News - Notes from a Craft Studio wk1

  How much do you think about what colours to use on your page.   Are you a 'get on with it and get it done' kind of person... do you mull for hours over a layout, moving things around every few minutes before sticking them down? If you're finding it hard to decide what colours to use with your photos, this rule of thumb, and a colour wheel may help. To use the colour wheel, you must first pick your base colour. The best way to find your base colour is to look at the photos you plan to use...

Continuing our theme of alternative scrapbook themes, rather than the chronological events formula, I'd like you to consider making a 'Book of Me'. A book of me is exactly what it says.... make some pages about you.  It could be your favourite flowers, or what you've done in the garden.  Maybe your 10 favourite films and why, or books you've read...  Music you listen to, recipes you love to cook.  10 weird facts about you, there's all kinds of things you could include...   Or think about documenting important milestones in your life, maybe match them up with events happening in...

This week I'm continuing with ideas for alternative scrapbook ideas to highlight special memories. Traditions: Do you have particular family traditions or stories that have been passed down the generations? Memories of your childhood? You don't always need to have photos of the event or person to document them, so don't let that stop you!   Get creative, you could take photos of places, look online for historic images too.  Think about places or objects, or even TV programmes, books or films that have a special meaning?   French skipping anyone?  Playing Cluedo at Christmas?  Blue Peter and John Noakes?   ...

Its lovely to be able to document our happy events and travels, but if you haven't been out and about, or are are looking for some new ideas for pages, here's an alternative to create some meaningful and interesting pages...... Food:  We've been talking over in my Facebook craft and chat group about bacon sandwiches and whether ketchup should be added....  its a contentious subject!.... How about photographing and journalling about your favourite foods, Do you have a weird way of eating something mundane, or perhaps a food that you always serve for someone's birthday? Family recipes passed down through the generations would...

I was thinking this week about an artist I met while I was travelling in Thailand, who taught me a very important lesson about enjoying being in the moment of what we are creating. Nang is an artist in residence at the Hua Hin Artist village, a wonderfully eclectic mix of different creative souls, all encouraging each other and making wonderful art. Over the course of a month or so, we had many conversations about art and craft, and she eventually invited me to add some drawing to a piece she was working on....  I hesitated as I was feeling...