A simple Baby Birth Congratulations Concertina
Gorgeous baby blue's and the covers have an overlay of very thin Japanese Tissue paper with silver and gold threads
Simple, subtle and cute Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Hand Made Baby Birth Card - Concertinba Book Gift For Baby Boy
Gorgeous baby blue's and the covers have an overlay of very thin Japanese Tissue paper with silver and gold threads Simple, subtle and cute 
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Hand Made Books and Journals
As I was in between jobs and waiting for a paper delivery so I could start with a commission...I made 3 more 'Inspiration Books'.
The idea of these is that they will appeal to the person of which the quotation 'Speaks'.
First off is this gorgeous Blue and Turquoise one with the wording: Be Still, And Listen to the truth
Then this one:
The idea of these is that they will appeal to the person of which the quotation 'Speaks'.
First off is this gorgeous Blue and Turquoise one with the wording: Be Still, And Listen to the truth
Then this one: Let the Beauty of what we love,
Be what we do. Inspirational for any artist or creative person
And the last one:
Blend with the tune of nature, it's magic is everywhere!
All books are:
A5 sized,
Quality Cream Laid Paper,
Hand Bound 200 Pages
and have a beaded decoration to the spine and a lucky charm.
Hand Made Books and Journals
As I was in between jobs and waiting for a paper delivery so I could start with a commission...I made 3 more 'Inspiration Books'.
The idea of these is that they will appeal to the person of which the quotation 'Speaks'.
The idea of these is that they will appeal to the person of which the quotation 'Speaks'.
First off is this gorgeous Blue and Turquoise one with the wording:
Be Still,
And Listen to the truth
Then this one:Let the Beauty of what we love,
Be what we do.
Inspirational for any artist or creative person
And the last one:Blend with the tune of nature,
it's magic is everywhere!
All books are:
A5 sized,
Quality Cream Laid Paper,
Hand Bound
200 Pages
and have a beaded decoration to the spine and a lucky charm.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Birthday Idea - Concertina Card
Although this was made for a friend who is seriously ill in hospital, it would work just as well as a novel Birthday Card/Book. It is the usual construction of a concertina card with two single section books sewn in the front and back folded section.
I wanted to write a little greeting at the beginning and added a secret to the back section. Writing the whole thing in a long concertina would have spoiled the surprise.
Quite a twist on the usual construction.
I wanted to write a little greeting at the beginning and added a secret to the back section. Writing the whole thing in a long concertina would have spoiled the surprise.Quite a twist on the usual construction.
Birthday Idea - Concertina Card
Although this was made for a friend who is seriously ill in hospital, it would work just as well as a novel Birthday Card/Book.
It is the usual construction of a concertina card with two single section books sewn in the front and back folded section.
I wanted to write a little greeting at the beginning and added a secret to the back section. Writing the whole thing in a long concertina would have spoiled the surprise. 
Quite a twist on the usual construction.
It is the usual construction of a concertina card with two single section books sewn in the front and back folded section.
I wanted to write a little greeting at the beginning and added a secret to the back section. Writing the whole thing in a long concertina would have spoiled the surprise. Quite a twist on the usual construction.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Calligraphers and Lettering Artists - I need your help
As a footnote to my last post and by way of moving forward into the 21st century......
I have observed over the years that 'we' are natural teachers. All levels keen to show and share our knowledge and experiences with others who show and interest. We are struggling against the tide sometimes to educate the general public, that we do far more than 'certificates' and place cards. We need to be valued and recognised in our own right as Artists who have a wealth of experience, training, blood, sweat and tears under their belts. An the buck starts with the many Calligrpahers and Lettering Artists out there, especially in Blogland, to enlighten the people and explain the ART in your heART. Otherwise calligraphy will forever stay in the minds of some as just a bit of nice writing. So if you are a calligrapher/lettering artist and want to rise to this challenge, add a comment and link to this post and I'll see that you get a mention and link in my side bar.
I have observed over the years that 'we' are natural teachers. All levels keen to show and share our knowledge and experiences with others who show and interest. We are struggling against the tide sometimes to educate the general public, that we do far more than 'certificates' and place cards. We need to be valued and recognised in our own right as Artists who have a wealth of experience, training, blood, sweat and tears under their belts. An the buck starts with the many Calligrpahers and Lettering Artists out there, especially in Blogland, to enlighten the people and explain the ART in your heART. Otherwise calligraphy will forever stay in the minds of some as just a bit of nice writing. So if you are a calligrapher/lettering artist and want to rise to this challenge, add a comment and link to this post and I'll see that you get a mention and link in my side bar.
Calligraphy and Lettering Art - From then to now - VERY LONG
I’ve been a Calligrapher for over 20 years….OK I wouldn’t really call myself a ‘calligrapher’ for a least the first 7 years but I had a love and a passion for mark making on paper.
Perhaps being told by my art teacher that it would be a waste of time pursuing Art at ‘O’ level and even less of a chance that I would become a Graphic Designer put a spanner in the works for me and I took ‘O’ level Physics instead (even more of a waste of time – except I can wire a plug!).
Little did I know when I picked up that first pen and dipped it into the ink, slavishly copying letters and attending numerous workshops by some of the top calligraphers in their field and ending up with a career that has spanned more than 2 decades.
