Playing for Change!

I just bet you can't watch this video without at least tapping you foot!
Click the following link to see 'Playing For Change'
http://www.playingforchange.org/

Music washes away from the soul,

the dust of everyday life!

Turn up the volume FULL BLAST and listen to this

Stand By Me

It’s not usual for me to make New Year Resolutions, but this year I plan to make an exception: I intend to Simplify my life.

I intend to grow my own veg, spend more time doing the things I want and less of the things I don't, give more back to the world I live in and try and get involved in a project that will benefit those less fortunate, in whatever way presents itself. I will be more aware of my footprint on this planet and become as self sufficient as possible and love and laugh more and perhaps try to worry a little less about the small insignificant things that happen unless it becomes a life or death situation! .... yeah, no big changes there then, just more of the same really lol.

HOWEVER.......

In these days of perhaps impending doom and gloom, the closing of many businesses both large and small and the subsequent loosing of peoples jobs and dignity that will go with it, I think the most we can hope for in the coming year is the same as we have had over the last…..the love and support of friends and family, in return for the same.
Despite the ridiculous situation our economy seems to be heading for, I wish you hope, peace, love and friendship for the coming year ahead. Hold on to your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride, but know that everything is easier if you have people to share it with.
For this reason, I offer the following video, sent from the heart.

Playing For Change: Song Around the World "Stand By Me"

And if I can put a teeny, tiny request out there to the universe for this coming year.... if there's a single guy out there like Mark Johnson.......I WANT ONE!!!!!! lol

Please watch this video One Love - Interview + an Unforgettable Rendition of "One Love" and pass it on.

Remember folks, at the end of our days, we will not be remembered for how much money we have accumulated, or what we have achieved, we will be remembered by what we GAVE to others. Lets at least pray for Peace, Love and One World, One Heart. Everyone enters the world being loved and the only thing we can take with us and leave behind is love....simple as that.

People come into our lives,

and softly go,

for whatever reason,

True friends are with us

forever.

To all my Blogging friends far and wide,

for your continued support and encouraging messages

both in comments and by email, I wish you

Peace, Hope and Love for 2009,

and i'll leave you with a quotation by Roald Dahl:

And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic

will never find it.'.......

Brightest of Blessings,

Sue - Aka The Purple Pixie! xxx

What's going on? Religion, Politics and Money! Be awake, be VERY afraid! lol Or at least be VERY aware and informed

Religion, Politics and Money! well worth watching, takes a few minutes to get into but please dear people, bear with it....it's well worth your time.
But be warned, you may have to pause a few times to pop that kettle on..... it's long
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-594683847743189197


And if you need to see more, this is a great website
http://www.abovetopsecret.com/

Hand Made Greeting Cards

It’s easy to think from my website that I only make a few cards SEE THIS LINK HERE but this was perhaps an oversight on my part of not getting my full catalogue of over 150 designs added. It’s one of those things that I was always going to get round to but for whatever reason, it never got done. After an enquiry from a client and because I haven’t a clue about adding these to my website I have added them to my other blog HERE which deals only with the business side of my life. I am in the process of finding someone who can update my website as I really need to get round to adding commissions done and my concertina card collection also other items completed for sale but which have never reached the website.

Hopefully, it will not be too far in the future, but in the meantime the blog will serve as a current and more up to date record of work. Anyone interested can reach me by my email at inspiredbyscript@yahoo.co.uk

Hand Made Cards, Love

AWAITING PICTURE

GC/L/1
I love you not for what you are, but for what I am when I’m with you

GC/L/2
To love is to place the happiness in the happiness of others

GC/L/3
Love works in a different way in different minds, the fool it enlightens and the wise it blinds

GC/L/4
Life is strewn with miracles, for which people who love can always hope

GC/L/5
Love makes the wildest spirit tame and the tamest spirit wild

GC/L/6
People love others not for what they are, but for how they make them
feel.
GC/L/7
Love talked about is easily turned aside, but love demonstrated is irresistible

GC/L/8
Two souls with a single thought, two hearts that beat as one

GC/L/9
Love is….two hearts connected by a one thread

GC/L/10
Love is true when you don’t see eye to eye, but can still walk hand in hand

Greeting Cards Mind, Body and Spirit

Hand Made Greeting Cards
Catalogue Page
£2.95 inc. P&P to UK
Click on image to enlarge

GC/MBS/1
The nature of happiness is a circle where the centre is everywhere and the circumference is nowhere

GC/MBS/2
Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle and it’s life will not be shortened. Likewise, happiness never decreases by being shared.

