all ingedients into a big bowl in order I listed them in. It's important that you do this, as the acid* needs to go in last. Stir until combined, little lumps are OK but big ones are uh, not so good. Don't overstir, or leave too long until baking as the bubbles from the acid/alkaline reaction will disappear and your cuppie cakes will be more like, well, cupstones.

Bake 18-25 min, or lightly golden, on moderate oven [180 deg celcius]. Smother in far too much gooey icing, call 000 and devour.

Wait out front for ambulance.

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Cooking Notes:
Make sure you lightly spray your cupcake patty cases with a little vegie oil spray to stop them from doing that annoying "Oh! Look! i'm stuck to my Case" thing that cupcakes love to do. Also, fill the cases to about 3/4... GFree flour won't rise as high as regular stuff.

*The lime juice doesn't flavour at all, it's just for acidity to activate the bicarb as a raising agent. Gluten free seems to really need this as it's super dense.
Also, you could probably use lemon juice, or apple cidar vinegar... some people even use honey... experiment and let me know your outcomes!

 

Yum!

  • Nov. 8th, 2009 at 4:59 PM
megsie

I saw this while out shopping today and couldn't resist. I put a peg next to it so you can see how wee it is.
Mini strawberry star cakes, ahoy! Eeeeee!

Posted via LiveJournal.app.

Draenei sketchy goodness

  • Nov. 6th, 2009 at 5:21 PM
painting

I'm at work and bored as hell. So here's a quick sketch of a Draenei from Warcraft. Wee!

Posted via LiveJournal.app.

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Semi Cupcake Success

  • Nov. 1st, 2009 at 8:28 PM
megsie

Well the cupcakes were mostly a success.

The texture was perfect, which for gleegan baking is no mean feat! My only, and somewhat major fail was neglecting to cut the bicarb. I put a whole tsp in without even thinking. Faaaail! It gave them a strange bitter, soapy aftertaste. According to Google, this happens when there isn't enough acid to activate all the bicarb. Doi.

Anyway, I'll redo the recipe and when I'm satisfied, I'll post it. In the meantime, check out these puppies!

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Gleegan Cupcakes Take 2

  • Nov. 1st, 2009 at 4:13 PM
megsie

Well, I just pulled these out of the oven, and I'm writing this while they cool. I think I may have done ok this time.

I ended up tweaking the recipe to what I thought it should be. I'm still awaiting the taste test, because as any Gleegan will tell you the food can look great- and taste like shit.

So if they pass the taste muster, I'll post the recipe.

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Gluten-free Vegan Crapcakes

  • Oct. 31st, 2009 at 9:07 PM
ee-aw
 I just tried ["tried"] to make gluten free, vegan cupcakes. I'm not sure what part of my brain thought this was going to be a breeze, but it should be removed and replaced. With a better part.

They were crap.

The recipe called for WAY too much liquid... I questioned it a tad but should have, in retrospect, questioned further. I also forgot to grease the cupcake liners, because I didn't think I would have too. Oh and I also put the heat up too high and er, forgot to turn it down.

So, in all lets just put this experience down as a 50/50- my bad/recipe bad.

I also realised after I salvaged a few* and iced them, added the mandatory rainbow sprinkles and scoffed them down, that I'm not a fan of sugar, and couldn't get into the bathroom fast enough to get that icky sugary aftertaste out of my mouth**. But cupcakes are sooo perdy! I just want to make them and decorate them anyway, even if I give them all away!

So, anyone got a good Gleegan cupcake recipe out there? One that I can't fuck up?


*They were like odd little puddings. Tasted fine but... consistency FAIL
**I should note that I mean by brushing, not vomiting. 

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Halloween Art - Pumpkin Pie

  • Oct. 29th, 2009 at 10:58 AM
painting
 "Is this how you make pumpkin pie?"

A somewhat visual homage to my well-meaning intention to make pumpkin pie every year for halloween, but failing because I run out of time, or motivation, or get a sudden and bizarre onset of vertigo, and what the hell is vertigo anyway. So there.


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New Arts - Synchronicity

  • Sep. 21st, 2009 at 8:39 AM
painting

synchronicity |ˌsi ng krəˈnisitē|

noun

1 the simultaneous occurrence of events that appear significantly related but have no discernible causal connection : such synchronicity is quite staggering.

2 another term for synchrony (sense 1).

ORIGIN 1950s: coined (in sense 1) by C. G. Jung.

