disappearance and it's consequences

ladies and gentlemen, this is how not to write a blog. get it, be active for some time, get more views and then DISAPPEAR. don't finish your cool series, don't upload on your insta either, what for? to actually be productive? what?

anyways... stop bringing yourself down woman, you're here now. i'm so sorry i wasn't on here at all. i finished my final year of school and that meant big exams and lots of them so i was preparing for that and my schedule was all over the place. then i was busy with having a crisis over not being in school anymore, i went through rehabilitation, got rid of my wisdom tooth, went badly through my break in therapy but i'm here now. i've had so many ideas for posts, which is usually a big problem, so now i have at least some thoughts.

because i was away for so long i didn't do any favourites since march so i think i'm gonna do a half year faves split into 3 posts, beauty, fashion and others. i have a couple smush drafts cause there have been a lot of things going on in my life.

the only thing i've been getting better with is books and beauty stuff and i kinda want to touch on that here. i have lots of beautiful albums and books about fashion industry and stuff like that so maybe reviews? what do you think?

when it comes to the general future, i've gotten into all the places i wanted, i've passed all the exams, i might be looking for a job soon so my growing up is going great to be honest. i'm in a better place than where i was a month ago for example but i still have some problems with motivation and such so please be patient. but now i have a bigger general motivation, since i'm starting studies in october i want this blog to be on time and a good place for my work concerning the studies as well.

i don't know what this post is, honestly, but i want to get back into actually doing things before college starts so let's start here.

love,

qofr

szemrany szekspir

i'm a big fan of shakespeare's works. i find classic british humour to be hilarious and roles like hamlet are just wonderful. i've read the major plays, both in polish and english, been to multiple stagings of different interpretations of the genius texts. but i'm not here to fluff around about my love about the guy.

as you know, i visited gdańsk recently and there is this thing there that got me seriously excited. a ''shakespeare's theatre''. sounds cool, right? in reality it's not really but we'll get to that later. 

the theatre is this whole investment and project which was started in the early 2000's and finished 1,5 year ago. it resulted in a building. good fun.

why shakespear? he hasn't even visited gdańsk in his times! it turns out that there was an old theatre (about the time the author was alive), where the new one stands, and they hosted various artists from all over europe. so here's why apparently. 

the idea is great. they built a theatre, designed by an italian architect, which is supposed to be a place for other theatres from all over the country to come and act on a very advanced stage, with amazing technology. 

the biggest thing about this building is the stage itself and the roof. the stage is entirely movable, made of parts that can change the pits hight and make the ''italian stage'' (which is the classic pushed back into the wall stage) into an ''elizabethan stage'' (traditional shakespeare's stage, pushed into the audience, actors can be seen from almost all sides). this poses so many opportunities! like there can be plays just for this stage, much different from the norm, watched from many angles! imagine that...

the seats are movable

italian stage, 

the dark parts can be changed

and here comes the first absurd. even though the stage has so much potential, the guide (he was kinda creepily in love with the whole thing) couldn't name one play that was newly written for this theatre. they don't want to invest in their own troupe (continuing the olden traditions) so the plays depend purely on the guest theatre. oh, and even the true shakespeare plays are on the italian stage! oh my god! such a waste! even the one produced as the first traditional play (they plan on having a premiere once a year of a new shakespeare play, since he wrote so many) wasn't on the full elizabethan stage!

~~~

another cool thing about this building, as mentioned, is the roof. you probably noticed that they have a roof, yet the original didn't have those. 

the pattern is really cool though...

i was really confused at first cause a sort of open air theatre gives a totally different feel to a play than a closed space (and the lighting is very different) but they sort of dealt with that.

they have a freaking movable roof! it weights 40 tonnes, although don't quote me on that, and can open in 3 minutes. because it was really gloomy, rainy and cold when i went, they didn't open it for us but you can see photos on their page. tbh looks interesting.

