One job down!

I will be attending ABC2010  this summer along with several of our guild members from Alphabeas Calligraphy Guild.  One of the highlights of any conference or calligraphic event is the gift bag at registration.  Our small group has decided to donate some items for the "goody bag".

Now, I have always said that I have a lifetime supply of walnut ink crystals.  I just didn't know until now how true that statement was!  really, who needs this much walnut ink - enough (and some left over) for 175 film containers with 1/4 tsp of crystals - enough to make a little bottle of ink for everyone attending to use in class.

no matter what way you look at it, that is a lot of ink!!

Next project is to stitch the same number of small autograph books, japanese bound, to send along for the gift bags. We are planning a work day to do them. Just add it to the list!

The View - no not the one on ABC!

CJ is playing along...........  http://ponyexpressgraphics.blogspot.com/2010/05/window-meme.html

And so it grows!
CJ's friend, Erica, played the window meme today http://onthewritepath.blogspot.com/2010/05/view-from-your-window.html

What's the view from your window? send me your link or your photo to play along.

What is the view from your window?

On a blog I follow... http://intothehermitage.blogspot.com/  I saw a very interesting entry, which she had in turn found on another blog, who found it on another blog.........


What is the view from your window?


Here is the view from my studio window. Notice! it was just after 8 pm and temperature was still quite warm :o)

Send me a pic of the view from your window or post one on your blog! If you send it, I'll post it or link to yours if you'd rather.

Books and letters

Where does the time go? I have actually accomplished several tasks since my last entry. I am part of  "Art Asylum", an artist trading card group and have to mail off 9 cards once a month, following a preset theme.  It certainly makes you plan ahead and get them done!


I thought while I was at it, I might as well have several books ready to stitch together. So far I have two journals that will be almost identical with covers like this:

I thought it would be great idea if I could just use materials, paper, etc. that I already have in my studio... if only that worked all of the time!  I had purchased this paper so long ago that I don't remember where it was from. I think it will make a great cover for a journal.

My other book project is a baby book.  We have a new one coming in the extended family and we hope to meet her or him this summer.  They don't know I am making a book, so if you know them, please don't spill the beans!!  I found some lovely batiked teddy bear fabric that will work for the cover no matter what they have.  Here is a sample of the pages inside:

I like to use Canson mi tientes paper as it is just that little bit thicker and will hopefully wear well with use.  I use walnut ink and just draw the lines in with pencil.  Really, who carries an eraser around with them? how will those lines disappear?!

And finally for today, I have still been working on my letter project. I have another D to share.  I decided the other day that as I have been asked to teach a Decorated Versal class in the fall, that these letters would be better in a sketch book all to themselves. That way I can share them but not all my other ramblings.  I'm almost done all 26 and will get some more up here soon.  Yes! today I went and bought a scanner. It isn't anything special, it just scans. That's all I really needed and missed a lot!

I found a great quote the other day while looking for one for ATCs - the theme for June is Love.  I know it doesn't refer to lettering but highly appropriate for calligraphers, don't you think?!

"I loved words. I love to sing them and speak them and even now, I must admit,

 I have fallen into the joy of writing them."

Ann Rice

It must be Spring!

Where does the time go?!
We are enjoying some wonderful flowers in the garden, mostly they make up the view from my studio window.

I will try and scan some of the letters I have been working on lately and get them up. Guild members travelling to ABC 2010 this summer are going to donate autograph books to the registration gift bags. The paper is being folded by our member Jo and the cover art work is progressing. The books will be Japanese stab bound very similar to the donations Molly and I made to the ABC 2000 gift bags.  I said that I would also donate a handmade journal for their silent auction - paper is torn and folded, covers have been done and I shopped for inside papers to use when Erin and I went to Seattle for her birthday. So many projects! no wonder I can't see the top of my desk for paper and tools!

Although we won't hear until mid June what classes we have at the conference this summer, I have had to book things like a rental car, and extra night on campus and we are currently trying to decide what hotel to stay at close to the airport so all of us can be on time for our flights home.  Glad we aren't headed there today, there was snow overnight in Calgary!