I trained as a formal calligrapher. We analysed manuscripts, slavishly copied and tried to emulate the scribes of old, learned and processed the long and valuable history attached to the wonderful letters created over the many years, from the time that ‘writing’ as we know it began. And, not only calligraphy as we know it today, made with a broad edged tool, but we had to learn lettering as created by stone masons, wood carvers, pointed pen lettering from the cursive styles… it was a long and sometimes arduous road and sometimes without an end in sight. We looked at brush lettering of the Chinese Scribes and Islamic Calligraphers, from silk painted letters to the temples of Islam. The journey has been long….and still it continues.
I have done my fair share of certificates, family trees, place cards, heraldic shields and other more ‘usual’ mundane jobs to keep the wolves from the door but there came a time when calligraphy elevated into something greater than just a neat, formal letters on a sheet of paper. The word ‘Lettering Artist’ was given to me by my friend Michael Clarke from the US. I’d never looked at letters in this way before. Slavishly following exemplars became monotonous. By a stroke of luck I heard that he was visiting the UK to see a friend and took the bull by the horns and asked if he would honour us with a workshop. Amazingly he agreed and we ended up running a full weeks Summer School and the first US Calligrapher to visit and teach in the UK as far as I’m aware. Michael and I are still in contact periodically and I owe him a lot.
Then there was another calligrapher from the US Rob Leuschke who was coming over here soon after and I promptly wrote to him and asked if he would give my local group the pleasure of a 2 day workshop….he did!
The two workshops were different to each other in that Michael taught us how to use more unconventional pens than we were used to in the UK and took us away from the standard broad edged pen, Rob also showed us unconventional pens along with unconventional letters and while he was with us talked a lot about marketing our work and services. Both Michael and Rob are also Type designers.
Strangely the Americans have always been way ahead when it comes to lettering. In the Uk we tend towards ‘formality’, American Calligraphers are far more freer with their lettering and see calligraphy and lettering more as a marketable Art Form as opposed to the British who look at it more as a craft.
For the last 12 – 15 years Calligraphers have wanted recognition in the Art world. Most of us believe that we are not taken seriously for the Art side of our Craft. For years the debate has gone on over whether Calligraphy is an Art or a Craft. Certainly when you are learning it is a Craft. For some people it remains a Craft. There were many hours of practice, keeping the proportions to their correct form, shape, size and weight. Perfection was the order of the day and something to be achieved and strived for at any cost.
The Art side came for me when I learnt that changing any one of those components that formed the traditional and formal lettering…wasn’t ‘cast in stone’ (excuse the pun!) Suddenly combining traditional with contemporary made the work come to life, the letters started to live and breathe, dance about on a page. Although the underlying structure of the letters and my background training gave me a foundation for contemporary lettering…. I was transformed from a mere ‘Calligrapher’ to a ‘Lettering Artist’.
Most Eastern cultures combine their lettering with the spirit of the soul. Hard to describe unless you’ve been there and are an advanced calligrapher or lettering artist. Most of us would agree that it is a meditative process, a time of quiet and inner stillness that connects our core, minds, down the arm and flows out through the hand. The movements of the arm very much connecting to the movements of energy through our bodies. A spiritual experience that’s really difficult to describe to the layman.
Today, the problem comes when we are asked ‘What Do You Do?’ When you answer calligrapher you are met with a blank stare and the reply ‘Oh’. Modern day Calligraphers are so much more than people first realise.
We are: Graphic Designers, Artists in our own right, a lot of us are Bookbinders too, we letter with brushes like sign writers, some carve letters in stone and wood, we design logos and write out poems, we letter on canvas and walls, cloth and glass, so eclectically we are many things. We are Srtists with words and Wrod Artists.
Overall we are creators of a visual stimulus using letters as a vehicle of communication.
Like a spiritual path we are keen to share our knowledge with new beginners and develop, grow and learn from those more experienced. There is no end. Everything is continuous. We never become such masters that there is nothing left to aspire to. We are just as comfortable in a beginners company as a master’s. We make no distinction between the two. No wonder so many Calligraphers and Lettering Artists also follow a strong spiritual path. Calligraphy connects and uses many of our senses at the same time...sight, sound, touch and even small (yes EVEN SMELL - hmmmm freshly ground stick ink - the perfume of the East!).
We are Lettering Artists and Artists in Letters. A superhuman bunch of people, as fascinated with the sound of the nib plopping in ink and the noise as the pen is drawn over a page and we are splashing paint on canvas an lettering with a brush. A totally different tactile approach. We are connected spiritually all around the world. We have formed friendships that have lasted a lifetime and extend our hands and hearts of friendship as equally to brand new beginners of the Craft as much as the Lettering Artists that have dedicated their whole lives and made a living out of it.
We are all equal, we just come from different directions, we are going up different paths and are at different stages in our learning…..but the connection is there. What we call ourselves, be it Scribes, Calligraphers, Lettering Artists is not important, it is of no relevance . What is important is …. We all have the same passion….. We are one!
Perhaps being told by my art teacher that it would be a waste of time pursuing Art at ‘O’ level and even less of a chance that I would become a Graphic Designer put a spanner in the works for me and I took ‘O’ level Physics instead (even more of a waste of time – except I can wire a plug!).
Little did I know when I picked up that first pen and dipped it into the ink, slavishly copying letters and attending numerous workshops by some of the top calligraphers in their field and ending up with a career that has spanned more than 2 decades.