GC/MBS/3
You, yourself as much as anyone in the entire universe, deserves your love and affection

GC/MBS/4
Anything can be achieved in small deliberate steps. But there are times when you need the courage to take a leap. You can’t cross a chasm in two small steps

GC/MBS/5
Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail

GC/MBS/6
A thing of beauty is a joy forever, it’s loveliness increases. It will never pass into nothingness

GC/MBS/7
The future belongs to those who believe in the power of their dreams

GC/MBS/8
Though we travel the world over, to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not

GC/MBS/9
You are never given a wish or a dream, without also been given the power to make it come true

GCMBS/10
To live the life you want, you must do the work you love

GCMBS/11
In your heart, keep a special place where dreams may go

GCMBS/12
There are only two ways to live your life, one as though nothing is a miracle, the other as if everything is

GCMBS/13
We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by hugging each other

GCMBS/14
We are each others angels in the way we answer each others prayers

GCMBS/15
There isn't a valley deep enough, that an angel can’t carry you through

GCMBS/16
Angels give themselves fully, for they have seen that face of love

GCMBS/17
Angels are all around us, as far as the heart can see

GCMBS/18
Angels help us from our darkness, into diving light

GCMBS/19
No you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth for the other.

GCMBS/20
The soul would have no rainbow, if the eyes would have no tears

GCMBS/21
We will be known forever, by the tracks we leave

GCMBS/22
The life of a man is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves

GCMBS/23
If a man is as wise as a serpent, he can be as gentle as a dove

Greeting Cards Celtic

Hand Made Greeting Cards
Catalogue Page
£2.95 inc. P&P to UK
Click on image to enlarge

GC/C/1
Deep peace pure white of the moon to you (full version)

GC/C/2
Deep peace of the running wave to you (full version)

GC/C/3
Deep peace pure white of the moon to you

GC/C/4
Deep peace pure brown of the earth to you

GC/C/5
Deep peace pure blue of the sky to you

GC/C/6
Deep peace of the flowing air to you

GC/C/7
Deep peace pure green of the grass to you

Greeting Cards Sisters

Hand Made Greeting Cards
Catalogue Page
£2.95 inc. P&P to UK
Click on image to enlarge

GC/S/1
Whether or not you look alike, talk alike or act alike, sisters share common experiences that create a bond that cannot be broken

GC/S/2
Though friends may come and go, a sister is with you forever

GC/S/3
Something softens, something leaps forward, when I look into your eyes of a sister and see an understanding heart

GC/S/4
The best thing about having a sister, is that I always have a friend

GC/S/5
A sister is a great support line

GC/S/6
As sisters with completely different natures, we’re a pretty amazing pair!

GC/S/7
A sister knows all about you, but likes you anyway

GC/S/8
There’s no friend like a sister

GC/S/9
To have a loving relationship with a sister, is not simply to have a buddy or a confident, it is to have a soul mate for life

GC/S/10
There is no situation in life, in which the conversation of my sister will not administer some comfort

GC/S/11
Like branches of a tree, we grow in different directions, yet our root remain as one. Each of our lives will always be a part of the other

GC/S/12
Sisters share a common bond, that united them from the start. Soul and minds together, with a bridge between their hearts

GC/S/13
A sister is a true friend who remains by your side, to comfort and guide, no matter what the challenge

GC/S/14
A sister is like a beautifully carved walking stick, You don’t need her every step, but she certainly provides welcome support on the days when your step is a little uncertain.