~~~

now let's get to the szemrany part. szemrany translates to dodgy or shady. 

so... the whole thing seems to be very dangerous, from a ''health and safety''. it seems that the architect was really stubborn with the concept but didn't take into account that this is a public use building. almost all the staircases are like 90cm wide, two people barely fit. we went on this terrace thing:

and when the guy was talking he kind of contradicted himself in the next sentences. firstly, he said that this is not available to the general public and they don't open it during performances, yet it's supposed to be a walking trail and he invited us to suggest projects that can happen in these areas... 

another thing. my mum and i bought tickets online to see a play that very same day, yet somehow they failed to inform us that it's canceled. we were there 3 hours earlier! oh, and they suggested we should keep an eye on their facebook page, tf...

to be honest, the last thing i think is the building from the outside. it is very controversial in the gothic architecture in the city center, i can totally see why. it looks like a burnt tomb to me... i even heard some architecture people discussing it in a cafe, to be gentle, they weren't happy. 

all and all, it was a weird, shady and not very enjoyable experience. and it's such a shame, damn it! 

~~~

now, i'd like to know what you think. i know you probably haven't been but what do you think about the building (it costed almost 100 milion zlotys, the bricks on the outside where hand made...). 

i really don't like it, and it looks terrible in connection to the whole panorama, shame...

~~~

okay, here it is. the travelog is coming on friday i think.

this has been your monday dose of architecture banter.

love, 

qofr

p.s. i'm sososososo sorry this didn't come out last week, my laptop refused to turn on and i had to deal with that...

thank you

maria naucza

ok, this is major. i'm like tottaly awe-struck.

since i'm in warsaw, i might as well treat myself to a ticket for a play with a famous brilliant actress, right? good choice, good choice.

~~~

''maria callas. master class'' in och-teatr.

as the title would suggest, this play is about maria callas, a very famous opera singer in her times and until today. she is one of the most important artists, her voice was unique and she was truly an actress on stage.

she was born in america but moved to athens quite early in her life, greek decent. maria started off as a ''hippopotamus'' on stage, with pimples too. fortunately, her artistry was more important than looks, which greatly improved once she lost weight, btw.

la traviata, as violetta

the really sad thing is that her hard and heavy temper affected a lot of her life, thus her talent. even though she was an international star, in 1965, she got kicked out of her opera environment, after years and years of quarrels with her millionaire husband (he didn't want her to sing, she got in trouble with basically everybody because of that).

but... what about the play!

we meet her in 1971, at julliard school of music in new york. callas tried teaching a master class there. the whole performance is centered and played as a lecture with students presenting their works. maria listens but frequently interrupts. there are only 3 students, yet we are watching the stage, from both sides, for nearly 2 hours. it doesn't feel like it.

krystyna janda, a very famous polish film and theatre actress, plays the main role. she's in her 60s but that's not a problem, i feel like if she was younger (even though she already played callas, in a similar play, 10 years ago), you wouldn't see the truth.

i can actually believe she is callas, that's her, with jet black, pulled back hair, and short legs. the actual singer had a very difficult childhood, during war, she was very self conscious, needed love and hate. janda portraits that very well. her monologues are the most moving, her feelings towards her husband, her desperate need to act but not act. even if it is set in a class room, with students actually performing opera, her persona is so sharp that even when she leaves the stage for a break, callas is still there.

one of the most elegant posters i have ever seen

~~~

i know that you probably want to hear about costumes... but there really isn't that much to say. imagine an old diva with a very classy presence, a school accompanist, students who really don't know how to dress themselves and a grumpy janitor. that's it really. but it plays so nicely. 

~~~

i'm really sorry this is late, but the play... it was soooooo goooood. go see it if you have the chance, please. you'll thank me in unicorn tears.

this has been your monday (wednesday) dose of culture vulture.

love,

qofr

hawaikum

i'm finally going on a trip! i haven't been out of here since july so i'm super pumped! warsaw and gdansk it is, going by train so it's going to be pure pleasure. i'm also taking my good camera so expect a nice travel log to follow.

today's post is super tiny because i'm in the middle of packing, but i'm planning to make a big one tomorrow, i'm going to a theatre in warsaw. check back tomorrow night to see that.

~~~

this has been your monday dose of hope.

love,

qofr

p.s. tell me what you want to see on here, i have some ideas but it would be cool to know yours.

on love

that's a heavy topic, huh?
especially coming from moi, i'm below a noob. but it's important and that's what a good therapy session does to you.

in the wintertime, i always get melancholic and lonely. when spring comes and everybody suddenly freaks out and truly acts like seeking a mate is everything, then i'm usually over it all and it's all good but it's winter now so let me get it out. i'm planning something fun for next week, i promise.

~~~

my sister got married recently, in august, to a man she has known for years and years. he's in our family for so long, i can't even imagine, or remember well for that matter, time without him. great, right? they are always so kind with me, helping go through lots of stuff, i'm so grateful even if i don't say it that often.

to be very honest, i'm kinda jealous. not envious, oh no, but i can't help but feel weird knowing that they have been together when they were my age now. and here i am, reading fanfiction and than closing it with anger when, once again, i can't relate.