 

Whilst looking this up in Wikipedia I was startled and put into fits of laughter by my own synchronicity... in the Examples section I read this passage:

 

"The French writer Émile Deschamps claims in his memoirs that in 1805, he was treated to some plum pudding by a stranger named Monsieur de Fontgibu. Ten years later, the writer encountered plum pudding on the menu of a Paris restaurant and wanted to order some, but the waiter told him that the last dish had already been served to another customer, who turned out to be de Fontgibu. Many years later, in 1832, Émile Deschamps was at a diner and was once again offered plum pudding. He recalled the earlier incident and told his friends that only de Fontgibu was missing to make the setting complete—and in the same instant, the now senile de Fontgibu entered the room."

 

I was only just thinking of my brother, who has recently moved to China, and how much I miss him. One big thing between us is a joke about Plum Pudding. To make it even weirder, when I was shopping yesterday I saw some Plum Pudding for sale and thought about buying it for him and shipping it over as a joke. 

I can't say it's something I think of often, if ever, if he isn't around!

Also, he introduced me to synchronicity in a way, encouraging my interest in Philosphy.. but even earlier, he introduced me to Sting and the Police who have an album called - you guessed it - Synchronicity! I just looked it up then and saw that the album was released in 1983, which was the year I was born in.
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Ink on WC paper... somewhere in the realms of A3 and Eternity in size

 


Click for Embiggening

 

 


One Fights Back!

  • Sep. 20th, 2009 at 7:07 PM
RAWR!

I woke up today feeling like shit. It was the same familiar feeling I have every time I get a flare up.

The worst part is, I woke up yesterday feeling even worse- like a hangover from a cheap bottle of vodka. Blech. I got to work and I was amazed I could even tattoo... my vision was blurry, I couldn't focus, and my hands felt like they were shaking. Amazingly the lines were coming out straight, so there must have been some internal war between my brain and my nerves. It was SO weird.

I attribute this latest bout of nasty to the pizza I indulged in on Friday night. Dad was leaving for work and he said "Pizza for dinner?" Knowing I usually get it every Friday. And like a junkie being offered a line at a party, I couldn't say no. I bought the pizza, I ate the pizza, and then the pizza got its sweet revenge.

Also like a junkie, that was my Zen moment. My turning point. The fact that I could barely go to work from one poor food choice was enough of an eye opener for me to see that if I keep going on like this, I'll wreck my life. And it's stupid to think food could affect me like Heroin effects other people. But it's true, and it's what I have to deal with.

Since my whingefest the other day I've been researching Sjogren's diets online. I came up with a few conclusions, and have put together an odd sort of diet that I'm going to stick to and see how I go. The two most important things I found, across the board, in dealing with Sjogren's or any immune related disorder are;
 

  • NO Gluten
  • NO Casein


Gluten is a protein found in many grains, the main offender being wheat. Casein is a protein found in dairy. Both are incredibly hard to digest, and are notorious for causing neurological issues that are suspected in triggering autoimmune responses in the body. Coeliac disease, for example, is an autoimmune disorder where the lower intestine cannot process gluten and even trace amounts can render the sufferer hospitalised and in agony.

Also it is recommended to cut out meat, acidic and spicy foodsother grains and anything given by mouth [just kidding on that last one, but that's how it feels!].
Ironically this means I have just about come full circle, back to my veganish days. I'll still eat a little fish here and there, and maybe some chicken... but to be honest, I'm not even slightly concerned about not eating meat. In fact I'm almost relieved... I think I was never a meat eater at heart... my OCD just doesn't account for things like blood, tendons and bacteria, haha. 

So being sick, I was incredibly depressed this morning and didn't want to do anything. I hated my body and I was mad at everything. Mostly I was mad that it was an incredibly beautiful day, I was supposed to be going on an 8km walk through the rainforest, and I couldn't even get out of bed. Here I was, sleeping the day away, sleeping my life away. Fortunately the self-pity only lasted as long as it took me to get disgusted at myself, get dressed, get into my car and drive the 15k to the nearest Coles. I then proceeded to wander the aisles for an hour, spend $115 and buy a car boot load of food.
I raided the health food section for gluten free goodies, I bought a shitload of fruit and veg, and I even got some soy cream cheese. Wasn't too keen on that until I ate it with some vegie chips, which made it all kinds of yum. I got some dates, which are a bit like crack to me. *drool* I checked every single label... except one, and it was my major fail. Soy Cheese. it had casein in it. Why the fuck would you put casein in a product that is meant to mimic cheese? DAIRY casein, too! So the people eating the cheese to avoid dairy food are screwed over. The people eating it to avoid animal products are screwed over. The people eating it to avoid casein are screwed over. And tell me, people, who the fuck  chooses to eat soy cheese for the TASTE? *facepalm*

I was happy to eat good food that I knew wasn't going to kill me, and I was ecstatic to discover what an amazing wealth of food there was out there that I could eat. It was more than heartening, it lifted me out of my gloom entirely. :) 

So this is what I made for dinner... lentil patty on cos lettuce, with artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, anchovies, and a "wild lime" dressing.
It was fucking delicious. 
 