GC/S/15
A sisters unwavering love is a star in the darkness of night. With a twinkling of it’s light, your life is blessed forever

Hand Made Greeting Cards Friends

Hand Made Greeting Cards
Catalogue Page
£2.95 inc. P&P to UK
Click on image to enlarge

GC/F/1
Friends are the family we choose for ourselves

GC/F/2
A friend is one who knows all about you, but likes you anyway

GC/F/3
A rare friends is one who walks in, when the rest of the world walks out

GC/F/4
The value of friendship cannot be measured only treasured

GC/F/5
Friends, those that matter don’t judge, and those that judge, don’t matter

GC/F/6
Like branches of a tree, we grow in different directions, yet our root remain as one. Each of our lives will always be a part of the other

GC/F/7
It’s friends and not places that make a world

GC/F/8
A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere, before him I may think aloud

GC/F/9
A friend is a person who knows the song in your heart, and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words

GC/F/10
Hearts are happy when friends are together

GC/F/11
The value of friendship cannot be measured, only treasured

GC/F/12
Friendship is a rainbow between two people

GC/F/13
Wishing you butterfly mornings and wildflower afternoons

GC/F/14
One does not make friends, one recognises them

GC/F/15
Friendship is the golden thread that ties the heart of all the world

For all you animal lovers out there...

Couldn't resist sharing this with you all....

Isn't it amazing that people have the camera at the ready, just at the right time. Whenever I get mine out, my kids are all asleep!

And a final one....for good measure....

'When I get out, someone's gonna DIE!'

Life is short. Break the rules. Forgive quickly. Kiss slowly. Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile.

Hand Made Cards Mother

Hand Made Greeting Cards
Catalogue Page
£2.95 inc. P&P to UK
Click on image to enlarge

MO/1
Mum…..your hands held mine until I could walk alone. You taught me freedom and when the time had come, you let me go

MO/2
All mothers are rich when they love their children. There are no poor mothers, no ugly ones. Their love is always the most beautiful of their joys

MO/3
If evolution really works, how comes mothers have only two hands

MO/4
Mum….she is the person you come to for comfort when all hope is lost, like an old teddy bear with one eye and half an ear

GC/MO/5
Mum…..you are the light in the dark, like a candle flame forever glowing and guiding the way

GC/MO/6
Mum….you give me unconditional love and never ask anything in return

MO/7
To a special mum who is worth a $1,000,000

MO/8
Mum, you are the one I can count on for the things that matter most of all. You are my food, my shelter, my warmth, and the one I want to be with most of all when I cry

MO/9
There is no-one else like you mum. You are like the earth, full of goodness and strength.

MO/10
A mother is a woman with a twenty-five hour day, who can still find an hour to talk with her family

MO/11
Mum….Thank you for being there come fire, flood or penury. Thank you for being ready to lend anything and give anything that will help me through

MO/12
Thank you mum for a life of experiences to see me through life’s challenges.

MO/13
All that I am or hope to be, I learned from my wonderful mother

Hand Made Greeting Cards Marriage

Hand Made Greeting Cards
Catalogue Page
£2.95 inc. P&P to UK
Click on image to enlarge

MA/1
Marriage, joy is the start of it, sharing is part of it, love is the heart of it

MA/2
Marriage should be a duet, when one sings, the other plays

MA/3
Marriages may be made in heaven, but man is responsible for the maintenance work

MA/4
To have and to hold……..

MA/5
Congratulations on your Wedding Day

MA/6
To my wonderful husband on our Anniversary

MA/7
To my wonderful wife on our Anniversary

MA/8
To my son and his wife on your Wedding Day

MA/9
To my daughter and her husband on your Wedding Day

GC/MA/10
Here’s wishing you both many happy, magical years together

MA/11
Eat well, sleep deeply, for tomorrow comes…..and it’s all yours!

