Hand Made Wedding Stationery & Calligraphy Service

It’s that time of the year again, when Christmas is over and the New Year has begun and Brides start planning their Weddings. Almost always, the Invitations are first on their list.

My first Wedding Order has been completed and safely delivered to the awaiting bride.



TThis Invitation is a simple design, clearly understated and printed in soft Grey on a hammered background.

Above is the Wedding Invitation and below is the Evening Invitation



You can see more about previous Wedding Commissions, including Cards, Albums and Seating Plans by clicking on the link to Weddings on the left or BY CLICKING HERE

To order Wedding Stationery or discuss your requirements please ring us on 01609 776 866 or 07816 537 275 Mon-Fri 10am – 4pm or alternatively email me at: inspiredbyscript@yahoo.co.uk  

You can see many more examples of our Wedding Stationery on our sister site North Yorkshire Weddings

Say No To Peace - Framed Original Calligraphy

Anyone with an ounce of compassion in their bodies cannot fail to be disturbed and uncomfortable with the suffering of children right now. The war in Iraq, Afghanistan and now the Earthquake in Haiti. Children are innocent and should not be subjected to the terrible attocities that seem to befall them right now. Often forced to grow up before their time and have to fight for survival.



These thoughts  have played heavily on my mind and I remembered a piece of work I did some years ago…It touched me then as it does now. I still feel the same about the world and how ‘Change’ is nessesary.

The piece itself is 3D. The Dark letters on the Light background are hidden by Light Letters on a Dark background and imprissoned by thin gold threads, somehow representing the fragile strands that make Peace not a thing to be ‘Wished For’ but something that could be so easily remedied if we all stand together.

Say no to peace,

If what they mean by peace

Is the quiet misery of hunger,

The frozen stillness of fear,

The silence of broken spirits

The unborn hopes of the repressed,

 Tell them that peace
Is the shouting of children
The thunder of dancing feet,
And the babble of tongues set free
And a fathers voice singing 

Materials: Cotton Rag, Fabriano 5, Gouache and Gold Thread

Sorry this item is not for sale, but commisions are welcome.

 

Are You Following Your Bliss?

Most artists, writers and creative people share a common bond. A high proportion of creators people are spiritual and connect to something higher or outside of themselves. Some choose to call it deity, some call it their inner soul, others their sprit. Whatever or however you call it, is of no importance, natural creatives ‘know; and share that connection. I’ve pondered over this for a long time and tried to put my finger on how best to describe that ‘inner intuition’ to others. I’ve made a great many contacts, teachers, gurus and co-workers who have put their own slant on it. I’ve found that most of us, meditate, have a close connection with nature and a deep understanding of our ‘selves’ the inner aspects of our personalities that makes us both connect while staying truly unique and individual human beings.

As everyone who is a follower and reader of my blog will be aware, I follow the Turning of the Wheel, the celebration of the ever changing cycles and as the wheel turns so do we, not in a circle as you may think, but in a spiral. And with each turn we have learnt more, developed more and evolved more. Each year comes and goes and hopefully with reflection we can see not only where we have been, but where we are going.

I intend to write a series of articles to help other ‘Natural Creatives’ on their journey and avoid the pitfalls that I have undertaken during my 10 years in business. Feel free to comment, add to or ask questions.. I’ll answer them if I can and find out if I can’t. I’ll recommend books and sites that have been so helpful to me over the past few months. Lets share the journey together. Hopefully I’ll set up a forum sometime soon and we can all get together and network.

Although I celebrate the turning of the Wheel, I find this endless snow and cold tests my faith to the limits and is wearing a bit thin! But the advantage of that is I’ve been able to read more, learn more and understand more the rises and falls of being a Creative Entrepreneur and I’ve made a great many contacts along the way, who happily show and share their techniques and teachings with me and with their permission I in turn will share them with you. I will pull together all many of the beliefs that hold us back from making money from the thing we love to do most. My inspiration will be taken from the many books I have read over the years, from Self Awareness, Positive Thinking, Self Improvement, along with Marketing and Networking ideas and goals.

This is about following your bliss, being true to yourself and daring to dance the dream. Anyone up for this?