I trained as a formal calligrapher. We analysed manuscripts, slavishly copied and tried to emulate the scribes of old, learned and processed the long and valuable history attached to the wonderful letters created over the many years, from the time that ‘writing’ as we know it began. And, not only calligraphy as we know it today, made with a broad edged tool, but we had to learn lettering as created by stone masons, wood carvers, pointed pen lettering from the cursive styles… it was a long and sometimes arduous road and sometimes without an end in sight. We looked at brush lettering of the Chinese Scribes and Islamic Calligraphers, from silk painted letters to the temples of Islam. The journey has been long….and still it continues.
I have done my fair share of certificates, family trees, place cards, heraldic shields and other more ‘usual’ mundane jobs to keep the wolves from the door but there came a time when calligraphy elevated into something greater than just a neat, formal letters on a sheet of paper. The word ‘Lettering Artist’ was given to me by my friend Michael Clarke from the US. I’d never looked at letters in this way before. Slavishly following exemplars became monotonous. By a stroke of luck I heard that he was visiting the UK to see a friend and took the bull by the horns and asked if he would honour us with a workshop. Amazingly he agreed and we ended up running a full weeks Summer School and the first US Calligrapher to visit and teach in the UK as far as I’m aware. Michael and I are still in contact periodically and I owe him a lot.
Then there was another calligrapher from the US Rob Leuschke who was coming over here soon after and I promptly wrote to him and asked if he would give my local group the pleasure of a 2 day workshop….he did!
The two workshops were different to each other in that Michael taught us how to use more unconventional pens than we were used to in the UK and took us away from the standard broad edged pen, Rob also showed us unconventional pens along with unconventional letters and while he was with us talked a lot about marketing our work and services. Both Michael and Rob are also Type designers.
Strangely the Americans have always been way ahead when it comes to lettering. In the Uk we tend towards ‘formality’, American Calligraphers are far more freer with their lettering and see calligraphy and lettering more as a marketable Art Form as opposed to the British who look at it more as a craft.
For the last 12 – 15 years Calligraphers have wanted recognition in the Art world. Most of us believe that we are not taken seriously for the Art side of our Craft. For years the debate has gone on over whether Calligraphy is an Art or a Craft. Certainly when you are learning it is a Craft. For some people it remains a Craft. There were many hours of practice, keeping the proportions to their correct form, shape, size and weight. Perfection was the order of the day and something to be achieved and strived for at any cost.
The Art side came for me when I learnt that changing any one of those components that formed the traditional and formal lettering…wasn’t ‘cast in stone’ (excuse the pun!) Suddenly combining traditional with contemporary made the work come to life, the letters started to live and breathe, dance about on a page. Although the underlying structure of the letters and my background training gave me a foundation for contemporary lettering…. I was transformed from a mere ‘Calligrapher’ to a ‘Lettering Artist’.
Most Eastern cultures combine their lettering with the spirit of the soul. Hard to describe unless you’ve been there and are an advanced calligrapher or lettering artist. Most of us would agree that it is a meditative process, a time of quiet and inner stillness that connects our core, minds, down the arm and flows out through the hand. The movements of the arm very much connecting to the movements of energy through our bodies. A spiritual experience that’s really difficult to describe to the layman.
Today, the problem comes when we are asked ‘What Do You Do?’ When you answer calligrapher you are met with a blank stare and the reply ‘Oh’. Modern day Calligraphers are so much more than people first realise.
We are: Graphic Designers, Artists in our own right, a lot of us are Bookbinders too, we letter with brushes like sign writers, some carve letters in stone and wood, we design logos and write out poems, we letter on canvas and walls, cloth and glass, so eclectically we are many things. We are Srtists with words and Wrod Artists.
Overall we are creators of a visual stimulus using letters as a vehicle of communication.
Like a spiritual path we are keen to share our knowledge with new beginners and develop, grow and learn from those more experienced. There is no end. Everything is continuous. We never become such masters that there is nothing left to aspire to. We are just as comfortable in a beginners company as a master’s. We make no distinction between the two. No wonder so many Calligraphers and Lettering Artists also follow a strong spiritual path. Calligraphy connects and uses many of our senses at the same time...sight, sound, touch and even small (yes EVEN SMELL - hmmmm freshly ground stick ink - the perfume of the East!).
We are Lettering Artists and Artists in Letters. A superhuman bunch of people, as fascinated with the sound of the nib plopping in ink and the noise as the pen is drawn over a page and we are splashing paint on canvas an lettering with a brush. A totally different tactile approach. We are connected spiritually all around the world. We have formed friendships that have lasted a lifetime and extend our hands and hearts of friendship as equally to brand new beginners of the Craft as much as the Lettering Artists that have dedicated their whole lives and made a living out of it.
We are all equal, we just come from different directions, we are going up different paths and are at different stages in our learning…..but the connection is there. What we call ourselves, be it Scribes, Calligraphers, Lettering Artists is not important, it is of no relevance . What is important is …. We all have the same passion….. We are one!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Increase Your Ranking - How to Improve Your Search Engine Ranking on Google
I'm absolutely snowed under with work, extremely busy and spare time to blog is at a premium at the moment, so apologies for my lack or posting....and my rather weird postings when I do. Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible I promise :o)
In the meanwhile I couldn't help pass on this link that you may find VERY useful How to Improve Your Search Engine Ranking on Google
Also with9in the site is a fantastic section on Blogging
There are many more interesting and useful article and the main URL is www.thesitewizard.com Please visit, it's full of valuable hints, tips and advice....and IT'S FREE!