MA/12
Congratulations on your silver wedding anniversary

GC/MA/13
Congratulations on your golden wedding anniversary

MA/14
Wedding day wishes….Two souls with a single thought, two hearts that beat as one

MA/15
Wedding day wishes…..Two hearts connected by one thread

Hand Made Baby Greeting Cards

Hand Made Greeting Cards

Catalogue Page

£2.95 inc. P&P to UK

Click on image to enlarge

B/1
They are lovely once they are actually in their beds, it’s just getting them there than can be such murder

B/2
What feeling is so nice as a child’s hand in yours, so small, so soft, like a little kitten huddling in the shelter of your grasp

B/3
He makes me laugh and I feel through him that the world can be a wonderful place

B/4
A sleeping child gives me the impression of a traveller in a far off country

B/5
Sleep little baby sleep. The holy angels love thee, and guard thy bed, and keep a blessed watch above thee. The shepherd of the sheep in perfect love have found thee

B/6
Thou, my babe! Shall wander like a breeze, by lakes and sandy shores, beneath the crags of ancient mountain and beneath the clouds. ….so shalt thou see and hear the lovely shapes and sounds, intelligible language

B/7
Babies are born with a need to be loved, and never grow out of it

B/8
Babies are stardust sprinkled from the hand of God

B/9
Let him grow gently Lord, hold his hand and lead him to the light

B/10
Dear Lord, touch him with gentle breezes, hazy days, golden hours

B/11
Scoop up the oceans for her in a shell. Let her riches be remembered. Happy days.

B/12
Dear Lord, give her rainbows. Live merry, love deep. Show her a nest full of sky blue promises.

B/13
Scoop up the oceans for her in a shell. Let her riches be remembered. Happy days.

B/14
Dear Lord, give her rainbows. Live merry, love deep. Show her a nest full of sky blue promises.

'Nigerian' money scam: What happens when you reply?

For anyone and everyone who has had an email offering you pots of money in return for your bank details.... you really MUST read this! lol. Nice one! my sense of humour...Wish I had thought of it first!

The Scam Report Website

Hmmmm wonder what happens when you reply to the ones offering you a larger....errr.... male appendage!



On a more serious note, my brother had an email from his bank (he does a lot of online banking transactions), you think your money and details are safe? NOT SO!
His bank details, his date of birth, national insurance number along with his ID and passwords of every site he had joined was found ready for use by the Mafia in Russia!
This virus was not picked up by his 3 virus and anti spy software programmes, lurks in the background and stores and saves EVERYTHING you type into your computer. The ONLY time his national insurance number had been entered was to check for eligibility of Child Tax Credits, but his bank details were there too. While it is east to change our ID's and Passwords and even email and bank accounts, Name, Addresses and National Insurance numbers along with personal details CANNOT be changed.
Please dear people think very, very carefully before you enter any of this information on the Internet.
The virus is called: the sinowal trojan and was picked up by his bank! I would advise people to do a Google search for it.

This is what his IT guy had to say:
Because it involves the MBR, this comes with the health warning that it MIGHT screw the hard disk and lose all your data so anything important should be backed up first.

Back up and think twice before entering any personal details on line.

To be nobody – but yourself –

Another quotation in my ever growing list that I find 'speaks to me' or is useful for someone close to me that would perhaps gain some wisdom from it....

To be nobody - but yourself -
in a world which is doing its best,
night and day,
to make you everybody else -
means to fight the hardest battle
which any human being can fight,
and never stop fighting.
e.e. cummings

At times in our lives it's hard for us to just 'be' ourselves. We want to be what we consider ourselves, but society 'expects' us to look, act and behave in a certain way. Our job titles predetermine how we should act. I am one of the lucky ones, I'm sure that nutty and artist go hand in hand and could not even consider what my life would be like if I had to sit in an office all day.
To be alternative is only OK with those closest to you and others with similar alternative views.

How often are you really free to be yourself? People love you for 'who' you are not 'what you do', but in today's mixed up society, very often success is measured by wealth and possessions not personality, not unconditional love and caring for our fellow man.
Bring on the old ways. Feel free to be yourself (if you dare), make someone laugh or smile, give them a hug is they need it, and wear the clothes that reflect you! We are on this earth for such a short time, we are here to make the most of things, embrace and grab at every little piece of joy and happiness life can throw at us, so at the end we can look back and know that we lived it to the full.
Love often, play like a child, splash in puddles, roll down hills....
Ask yourself.... how differently would I live if I knew I only had 3 months to live?

You have the freedom to be yourself, who dares wins!

In love and light,
Sue xxx

Quotation

Another Quote came in early this morning....never a true word spoken....

