BOOK MAKING WORKSHOP WITH NEIL WALKER

I have a passion for making books so when I saw that Neil Walker was running a workshop in Kent I immediately signed up.  I've always loved his style and the day was even better than I hoped for. 

 

We were given one of Neil's Book Kit Covers, something I've not used before so this was a good starter. We began by gluing the spine to the front and back.

 

 Then we were given pages from an old book.  For a moment I thought 'these are too nice to use' and my instinct to save them for something special.  And I realised - THIS IS something special! So I happily glued my papers to the cover and thought of ways that I could keep some of the text showing.

Because next we glued on the detailed layer.  There are two of these in the kit and Neil suggested that we cut one and save the other for a different project. So half was glued to the back, and the other half on the front, framing the area of print I wanted to leave showing.

 Then there was painting to do. A page for making embellishments, and 2 pages for the back and front inside covers.

Later in the day I used one of Neil's rubber stamp range to decorate the inner pages. Now, I don't need any more stamps, but I couldn't go home without buying a couple as I knew I would want to use these again! 

But I have jumped a head, so while we waited for the paint to dry it was time to put the signatures together.

 

And then to bind the book. 
 

Our final stages involved painting and decorating the covers. We used paint, stamping, liquid glass, and UTEE, before adding the embellishments that we had earlier made and a touch of Treasure Gold. And here is my finished book.   

 

 Thanks Neil - I love it!! 

JUST ONE WORD - 2015

Each January for the past four years I have chosen JUST ONE WORD. This is an idea of Ali Edward's and for the first time I signed up so that I receive monthly prompts and do with others. This seemed a good idea at the time but life has been busy and so far this has not happened, but there is still time!  After all, it's only March and we have another nine months in the year!! 

Joking aside I like to give time for my word to feel right and to be embraced as past years have shown my chosen word can be a powerful experience. And while I might not have shared my word as yet I chose it back in January and it sits very comfortable with me.  So before I tell you what it is, let me quickly recap last years word:  

CREATE

 

Now I mentioned that my chosen word is powerful and yet again this was so true.  In January 2014 I said:
"Yes, this is going to be a year of more action. Things I have started will be continued or completed and I have other things I want to fulfil. But it is not just about doing. 
No! 
This is about me putting my heart into it!  I will be taking more risks and challenges, and more time to create the life that I want".

AND I DID!!!  

The most profound action I took was to give up my full time career. Since then I have started to live the life I dreamed about and I have been running regular workshops and spending much more of my time being creative and doing things I love. I have taken risks and opportunities. Some have worked well, some less so, but it has given me the chance to think about what is important and where I want to focus my time and energy. And I have no regrets, only gratitude.

I am forever creating ideas but one that I took forward last year was a JUNK JOURNAL SWAP. It was huge fun and I plan to do something similar this year.  And I discovered one of the hardest things is putting myself out there. Not because I am shy or unsure but because marketing and letting others know what I am doing is hard work and time consuming! For months I posted on Facebook only to discover that unless someone was my 'friend' they would not be able to read my post even when shared on public pages.  There was a lot of learning to do, but I am getting there slowly. Setting up my own public page helped overcome that problem and gradually it is getting easier.  I am very grateful to those who have encouraged, supported and cheered me on in my first half year. My excitement of developing workshops and new ideas only grows and there are more exciting things planned for this year. Yay!!

But as much as I love teaching and sharing what I do, it is also important to keep learning and developing, so I signed up for an online course called 'Paperlove' run by Rachel Hazell. This small decision has lead to so much bigger things, not least, an amazing
new group of like minded friends. There are surprise exchanges of happy mail and lots of collaborative ideas and sharing and I'll come back to this shortly.

Another way of stretching myself was becoming a Design Team member for That Craft Place, a lovely shop near Eastbourne which stocks a wonderful range of craft supplies. I have had great fun using laser cut designs and sharing my work and I have sometimes pushed myself out of my comfort zone to try new ideas and techniques. One of my favourite makes is a clock which I painted using my Gelli Plate and I have shared a couple of tutorials. But I recognise that many of my recent posts have been photography-focused and that most of my creative work has been shared on Facebook. It's time to get more balance and to readdress this!

 

I also mentioned that some things were started and would be continued. I have enjoyed having time to make my home feel loved again and there has been more colour added, cupboards emptied and reorganised. Energy is flowing more freely. 