All good stuff and a real must for all you bloggers and web builders out there
In the meanwhile I couldn't help pass on this link that you may find VERY useful How to Improve Your Search Engine Ranking on Google
Also with9in the site is a fantastic section on Blogging
There are many more interesting and useful article and the main URL is www.thesitewizard.com Please visit, it's full of valuable hints, tips and advice....and IT'S FREE!
All good stuff and a real must for all you bloggers and web builders out there
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
More Pain For Women It Helps You Bond!
I was alerted to a story where a Dr. is trying to get women to abandon the ever increasing use of epidurals during labour and childbirth in the expectation that it will help them ‘bond’ more easily with their child…..you have to be kidding me!
I read this response in an online newspaper that I have been alerted to….The Daily Mash.
Another is the response from women….seems like they want to force a hatstand up Dr. Walsh’s…..errrrm where the sun don’t shine….If I were him I would be VERY AFRAID
Read all about it and more not the usual stoies at READ THE STORY BY CLCIKING HERE …..way to go girls!
I read this response in an online newspaper that I have been alerted to….The Daily Mash.
Another is the response from women….seems like they want to force a hatstand up Dr. Walsh’s…..errrrm where the sun don’t shine….If I were him I would be VERY AFRAID
Read all about it and more not the usual stoies at READ THE STORY BY CLCIKING HERE …..way to go girls!
Saturday, July 11, 2009
From Then To Now
Do you every sit back and travel back in time over your life and wonder, how if you had made different decisions at different times, how differently your life may have worked out?
I often time travel….way back and see that every decision no matter how small and how each even has made me into the person I am and the life that I have now and I am grateful for every little experience that has brought me to here. Sometimes life has been hard, events have caused me to question my faith and wonder ‘why me’. The answers to my questions are always the same….Why NOT! And everything is working out for my highest good no matter how bad, tragic, painful or upsetting they seem at the time. From these things great lessons can be learnt.
Luckily, I have always seemed to have a bounce back spirit. I know that nothing lasts forever. Events, dramas, depression…. Whatever the negative situation you WILL come out of the dark cave eventually. You just have to hang on in there, try your best to go with the flow and wait patiently for time to heal and things to become clearer.
One of the greatest gifts I have in my life is my calligraphy. It ties up my spiritual side of my personality with my creative side. It’s more than a job, a hobby or an interest….It is my life. It’s something that has got me through the darkest and most troublesome times in my life. It brings joy in the creation and manifestation of an idea into a visual form that hopefully will touch others who need it in the same way. Through calligraphy I have learnt more about philosophers of the past, the spiritual teachers the writers of times passed and their words that touch the very core of our souls. More importantly than this I have learnt more about myself, what floats my boat, brings me to tears, makes me laugh and gives me Goosebumps! Through reading quotation books and then trying to find out more about the people who write such profound words I have learnt about Buddhism, Paganism, Druidism and all manner of spiritual paths. Through the philosophers I have learnt a self belief, self awareness and self improvement that has made me stronger in myself and the permission to love and accept myself just the way I am. I have learnt through calligraphy to meditate, contemplate and find that quiet place inside me that looses all fear and judgement of the ‘self’. Through y calligraphy and Lettering Art I capture the essence of what is me every time I put pen to paper. I know that only other spiritual people who have a deep connection in creating and the arts will understand any of this. The ideas, pictures and images in the mind transfer onto paper so that others can effectively ‘read you mind’ creates magic. As artists we need to loose our fear of being wrong. We have to open up our very souls and leave them wide pen to criticism. What is art anyway? What one person loves in a piece of work can so easily be criticised by another. Artists are touch cookies…. We have to be.
Creating a piece of work is like giving birth. From the original seed of an idea comes a concept and many ours churning over what to bring to a piece and what to leave out. The gestation period can be quick and almost instant or slow and progressive. Eventually the work evolves and grows and finally the birth is the completed piece.
I and I know many other calligraphers, have great difficulty letting go of a newly created piece of work….almost like it is a baby and it has to stay with it’s creator until such time as it’s through it’s difficult childhood years being loved and treasured and then eventually l the attachment wanes and you are ready for it to find a new home with new people and to give joy in a new way.
There’s no wonder artists and crafts people connect so much with the ‘spirit’. Their work comes from their spirit, the energy used to create is spirit and the completion itself is spirit. So all you artists and creators out there, loose your fear of being judged, loose your fear of being wrong. Value your self and your work, it is your highest gift. Let everything you make be made with love and joy and the spirit of what you do will be passed on to the person who receives it.
Believe me, your creations are your highest treasures.
WOW! Well that was a bit profound for a Saturday lunchtime! The above post was not what I was going to write about at all. I had no great plan of action on this blog posting and intended to take it down another path….as with many posts (and I’m sure people can sift out the differences) I don’t quite know where that all came from and I'm left slightly bemused! . I’m not sure that I really want to post it now I have re written it….but hey ho….here goes!
Enjoy your weekend everyone.
Brightest blessings,
Sue
I often time travel….way back and see that every decision no matter how small and how each even has made me into the person I am and the life that I have now and I am grateful for every little experience that has brought me to here. Sometimes life has been hard, events have caused me to question my faith and wonder ‘why me’. The answers to my questions are always the same….Why NOT! And everything is working out for my highest good no matter how bad, tragic, painful or upsetting they seem at the time. From these things great lessons can be learnt.
Luckily, I have always seemed to have a bounce back spirit. I know that nothing lasts forever. Events, dramas, depression…. Whatever the negative situation you WILL come out of the dark cave eventually. You just have to hang on in there, try your best to go with the flow and wait patiently for time to heal and things to become clearer.
