the power of the heart

I trust so much

in the power of the heart

and the soul;

I know that the answer

to what we need to do next

is in our own hearts.

All we have to do is listen,

then take that one step further

and trust what we hear.

We will be taught what we need to learn.

Melody Beattie

Hand Made Wedding Album

This is the front cover of a Wedding Album I've jsut made. The book is Japanese bound and has crystal beads tied to the spine. The Album is cream, white and gold themed. The whole book had 15 pages all interleaved with Japanese Tissue paper.

The lettering is Gold Gouache and the heart and cross decorations are Gold Leaf.

The opening title page

Second page

Detail of second page above and below

Oscar Wilde Quotation For Thought

This is a picture of a very special tree just around the corner from my studio. Just special because it's old, and craggy and has a very special feeling about it....like a wise old man.

A QUOTE FOR THE DAY....

The true mystery of the world

is the visible,

not the invisible.

Oscar Wilde

A great Greeting Card Blessing

I was sent this quote from Teri Martin (a calligraphy friend of mine) and I thought it was a wish I would like to send everyone who reads my blog....

I hope your dreams take you to the corners of your smiles,to the highest of your hopes, to the windows of your opportunities, and to the most special places your heart has ever known.Author Unknown

Ok...back to work....under pressure from the business advisor who came this afternoon *see previous post*
Ok Jon...I'm on the case! puff pant....

Interesting Creativity Sites

Hi all....no I haven't dissappeared off the face of the earth...just really busy with orders and getting together those darn Wedding Portfolios.
Anyway, I just thought I'd check in and say hi, life is going tickety boo and wanted to share a couple of sites with you...the first one is this
http://www.studioastarte.com.au/ispirato/
another site is http://www.happiness-studio.com/
The happiness studio and for lots of fantastic links that you are bound to get lost in see http://paperfriendly.blogspot.com/
And for all you pagans and spiritual people out there, Tony (my partner) has started his own message board to join go to http://madspider.proboards105.com/index.cgi

Ok I'm off now as I have a meeting with my business advisor from Action For Blind People but I'll be back soon with updates of whats happening.
Keep well and keep happy,
Sue x

Check this out

I was fumbling about....as you do and come across this site Paper Friendly by Nancy Ward. It has a huge amount of links with loads of inspirational stuff to get your creative juices flowing.
Enjoy!

For the Glitter sisters

No I haven't left the country...but I am busy with Wedding Portfolios.....so something to keep you smiling in the meantime!

I recieved this email and thought that the Glitter Sisters amongst you would appreciate it.

the WASH CLOTH [APPARENTLY, A TRUE STORY!]
There is not a woman alive today who won't crack up over this!"I was due for an appointment with the gynecologist later in the week. Early one morning, I received a call from the doctor's office to tell me that I had been rescheduled for that morning at 9:30am.I had only just packed everyone off to work and school, and it was already around 8:45 am. The trip to his office took about 35 minutes, so I didn't have any time to spare.As most women do, I like to take a little extra effort over hygiene when making such visits, but this time I wasn't going to be able to make the full effort. So, I rushed upstairs, threw off my pajamas, wet the washcloth that was sitting next to the sink, and gave myself a quick wash in "that area" to make sure I was at least presentable. I threw the washcloth in the clothes basket, donned some clothes, hopped in the car and raced to my appointment.I was in the waiting room for only a few minutes when I was called in. Knowing the procedure, as I'm sure you do, I hopped up on the table, looked over at the other side of the room and pretended that I was in Paris or some other place a million miles away. I was a littlesurprised when the doctor said, "My, we have made an extra effort this morning, haven't we?" I didn't respond.After the appointment, I heaved a sigh of relief and went home. The rest of the day was normal... some shopping, cleaning, cooking, etc.After school when my six year old daughter was playing, she called out from the bathroom, "Mommy, where's my washcloth?"I told her to get another one from the cupboard. She replied, "No, I need the one that was here by the sink, it had all my glitter and sparkles saved inside it!!!!!

Stars and Strokes

This message is taken from my dear friend Kai's blog and thought it was worth posting to mine...It COULD save a life...so please cut and paste it onto your blog and pass the wprds around.
Bright Blessings,
Sue

The following is from Kai...