~~~

how do you imagine kissing with somebody? hugging them and not wanting to ever let go? reading their messages and smiling from ear to ear when they appear online?

how do you know you're wanted if you're the one coming up to somebody? as stupid as this sounds, how would you know you're attractive to them, if they haven't really noticed you first? how do you even get the courage to make a move?

how do you even meet people? the only friendships i have we formed during an outside situation, school etc. (exclusively, now that i'm thinking about it). the only outgoing i do is for an one on one ''coffee'' with an amount of friends i can count on one of my hands. and now it got even smaller, since a couple have moved too far away. i didn't even have any possibilities, let alone a choice, to not go alone to my prom last friday. sixteen year old me is sad.

~~~

to not get so sad (yes, i am aware that i'm pitying myself but you have to do it sometimes) let me say one more thing. why the fuck a romantic person is almost always hopeless? i know it may be a bit old school but can't i want the guy to make the first move? come on...

~~~

strangers, move your chair if somebody visibly can't fit behind it. repeatedly.

this has been your monday dose of thinking.

love,

qofr

into the woods

at first i didn't intend to make scenography and set design for this project. i'm not really into that domain of theatre so i just wanted to go with raw industrial. un/fortunately, my tutor thought of a whole stage set when she heard about the costumes, told me about it, so, since i'm the type that if something is stuck in my head it's for good (gonna stay there till i realise it), i got to work.

since the most important things on stage were the lit costumes, i focused on the lighting.

this is the finished product. to be fair it actually came out almost just like i imagined (the temperature of lights could be more alike but you can't have it all)

the whole set is basically just 3 paper screens and lights, but what an effect!

this is the raw set, no light. looks bare and not really interesting but the scale is quite big. each screen is about 3 meters in hight and 2.5 in width. it was an exhausting task, thank you jagoda for helping me, i still have a bit of scarring on my hands (i had to lift like a 60kg roll of paper). each piece is hung from the celling in two places, held together with a wooden bar. the one thing i need to remember in the future is to make them a bit longer, so they don't slide that much.

behind the screens there was a spot light and on the sides two slide projectors. and i mean those old ones, with single frames and film.

the shapes are inspired by the same things as the costumes, i just simplified them a bit, to make things more clear.

you would think i'll use digital projectors with scans of my inspirations, right? well, first thing, there weren't that many just available since ''light day'' is a school thing and there were many other performances. second thing that it actually didn't work that well in practice. i did a lot of monotype designs with different motifs but the scan wasn't good enough and i would have to clean all of them by hand, no way...