Being Authentic

"With courage you will dare to take risks, have the strength to be compassionate, and the wisdom to be humble. Courage is the foundation of integrity." Keshavan Nair

Identity is an elusive concept. We feel we must define ourselves using a relatively small selection of roles and conscious character traits, even if none accurately represents our notion of “self.” The confusion surrounding our true natures is further compounded by the fact that society regularly asks us to suppress so much of our emotional, intellectual, and spiritual vibrancy. Yet we are, in truth, beings of light—pure energy inhabiting physical bodies, striving for enlightenment while living earthly lives. Our true selves exist whether we acknowledge them or not, often buried under fears and learned behaviour. When we recognize our power, our luminosity, and our divinity, we cannot help but live authentic lives of appreciation, potential, fulfilment, and grace.

At birth and throughout your childhood, your thoughts and feelings were more than likely expressions of your true self. Though you may have learned quickly that to speak and act in a certain fashion would win others’ approval, you understood innately that you were no ordinary being. There are many ways you can recapture the authenticity you once articulated so freely. Meditation can liberate you from the bonds of those earthly customs that compel you to downplay your uniqueness. Also, communing with nature can remind you of the special role you were meant to play in this lifetime. In order to realize your purpose, you must embrace your true self by letting your light shine forth, no matter the consequences.

Rediscovering who you are apart from your roles and traits takes time and also courage. If, like many, you have denied your authenticity for a long while, you may find it difficult to separate your true identity from the identity you have created to cope with the world around you. Once you do find this authentic self, however, you will be overcome by a wonderful sense of wholeness as you reconcile your spiritual aspect and your physical aspect, as well as your inner- and outer-world personas. As you gradually adjust to this developing unity, your role as a being of light will reveal itself to you, and you will discover that you have a marvellous destiny to fulfil.

Have the courage to be yourself. Leave behind the fear that you will be judged, you may be, but those who love you, will love you for 'Who you really are, not who you portray yourself to be'.

Affirmation: I step forward, into the light calm and confident in 'who' I am.

I look in the mirror and like what I see!

Grow Your Own Veg!

It’s so much easier in many ways to receive and share information on face Book. Quite often I get links to items I plan to share on my blog, but then feel like I will combine them as part of a post…. Then forget all about it. So, if you have a Face Book account, come and join me and a lot more other ‘like minded folk’ and if you haven’t go and create one.

I saw this and just had to share. I heard about a scheme to take over unused land over a year and a half ago and I must admit I thought the idea was a bit….errrrmmm… unlikely. I mean, no one gives you land and lets you use it for free right? And ironically a plot of land to grow enough food to feed a family is quite simply mad. The area/person ratio…. BUT communally (and my views on communal living are that this is the only way forward for the future – as a collective I mean) yes communally this is doable. I have a group of friend who do this and have done for the past 2 years. Those who can dig, dig… those who can plant, plant… those who can weed, weed….etc. The older one of the group is virtually unable to do much at all, so he has the job of looking after the kids (I did say ‘kiddy entertainer then but it sounded NOT QUITE RIGHT!).

Anyway….for Eco Warriors, who give a toss what they are eating, where it comes from and how it is grown…take a look at this:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jan/04/grow-your-own-unused-land-2030  I think you will find it interesting!

Art Video

I saw this and just HAd to share it...It's B*E*A*U*T*I*F*U*L!

Ahhhh the joy of things to come!

I know it seems like my blogging has been a little bit more than hit and moss at the moment…but I AM working hard behind the scenes, trying to master the art of Wordpress as opposed to that wonderful friendly place Blogspot.

The quotation: “Change is inevitable, struggle is an option” holds no comfort at present and if anyone tried to say this to me I would probably strangle them at the moment J

I have added things, taken them away, moved things and deleted them…almost without knowing why, if and how it happened. My poor long suffering business advisor rings me at night and in his own time to try and sort it out. When I had to email him today to tell him I had somehow deleted (or misplaced) the WHOLE list of shop Categories that took me forever to list…his reply was What the $%&”£*& have you done!  I meekly whimpered… and the Warrior woman sprung to life and I told him that Wordpress could send me over the edge… Why do people laugh when I tell them I’m loosing the will to live? Does no one take me seriously any more?