 

So moving on, and quite fittingly, my word for 2015 is:

 

 TRAVEL 

 



 

I have a much clearer vision of where I am going and what I want to achieve.  And what's more, it looks possible!!  Of course I don't expect it to be all down hill, and this road in Yorkshire is a reminder that even downhill can be unpredictable and sometimes scary. But exciting too!!  It's also a reminder that I want to revisit this part of the country, there is still lots for me to do and see!

 

I have already been away in the camper this year and lots more exciting adventures are planned. But one trip without the camper will involve a number of ferry crossings because in April I am going to the Shetland Islands with a friend to attend a book making course.  Remember 'Paperlove'?  Well, this course is run by Rachel Hazell so I shall be meeting her in person!  Am I excited? You bet I am!  What's more, we shall be making a brief stop on our way through Scotland to visit someone I met on the Paperlove course and who has become an online friend. This journey will be much more than miles and I look forward to staying in a lighthouse, exploring, and making more friends on my travel.

 

I earlier mentioned the focus on photography. That's because I enjoy taking 365 photos but got out of the habit of organising them. So this year I have taken a different tactic and to help me maintain motivation and routine I have started a weekly post 'A year in photos'.  I also want to improve my fitness, something that I started but lost momentum with last year as I was preoccupied by so many other changes taking place. So, to get back on track I have started to walk most days. Can you see how 'TRAVEL' is the right word for me this year?!  To give me more focus I started to pay attention to things I see on my way, and I decided to take photos each month as a record. Tree Following originated from this idea and has become another regular blog post. It helps me to maintain routine and structure both online and through walking. A good ploy!

 

I'm pleased with the changes I have made, but now want to make similar progress with other things important in my life. I have a habit of starting a blog post and then leaving it unfinished as a

draft. Last year was time to create, this year it is time to take ideas forward and to take more control. It's okay to take diversions or unexpected routes during travel, and so I am going to finish here with the photo I planned to use back in January. After all, there is much to celebrate and much to look forward to.

 

I mentioned at the beginning that this is my 5th year of

JUST ONE WORD.

 

Here are the others I have chosen:  

First year was 'INTUITION'.  I knew it would be a difficult time one way or another and sometimes to sit still and just listen can be what is needed. So it was a good reminder to do just that, and I learnt that I can trust my intuition. It has made me more relaxed,
confident, and more self reliant.

Next came 'PROGRESS', and again, how well chosen. So many personal, practical, and creative projects were started. It felt much was in progress and I wanted it to continue and for it to be a positive year with some of these things finally coming towards completion. 
And they did!!

Third year was 'TRANSFORMATION'. And TRANSFORMATION happened in many ways! I completed Julia Cameron's book 'The Artists Way' and I was really sad when the book came to an end. But then on the final pages Julia suggested to start all over again - and so I did. Only this time round I set up a Facebook group and invited others to join me. I truly believe this book has influenced and inspired me so much.

I also wanted to become more healthy and I set up another online group 'Fit For Fun'!  Two years on we are still supporting each other, cheering each other on and sharing ideas and motivation.
 
And last year was 'CREATE'... but you know that already!

Thanks for popping by and I hope if you chose your own word that it is equally inspiring to you.

TREE FOLLOWING - March 2015

In January I introduced two trees that grow locally and spoke about how I am following them during the year. So far the change continues to be slow but I anticipate the coming month will be different.

THE LONDON PLANE.....

 The small violets that nestle in between the roots of this tree have opened.

 

 They have also spread......  I had to be careful where I stepped!

 

For the first time I noticed a hole made by a wood pecker. I'm sure it wasn't there before....

 

 There are still no sign of leaves,

 

 

but in the hedgerow there is blossom, 

 

and along the road side daffodils have started to show... 

 



Signs of Spring are less noticeable further down the road where my

other tree stands.

 

THE MIGHTY OAK...

No pretty violets round this trunk.

 

But the field where the oak grows is starting to show colour while the oak holds tight onto last years leaves. 

 

And despite the broken branches there are signs of life. 

 

I wonder how much longer before these buds start to open.

 

 Meanwhile the lichen looks green and lovely what ever time of year.

 I am linking in with Loose and Leafy this month and I'll be back in April with more photos. I hope you are enjoying nature and seasonal changes wherever you are.  Thanks for popping by.