I owe a certain beta-Muse thanks and praise to the Heavens...

[red_satin_doll]

...for her time, feedback, ideas, generosity, patience, gentle wit, marvelous penetrating insights and for her keen Eye (intangible, unexplanable, indispensible) and above all, for helping guide me to my very first 1st place award (!!) as well as 3rd place and Most Creative honors at slayerstillness Challenge 43; as well as a Mod's Choice's Award at whedon_elite Challenge 116.

That particular beta-Muse would be named velvetwhip, of course; and I dare say she will deny her fabulousness; don't believe her for a second if she does. I've been beta for my friends who are writers for years, but this time I've gotten to be on the other side of the give-and-take and it's a rich and and fulfilling working relationship.

            Teasers for awards banners inside.

And it's an entirely mutual one; I've been "special pencil" for her marvelous Joyce-centric fic Answering Prayers, set in the summer between S2 & 3, and our many discussions on Buffy, Joyce and Giles during that period no doubt provided additional inspiratiion for my Helpless artwork. I love the cross-currents between us as two artists in different but complimentary media.

Congratulations to sweet_lyri,  tempertemper , and starry_night  - three of my favorite fan artists and wonderful people, they are all well-represented in my userpic gallery - for their wins at slayerstillness and whedon_elite. And may we have a big round of applause for tempertemper's phenomenal banners?  I just about died of happiness when I saw these:

   

Two of my goals for the year: Win first place at slayerstillness - check. (Best Color, I've got my sights on you.) Earn more awards banners made by other artists by which i mostly mean tempertemper - double check. And these are simply beyond perfect aren't they? Artwork like this makes me wonder why there aren't awards categories for "Best Awards Banner" because these truly are works of art.

The direct inspiration for my first place winner was clockwork_hart1's gorgeous Buffy S4 icons (#11-12) and her experimentation with light, blurs and motion. For the other icon I started with Buffy's profile in the hotel room where Kralik has taped multiple polaroids of Joyce, then did multiple versions layering her with Giles, Joyce and Kralik, inside her silhouette but ended up chosing this one. I really like how the patterns of the library books and the polaroids echo one another, sublty hinting at and reinforcing the connection between the two.

Banners by tempertemper. (Now if only I can get her and other banner makers to remember to sign their work...)

I stayed with Helpless for my whedon_elite entries when I finished the SS set and realized there were other images I still wanted to play with.  Thank you fassy for the Mod's Choice honor! The specific inspiration for this icon and my Cordy one were kwritten's Artist Choice set for Round 7 of btvsats20in20, "The Freshman (Buffy)" although I've admired her way with delicate layers and textures for three years. Once again velvetwhip deserves a thunderous round of applause for her beta-Muse-ings:

Banner by yours truly; check out the banners for starry_night and sweet_lyri here.  The base image is a photo I took a couple of afternoons ago of daffodils in my yard because they especially suited the "Springtime" theme of the challenge.

Comments

[feliciacraft.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!!

I remember voting for you for the Springtime image. It's absolutely gorgeous. Love the Helpless artworks too--they pack so much emotional impact. Wonderfully done!

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much for the kind words and the vote (which I saw, by the way)! I'm so glad that the Helpless icons conveyed the emotions I'd hoped to capture. It's such a significant episode and Sarah is absolute aces conveying Buffy's anguish.

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

I don't deserve anywhere near the credit you give me, but thank you. Congratulations on these wins! You truly deserve them. Your art shines!


Gabrielle

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Oh goodness now it's MY turn to say, don't underestimate yourself!

\

[teragramm.livejournal.com]

I thought that was your first time winning first place, congrats!!!!! The entries haven't been unlocked yet but I think I voted for every one of your icons. You did a great job and you certainly deserve the awards you received!!! Go you!

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Go you!

**HUGS YOU TIGHT**

You're a dear friend - and THANK YOU for being so incredibly supportive of me and my work! I did see all your votes went to my icons and I was tickled pink polka dots and sent over the moon. And actually, starry opened the threads yesterday (I poked her) so you certainly should be able to see them.

[teragramm.livejournal.com]

To be honest I kind of suspected #14 was yours but I had no idea about #12 and 7. I truly loved #12 the color and clarity were great. On #7 I just love the redness of the blood. Great job!!

THANK YOU for being so incredibly supportive of me and my work! I have to tell you a secret, it's incredibly easy to be supportive of someone who is so enthusiastic and happy about EVERYBODY'S art work. Your enthusiasm is very contagious and you are a dynamic cheerleader for every artist in fandom.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much!

To be honest I had NO idea who did anything this round; I tried guessing and I was thoroughly mistaken. I assumed 1 and 15 had to have been made by the same person (nope).