OK… My hair is purple, my socks are stripy and don’t match, I blow bubbles, order LED Poi (despite almost making myself brain dead with the ones I already have!) I wear bright clothes and twirly skirts, dance when I am alone….dance in public sometimes! And today even demonstrated Yoga in the snow… I was helping someone with a bad back, right? I didn’t do it for laughs….why can’t people take me seriously.

My friends are constantly asked if I’ve lost the plot…the smile (or is it a smirk) and reassure me I’m sane….but would I know? That is the question. People are so kind J

Tonight I fell on the ice, got up, fell again, got up…. And stayed up, with nothing more than a crushed box of cat biscuits. Far from being the graceful ice skater and Dancing on Ice…to be fair I felt a bit of a prat….but sadly I laughed… no that’s not true… the comment should be HAPPILY I laughed!

All this fooling aside… I have blogs to share, wisdom to write and inspiration to give….all in the pipeline. Thankfully my followers from The Creative Spirit are now being redirected… and in time I WILL find out how to put in my Blog Roll and add you once again… I miss you guys….Wordpress is so sterile compared to Blogger, but I need to change for the sake of my business.

I am however Adam Ant that the blog will continue to be an eclectic mixture of fun, wild spirits and seriousness and be the Honest Blog on which I based my award.

By the way, I see Haley at Iridescent Dark has been awarded the Honest Blogger… well done sweetie you so deserve it! And your maturity and Wise Woman ways are far in advance of your age! Brightest Blessings, to you xxx

To be honest... it's been hard leaving Blogger behind, even though all my posts were transferred over to Wordpress, there's a sense of mourning and a feeling like I've left and old comfortable blanket behind.... as with the sun, the warmth and light returns....it's just hard at the moment when I see my business name up there on the banner instead of the Pixie Spirited - Creative Spirit one... 'One feels one has to be far more formal and serious, and behave in a more Professional manner somewhat;.... Hmmmm not really me is it? You can change your clothes and dress how you want....but your soul speaks from the inside... you true authentic self.

And added later: There are things missing! Like where's the bl@@dy spellcheck? And how do I make my text larger? And how can I change the Font to Ariel instead of that awful (should be banned!) Times new Roman??? So many questions, so little time....rambling now to will press the Publish button!... oh yes AFTER I have selected the 25.000 options that I do and don't want to have on this post... ARRRGGHHH wheres the bridge I'm gonna throw myself off!

Just for Today

As many of us are going back to work today, I give you this quote that came from my friend Teri this morning... thanks hun xxx
Whatever you want in life, start today.
Not tomorrow - today. Let it be a small beginning - a tiny beginning.
Your happiness depends on starting today - every day.

Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Lilies are FATAL to cats!

I have just recieved a message and warning from a freind and couldn't believe it... till I read the following Lillies are FATAL to cats!  I ask that if you are a cat owner, you read the link. There is a lot of information on google if you care to research it.

In the hour of Advirsity, Be not without hope,

In the hour of adversity,

Be not without hope,

For crystal rain falls

From dark clouds

I Know I’m not the only one who will breath a huge sigh of relief at seeing the back end of 2009. There’s always a sense of relief and a strange fearful optimism that comes with ever New Year.  Oddly I can never reflect on the old year until I have entered the new. I lost many people last year, mostly people who were too young to die and more than one would think of as being a reasonable quantity in anyone’s book, but a friend put it in perspective when she said, ‘Well you shouldn’t know so many people’, and I suppose proportionally I lost no more than the average man. Ironically, each passing caused me to reflect on the vast amount of friendships I have formed both here and abroad through firstly my Calligraphy and Lettering Art and secondly my Spiritual beliefs. Almost all the connections and friendships made are from one or the other of these parts of me that I feel so hard to separate from the ‘Me’ within, the ‘Self’. When you hold your spiritual practices close to your heart it often challenging to ‘Believe’ that whatever happens, all is working out for the higher good.

