Tagged! All About Me

Hi all...I've been tagged by Mrs Nesbitt... and I've finally got round to writing my answers....here they are...

40 Questions & Answers

1. What is your occupation?
Calligrapher, :ettering Artist and Creative Bookbinder

2. What color are your socks right now?
Purple and Black (Stripes of course!)

3. What are you listening to right now?
The birds outside

4. What was the last thing that you ate?
A chocolate cookie

5. Can you drive a stick shift?
Never heard of onee… I can drive a person mad though!

6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
Purple

7. Last person you spoke to on the phone?
Gill at Business Link

8. Do you like the person who sent this to you
Of course

9. How old are you today?
45 but feel 25!

10. Favourite drink?
Pineapple Juice

11. What is your favorite sport to watch?
NONE!

12. Have you ever dyed your hair?
Yes – Red and Purple though not at the same time!

13. Pets?
4 cats, 1 dog, 3 goldfish and a snake

14. Favorite food?
Sweetcorn

15. What was the last movie you watched?
The Secret

16. What was the last book you read?
I’m always reading books. Probably The Laws of Attraction

17. What do you do to vent anger?
Lie on the floor waving my hands and arms in the air and screaming….failing that, throwing something across the room works a treat

18. What was your favourite toy as a child?
My Dolls house

19. What is your favourite, fall or spring?
Both have their qualities

20. Hugs or kisses?
Both and preferably at the same time. Depends who it is though!

21. Cherries or blueberries?
Neither

22. Do you want your friends to leave you comments?
Yes if they want to

23. Who is the most likely to comment?
No idea…probably the Glitter Sisters

24. Who is least likely to comment?
Passing by folk

25. Living arrangements?
I live with my partner Tony and managerie

26. When was the last time you cried?
Within the last month

27. What's on the floor of your closet?
Shoes and dust

28. Who is the friend you have had the longest?
Myself

29. What did you do last night?
Depends what time you are talking about.

30. Favourite smells?
Lillies, Violets, Indian Takeaways

31. What inspires you?
To much to list but being in love is the MOST inspiring

32. What are you afraid of?
Anything that hops, skips and/or jumps

33. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers?
Plain Cheese

34. Favourite dog breed?
Spaniel

35. Number of
keys on your key ring?
5 but I only know what 2 of them are for!

36. Number of years at current job?
19 years

37. Favourite day of the week?
Saturday

38. How many states/countries have you lived in?
2 if you include Scotland

39. Favourite holidays?
Devon and Cornwall

40. Ever driven a motorcycle or heavy machinery? Yes owned a motorcycle…many moons ago

More Eye Candy Books

The quotation reads.....

May the universe give you everything your heart desires

Concertina books are probably my favourite as they are so easy to make and look very impressive. This one is done on the theme of Natural Earthy Colours. NOT my usual purples, pinks and blues at all!

This is the cover of a book containing Anne Morrow Lindberg's poem called The Sea. The spine is beaded as you can probably see (no pun intended!)

This little pocket is in the inside front and contains a miniature piece of calligraphy. I just LOVe pockets and secrets. Very often I hide a secret in my personalised book. Something that only I 'know' is there but something that others will find if they look hard enough. A sort of private joke to myself

Inside, further on in the book a little stamped sea shell...adding a little bit of colour to an otherwise plain black text.

