Real Life

ProCreate

stargrace June 26, 2021 No Comments

I recently purchased an iPad (not an iPad Pro, which is what I wanted, but they’re just too costly) along with an apple pencil. Full disclosure, this is the first time I’ve owned a tablet with a pencil – minus the drawing tablet I have on my PC. I was absolutely blown away by the responsiveness of the apple pencil, and I have zero regrets about my purchase. Yes, it buys into the apple world, I know, a corporate monster who holds a huge monopoly. Not good stuff. However. The quality and ease of use has been something that I truly value. I picked up the app ‘ProCreate’ which is iOS only and I began learning tutorials for it. Clip Studio Art also has an app – but instead of having a one time cost, you have to subscribe to it. Honestly, it’s what I wanted to go with from the start since I already own it on my PC, but after looking into each program I knew I’d be going with ProCreate.

It has been about a month now, and I completed my 36th piece of art for 2021. That’s 36 more pieces than I did last year – since I did zero art last year. Practicing weekly has become a ritual for me, and expanding my knowledge of the programs I’m using has been a main component to that. I’m having fun, learning, and liking the end results, too.

I can’t wait to see where my progress is at a year from now.

15 Years Old

stargrace June 25, 2021 No Comments

Where does the time go.

I started this blog exactly 15 years ago today. I was playing EverQuest II full time, I was living in Ottawa Ontario, and since that time almost every single aspect of my life has changed.

I left a 12 year relationship. I got a job with a video game company. I moved across the country. I got married. I had two kids. I moved twice more. A pandemic happened. I no longer play EverQuest II but I still look at it with rose coloured glasses.

These days, I split my time between gaming and knitting (and other fiber related endevours). I didn’t knit back then. Spare time was mostly gaming. I did some photography (which I no longer do to any great extent). These days I play whatever game piques my interest for the week and that’s pretty varied. I have a few steady games I return to time and time again, but I haven’t settled down in a game for many many years. It turns out that’s just not my style. I love reading back on my older posts and seeing the dedication and enthusiasm I had. My attempts at role play. Writing out quests that I undertook, trying to become a part of the community. Eventually I joined the player council for EQII and that was quite fun. I was a guide in Vanguard, EQ, and EQ2. I absolutely loved the guide program. Video games have and continue to play such an enormous role in my life. I met my husband in EQ2/EQ.

I was helping a friend out with their epic in Chelsith, and the super bowl was going on – he had two other friends helping him out too, and one of them was my now-husband. I wasn’t even on the same server as them, I think I logged into his account to help him out, once I was done I went back to my original server, and continued to send tells to one of the people I had met. Happened that they were also Canadian, living in British Columbia (I was in Ontario) and our friendship flourished from there. Taking that leap and moving was one of the scariest things I did but it was also one of the best massive changes I ever undertook. I have no regrets.

I have loved writing here, and I don’t expect that to change. I love the record of games I’ve played, events that have happened, and things going on. I like to see how my writing has changed, how the games I’ve played have changed – and what things have stayed the same. I may not play EQ2 any more, but I still play WoW, I still delve into LotRO, EVE, and many other games that have been around for the l last 10 or more years. The group of friends I’ve made are steady and I count them close even if we’ve never met in the real world (yet, still a goal of mine).

So happy birthday, MmoQuests AkA NomadicGamersEh. It has been one wild ride.

Not a Fan

stargrace June 21, 2021 No Comments

I don’t particularly enjoy summer. Whether it’s because of the giant bug swarms we currently have, the heat, or some other reason, it’s my least favourite time of the year. I’m ready for the snow to come back.

Art? I Do That..

stargrace June 18, 2021 No Comments

Once upon a time (we’re talking high school) I used to take art in school – and I loved it. I thought I was OK at it, and I practiced a lot. I actually put together a portfolio and applied to Ottawa University for a Bachelor of Arts – and got in. Unfortunately funding was a huge issue, I didn’t qualify for anything and my parents wouldn’t help, so.. that fell through. I’ve never been to university. The relationship I was in was a bit toxic (though I didn’t realize that at the time) and I put away my art, and stopped doing it all together. I wasn’t encouraged, so I didn’t bother.

I’m a firm believer that it’s never too late. It’s never too late to pick up a new hobby, to refresh an old one, to be learning, expanding, to be involved in whatever your heart desires. It takes time, patience, practice, and nothing is instant – but I believe goals we set for ourselves are obtainable. You have to work at it.

I recently started getting back to my art, slowly. Mostly digital because that’s what is easiest for me with my MS. Sometimes holding a pencil hurts, putting pressure of pencil on paper hurts. I want to get better, I want to do better and I want to improve. I’ve started a 365 project, and this year I’ve already done 34 works of art. That’s 34 more pieces than I did last year, when I did zero. I’m proud. They’re not award winning pieces, but they’ve been fun, and I’ve been learning – which is most important to me. Seeing where I am now and where I’ll be at 5 years from now is something I’m very much interested in – even at the age of 40.

It’s never too late.