One of the greatest gifts I have in my life is my calligraphy. It ties up my spiritual side of my personality with my creative side. It’s more than a job, a hobby or an interest….It is my life. It’s something that has got me through the darkest and most troublesome times in my life. It brings joy in the creation and manifestation of an idea into a visual form that hopefully will touch others who need it in the same way. Through calligraphy I have learnt more about philosophers of the past, the spiritual teachers the writers of times passed and their words that touch the very core of our souls. More importantly than this I have learnt more about myself, what floats my boat, brings me to tears, makes me laugh and gives me Goosebumps! Through reading quotation books and then trying to find out more about the people who write such profound words I have learnt about Buddhism, Paganism, Druidism and all manner of spiritual paths. Through the philosophers I have learnt a self belief, self awareness and self improvement that has made me stronger in myself and the permission to love and accept myself just the way I am. I have learnt through calligraphy to meditate, contemplate and find that quiet place inside me that looses all fear and judgement of the ‘self’. Through y calligraphy and Lettering Art I capture the essence of what is me every time I put pen to paper. I know that only other spiritual people who have a deep connection in creating and the arts will understand any of this. The ideas, pictures and images in the mind transfer onto paper so that others can effectively ‘read you mind’ creates magic. As artists we need to loose our fear of being wrong. We have to open up our very souls and leave them wide pen to criticism. What is art anyway? What one person loves in a piece of work can so easily be criticised by another. Artists are touch cookies…. We have to be.
Creating a piece of work is like giving birth. From the original seed of an idea comes a concept and many ours churning over what to bring to a piece and what to leave out. The gestation period can be quick and almost instant or slow and progressive. Eventually the work evolves and grows and finally the birth is the completed piece.
I and I know many other calligraphers, have great difficulty letting go of a newly created piece of work….almost like it is a baby and it has to stay with it’s creator until such time as it’s through it’s difficult childhood years being loved and treasured and then eventually l the attachment wanes and you are ready for it to find a new home with new people and to give joy in a new way.
There’s no wonder artists and crafts people connect so much with the ‘spirit’. Their work comes from their spirit, the energy used to create is spirit and the completion itself is spirit. So all you artists and creators out there, loose your fear of being judged, loose your fear of being wrong. Value your self and your work, it is your highest gift. Let everything you make be made with love and joy and the spirit of what you do will be passed on to the person who receives it.
Believe me, your creations are your highest treasures.
WOW! Well that was a bit profound for a Saturday lunchtime! The above post was not what I was going to write about at all. I had no great plan of action on this blog posting and intended to take it down another path….as with many posts (and I’m sure people can sift out the differences) I don’t quite know where that all came from and I'm left slightly bemused! . I’m not sure that I really want to post it now I have re written it….but hey ho….here goes!
Enjoy your weekend everyone.
Brightest blessings,
Sue
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Michael Jacksons Ghost?
Ok so a bit off topic....in fact a long way off topic, but this was passed on to me by a Friend and paranormal investigator and I must admit it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up!
Is this the ghost of Michael Jackson?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhq9l3c7XgA
Comment and let me know what you think!
Is this the ghost of Michael Jackson?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhq9l3c7XgA
Comment and let me know what you think!
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Hand Made Baby Christening Gift
On of the joys of my career is making special gifts for special people. Claire rang me at the studio and asked me to make a Baby’s Christening Journal for her 6 month old daughter Connie Violet (what a beautiful name) like I had made for her son Oscar James some 3 years before.
The opening page had her name, date and place of Christening on it….
The following Page had a 16 line poem….
Then further pages were added with spaces for the Grandparents photos with comments, Godparents Photo with comments and the rest of the 30 page book was given over to the guests.
The outside covers were white with a splash of pink Japanese Silk paper and a black and white photo of Connie was added.
I added 4 charms to the Japanese Sewn Binding. A butterfly for transformation, a little dolly, A dragonfly for peace and tranquillity and another spiral charm saying ‘Follow Your Dreams. Hopefully this will be a lasting reminder of a very special day.
The lettering was done in a baby pink gouache to match the pink on the outside.
The opening page had her name, date and place of Christening on it….
The following Page had a 16 line poem….
Then further pages were added with spaces for the Grandparents photos with comments, Godparents Photo with comments and the rest of the 30 page book was given over to the guests.
The outside covers were white with a splash of pink Japanese Silk paper and a black and white photo of Connie was added.I added 4 charms to the Japanese Sewn Binding. A butterfly for transformation, a little dolly, A dragonfly for peace and tranquillity and another spiral charm saying ‘Follow Your Dreams. Hopefully this will be a lasting reminder of a very special day.
The lettering was done in a baby pink gouache to match the pink on the outside.Click on photos to enlarge. outside.
If you would like more details of how to commission a book yourself, please feel free to email me at inspiredbyscript@yahoo.co.uk
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Hand Made Wedding Stationery Website
It's been all hands on deck at Inspired by Script and I've been concentrating heavily on my Wedding Website North Yorkshire Weddings Theres still a huge amount of work to be done on it and this has to be somehow fitted in around the many commissions that seem to be coming in at the moment.
I decided to develop a few new ideas for Wedding Stationery, this time with a more contemporary feel. Perhaps they will be slightly off beat for some but I'm sure the days of Cream/Ivory and Gold are numbered. We need something fresh and appealing.
The bright Light Selection follows.....