The Laws of Attraction

A couple of weeks ago I sat in the studio….looking around, bewildered and in a state of uncertainty. Just where DID all this paper, paint and other creative stuff come from?
I used to teach when my sight was good and buying paper was always excused by the ‘I need it for teaching’. Now almost 20 years down the line my buying of more creative ‘stuff’ is as crazy as ever. Then one day you wake up and wonder just HOW it got to this!
I just about make ends meet at the studio. It pays for itself (just) and that’s about all. I ponder over whether it’s a self indulgent fantasy that I will one day make an income from this…Any income at all would be nice.
I’ve always been an advocate of positive thinking, and Affirmations well at least I have since my (Big C) days and this has been put to the test on many occasions. Most of my work is based on this kind of thing, as well as motivational and inspirational quotations. I falter now and again (usually winter time) but on the whole I’ve always had the belief that EVENTUALLY the universe will take care of things. It was at my lowest ebb recently that I read about ‘The Secret’ on Violettes Blog. I made it my business to look this up and see if it was available in the UK. I bought a ‘Gratitude Stone’ and a FREE DVD from Ebay. Note the FREE. It was a poor downloaded copy but never the less was watchable and easy to understand especially as I had done a lot of positive thinking books before. About the same time I also bought a book on The Laws of Attraction. No this isn’t a dating guide but more of the same…what we put out there we get back!
I thought about things and remarked to Tony ‘I need some Wedding Orders!’ then I went into the garden and shouted I NEED MORE WEDDING ORDERS! Then apart from making the Wedding Portfolio (just in case I got and WEDDING ORDERS) I’ve put it to the back of my mind. I haven’t advertised anywhere, or made up leaflets, I haven’t contacted Wedding Shops or Bridal Outfitters…nothing apart from making the portfolio.
Then this week I’ve had 4 wedding orders and a Wedding Album to make for another client.
Now I believe in co-incidence but baring in mind that in 20 years of being a Calligrapher, I’ve only been paid for 2 weddings….I think this is more than just co-incidence or luck! I also believe in synchronicity and to make things even more weird….2 of the orders (the 2 pictured above) came from people in the same town in the West Midlands and neither of them knew each other!
If you haven’t read or seen The Secret I strongly recommend that you do. This books and DVD may not change your life, nor may you learn anything new...but then again....it just might!

Canvases

I don't know what came over me here. I wanted to do a piece of work that was 'true to myself. I make no bones about the fact that I can't paint or draw with any skill. I can however do a mean splashy background. The colours here are influenced by the colours in my bedroom. I had bought some interference (sp) and wanted to have a go and see if they worked on dark backgrounds. The effect is fantastic. Like butterfly wings. The canvas needs more lettering on which I will do at a later date when I find something that floats my boat.


My son Paul wanted to do a canvas to go in his new licing room to go with a rug he bought. The picture above is him hard at work and the canvas below is the result. I've never worked on anything this large before and I must admit I like the freedom and the space.
My canvas is sprinkled with glitter and has sequined stars glued on also. I'll post pictures of this piece as it progresses.
I suggested that Pauls piece was missing some lettering...to which he only smiled and laughed...I take that as a no then. lol

Still doing it to death

I'm still working on the idea of thinking of an idea and doing it to death as the photos above and below show.

These designs are taken from the cards and made into concertina cards as Wedding Invitations. The picture below is a simplified version of the cards and are designed as a budget version of the card fronted concertina cards.

Then taking the design and changing the colour gives

a different feel altogether and can be added to the front of albums.

New Links

Hi all, when commissioning work my clients often get stuck for quotations to use. I've added the following links which you may find useful if you find yourself in the same situation. You will find them under my 'Interesting Links' section of my blog.
http://www.quotegallery.com/
http://www.quoteland.com/
http://www.quotationspage.com/
I also use (a calligrapher friend of mine) Teri Martins
Quotes at http://www.terimartin.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=38&osCsid=502119cb87dc85097661c7e53af044e9

Have a truly inspirational day!

Advice from the past....

Quite a few years ago now I was admiring a rather well known calligrapher's work, and happened to ask her how she found so many ideas. I remeber her reply 'I don't' she said 'I just find an idea that works and do it to death!'.
Well, below and above are 5 ideas based on something that's 'Done to death'.
The colourway works really well and by moving the elements, 1 becomes 4. So if you're struggling with a design find one that works and either change the colours or move the elements.

Wedding Portfolio

The time has come when I really must get my act together and sort out a wedding portfolio. I have loose Wedding Invitation Ideas all over the place, mainly in boxes and loose files. I've decided to make my album from Black paper as the white paper looks dreadful with white cards on the front.
As some of you know I AM a calligrapher and creative bookbinder althou to look at this blog sometimes you wouldn't know it! Here are a few photos of Wedding Invitations that I have made in the past.

