Introducing Liberty Grove Paper Arts

Welcome Back

Wanted to share this amazing paper artist and her You Tube channel, I was watching their demo of Hedi Kyle’s Diagonal Pocket fold, and just HAD to find out more. Turns out they have, lots of origami and box making videos on the channel too. Some of the videos are made by them others are collections of videos on the topics listed below.

Here are some links to the main channel and the other playlists. See if you find something you want to make too.

Liberty Grove Paper Arts

Boxes Playlist

Origami Playlist

Then I found this bookbinding channel called Vintage Paper designs. I’ll let you know more, when I’ve had a look round the site.

Vintage paper Designs

Best wishes and thanks for reading, see you soon

Billie x

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Lets take craft to another dimension.

Welcome Back and Happy New Year,

How would you like to take your crafting to a whole new dimension? Here are some books to explore, if you would like to try; boxes, pop up creations and kinetic cards. Some are very visual kinds of learning, others more technical. We all learn in different ways so see which suits you.

Taking your creativity into the third dimension.

Recently found Karen Beirstein dies, and tutorials on You Tube and was fascinated. Having joined Craft World forum, and discovering new crafty pals to chat with and SOO much inspiration, some books about the subject are here.

Just getting started?

• The Practical step by step guide to Making Pop Ups and novelty Cards. A masterclass in the art of paper engineering. by trish Pillips and ann montanaro. ISBN13:978-0-7548-2078-9

These next ones are less about a finished project but more about HOW pop ups work

• The Elements of Pop-Up; A pop up book for aspiring paper engineers by David A Carter and James Diaz. ISBN 0-689-82224-3
• Cut and Fold Techniques for Pop-Up Designs by Paul Jackson ISBN 978-1-78067-327-1

Boxes and cards in 3D

Bear in mind that Paul Jackson’s books, are about showing the construction principle and practice. They aren’t books of ‘pretty pretty cards n boxes’, like you see in craft focused magazines or books.

Paul’s books, are absolutely brilliant to learn the principles so that you can make them your own and take them as a starting point for your own projects. This is what the author states as his intention with the books.

• Cut and Fold Techniques for promotional Materials by Paul Jackson ISBN; 978-1-78067-094-2
• Creative Packaging:One piece packaging solutions by Paul Jackson ISBN: 978-988-76087-5-2

So many creative ideas and structures to play with. If you are someone who tends to take packaging apart so you can find out how it goes together then see if you can remake it in other sizes for your projects, then these books are going to really appeal to you.

There are so many ways you could use your stamping and other art forms alongside these 3D forms to create something amazing. Have fun exploring.

Happy Crafting

Billie

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February 2022 Book of the Month; Big Panda and Tiny Dragon

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Here is the book for February, its called Big Panda and Tiny Dragon

This is Amazons picture of the book Big Panda and Tiny Dragon by James Norbury

Author: James Norbury

ISBN: 978-0-241-52932-4

About this book

As the title suggests, it is about a year in the life of a big panda and a Tiny Dragon, who journey together. The book followes the seasons as well as their journey. They share wisdom and experiences with each other along the way. The author found a book on Buddhism, when he was in a difficult place and later joined the Samaritans, taking calls from people reaching out with anxiety depression and loneliness. Later he was inspired to create the images to help illustrate the ideas that have helped him through difficult times in the hope they would help others too.

My experience of this book

The book is full of brush paintings and wonderful wise words, though it can be read quickly. Take your time, savor those words and those images. Take what you need and be present in the moment.

I love the hardbacked version as I like hardbacked books, feel they are easier to prop open, as my dexterity isn’t great.

The illustrations show up well on the white smooth paper, though the paper is quite light in gsm. The font style looks like Times New Roman so it has serifs and the print is quite small.

Snap the ruler of comparison

I have and adore a book called The Boy the mole the fox and the horse. Before I got this book, I was worried I would compare it too much to that book, which I didn’t want to do. There are similarities, but it stands up well on its own as a different book. There are a nice mix of black and while illustrations and others with more colour.

Links

Here is a link to Amazon UK for details about the book. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Panda-Tiny-Dragon-James-Norbury

Personally I found this book comforting and uplifting. See what you think. Do leave me a comment if you enjoy this book. I’d love to hear what you think of it.

Best wishes and see you soon

Billie

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How about a new kind of book club for 2022?

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I have a confession, I LOVE books. I was very lucky as a child that my Mum surrounded me with books and paper and crayons. Now these books were not always new, a lot were pre loved by others she knew and handed round to us to enjoy, keep or pass along.

My dyslexia makes reading novels difficult, so its all in the font as to weather I can read it or not. Kindle was a breakthrough from that point of view, as I was able to make the font larger, spaces between the lines larger, and even have it read aloud to me, so I admit thats the way I go for novels.

Why is this a new kind of book club?

There are lots of book clubs about novels, so this book club is a bit different, this one will be for art themed books, kind books, self care books, empowering books that kind of thing.

The sort of books that make you want to grab your art supplies and get creating. The kind of books you can dip into as and when you have a few moments spare, because not everyone has big blocks of time or capacity to read long posts, or long books.