I have to tell you a secret, it's incredibly easy to be supportive of someone who is so enthusiastic and happy about EVERYBODY'S art work.

I have to tell you a secret in kind: Not about EVERYBODY'S, by a long shot. *lol* But I'm happy that you think so; I want to be a positive presence and keep my grumbling private as much as possible.

[teragramm.livejournal.com]

I have to tell you a secret in kind: Not about EVERYBODY'S, by a long shot. *lol* Hee! your secret is safe with me.

But I'm happy that you think so; I want to be a positive presence and keep my grumbling private as much as possible. You certainly are. You might not think EVERYBODY'S art work is something to get excited about but you always seem to find something positive to say to all the artists.

I'm sorry to say that I'm not the best cheerleader, both here and in real life. It's something I am trying to work on. Being an enthusiastic positive voice doesn't come naturally to me, as it seems to come for you. (I don't usually have a problem with being positive, it's the enthusiastic part that is my problem.)

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

You might not think EVERYBODY'S art work is something to get excited about but you always seem to find something positive to say to all the artists.

Well I do make the effort because I know I want feedback and i think it's rude not to? Everybody has something they do well. Sometimes I do have to make the effort, but then I think about where my work was a year ago, and all the support and feedback I received and how its all helped me tremendously (and where it is right now and how far I have to go. Miles to go...)

Being an enthusiastic positive voice doesn't come naturally to me, as it seems to come for you.

Wow, does it seem natural to you? I assure you it's not - clearly you haven't met me in person *lol* I'm constantly wondering how other people manage to get through life and be so damn upbeat and positive. They shrug and have no idea and I have to think it's largely the personalities we're born with. I struggle with depression, anger, despair, etc etc etc and generally unfun cocktail of feelings. When I'm not just overtaken by lethargy.

I guess I try as much as possible not to bring it here, just like I try not to bring it to my job (which is absolute chaos). Sometimes I slip and snap, though.

So trust me when I say it's an effort - just ask my poor sweetie who sees "the best and (too often) the worst" of me.

[teragramm.livejournal.com]

Wow, does it seem natural to you? I assure you it's not - clearly you haven't met me in person *lol* I'm constantly wondering how other people manage to get through life and be so damn upbeat and positive. I find this all so fascinating because in real life I am pretty upbeat, happy and energetic, I find it difficult to do that here. Probably because I'm not the best at expressing things on paper. I feel like I use the same descriptions all the time when making comments and they aren't very original. Plus I have a hard time giving feedback to some a/w that's not great (and that's being nice)

I struggle with depression, anger, despair, etc etc etc and generally unfun cocktail of feelings. When I'm not just overtaken by lethargy. I would never know that from your lj and all your lj comments.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

I find this all so fascinating because in real life I am pretty upbeat, happy and energetic, I find it difficult to do that here.

Oh that's interesting. It reminds me of how my friends who are very outgoing are shy about acting or formal public speaking, and shy people (like myself) who are crap at parties etc are comfortable in those formal situations.

And I do struggle sometimes (more than sometimes) to find nice things to say - which is why when comments are either VERY general or VERY specific, I worry either way *lol* (except for my friends whose commenting "style" I'm familiar with.) And it needn't be about "bad" work, sometimes it's hardest for me to comment on work that is just blah. Especially when I've seen the artist do better and I know what they're capable of, then I'm really stumped. ("you're clearly phoning it in here" is NOT NICE.)

I would never know that from your lj and all your lj comments.

:D

I actually used to do more personal posts on my history and depression and feelings here but I pretty much stopped that after a negative experience or two with particular people; I tend now to protect my privacy a bit more and keep it for emails to my friends or pour it into the art.

[teragramm.livejournal.com]

which is why when comments are either VERY general or VERY specific, I worry either way I don't think you should worry. I generally find, people comment only if they genuinely like something. (or maybe I'm just naive)

I actually used to do more personal posts on my history and depression and feelings here but I pretty much stopped that after a negative experience or two with particular people; I tend now to protect my privacy a bit more This is YOUR journal, you should feel free to express yourself any way you want without feeling bad , or without someone bad mouthing you. You should NEVER have to stifle what you say in your own journal!!!

If you are concerned about the reaction to your personal stuff, than create a filter so only people you know, who are supportive can read the filtered posts. Also put a disclaimer in the beginning of the post, that behind the cut is personal stuff, of a complaining nature and feel free to skip. I might also be a good idea to put in the header or at the beginning of the post that it's a filtered post and if you want to be taken off the filter, just ask.

I feel very strongly that it's your journal and you can do what ever you want as long as you warn your flist first. ~_^

or pour it into the art. Pouring it into your art is always a good thing.

[tempertemper.livejournal.com]

Aw, babes you are too kind! *blushes*

Funnily enough I did think about signing them. I imagined you telling me off! But I thought it would detract so didn't in the end!