Looking inward for a time helps us re-evaluate our goals and dreams. It gives us time to shake off that which is no longer working and reach for that which we truly desire. It’s when things seem at their very worst that we grow the most…. Often in leaps and bounds and looking at what there is to be grateful for can help us push away the negativity that can cripple even the strongest person.

Non of us can go through life without being battered around and punched in the gut now and again, for if we suffer no pain, we don’t know the joy of love. If we do not suffer loss, we don’t recognise and appreciate the gains. All in all, what we need to do during the bad times is hold on tight for the ride and reach out for that glimmer of light in the far distance and watch it grow ever so slowly larger,. Eventually the darkness fades and the light returns anew.

Lets make this year, a year of creativity. One where we fill the world with colour. Make art, make love, make new friends. Loose the fear of your art not being ‘good enough’, the act of creating is enough in itself. Create for the sheer pleasure of making something. Learn a new hobby, walk more in nature, play more and connect with your inner child. Build sandcastles on the beach, blow bubbles in the air, sing, dance and laugh more, loose that fear and above all else, fight adulthood at all costs!

I hope you have made your ‘Wish List’ for the year ahead. Fellow friends and bloggers, leave a comment and link if you publish your list. For those without a blog…. Is it not time to create one?

Bright Blessings,

Sue xxx

Denis Brown New Video

Denis Brown New Video.... well worth a watch!

http://quillskill.com/xmas/2009/go.htm

At last we seem to have sorted out the comments section to the blog.....phew relief!

Anything new is always a challenge, and especially so at this time of the year. I've also added a new header for your questions and answers, eventually I hope to convert this to a message board/forum, which will give greater interaction with my friends, other creatives and my clients....one big happy family!  And in the meantime if you want to join me on FaceBook, I've added my link in the side bar. It's all go, go, go!

Enjoy the video!

Hand Made Greeting Cards added to website

The GREETING CARDS section has been added to my shop!

Yule is fast a coming....What Is Love?

The studio has been busy. Building and designing the new website is a task unto itself. So many decisions to make and the overall look and end result have to be decided upon before you even start. There’s still a lot to add in the shop section and each item listed and categorised correctly to avoid confusion. It’s a steep learning curve.

I have made and finished my Yule Cards…….

 

But the snow has fallen thick and fast; making walking on the icy paths treacherous and nigh on impossible, so whether they will actually reach the post box is another matter.

 

Here is one of a number of canvas commissions I undertook…..

 

The background is Acrylic Paint textured with cling film and the writing is done simply but effectively with silver pen. There is some multi coloured iridescent power on the top for added impact, this is subtle and only shows when it catches the light in a certain way. …ok back to the Website building. 

Dance Like No-ome is Watching...

Work like you don't need the money,
Love like you've never been hurt and
Dance like no-one is watching

I love this quote and I have written it out countless times over the years. I think it resonates with the eccentric, Pixie, alter ego. Side of me. The one where in the right company I’m apt to do something out of the ‘norm’…. but I do have to be in the right company! Life is too short to be serious, embarrassed or shy.
The quotation was brought back to me during a post from The Daily OM, a website that I love for inspirational thinking and so often works in synchronicity with how I am feeling and what I am thinking of at the time. Regular readers of my blog, know how much I love inspiring or self development insights and so I would like to share the post with you….

November 19, 2009
Like No One Is Watching
Shake Your Tail Feathers

Most of us express our distinctiveness in many ways throughout our lives. Although, as we proudly share our offbeat traits and preferences with the world, we take great pains to downplay those eccentricities we ourselves deem odd. Instead of living lives coloured by these quirky impulses, we seek out socially acceptable outlets for our peculiarities. We may not realize that we are editing ourselves in this way because our individual societal awareness is unintentionally attuned to the attitudes of the people we encounter each day. Over time, we have learned to suppress some of the most fun aspects of individuality. To rediscover and embrace these buried traits, we need only ask ourselves what we would do if we knew for certain that no one would judge our choices.