Some people think only intellect counts: knowing how to solve problems, knowing how to get by, knowing how to identify an advantage and seize it. But the functions of intellect are insufficient without courage, love, friendship, compassion and empathy.
Dean Koontz

On my last post I recieved a comment from Denise she says...
Came across your blog because of the google alert service, but just wanted to suggest you try a Bioflow magnetic therapy collar for your dog.

Thanks Demise for being so kind and thoughtfuk. I have contacts in the Natural/Alternative Therapy circles and will get on to this one straight away.
Love and brightest blessings to you,
Sue xxx

Friendship Calligraphy in Frame

It always makes a refreshing change, when a client rings you enough not to need a long and lengthy consultation that we, as calligraphers, never got paid for. Very often it takes longer to discuss a job that the actual execution.
Once again I had a regular on the phone, the brief was simple: This quotation, Golds and silvers as usual and in a gold/silver frame. Oh yes… and this is my budget (ALWAYS HELPFUL to know)

I have put pictures on my blog before of pieces that I have one for her and usually the request is the same, I do however, try to keep them similar, but all different from each other.
One thing is certain… they all contain my trademark ‘squares’.

The mount board was spattered using a toothbrush, with gold and copper gouache paint, then the sprinkling of squares tumbled from the mount, through the work and back on the mount again. Making the mount and work ‘As One’.

And here it is in the frame.

You know you have done a good job

when you are loathed for the piece to go!

Wedding Calligraphy

I don’t know where the time goes to thee days.
As the nights grow shorter my life seems to be hurtling past at the rate of knots.
In this time of economic crisis, I’ve been even more grateful of the work coming in, and far from slowing down it’s got busier!

My latest commission has been the place cards, seating plan and Alphabetical list, as well as the table names. I thought I’d share them with you. Nothing too spectacular, unfortunately Weddings being fairly formal and brides in the Uk still liking the ‘traditional’ rather than contemporary, there is little room for creativity. Still, as long as it keeps the wolves from the door, I’m happy to do this day in and day out if necessary!

Below are the place cards

Large Italic Christian names

with tiny capital surnames.

This solves the problem so often faced by calligraphers of the place cards being far too small for surnames!

Below is the Seating Plan,

there were 2 boards exactly the same, only 1 had an extra table on.

I managed to scan and print the monogram onto a card the same size as the tables so that when they stand together they will look balanced.

and a 3rd board completes the set.
To give you some idea of scale,
the word Alphabet is around 1" high.

Close Up Detail

And this must be my favourite job of all

The Table Names. Also VERY large letters, always a bonus when partially sighted. These are double sided and when you do them you really must make sure they can be read from some distance away.

Chrsitmas Calligraphy Commisions at the studio of Inspired by Script

It’s been a flourish of activity at the studio these past couple of weeks. I so much prefer working to commission that supplying shops who seem to take months to pay their bills despite constant reminders and their promise to pay.
I love dealing face to face with clients looking for something truly unique and individual.

My first commission was a 60th Birthday card. The sentiments were simple, yet personal. It was made in the recipients favourite colours pink and purple.

Next was a concertina Book on Love by Kahlil Gibran,

in creams and gold’s.

And some Christmas cards. These were a mixture of Hand Lettering and font, an ideal compliment to each other. I was particularly enamoured by the 3 page fold and was really please with the overall effect.

It’s some time since I did this style and so often we, as calligraphers get stuck in a rut and use just a very few of our ‘stock’ favourites. I must do more of these letters I love them!
Click on the photo to enlarge to see a closer view.

Lastly, there were some party invitations to make for a company in Harrogate. Now I’m particularly nervous about these as a) I didn’t deal with the client direct, but through a 3rd party and b) the Client has no idea about my work and what we modern day calligraphers ‘do’.

I’m always worried about doing anything too contemporary unless the client fully understands Lettering as an Art Form rather than just neat letters on a page. Hopefully, they will be pleased with the result.

When Magic Happens!

It’s sometimes hard to believe, but I have been a calligrapher for over 20 years now. Where does the time go? You would think that after all that time that there would be no great surprises, nothing new to explore and things would get very mundane… not so!
Every now and then a piece of work will just happen, just work out the first time and surprise even the more experienced creative spirit.