Gay!
I would never have thought about it, but it does make sense. I was thinking about making some polymer clay jewellery, and I did a quick google search... I was shocked by what I found. While there is apparently some ongoing controversy, when you read the ingredients of polymer clay - polyvinyl chloride and phthalates, and the studies done, it does present a strong argument against going near the stuff ever again.
The production of PVC also creates some horrible chemicals including dioxin; if you haven't seen The Story of Stuff yet, go watch it, and learn to loathe dioxin!

Anyway for the concerned consumer, check out this article: Is Polymer Clay Toxic?

Soooo there goes that idea! I'm now looking into glass blowing courses. Seriously! I always thought it looked like fun. And surely there is a hippy or two up here that will learn me the intricate craft of fiddling with molten hot glass.

In other news, I had a shocking reminder today about always reading the label. Turns out, this particular well portioned and tasty brand of flatbreads I have been buying, contain yeast! What! I swear I would have checked, because they often hide other nasty things in flatbreads. So it this yeast thing a recent thing? Or because I downsized to a smaller sized flatbread? And why the hell would you even need yeast in a flatbread... isn't uh, that why it's flat?

I gather that explains to a degree why I have been feeling a tad more poorly than usual lately. Stupid yeast. Stupid flatbreads. Stupid dioxin, and down with communism! Bah!

Oh yeah, and I bought 70 metres of brown paper today. i don't know why. I thought it was 5. I think there is something wrong with me.

When Time Flies, Clip Its Wings

  • Sep. 15th, 2009 at 10:57 PM
Tattoo
I have Sjogren's Syndrome. I've had it for about 10 years. I've been really sick with it for three. I've been officially diagnosed for one. It's a series of milestones, events and hallmarks.

When I first got my diagnosis I was elated. I finally knew why I was sick. Then, I was devastated. I would never get better. Everything would stay this way until the day I died. There would be no do-overs, no second chances, no happy endings. And then, after devouring countless online articles and e-pamphlets, I decided I was not going to be one of those people who was defined by their illness. "Hi, my name is Meg, I'm an artist, I like sausage dogs, rock climbing, and I have Sjogren's Syndrome". Nope, not for me. Apart from the occasional online whinge, I pushed it from view. Mine, and other people's. It made it hard to ignore when I had to politely refuse normal food because I couldn't digest it, or I needed to ask for the heat on because my hands and feet were numb and in agony from the cold because I have almost no peripheral circulation. Or having to stand aside from a smoker because my lungs have little mucous and can't handle the smoke. Needing to find a bathroom wherever I go because I am always drinking water, as I have no saliva and my mouth and lips crack from the dryness if I don't. Needing to wear sunglasses because I am photosensitive from the medication I take, and not able to stand in the sun for more than a few minutes because I burn for the same reason.

I could go on, but you get the idea. There are a million tiny things that I can't do, that are so freaking normal, and so much a part of life, and I constantly have to be on the lookout. Not because they will kill me, mind you, but because the discomfort from not being diligent is just so not worth it. Think about the worst hangover you have ever had, and that is what a flare up is like for me, but it can last up to two weeks. Take all those individual symtoms, plus a dozen more, and you have the daily management I deal with. On their own just a small annoyance, but teamed up, deadly. Ready to make even the most boring activity irritating and uncomfortable, and if left unchecked, render me useless to the world for weeks. My symptoms range from rheumatoid to neurological, muscular, skeletal and digestive. Pick a system, any system! All players are winners! The neurological ones are my personal favourite, I love it when people laugh at me for stumbling over my words or forgetting a conversation I had three minutes ago. Really, it's a hoot. I didn't even know I was this funny until I got sick.

And lately, I think I am getting tired. I have been lazy. I have let things slip. I have caught myself bursting into tears at stupid moments because I miss the taste of cheese and vegemite on toast. I get up for the fifth time at night and when I crawl back into bed, I cry because I just want to get one night's solid sleep. I want to not dream. But I can never stay asleep long enough to bypass the dream state, because I have to drink water all night, so I always need to pee. I count my bruises. They are from the aspro I take almost daily to keep the headaches and the arthritis pains at bay, and the stumbling over things at night.
I feel like so much of this is getting on top of me, and trying to hide it from the world is an effort in itself. Trying to politely refuse something that will make me hurt is difficult. I'm no good at saying no. I was raised to say thankyou to every offer even if I didn't want it, and eat all my food at a stranger's house, and put up with their living conditions even if I was uncomfortable. But I'm so tired lately. No one understands. They think I look healthy... I don't limp, I have colour in my face, I'm not underweight. I smile and laugh and am not depressed. Autoimmune Disorder; the Disorder You Didn't See Coming.