Visualizing this day without judgment can help you better understand the idiosyncrasies that are an important part of who you are but seldom manifest themselves in your existence. Perhaps you secretly dream of replacing grown-up, conservative clothing in favour of a changing array of costumes. You may envision yourself painting your car electric-green, hugging the trees in a crowded local park, singing joyous songs as you skip through your community, or taking up an exciting hobby like fire spinning. Try not to be surprised, however, if your imagination takes you in unexpectedly simple directions. In your musings, you may see yourself doing things such as breaking out in dance or dying your hair a fun colour.

Regardless of the nature of your suppressed peculiarities, ask yourself what is really stopping you from making them a part of your life, and then resolve to incorporate at least one into your everyday existence. Life as we know it is so short. Making the most of years we are granted is a matter of being ourselves even though we know that we will inevitably encounter people who disapprove of our choices. When you shake your tail feathers like no one is watching, you will discover that there are many others who appreciate you because you are willing to let go of any inhibition. By doing this you help others know it is okay. No one else in the world is precisely like you and, each time you revel in this simple fact, you rededicate yourself to the celebration of individuality.

To find more inspiration...go to The Daily OM Website... and indulge yourself!

Quotation - Enjoy...

Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets,
so love the people who treat you right,
forget about the ones that don't,
and believe that everything happens for a reason.

If you get a chance, take it.
If it changes your life, let it.
Nobody said life would be easy,
they just promised it would be worth it

Update on last post

Hi everyone I just want to give you a quick update on THIS POST

I've had a text from Penny this morning and I'm afraid the news isn't good. Trev has cancer of the liver and stomach. She's booked a flight down to Southampton tomorrow, paid for on her mums credit card. Your welcome donations will help go towards paying that back, so thank you so much for those who have so freely given.
As you can imagine she is devastated. I'll know more when I call her tonight as she cannot speak right now.

Much love and bright blessings to those earth angels that made her flight possible. xxx

I Need your help

I belong to a very special bunch of people. They are an eclectic mix of Wise Women. They are Creative Spirits, who have a lot to offer. For probably years I've been thinking of writing a book, but over the last year or so I've been toying with the idea of a collaboration. This collaboration will involve many people who I have grown to know and love through their Blogs, on Facebook and other Creative Groups of which I have the pleasure of being a member of.

The book itself will comprise of Photographers, Writers, Poets and of course all this backed up with Calligraphers and Lettering Artists.

The title of the book is to be something like " Things I have learned so far.... " and I hope the content will reflect and impart words of wisdom and inspiration to uplift the spirit and guide them on their journey.

Full credit to the artists and creators will be given and I will include a list at the back of the contributors Websites or Blogs.

For those who do not consider themselves Artistic, send me a quotation or two. You can send one line or a paragraph, one photograph or a series of photographs.....So whether Writer, Artist, Calligrapher, Lettering Artist, Poet or Creator of any kind,contact me direct on this email: letteringartist@gmail.com to register your interest and I will be in touch in due course. And please, feel free to pass this around to anyone who you think may be interested.

Special Friends - Healing Thoughts

It's hard to believe that a week has gone by when my wonderful friends Amber Moggie and Mr Mog came to visit. They planned to stay overnight but as other commitments took place they only managed a few hours on the afternoon and not nearly long enough for us to fit in all the things we needed to talk about...I do ring her on a regular basis, but it's always nice to catch up face to face. And as usual she came baring gifts....This wonderful nature inspired green shawl and Moebius Scarf in the more wonderful of Autumn colours.
A Moebius is a construction with only one side and only one boundary. The most intriguing structure and fascinating to all who look at it. It reminds me of the chant:
We are a circle, within a circle, with no beginning and never ending.


The gorgeous green bead laden shawl adds to my collection of 4 now (I love them!) and is long enough and think enough to use for when I am sat in my garden during the cooler weather.
Her knitting is made even more amazing when you actually know Amber (not her real name) and realises that for the most part she is in tremendous pain, when sitting or standing, from head to toe, but never do I hear her complain. In fact the opposite. She's a smiler and bringer of joy and inspiration to all who cross her way.
And I've added this picture...I arranged the items on the table and went to get the camera. Just before I took the shot, Blue rushed onto the shawl as she wanted to get herself in the picture and tell Amber that the Moggies in this house love her too.
I think her smiley eyes are saying it all....