I know in the past my posts have been really indepth reviews, but honestly, my health issues are making that kind of post difficult now. Instead and to keep posts short n sweet (that’s a first eh!) I’ll keep it minimal. Title, author, ISBN, where to buy and maybe a line or two about why I like it. Then an invitation for you to share your thoughts on the book, if you have it too.

Do you like this idea? Shall I start writting some of these?

Would love some feed back on this, so thought I’d ask while people are maybe not back at work yet.

As a spoonie, I have to plan ahead and write when I can, as I can’t post to order. This will need to be written ahead of time so they can go out in something like a regular slot.

I have some more ideas for the blog, so keep checking back in the coming days to find out more.

Best wishes and thanks for reading, see you soon

Billie x

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Some kind books for anxiety and depression

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I’d like to share a video I made a while ago, where I share the books that I have found good companions for self care when I am struggling with anxiety and depression.

What helps each of us is as unique as we are. What helps me moment to moment varies too. Sometimes a gentle story on a Kindle reading it outloud to me helps, other times I’m looking for an activity, like the art, journalling and so on. I adore the Kate Allan books they have been wonderful for when I can’t process thoughts feelings and emotions and just want to hear words of ecouragement that one day it will be ok, even if it isn’t right now.

Links

Books mentioned in this film are;

• The boy the mole the fox and the horse by Charlie Mackesy
• Everyday Calming Rituals by Tania Ahsan
• You are positvely awesome by Stacie Swift
• You Can Do all Things by Kate Allen
• You’re Strong, smart and you got this by Kate Allen
• 365 Day of Art

I have included links to these books on Amazon UK, but I am not sponsored in any way for this.

And the one I forgot to add in the film is by Johanna Basford

I also enjoy Johanna Basford books, her drawing inky wonderlands is brilliant here is her video walk though of that book. I forgot to add that one in the video I made, this video is JOHANNA’S.

Check out her You Tube channel as she often does video tutorials for drawing and its also soothing to watch her colour in. Johanna Basford on You Tube

I hope you find something here that is helpful, for yourself of someone you know. Please share it so others can find it. If you too, are struggling with your mental health, please look at the post I put up yesterday which has links out to sites of support. Some days we can, some days we can for a little while, and somedays we just can’t. Its not great, its not fun, its not a fad or fashion and for a lot of us its not all over in a month or so. Be kind to yourself when you are struggling. The media says a lot and not all of it helpful. Take in what helps and walk away from the rest. Its such a personal thing as to what each of us find helpful in the moment. This post isn’t trying to tell anyone what to do, say or think, its just sharing what was holding me safely in the moment I wrote it or filmed it.

I own the fact its an opion NOT a fact, and not dummping this opinion on anyone. I hope you find what helps you feel softer, safer and makes this moment feel a bit more possible for you. Stay safe and I hope the day is as kind to you as possible x

Best wishes and thanks for reading, see you soon

Billie x

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Getting tangled in Zentangle

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Here is a picture of a recent Zentangle I drew.

Getting Tangled with Zentangle

I’m learning to Zentangle to help me relax and the principle of doing something repetitively and with no pressure works. The book I’m using is;

One Zentangle a Day book.

Not getting along overly well with it, there are a lot of tangles in it and it has more wording than I’ve seen on previews of other Zentanlge books on Amazon preview, but I’m not sure how and when to turn the card, so kinda winging it. I also get the feeling that the style show in the way it is in the book puts pressure on and leads you to over think things a bit.

I have really enjoyed Tiffany’s tutorials on Zentangle on You Tube as you see the tangle created and are then able to use the design show in a more freestyle way. Have to say I’m on the fence about Zentangle, the relaxation part works but as yet haven’t created something that I ‘love’ at the other end. Maybe because I’m still learning. There seem to be a lot of ‘rules’ about Zentangle which to me flies in the face of it being a calming thing. But hey, I guess The Tea ceremony and calligraphy are also zen like activites and they too have a set way of doing things, so maybe it isn’t so strange.

Do you tangle? Would love to see what you have drawn, there seems to be a wide range of ways people use this art form. If you have found any great tutorial sites do let me know and I’ll try and add them to the Art tab at the top of the blog.

Best wishes and thanks for reading, see you soon

Billie 🙂

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Anna Griffin inspired Notebook

Welcome Back,

Still have yet to finish the Coptic stitched Anna Griffin book I’m working on as I need help creating the hole in the book board covers. In the meantime I’m sharing a picture of another little notebook that I made.

Hand made notebook embellished with Anna Griffin Stamps

This was decorated using Anna Griffin clear stamps from QVC. It’s a quick n simple pamphlet stitched exercise style notebook. Its been ages since I’ve made a book and here we are with three on the go at the same time! Another addictive hobby.

I’ve been using it to make notes of recipe ideas that come on the TV, I used to write them on scraps of paper and either loose them or get cross when they fell out of recipe books that I would randomly stuff them into DOH! So decided it would be handy to have a dedicated book. Once I’ve tried out the recipe and decided it works or any modifications I did, then I’ll write it in clearer handwriting into the hard backed book I’m making. Still waiting on DH for help with the Dremmel 😉

Best wishes and thanks for reading, see you soon

Billie 🙂

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