I know I should be managing this better. I know it's a huge cop out to say that I just don't want to; to want desperately to whine like a five year old about the unfairness of the world, curl up into the fetal position and wait for someone to come and make it all better. I hate that the stupid truth is no-one is coming, I have to manage this myself, and the only alternative is to lose it completely. Some days lately I feel scarily close to that scenario. I need to not let that happen. I need to find the strength inside me to get on top of things again. Losing it is not an option at this stage, not that it was ever an option, but lord knows I don't wish to be a burden upon anyone.

I need to find a way to own this stupid disorder, without letting it own me. I am not my illness. My name is Meg, and I am an artist. I like sausage dogs, rock climbing, and I'm a really poor singer. But I like to give it a good try. Oh, and by the way, don't be offended if I do things a little differently; you see, I have this Disorder...

Steampunk, Dreadlocks, Arts and Fitness

  • Sep. 15th, 2009 at 8:24 AM
feminism
So if you haven't got the Fiend Issue #18, go get it! At a paltry $7.95 and chock full of Steampunk eyecandy, this issue is definitely worth it!

 
My Dreaddies are going well. They have become so tiny and fat... a massive case of shrinkage! Last week I pulled the front 5 out and cut myself a super-cute fringe. Then, I bleached it to a blondie caramel colour! Next will be a candy pink. I'm also considering putting some felted wool extensions in... I just don't like how fake they look, and the prospect of real human hair extensions seriously grosses me out. So, at this stage it's a bit of experimenting... pics to follow! :)

Arts is going well but not as frequent as I would like. I've just started working here full time, so my hours shot up dramatically and I'm as busy as a bee. Which is fantastic, and the money finally in my account is a godsend [oh I have money?!?! Whaaaa!] but it's leaving little time for painting. I have two WHOLE days off tomorrow, so expect to see some groovy arts come out then!

Fitness also going well. I'm upholding my promise to myself to respect my body and I feel fantastic! I've been rockclimbing heaps, I got in contact with the local group and made some new groovy friends, and I've been stretching every day.. I can't believe how flexible I still am, it's so cool. I'm getting some professional shot taken soon from a friend who is a rad photographer, and that will be super fun! I'll definitely be posting them... anticipate :D


 
Image courtesy http://fiend-magazine.com/

WIP... Fly Me Away

  • Sep. 9th, 2009 at 1:52 PM
painting

I started this as a cute little angel girl drawing but as it progressed I felt something else coming through it.

I was fortunate enough to have a fairly average, if wacky, childhood; but not everyone is. Too many children have their innocence taken by violence, neglect or abuse. This is my interpretation... Those little ones who feel so vulnerable and just want to be able to fly away from it all into a better life.

I think I'll do the finished one in paint or ink, I haven't decided yet.

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New Art - Steampunk Angel

  • Aug. 30th, 2009 at 10:43 PM
painting
I completed this as another in the massive series of art I am doing for the tattoo flash website. 
I had a lot of fun with this one! But all those feathers just about drove me to insanity. Thankfully a million cups of tea kept me from going completely barmy.

Watercolour on Archers 300GSM cold press. A4 size. :D


 

New Arts - Candy Mermaid

  • Aug. 24th, 2009 at 10:15 PM
painting
So this is the latest one I've done. This will be eventually submitted as Flash onto the Tattoo Johnny website.
I called her candy mermaid because I really thought she looked edible, I think it's the pastel colours :P
Watercolour + gouache.

She reminds me of a lolly...


WIP's ... And exciting News

  • Aug. 19th, 2009 at 4:40 PM
megsie

Ok well I have been in dealings with Tattoo Johnny, one of the largest and most well-known paid flash sites on the Internet. I have just signed contracts with them and will soon be featured on their site! I am submitting 50 original artworks that will be available as flash to download for tattoo designs. It's a fantastic opportunity, and very exciting! I'll be posting a link when my art is finalized and uploaded to the site.

In the meantime, here are two designs I've been working on today; a fairy and a steampunk angel.
Also if you have any suggestions for flash you would like to see me create, please let me know! All suggestions gratefully recieved.


Tattoo... Chest letters

  • Aug. 6th, 2009 at 10:49 AM
megsie

I did this tattoo the other day. While it doesn't look so amazing, it is a bit technical... Small letters are hard to do and of course straight lines are always a challenge, esp. on a chest when you consider the person is always breathing. Yikes!

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Sketch at work

  • Aug. 4th, 2009 at 2:27 PM
megsie

A little sketch to brighten your day! I'm so into satyrs at the moment... Well, I always was, but even more so :)

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