Never one to complain about her own aches and pains, she makes these wonderful Elementals, usually to bring love and joy to others.

She is one of the most caring and generous people I have ever met. At the moment the pain is almost too much to bare for her, please I ask everyone who reads my blog to sent some healing light and thoughts to her, in the hope that her pain relief gets sorted out soon... for she is the last person who deserves to be in pain.

And talking of pain...pain comes in many ways....I am at the moment trying to comfort the husband of a dear friend of mine who died 8 weeks ago. He is not dealing with it very well at all. He is exhausted from the constant trips back and forward for the last 6 months of her life. Although she was oozing stomach acid through a hole in her abdomen, created to stop the infection and toxins getting into her blood stream, he never gave up hope that she would eventually come home.

Now he is lost. All the plans and dreams of what they would do when they retire all gone. They have no children and so he feels like life without her is futile. After watching Barbara in pain for so long, he is himself now in pain...of a different kind. Having been through this myself I am doing my best to reassure him and tell him that his pain will eventually heal.

And there's dear Laoi over at Solstice Breamer... who now feels that she shouldn't have spilled on this post about feeling so wretched... and there are other bloggers who are also in a lot of pain one way or another. Please do not feel bad about spilling, that's what we are here for, and why I created The Honest Blogger Award!

To all those and many others, known and unknown to us here on Blogger, I send warm loving light to everyone at present in pain, whether physical or emotional. For pain comes in many guises. Remember, the Sisterhood rocks. Sharing does not make us weak or less of a capable person, it makes us human.

PLEASE NOTE: Blue only stayed on the shawl for the duration of the photograph, then was given a swift foot up the...well gentle hand on the behind... I'm not in the habit of letting my precious shawls being used as a cat bed. FAR too valuable!

So.....Just "What is a Potboiler?"

Well....according to About.com it says that it's work of a low or poor quality, I wouldn't go that far and I've blogged about it on my Inspired by Script Blog.
As I am without a website at the moment and another will take quite some time to redo, I've took to selling my work through my studio blog.

As most of my traffic comes through my Creative Spirit (hello you lovely people and followers xxx) I will inform via this blog when I update....so please forgive the intrusion.

Below are some pictures of my 'Potboilers' for a closer look, do go and have a look at my other blog here inspiredbyscript.blogspot.com

I know that a lot of Creative Folk who have a blog sell their work and are reluctant to blatantly offer their work through their blogs...so I'm encouraging everyone who does to GO FOR IT! There is no need for embarrassed or feel you are being pushy, people have a choice. Who are you to deny them that right?

And here's a closer look....

I would rather spend my money on buying something hand crafted and unique and supporting a fellow artist, so if you do sell, please leave a comment with a link to your blog.

Unfortunately Etsy (although the sellers are worldwide) doesn't get the support and is not really well known in the UK.

Goddess Lovers....just go and have a look at this!

I've known Cari for longer than I care to remember.....12 years at least and possibly as long as 15! Doesn't time fly when you're having fun! We belonged to an amazing bunch of folk, worldwide and all Calligraphers or Lettering Artists and we belonged to a huge group... LONG before Social Network Sites came into being. We formed deep friendships and talked about not only our love of our craft, but our personal family issues too. Since Blogging and Facebook came onto the scene, we have forged even stronger bonds and we are getting closer and even more open about our individual spiritual paths.

For all you Goddess lovers out there (and even those who aren't) go and take a look at this post on Pagan Prayer Books the article is wonderful. What's even more wonderful is the link to The Giaian Tarot with it's gorgeous paintings of the cards, done in a rather unique way, and the descriptions are poetry in themselves and have a lot of inspiration.

Also on Facebook was a link to this book Earth Psalms where the writer Angela Magara rewrites the Psalms from a Goddess perspective. Angela also has a blog at Angela From The Center

Tomorrow I'm teaching at North East Scribes, and so looking forward to it. I hope the Lively Lettering and Contemporary Calligraphy goes down well. It's always inspiring in itself to get together with others and share so creative energy!