The envelope or card (if you choose to still put them in an envelope, can be left square or cut into a point. The outer cover is a 3 fold construction and inside is a picture of the particular flower you want (or could be something you provide us with if preferred) and the invite and the photo is then mounted on a bright coloured Canson, textured, cover stock.
The card can then be sealed with a photo stamp and sent as is....without the need for an envelope, thus the card doubles up as the envelope. Choose a contracting colour for the card against the inner mounted photo and invite. The choice is yours and we have a large selection of colours to choose from....one is sure to match you theme.
Here I've shown the purple on green and the green on purple idea, both of which compliment the lavender flowers perfectly.
Choose from mounting your cards portrait (running top to bottom) or Landscape (running side by side)
You can also choose from Small, Medium or Large Photos, making the whole card personal to you and you alone. It depends on your taste.
Of course there is still the option to go more traditional and incorporate a more subtle colour theme if that suits your taste better... Remember all our designs are tailor made to suit you! And if you are happy, we are happy... so give us your ideas You can also choose to have your name printed in beautiful calligraphy on the front.... a guaranteed eye catcher!
You can choose the picture at the bottom and the invitation at the top....
Or the other way round....the choice is entirely yours.
For further details please visit our website at www.northyorkshireweddings.co.uk or email Sue direct at inspiredbyscript@yahoo.co.uk My studio phone number is on the website.
I decided to develop a few new ideas for Wedding Stationery, this time with a more contemporary feel. Perhaps they will be slightly off beat for some but I'm sure the days of Cream/Ivory and Gold are numbered. We need something fresh and appealing.
The bright Light Selection follows.....
The envelope or card (if you choose to still put them in an envelope, can be left square or cut into a point. The outer cover is a 3 fold construction and inside is a picture of the particular flower you want (or could be something you provide us with if preferred) and the invite and the photo is then mounted on a bright coloured Canson, textured, cover stock.
The card can then be sealed with a photo stamp and sent as is....without the need for an envelope, thus the card doubles up as the envelope. Choose a contracting colour for the card against the inner mounted photo and invite. The choice is yours and we have a large selection of colours to choose from....one is sure to match you theme. Here I've shown the purple on green and the green on purple idea, both of which compliment the lavender flowers perfectly. Choose from mounting your cards portrait (running top to bottom) or Landscape (running side by side)
You can also choose from Small, Medium or Large Photos, making the whole card personal to you and you alone. It depends on your taste.
Of course there is still the option to go more traditional and incorporate a more subtle colour theme if that suits your taste better... Remember all our designs are tailor made to suit you! And if you are happy, we are happy... so give us your ideas You can also choose to have your name printed in beautiful calligraphy on the front.... a guaranteed eye catcher!You can choose the picture at the bottom and the invitation at the top.... Or the other way round....the choice is entirely yours.For further details please visit our website at www.northyorkshireweddings.co.uk or email Sue direct at inspiredbyscript@yahoo.co.uk My studio phone number is on the website.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
If it wasn't so serious....you'd laugh your head off!
I'm late catching up with every ones blogs. For a long time now, I've been meaning to alert you to a dear, long time friend of mine CJ. Please go and see her blog CJ's Whine and Cheeze for an amusing look at her trials and tribulations of looking after elderly parents. Please leave her a message of support....She's a gem and takes it all in her stride. CJ, I take my hat off to you my sweet. xxx And her calligraphy blog is at Pony Express Graphics
Another great site that never fails to amuse me is Johnny Virgil's 15 minute lunch. Although only a couple of months ago, when his best friend died suddenly, I thought he would never blog again. Slowly but surely he's coming back into writing again.
Both these blogs show us that even when times are tough and things sometimes feel like they will never get better....the saving grace is to find humour in the mundane and seriousness of life.
Another great site that never fails to amuse me is Johnny Virgil's 15 minute lunch. Although only a couple of months ago, when his best friend died suddenly, I thought he would never blog again. Slowly but surely he's coming back into writing again.
Both these blogs show us that even when times are tough and things sometimes feel like they will never get better....the saving grace is to find humour in the mundane and seriousness of life.
Power Pebbles - Hope, Joy, Love and Peace
Hope, Joy, Love, Peace
Just 4 examples of my Power Pebbles
The journey that each human being makes through earthly existence can have hardship as often as it is touched by joy. When we encounter adversity, the stress we feel can erode our optimism, eventually convincing us that the issues we face cannot be overcome. In truth, there is no situation so dire, no challenge so great, and no choice so bewildering that it cannot be overcome. Though we may believe that all avenues have been closed to us or that our most conscientious efforts will come to naught, we are never without feasible options. The best course of action may be veiled in doubt, but it is there. When we are honest with ourselves with regard to this simple fact, we can overcome anything because we will never stop looking for a solution to the challenges before us. Self-trust coupled with a sturdy plan is the ultimate antidote to adversity’s tendency to inspire disillusionment in the human mind. As difficult as the obstacle plaguing you seems, it is no match for the love of a supportive universe that has been a part of your life since the day of your birth and will be with you forevermore. Try not to be misguided by your fear as this gives rise to the notion that there are problems without solutions. If you believe in your capabilities and dedicate yourself to the creation of some form of resolution, you will be surprised to discover that paths that were once closed to you miraculously open. Even if all you can do is change your perspective to turn an impediment into an opportunity to grow, you will have found the hope that is an inherent element of all hardship.