Yellowpoint

Every March the Fairbank Calligraphy Society in Victoria, BC have their annual retreat to Yellowpoint Lodge. http://www.yellowpointlodge.com/     
It is an absolutely wonderful place to meet year after year.

The weekend always begins with a 'voyage' for those of us who live on the mainland of BC; a ferry ride across Georgia Strait.  The last three years I have been met at Duke Point by my friend Jeanne who lives on the Island and we drive the few miles south to Yellowpoint.  Down the long driveway and it feels so good to be back.  The days revolve around food and calligraphy!  All the meals are served in the main Lodge and the accommodations are either in the Lodge or in cabins and cottages around the vast property. 

This was Madrona Cottage, our home away from home for the weekend.  It has a large living room with a pullout couch, large bedroom and large bathroom.  The nicest thing was there was a table and two chairs so we could work! Jeanne worked on a watercolour painting she brought with her and I did a bit in my letter a week journal on Saturday afternoon after lunch.

This was our early morning view on Saturday morning.

Another beach view.

I thought that this toadstool, found on a fragile meadow on our walk on Saturday afternoon, could be the inspiration for a children's book.....

Saturday morning is always a 'shareshop' class where most of us there for the retreat meet in the large recreation room downstairs in the main Lodge.  I had volunteered to lead the morning, sharing with everyone the Akim Cursive way of lettering.  I have long used this for writing in my travel journals, discovering years ago that it is a little difficult for just 'anyone' to read over my shoulder!   As the theme for this year was "Journalling", Akim seemed very appropriate.  My emphasis was 'making it your own'.

Did I mention that the weekend revolves around food.....?  Friday evening for dinner we start off with seafood curry, salmon, rice and lemon tarts for dessert.  Breakfast is always eggs any style, bacon, sausage, toast, fruit, porridge, and juice.  Yum.  Lunch is make your own sandwich with croissants, sliced meats, cheese, cucumber, tomatoes, salads and soup.  Saturday evening dinner is always a Prime Rib dinner with yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and vegetables and for those of us who do not eat red meat, we had fresh cod. Dessert was Baklava.  Anytime you might have felt the least bit hungry during the day or evening, it seemed there was always a plate of cookies or cakes or muffins with tea or coffee in the Great Room of the Lodge.   Sunday lunch is a vegetarian lasagne with salad and soup.  They feed us very well at Yellowpoint!

Many years ago, maybe 27 or so, I thought it would be a great idea to hold a raffle on Saturday evening with the proceeds all going to the staff for a tip.  It started out small and not taking up too much time and now it is "the" evening entertainment on Saturday. This year there were 135 prizes to draw for! a great time to spend with everyone sitting around the great room (huge room) with a roaring fire in the fireplace (big enough to stand half a dozen people in) and prizes to win! The staff really appreciate it too.  Next year my friend Pat and I are going to be organizing the raffle.......we did the first one, we thought we should do it one more time! It will take some doing to crazy it up like the ladies who have been doing it for so long but I'm sure we'll manage. We already have some ideas!

The rain held off until we were all on our way home.  Funny how the photos from Yellowpoint just don't look half as warm as the photos from Mexico!

Apologies again for my Photoshop skills on the photographs. I really must start looking for a scanner.

my heart is in Mexico - at least when it is winter at home!

I love travelling to Mexico. I love being in Mexico. And in particular, I love going to the Yucatan Peninsula and being able to see the Caribbean Sea and all the colours it offers.  So already I have strayed from letters to give you a taste of a wonderful place to visit and I am absolutely open to try living in Playa for at least the cold Canadian months...

I sure wish these two trees would thrive in BC!

This is an awesome place to have breakfast!

A holiday is not complete without a visit to the Peanut Pet Shelter and a chance for some puppy cuddles.

http://www.peanutpetshelter.org/

and to think the adorable little puppy in their masthead - Miguel - might have distemper.

That is absolutely heartbreaking. He has been adopted by a couple in the US. They are waiting for their vet's diagnosis right now. Distemper is pretty much unheard of in the US and Canada and that's why the work they do at the Peanut Pet Shelter is so important for Playa del Carmen.

on the beach in Tulum

The beach in Tulum where my friend Heather lives.  Lucky or what?!

What would you give for a view like this?