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday saw us at the Christening of my miece Amber Louise. And here's a picture of her in her dress. The poor little mite had Chicken Pox and is only 7 months old...bless her.


This is her out of the frilly dress and looking much happier! Hmmm wonder if she's a glitter sister in training?

Talking of which...here's Rachel the Trainee Glitter Sister herself, who wanted me to blog and show off her Glittery Stary Tights. Beautiful Rachel! And if Aunty Sue can get a pair to fit...I'll wear some too!
And of course the dancer in her fairy dress just HAD to pose for the camera. Love you Rach xxx

Bright Light Award

What a wonderful Award I have been send by Lisa Ocean Dreaner along with the following message...

I would like to bestow upon all of you this special award straight from my heart. Attached is an image I hope you will copy and paste to your blogs. It is because of you all that I feel bathed in light most days. I have kept this list I am sending hidden so all these email addys aren’t out there. If you don’t like to add things like this to your blog I will certainly understand but I hope you will, if not, hold it in your heart. You are ALL bright lights in this blogging community and if you know other bright lights please pass it on. No need to do anything but email that person so they know their light shines on you. It’s always lovely to know you are thought of and cared for. Let’s pass the light around!

Well, what can I say? I'm sure there are far more deserving folk out there that warrant this lovely award far more than me...but thank you very much sweetpea. It's very much appreciated.

Almost 1000 Visitors

Hey folks...I've almost had 1000 visitors since I put the counter in a little over a week ago! Whhhoooo hhhhoooooo!
Leave a message if you're the 1000 visitor and We'll see what we can send as a little thank you gift!

Thought for the day

Happiness cannot be traveled to,

owned, earned, worn or consumed.

Happiness is the spiritual experience

of living every minute

with love, grace,

and gratitude.

Denis Waitley

Loosing the plot!

Last week I had a rather funny week. Not sure why…sometimes this just happens. Just as you are up on a hyper high that awful foreboding feeling creep right on in and smacks you in the guts.
Monday started off bad…for no reason at all….or none that I can put my finger on! Suddenly I looked around the studio, decided it was absolutely full to bursting of ‘STUFF’ paper by the ream, paint by the tube, blank canvases, craft idems and ephemera, books, books and more books, and even more paper. I probably have enough stuff to last me the next 2 lifetimes…I think it was THEN that it hit me! Is this some kind of madness? This is the workspace of a crazy person. It’s ALWAYS untidy and totally out of control. I have in the next room a gallery full of items ready to sell, but not selling. I want to make more ‘stuff’ with the ‘stuff’ I have but if it’s not selling what’s the point? I’m just adding to the ‘stuff’ in the gallery.
I can sell my craft items to shops but they take a huge cut out of my profits and although I’m really pleased with my website I have yet to sell a single item from it.
My studio/gallery is off the beaten track and I’ve never been good at marketing myself. To find your market you have to ask yourself who are my clients…who wants this ‘stuff’? And if I answer truthfully…probably not very many people.
So I think the studio is nothing more than a self indulgent fantasy that one day, just one of these days, someone will see this ‘stuff’ and think….How fantastic is this! England has never seen anything like it! Where has this girl been hiding?But I think that’s nothing more than fantasy.

Among other things I decided to make myself a book. Somewhere I can note down the things that I usually scribble on paper then lose somewhere in piles of other papers. I planned to print some calligraphy on one side of the book and use typeface for the back….and as if I needed to prove a point that I really WAS loosing the plot I printed the back the wrong side of the A4 sheet making the back cover page upside down! ARGH!

I decided that I would still use it to prove a very valid point that I need this book! Good job I can laugh at the fact that sometimes I scare myself and at least the thought of reaching my Crone years as a nutty, batty old lady doesn’t frighten me and I have proof that it’s on it’s way! Oh to be 16 again!