The Pen and Inkpot

In order to do anything with Photoshop, you need to know the basic tools and how to use them. In this post I will share with you, what tools I use the most and shortcuts which make them easier to use. Along the left side of the screen is a row of tiny icons part of what is known as the toolbar. There are many things here and I still don't know what a lot of them are, but I will run you through the basics. DISCLAIMER: I am not an expert and all shortcuts and tips are relevant for mac computers with Adobe Photoshop CC 2017 The move tool  looks like four arrows pointing in different directions. It is used to move elements around in your work. This is where making new layers is so important. When you move something, the whole layer moves with it. So if you want to be able to move a rectangle by itself without moving the rest of your project, then I would recommend putting it on a new layer. To quickly access this tool, press " V ". ("v" like in "m...

I have never read a novel with such a bizarre name. I was drawn to it partially due to the title, but also because of the format it takes, with the entire story being told through a large collection of letters addressed to and written by a set of extremely interesting characters. All this made up for the promise of a quirky novel which I simply couldn't resist.  Juliet is a successful journalist, well known across London for her witty newspaper columns written during the dark days of the war. Now that the war is over and the world is trying to forget the previous years of hardship, Juliet is left with nothing to write. Hope is not lost when Juliet receives a letter from Dawsey, a man who found one of her books on the island of Guernsey. This sparks a unique correspondence between Juliet and various members of his literary society. Turning to them for her writing inspiration, Juliet finds herself with a fascinating story to tell. This novel displays a concept which I ...

As of a few months ago, I had never touched Photoshop in my life. Now, I use it for everything. At first, it seemed a little daunting and extremely frustrating (at times it still is) but I have come a long way since then. Once you have grasped the main concepts of the program and become familiar with the basic tools, you can do anything. I want to share with you, through a three part sequence, the fundamental knowledge for a beginner wanting to learn how to use Photoshop.  DISCLAIMER: I am not an expert and all shortcuts and tips are relevant for mac computers with Adobe Photoshop CC 2017 Photoshop works in layers. This is really important to keep in mind when using Photoshop.  For example, if you open a new document in Photoshop, the background will probably be white. That is one layer. If you draw a rectangle shape, that is on a separate layer, if you add text, that is on another layer.  This all means that it is easy to undo and remove ele...

"The Shadow of the Wind" is an extremely unique novel, set in the crumbling streets of Barcelona during the 1940s. It is written in the style of a classic novel even though it was published in the early 2000s and it is historical fiction mingled with mystery and horror. The story is so complex, my mind is boggled by the author's ability to create such a masterpiece. It has everything that I love in a novel: books, mystery, a beautiful setting and amusing characters. Daniel is only ten years old when his father takes him to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books where he is drawn to one particular novel, "The Shadow of the Wind" by Julian Carax. The beauty of the story captivates the young boy and ignites in him a burning curiosity to unravel the dark mystery surrounding the author's past. Little does he know that this will lead him into a dangerous side of Barcelona which he never knew existed. I was pleasantly surprised by this novel's capacity to ...

Readers like to play it safe. Once they find a few genres they like, they refuse to read anything of a different style. Romance, crime, sci-fi and young adult fiction seem to be what’s popular at the moment, but there are so many other genres and sub-genres to explore, many of which you may never have heard of before. Picaresque This genre, originating from Spain, refers specifically to stories told about the travels and adventures of a rough but appealing hero told in a series of humourous episodes. Usually focusing on the everyday lives of ordinary people, picaresque novels take a satirical approach to storytelling. Steam Punk A blend of science fiction and historical fiction but also found in the fantasy genre, steampunk novels are based on 19 th century steam power machinery and set in a particular time period. The steampunk movement was inspired by the unique fashions that came with the dawn of the use of cogs, engines and steam power which is reflected in the w...

Illuminae sucked me in through its unique story telling style which was quite unlike anything I have read before. The story of a girl ripped from her home on micro planet, "Kerenza" and thrust into a chase through outer space is told through a collection of interviews, reports, surveillance transcripts and text message conversations. I was at first skeptical about how well this would tell the story but it didn't end up disrupting the reading experience at all. Instead, it added interest and gave the reader insight into the characters in a different way. Illuminae is a sci-fi, dystopian romance featuring robots, zombies and space ships which is definitely not what I would usually read.  I would not pick Illuminae as the best bedtime read due to the large amount of death and tragedy experienced by the characters. I found myself quite connected to the main characters and this really made me feel for what they were going through. I was scared for them and grieved...

I have recently been on some bookshop crawls around the centre and East side of Melbourne and wish to share with you my discoveries. Beneath the hustle and bustle of Melbourne, you can find cosy rooms filled with every book you can imagine and amazing prices on great books if only you know where to look. If you live in or are visiting Melbourne, here are the bookshops with the best atmosphere and the best prices. Looking for cosy, bookish vibes? These ones are for you: City Basement Books - 342 Flinders St If you're not paying attention, you could easily miss the little doorway between the busy shops on Flinders Street but once you find it, it will lead you down a flight of stairs and into book heaven. Book shelves filled and piles on the ground stacked high with second hand books on any topic you can think of. Good prices and an awesome shop. Paperback Bookshop - 60 Bourke Street This is a tiny shop crammed with books in shelves going up to the cei...