Remember that your destiny is a product of your own creation. Even when it seems you have nowhere left to turn, there is a solution waiting for you. The only insurmountable obstacles are the ones you create in your own mind—and these can only exert power over you if you let them. Uncertainty will always be a part of your existence, but perseverance and mindfulness will never fail to see you through to the other side of hardship where joy can thrive. Try and remember that no matter what life places at your feet, there is absolutely no situation that cannot be resolved with time, love, and friendship.
Namaste
(The light within me honors the light within you)
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Loreena McKennitt - Dantes Prayer Calligraphy Inspired By Music
CJ posted a very valid question about whether I listen to music while I work, which ties up nicely with this post… so thanks CJ. I thought I would write about my latest piece of work Dantes Prayer by Lorreena McKennitt. I suggest that after you have read the blog post you go back and click the link and listen to the music and lyrics (in a separate window) while you read the lyrics on the photo graphs. They ‘should; be able to be enlarged…I say ‘should’ because one never knows with google! Hopefully his will give you some idea of the ‘Spirit’ and ‘Essence’ that ends up being contained within the piece. First off I type out the lyrics. This makes it personality-less, quite dead and without preconceived ideas. Then while listening to the song over and over and yes over again, I make scribbles on the sheet that probably make no sense to anyone but me. This enables me to get a feel and flavour of the song. Which words need to be large, which words need to be strong, which are quiet, loud, subdued or even extended.
Then comes the colours. Listening through the track again I scribble down the colours that the words bring to mind. This particular piece evolved colour wise all by itself. I must admit I wasn’t expecting a rainbow! A chalk pastel background was laid down and blended carefully. I should tell you at this point that the sheet of paper is a full sized sheet of Saunders Waterford.
It always pays to do a test piece. (Thanks Suzi for reminding me of what I preach to my students!) In this case I had bought new chalk pastels (caran Dache) and it was disastrous! I usually use Inscribe for pastel work and have never ever had a problem. These were greasy and oily and a right pain in the asse to write on. Never mind, we calligraphers have tricks up our sleeves to enable us to write on most surfaces. I cut the pastel back with pumice powder and it seemed to work, albeit with extreme difficulty still and the writing was painfully slow. After starting to write it out I lost patience very quickly and shelved the whole thing and decided to rework the background and start afresh.
When writing the piece out I play the CD, line for line, checking and rechecking for those loud parts and extended words while I write, stopping the CD at every line….just to make extra sure. I don’t always get it right, but that’s all part of being human.
The final touches are when you then incorporate the background music and instruments as part of the whole piece. In this case the piano was symbolised by watercolour squares and the no verbal vocal (don’t know what else to call it!) was shown as a silver thread, running upwards at the rise and downwards at the fall of the ‘whatever you cal it’.
My son has bought a DVD burner and has a video recorder. I really want to have him to video the words, play the music over the top and then edit it as a whole piece. This way the music and the calligraphy become one… and hopefully the effect will be amazing. Overall I love this piece. It’s still new, so it’s my baby and not for sale. It’s proved to me that I can still do large pieces of work despite the difficulties with my eyes and I know that through the music I can make my letter live. This kind of work is specialist. As calligraphers and Lettering Artists we get used to doing the mundane, run of the mill but keeps wolves from the door kind of jobs. This is what we trained over 10 years for! Yes folks you can become a brain surgeon in less time… and it’s a long standing joke with calligraphers. So go on…. What music inspires you? Have you created art to music and if you have, can you link to it on the comments and direct everyone to your blog? Go on, put on some music, pick up your paints, pens or whatever medium you use, dance like a deva and create!And the next 3 pictures are the detail of the whole song, preferably looked at while the song plays in a seperate window..... here's that link again Loreena McKennitt Dantes Prayer.... ENJOY!
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Personalised Baby Girl Poster - The Goddess and the Butterfly
Way back in February I blogged about my newest prints: A personalised Prayer for a baby Girl or Boy. I have been fortunate enough this week to have been asked to do one for a Christening Gift for a little girl ‘Freya’. The advantage of part print, part original is twofold. Firstly from a cost point of view it is much cheaper than commissioning one from scratch, although this can be done if wishes, but secondly and more importantly it gives you scope to add details and specific items that would be meaningful to the recipient, in this case ‘Butterflies’. (Click photo to enlarge)
Freya is the Goddess of love, beauty and fertility. She was said to have blond hair and blue eyes and is reputed to be the ‘fairest’ of all the Goddesses and people prayed to her for happiness in love. She was also called on to assist in childbirth and for the kindness of the seasons. The symbolic meaning of the butterfly is similar across most cultures and time. Invariably, this beautiful Celtic animal symbol represents transformation, inspiration, and rebirth. The concept of rebirth with the Celts is particularly of importance in terms of recycling of life – both in the spiritual and physical realms. Perhaps the bible and the Byrds extol the concept best: "To every season, turn, turn turn." This was an intimate concept with the Celts, and the butterfly – in its miraculous way symbolizes transformation and rebirth.
Further enquiries about this or other items on my blog
contact me at:
inspiredbyscript@yahoo.co.uk
Freya is the Goddess of love, beauty and fertility. She was said to have blond hair and blue eyes and is reputed to be the ‘fairest’ of all the Goddesses and people prayed to her for happiness in love. She was also called on to assist in childbirth and for the kindness of the seasons. The symbolic meaning of the butterfly is similar across most cultures and time. Invariably, this beautiful Celtic animal symbol represents transformation, inspiration, and rebirth. The concept of rebirth with the Celts is particularly of importance in terms of recycling of life – both in the spiritual and physical realms. Perhaps the bible and the Byrds extol the concept best: "To every season, turn, turn turn." This was an intimate concept with the Celts, and the butterfly – in its miraculous way symbolizes transformation and rebirth.Further enquiries about this or other items on my blog
contact me at:
inspiredbyscript@yahoo.co.uk
What is love?