In November of 2006, I posted a note to this blog on Strokes as my Grandmother and recently, my mother had suffered one.Please to honour Claire and other stroke victims, learn STARS.If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 999 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher. It might be nothing, but if it is a stroke, 3 hours is the threshold of time to save their life. Please learn these simple signs?STARS: S *SMILE. Ask the person to smile, it they can't or if it's deformed. Call 999 T *TALK . Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) if they cant. Call 999 A *ALERT. Ask them to follow your hand. If they cant. Call 999 R *RAISE BOTH ARMS. If they can only raise one, call 999. S *STICK OUT THEIR TONGUE. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other that is also an indication of a stroke.These are simple things to know, that could save a life. Please print them up and keep them with you.. learn the signs..Thank you!! Peace, Kai

Lettering Art On Canvas

What a way to start the day! A package arrived and I could hardly contain my excitement. Had I won the pools? Lottery? Well I might as well have! Some time ago…a few months in fact…I dropped my 2 favourite nibs on the floor beside my drawing board. Did they fall on the carpet that was put there to save breakages? Oh no! They fell onto the hard lino smashing one and bending almost double the other.
These nibs can only be bought in America and added to that I’m afflicted with being Left Handed so they have to be cut by hand. An email from the company told me that they were not in stock and would be some time…so I have been struggling on for months with substandard nibs and getting more and more frustrated by the day. I have only done calligraphy when absolutely necessary. Anyway, I’m happy to say that they are installed in my pen holders.

Mrs N. called me last night and suggested I do a piece of work to take down to Claire (Anna). Great idea! On the evening before Claire’s stroke she put on her blog a poem that she had written in her new journal. A poem called Why I wake early by Mary Oliver her favourite poet.First I thought about doing this in book form, but I wanted to do something that she could glance at often and would remind her of all the love that has been sent from around the world….so here it is! So my first job with my new nibs is for Claire!


The canvas is painted in Acrylics and the writing is also. I just HAD to add some sparkle and glitter and some sequins for added shine. I did it in wonderful bright sunny colours to light up her day every time she looks at it.
Below is a close up detail shot....can you see the sparkles!

The Artists Survival Kit 100 Ideas Keri Smith

I think this was written especially for me! But Keri Smith has offered this free download for the times when the going gets tough! See and download the survival kit here. And thanks Keri!
Also check out her 100 ideas here

Rag and Bone Bindery Link

For all you Bookbinders out there...I've added this link Rag and Bone Blog to my side bar. It's worth a browse.

Eden Valley Scribes Blog

Some friends of mine are in the process of creating a new calligraphy blog....you can see it at Eden Velley Scribes. There's not much on there at the moment but it will grow in time. Well done Alison for creating this! I first met Alison many years ago....we have worked it out that it was about 16 years ago. Alison came to a 2 day workshop I ran on beginning calligraphy when she was only about 13! now a married woman living in Cumbria, she's an avid member of Eden Valley Scribes and I'm really proud that I inspired her so much that she's still doing it. Thanks Alison for the 'Feel Good Factor' you've given me today!

Hand Crafted, Made To Order, Wedding Album

A couple of weeks ago I was asked to make a Wedding Album for a couple getting married in Costa Rica. The client asked for something to do with the sea as they will be spending time scuba diving. This is the finished album.
The colours I chose are sea greens...not the murky waters from here in the UK but the azure colours of the mediteranian. It is bound in a Japanese style by sewing the spine.


This is a photo of the opening page....not a very good one but the best I could take when the sun was shinning through the studio window!


A close up of the front inscription


And one of the lovely crystal beads and hearts.

Hand Made Wedding Invitations

1 down and 1 to go! I've completed 2 small wedding orders and have another yet to do. I thought I'd share the proofs with you. What's not clear from the photos is the first 2 have embossed hearts on the front....very time consuming but very effective! The reason for the 4 proofs is that each of the 2 designs have 2 different insides, one plain white laid paper and the other is transtrace. The lettering is in brown to match the bridesmaids dresses. Now I just have to sit back and wait for them to contact me with their choice.

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!