I did this piece as I was trying to learn the words off by heart and I gathered that by writing it out I would commit it to memory, like so many of the quotations that are stored in my memory bank over the years.
I gave very little thought to the piece as I was creating it. Because it was about having no fear of the dark I decided to lay down a watercolour wash and then write the words in black and white to represent the full and dark aspects of the moon. No great thinking there then. However, it was only when I came to photograph the piece and notice it at an angle on the drawing board from a distance that I thought a piece of Transtrace © had been laid over the white letters. Can you see the stripe of what looks like semi-transparent paper over the letters?



I went to move it to find out that it wasn’t there at all but an optical illusion! Here is a photo of the piece side ways on to prove I'm not kidding. Being partially sighted, my eyes play many tricks on me, so I'm sort of used to this... but I think it's clear that this could have fooled anyone....

And if you want more proff

heres an even closer version...

Now that’s magic!

Mysterious Britain

A friend of mine's husband and some friends have just finished launching their new site Mysterious Britain. It's about Myths, Legends and the Paranormal. There's lots of useful information and links, so, if you are interested pop on by to http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/ and say hello!

Creative Bookbinding - Concertina Book Commission

Off all the commissions I get from my website, I find there’s nothing more satisfying than making a Concertina Book, especially when the people who has commissioned it gives me free reign.

Concertina books are easy, some call them Accordion Books. They are quite simply folded strips of paper into an even number of pages with a front and back cover.

Sometimes they have a ribbon running out of the back which is then used to secure the book closed, adding to the anticipation of the recipient when opened.


The poem itself had 6 verses and I decided that I would put 2 verses on each double spread. The writing was completed first and then the background was decorated with chalk pastel, scraped off the chalk with a scalpel and then rubbed in gently for a cloudy effect. This close up shows it in more detail. I cut stars into the concertina itself , along with a heart.

I then decided to make a case for the book to protect it while in transit. The recipient in question is off to Canada so hopefully it will travel well and come out virtually unscathed. The wonderful thing about concertina Books is that they can stand alone and be used as ornaments on a shelf. It will be a reminder that her family is not very far away.

I've included the following photo as it shows the true colours of the cover so much better

However, every job is not without it's problems.... and can you believe that this clasp and fastening took longer to work out and 'do' that Practically the whole book! lol. Ahhhh such things are sent to try us.

The star split pin reflects the stars cut outs inside.

My final idea for the closure was to thread ribbon through 2 brags when the book is inside the beads can be then pushed up to form a tight closure. I'm sure I could have come up with a simpler fastening.... but hey... that wouldn't be so much of a challenge would it?

Easy and Effective Backgrounds for Calligraphers and Artists alike

I am inspired by Autumn. The leaves gently turning from the lush green of the Summer to the variety of greens, gold’s, yellows and reds. Surely Autumn is one of the most colourful seasons of the year.I have blogged about this before, but whenever the muse seems far away I paint backgrounds, it gets the creative juices flowing and stimulates creativity.

I have a repertoire of paint techniques that need no skill, are very effective and make excellent backgrounds useful for both my calligraphy or as use in my bookbinding. I don’t have to think and the pieces virtually dictate themselves. I’m not an artist, I’m a creator so if I can do it anyone can.

I mainly use Acrylic or Watercolour Paint for my background, but this time I decided to use pigment inks which were in powder form and diluted with water to see how they would react.

The first idea is simple and one which I use often.

HERE'S HOW TO DO IT:

You will need Paint, watercolour paper or something substantial that will take a lot of water, decent large round brush (Size 10) and some cling film.

1. Mix your paint to a loose consistency.
2. Throw the colours on in a hap hazard way.
3. Crumple some cling film, open out and lay on the wash

4. leave to dry
5. remove cling film

6. and voila! Instant background!

WARNING: This technique is addictive

so prepare lots of pre-cut paper before hand!

I decided to try this technique with metallic Acrylic Paints… WOW!

And this one's on black paper! Stunning!

Then I used resists. I tried PVA

Liquid Wax

And Pebeo Masking Gum. This is so much more preferable that W7N Masking Fluid as it doesn’t tend to take the paper with it when removed.

Ahhhh happy bunny!