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

I think I'm just the right amount of kind. I'm looking at these again today and no, really, I think these are among the best banners you've ever made (that I've seen at any rate.) I'd stack these up against any banner or wallpaper or any other fan art out there, no lie.

But I thought it would detract so didn't in the end!



Forgive the liberty I added a siggie very quickly just now to demonstrate. I was in a rush - I'd probably put it in the lower left along the border of the banner if I redid it.

I do know what you mean, I still hesitate to sign stuff but ask, would an author post her story unsigned? Nope. (That said I try to make it not interfere with the design and am rarely happy with it.)

[tempertemper.livejournal.com]

Oh that doesn't look so bad actually. Maybe I'll try adding one next time, just for you :p

And thank you for the lovely words. Means so much! ♥

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

I was going to say, don't do it for me sweetheart, do it for YOU - but ok, do it for me. Whatever helps you get into the habit.

(I think one of the reasons my artwork has improved is not just practice practice practice but I tend to have people in mind when I make things.)

And btw, I think that siggie is overlay (or multiply) filter and about 15% fade, I tend to fade my siggies just a bit and that's usually the perfect amount. I took the color from the bottom of the banner, that deep purple-brown at the bottom right.

That said - I tried adding my signature to the original of the daffodil photograph, which I really like, but it's actually harder now than to banners (at least banners I have an excuse for the text and other stuff to detract from the signature.) I have to work out a regular watermark for that purpose i guess?

Means so much! ♥

You're very welcome - but you've truly outdone yourself with this one! Btw I had to look up the term "radial filter" and...duh.I know what that is but not the term. (there's something called "shine filter" in ipiccy which is like rays of light but nothing like what you've done here; but I can find workaround solutions.

[kikimay]

CONGRATS! *____*

The banners are lovely and the entries this round were amazing. I'm so glad you won the first place with your icon because it's so perfect that it combines my favorite things ever! Hairporn + Buffy Summers + COLORS. Yay! I hope you show the whole set soon.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

THANK YOU DEAR!! *BEAR HUGS*

The banners are lovely and the entries this round were amazing.

Total agreement on both counts!

it combines my favorite things ever! Hairporn + Buffy Summers + COLORS.

I did think of you when I was making it; I had a feeling you'd like it if no one else. I DID NOT expect that one in particular to be so well-received. (But that's true of the Whedon elite icon as well - which, by the by has the same pink and purple coloring on the right side because I used the same light leak on both.)

I think I'm finally figuring it out - people like glow, softness, lights and color clarity. Mastering all of these elements is the tricksy thing. *lol*

I hope you show the whole set soon.

That's the plan! You can see them at the entries thread in the meantime:
http://slayerstillness.livejournal.com/78468.html

[snogged.livejournal.com]

Way to go, sweetie!
That is absolutely awesome. Congrats on your wins and congrats on reaching a few goals as well. :)

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Thank you dear heart!

(Is it silly to have goals like that, do you think?)

[snogged.livejournal.com]

Nope. Not silly at all.
I make goals like that too.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

For a second there I read that as "goats"

I need to get new glasses, maybe? *LMAO*

[clockwork-hart1.livejournal.com]

congrats bby!

the icons are really wonderful and i'm honoured to have inspired something with my own unskilled experimenting. colours and motion and SUCH PRETTY. the mod's choice icon is also so gorgeous i love what you did with it (and kelsey's icons are always so so so beautiful, right?).

love the banners, love the icons, love the inspo, love YOU

((also hi))

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Oh SWEETHEART HEY YOU!! I was hoping if I called your name you'd see this. So pleased you approve of them - and tempertemper told me that my icons inspired her banner, so that makes me crazy-happy - the chain of inspiration goes on.

Thank you so much Lucy and yes your icons totally inspired that one and you know which ones I mean, right?

and please stop with the "unskilled" nonsense ok because that is just rubbish. That tri-part collage icon that's your user pic? I don't know how to make that and I've tried. (Yeah I know how to do a collage but getting all the images to align the way I want? Forget it.)

(and kelsey's icons are always so so so beautiful, right?).

God yes! I'm just beginning to fumble my way towards what she does on a regular basis.

HOW ARE YOU, BTW? I'm working hard at my job and kind of have no energy for anything else, so, meh. I don't know how I even got these done.