We all love a good quotation that gives us the AHA factor. This is a commission completed last week as a wedding gift....
Love is....
The magical meeting of two souls
Love is....
The magical meeting of two souls
Two souls do not finally meetThey knew each other,
all along
A concertina Book which magically transforms as a hanging. 
A concertina Book which magically transforms as a hanging.
Walnut Ink on Saunders Waterford Paper.
Silver/Aluminium Leaf and gold pen.
Dreams
Below is a simple 4 fold book with hard covers I designed some time ago. This was a prototype and I had full intentions of making them into a series. Something I really must get back to!
Anyone who has a keen interest in Self Developement and Self Awareness can use the lessons learnt to help support and encourage others and in turn pass on the knowledge gleaned to help them follow their dreams....Though you may not know precisely how to ensure that the people around you can freely pursue the paths that have long intrigued them, you can nonetheless provide them with some of the tools they need to embark upon these journeys of achievement.By offering sincere words of encouragement, praise, and support today, you may be able to motivate colleagues, friends, and family to revisit ambitions that they have previously deemed too challenging.
You will likely be surprised to discover that your upbeat words give others the strength to believe that they are capable of making their dreams come true.We can foster the spread of inspiration among those with whom we share our environment by first encouraging others to follow their dreams whenever an opportunity to do so arises and then supporting them in their efforts. Though the positive and optimistic thoughts we share may seem at first to have no effect on those individuals to whom we endeavor to offer motivation, our words can grow in significance as they are incubated in their minds and hearts.
The impact of even a simple compliment or kind word can prove intensely meaningful as most people thrive in an atmosphere in which they know their colleagues and peers believe in their abilities. The support and enthusiastic reception you offer others when they share their dreams today will ensure that you have done your part to encourage them to strive for greatness.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Fear - Choosing a New Response
A little bit of synchronicity going on here. After my post of last night! I received this, this morning from Daily OM and would like to share it with you.....
Choosing a New Response - Common Fears
Everyone has fears—it is a natural part of being human. Fear can protect us from harm by sending a rush of adrenaline to help us physically deal with potential danger. But there are times when fear may keep us from participating fully in life. Once we realize that fear is a state of mind, we can choose to face our fears, change our minds, and create the life we want to live.
Our minds are powerful tools to be used by our higher selves; like computers, storing and using data to make certain connections between thought and response. We have the ability to observe these and choose differently. No matter where the fear came from, we can create new connections by choosing new thoughts. When our souls and minds are in alignment, we create a new experience of reality. This journey requires many small steps, as well as patience and courage through the process. Here’s an example: You decide to overcome your fear of driving on the freeway. Your plan of action starts with examining your thoughts and finding a new way of seeing the situation. When you’re ready, you enlist a calm companion to support you as you take the first step of merging into the slow lane and using the first exit. Your heart may be racing, but your confidence will be boosted by the accomplishment. Repeat this until you are comfortable, with or without help, and then drive one exit further. When you are ready, you can try driving in the middle lane, for longer periods each time, until you find yourself going where you want to go. This gradual process is similar for conquering any fear, but if you find it overwhelming, you can always seek the help of a professional.
You may think that you are the only one with a particular fear, that nobody else could possibly be scared of ordinary things such as water, heights, public speaking, or flying. These types of fears are very common, and you can have great success overcoming them. Remember, it is not the absence of the fear but the courage to take action anyway that determines success. When we learn to face our fears, we learn to observe our thoughts and feelings but not be ruled by them. Instead we choose how to shape the lives we want.
Choosing a New Response - Common Fears
Everyone has fears—it is a natural part of being human. Fear can protect us from harm by sending a rush of adrenaline to help us physically deal with potential danger. But there are times when fear may keep us from participating fully in life. Once we realize that fear is a state of mind, we can choose to face our fears, change our minds, and create the life we want to live.
Our minds are powerful tools to be used by our higher selves; like computers, storing and using data to make certain connections between thought and response. We have the ability to observe these and choose differently. No matter where the fear came from, we can create new connections by choosing new thoughts. When our souls and minds are in alignment, we create a new experience of reality. This journey requires many small steps, as well as patience and courage through the process. Here’s an example: You decide to overcome your fear of driving on the freeway. Your plan of action starts with examining your thoughts and finding a new way of seeing the situation. When you’re ready, you enlist a calm companion to support you as you take the first step of merging into the slow lane and using the first exit. Your heart may be racing, but your confidence will be boosted by the accomplishment. Repeat this until you are comfortable, with or without help, and then drive one exit further. When you are ready, you can try driving in the middle lane, for longer periods each time, until you find yourself going where you want to go. This gradual process is similar for conquering any fear, but if you find it overwhelming, you can always seek the help of a professional.
You may think that you are the only one with a particular fear, that nobody else could possibly be scared of ordinary things such as water, heights, public speaking, or flying. These types of fears are very common, and you can have great success overcoming them. Remember, it is not the absence of the fear but the courage to take action anyway that determines success. When we learn to face our fears, we learn to observe our thoughts and feelings but not be ruled by them. Instead we choose how to shape the lives we want.
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