luckily, my teacher suggested just drawing the needed shapes on see-through foil and putting it in film frames, worked great and it was easy to copy for two screens. an even better thing was that since the actual image wasn't visible, the audience couldn't see the imperfections.

~~~

ok, that's it. listen to this and enjoy the photos (taken by jagoda as well):

this has been your monday dose of pure coolness

love,

qofr

delicje

hi,

today i come to you dressed in my floral apron. why do you ask? i've been going about this idea in my head that i could show you some of my baking. those who know me in real life for sure noticed my sweet tooth and kitchen 'talents', i like to give treats as presents, that sort of thing. i've heard that they are quite good and there are even some people who are willing to pay me to do that... but let's not get ahead of ourselves,

today, for absolutely free, i'll show you my recipe for cocoa cupcakes.

what you'll need

- 40g of cocoa powder (i use m&s brand)
- 100ml of milk
- 2 eggs
- 80ml of sunflower seed oil
- 1 tsp of vanilla extract
- 200g of caster sugar
- 100g of all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp of baking powder
- 1/2 tsp of baking soda

- 12 piece cupcake tin
- cupcake liners
- 2 bowls
and some other stuff

let's get down to business

1. get all the ingredients to room temperature and heat up your oven to 180* C
2. heat up the milk and slowly start adding the cocoa powder, try to not get any lumps because later on it's a pain
3. measure out all of your 'wet' ingredients (eggs, oil, vanilla, sugar) and mix
4. once the cocoa mixture is ready, let it cool down and mix it in

5. measure out the 'dry' stuff (flour, soda, baking powder) and mix

6. add the dry to the wet, use a whisk, easy-peasy

7. liners to the tin! hop! fill'em up! (get a cup with a pourer, trust me)

8. burn babies, burn (or at least rise, 23-25 minutes are perfect, check with a stick)

let cool and enjoy!

or

...

if you want

- 100g of softened butter

- 200g of powdered sugar

- as many sprinkles etc. as you want! or fresh fruit!

beat the butter and sugar until smooth (use a stand mixer or prepare for a long process)

decorate as you want! here are some of mine:

i'm really proud of this post, first time making gifs and all that. i hope you liked it, even if you don't bake, let me know :]

this was your monday sweetness 

love,

qofr

on inspiration

hi,

so you know that feeling when you have that moment to clear inspiration, luck and you just know you can do it. solve this equation, write that short story, draw that perfect picture. for me, that's one of the best feelings in the world. i feel so powerful and later so accomplished and happy. because i'm a big procrastinator and have some issues, it feels even better to have done something and actually be satisfied with it.

that's how i felt about the sockabrate series. even though i was late for most of the posts, let's be honest, and i didn't like some of the designs, i really felt like i was creating something new. i know that there are countless designs of the market, in fact i own loads, but i've never seen my ideas, obvs.

unfortunately, that wonderful feeling of creating didn't last the test of research. by accident really. my cousin/sister is getting married this august and her fiance needs socks. the wedding is going to be forest/rustic themed so the socks are going to match, little trees or forest animals. so i looked for those online. ehhh... and there i was on websites that have basically every possible thing on socks. including designs that were almost identical to mine.

self-esteem minus 9000.

that's why i wasn't posting a while back. it really ruined my inspiration. i still don't feel too good, thinking about it. i'll still try to think of something original and probably not do any research cause that just brings me down but it takes time.

do any of you struggle with that? it's probably easier if you're painting a nature mort or sketching, cause you're trying to be realistic but when creating something new...

do you have any tips or tricks to stay creative and sure when you have to inspiration?

i don't know, really.

hope you enjoyed nonetheless.

love,

qofr

p.s. real sockabrate is coming, i have some designs.

browar

hi,

long time no see, totally my fault. i'm sorry.

but all that guilt aside, i have more, material, to add.

today, 11th of april, the wroclaw fashion meeting pop up store started.

it's an independent fashion fair organised in browar mieszczanski in wroclaw. all brands are polish, some even local in wroclaw. the stalls are small but very well equipped. the whole place is shared by children's, women's and men's fashion. 

browar mieszczanski is quite interesting by itself, actually. it's an old beer brewery for local producers. now it's no longer in use like that, it became a social place, there is an all year round gallery, a few restaurants and a small theatre. but additionally it organises big events such as the fashion meeting or food fests, really worth checking out, it was totally new to me and i'm in love.

here are some shots of the place, sorry for the quality, i forgot my dslr (#professionalblogger)...

even though i've been to such a place before, this time i actually found something. let me show you:

 this is a beautiful bag, silky smooth.

it's from a co mi tam.

the fabric on the inside seems quite durable

and easy to wash, and the metallic

handles completely make this for me!

 these are fingerless made from felt.

the felt is made from merino sheep wool

so they are really soft.

the colour is beautiful

and the lady selling them is so creative!

when you go to her website,

art-filc.pl,

there is a gallery, check it out.

 these are soooo nice!

brylove has very nice glasses, 

mostly sunglasses but normal ones too.

 i've been looking for big, round glasses for so long,

most of them would be too small for my face 

or the frame was wonky.

but these are perfect, and the red-pinkish tone of the lens

just adds that much to the world!

 as you all obviously know, i love socks.

every time i pass a place that sells them,

i have to take a look and search for new

additions to my crazy collection 

(btw, for my namesday i got 9 pairs).

i discovered many mornings,

i was instantly hooked but i just never came across them

in real life, but they were here.

so i naturally got some.

 now, this is probably my favourite thing,

a cat bag! and the ears are 3d!

dekumdekum specialises in those things,

they even have their own lining fabric.

and the price is very affordable,

if i say so myself.

as if this wasn't the longest post here in a while, i have one more thing.

i'm looking for another pair of correction glasses, and i want them a bit crazy.

there was this stall, bodyych

 and i freaking found rita skeeter glasses!

my question, should i get them?

you could comment on my instagram.

the fair is open tomorrow as well, from 11am to 6pm, get the 31, 32 or 8 tram.

hope you enjoyed that,

love,

qofr

p.s. i know it may sound like i was paid to say all this or something but i really, (unfortunately, heh) wasn't. i would tell you.