[clockwork-hart1.livejournal.com]

say her name and she shall appear! (actually, that's kind of a lie i was only on lj stalking old ficathons for prompts for some original writing i'm trying to sell and i saw - oh hai inbox i see you and your little red bubble)

you mean the icons from my latest dump right? the ones that were all pastel-y and pretty - buffy on the phone and the blurry fighting shot (which i still love and still reminds me of oceans) ? bc i see what you've done with them and i love it.

and DUDE I AM SO UNSKILLED. i fumble and hope for the best i'm just incredibly lucky as an artist - things tend to just fall into place (something i'd appreciate happening irl once and a while /sighs)

kelsey is a goddess and i don't deserve her fabulousness in my life and yet

i'm. i'm same old. faxing (yes! FAXING from my mum's work) surgeons for updates, not dealing at all with real life, making myself get out of bed to make therapy appointments, trying to sell writings so i have something to show for my reclusiveness. et cetera, et cetera, et cetera (but omg good for you working hard at your job! even if the energy lull is meh)

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Damn i thought you got the message through the ether - don't break my illusions they're all I have, 'kay? *LMAO*

Srsly, I assumed email inbox notification. (Which is a very off and on thing btw and I guess always will be.)

you mean the icons from my latest dump right? the ones that were all pastel-y and pretty - buffy on the phone and the blurry fighting shot

Exactly *points to user pic*. I'm really pleased with how this one turned out. The entire icon was softer, blurrier, but I sharpened the details around Buffy's face because I liked how that balanced the whirl of her hair.

(something i'd appreciate happening irl once and a while /sighs)

RIGHT? I am working now so something did "fall into place" (never mind the place is CAH-RAZY-town), but I suspect that's why we have our passions, hobbies and habits - maintaining the illusion of an iota of control. (Hey it beats illicit drug use and bulimia, right? Which reminds me - are you taking care of yourself, hon? Regular meals and all that?)

And yes you DESERVE every bit of fabulousness that comes your way and then some. Many many times that amount.

Faxing, ha, what's that? I shouldn't laugh, my sweetie's surgeon's office a a MAJOR hospital takes faxes but doesn't accept attachments via email. I can remember when faxing was the latest thing and no it seems old-fashioned.

making myself get out of bed to make therapy appointments, trying to sell writings so i have something to show for my reclusiveness.

Good for you! These are important things, don't sell yourself short. I've never sold a story or even tried because I was too shy (I sold some beaded jewelry years ago that I made and that's it). Pat yourself on the back for the work you are doing sweetheart.

[clockwork-hart1.livejournal.com]

Exactly *points to user pic*. I'm really pleased with how this one turned out. The entire icon was softer, blurrier, but I sharpened the details around Buffy's face because I liked how that balanced the whirl of her hair.

if you like it enough to use it i totally encourage you to tweak away! it looks really nice <3

are you taking care of yourself, hon? Regular meals and all that?

two meals and irregular snacking, which is like, as healthy as i get so that's . something.

Good for you! These are important things, don't sell yourself short. I've never sold a story or even tried because I was too shy (I sold some beaded jewelry years ago that I made and that's it). Pat yourself on the back for the work you are doing sweetheart.

I've so far been rejected twice, been completely ignored by 3 publications and had a haiku printed - but I'm nothing if not stubborn. so. we carry on. looking into something focused on speculative poems (/prosepoems) about isolation which is. in theory anyway, my speciality so, here's hoping

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

if you like it enough to use it i totally encourage you to tweak away! it looks really nice <3

Thanks! (We are talking about my Helpless icon, right? That's what I was talking about, I haven't touched yours.)

two meals and irregular snacking, which is like, as healthy as i get so that's . something.

One meal up on me, actually. And that is something. (Some people eat several small meals during the day instead of a few large ones so that might be more your body's preference?) I wish I could say I'm not binging but - I am and I do and yes, if I ate regular meals I wouldn't binge.

i've so far been rejected twice, been completely ignored by 3 publications and had a haiku printed - but I'm nothing if not stubborn.

Oh sweetie only three? Not to minimize but I know folks who have been doing this for years, three publishers is just starting. And congratulations on the haiku, I can't claim that and i know a lot of writers who can't either!

Keep it up the good work, Lucy; I know it's discouraging but you are doing good healthy things for yourself - remember to pat yourself on the back for what you achieve.

[clockwork-hart1.livejournal.com]

lol me being tired and misunderstanding (but fyi tweaks are a-okay with my icons!)

i've tried the small meals thing but i bc my stomach doesn't work right i get full up on one or two and then don't eat enough. i think coping like i am now is what works best for me when i'm still ill. (oh bby i know it's hard to do the regular thing, espesh if you're getting used to working again, but try your best to stay healthy okay??)

Oh sweetie only three? Not to minimize but I know folks who have been doing this for years, three publishers is just starting. And congratulations on the haiku, I can't claim that and i know a lot of writers who can't either!

OH i'm not trying to sound all down and out at all! But i've only been doing this for a few months and im very aware that it's a long road ahead. it's just. it's not fun being rejected when you're only just starting and don't have the stablest of moods, but i'm no where near ready to give up yet!

I'm trying, and that's all i can ever do