A mindful afternoon twiddling

I’ve recently spent an afternoon doing as what only be described as ‘twiddling paper’ and once again I’ve been inspired by many fantastic paper craft and quilling artists over on Instagram. What they can do with twirls of paper is just amazing, and clearly they’re far from my beginner level.

However, as I’m firmly of the belief that everyone has to start at the beginning, and that starting is better than not I decided to get some pre-cut strips of paper and some basic tools, and try it out for myself.

Now this is clearly where this post strays into ‘all the gear, no idea’ territory but with an online tutorial or two under my belt I was ready to get started.

Rainbow tonal packs of strips of coloured paper pre-cut for quilling

How pretty do all the tonal strips of paper look?

Tweezers, quilling tools and a cork backed guide

This flower template also came with the kit, but was quickly put aside for a more ‘advanced’ day.

Laminated paper with various flower designs for quilling

So how did I get on? Well, I had some success - though not much - and it was a great way to spend an afternoon. I think it’s something I’ll try again and aim to develop further so that I can incorporate the shapes into card making, but in reality I’m a long way off some of the wonderful creations I’ve seen. Thankfully I’m also a realist and realise Rome wasn’t built in a day.

mid and light mauve quilled 'swirls' in a tray with partitions (mostly empty!)

For now though my quilling adventures have been cut short as a plaster on your index finger doesn’t provide the dexterity needed for such detailed craft. I’ll return to this again, soon hopefully. And my finger? Well it’s the most mundane of injuries - a simple, but dramatic, cut through picking up the food processor vegetable slicer the wrong way, ouch. Those blades are sharp, way sharper than I expected!

I was featured on Blogger Showcase

If my train will come

Browsing. It’s a good way to pass some time. For me, I’d always opt for a book shop over a record shop, for MOH it’s probably the other way round. But when we were in Northumberland in the summer neither of us wanted to pass up the opportunity to browse Barter Books on the day we visited Alnwick.

We’d opted to visit Alnwick Castle and then headed into the town and found our way to one of the largest second hand bookshops in Britain, which is also home of the original ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ poster.

The arched 'Barter Books' metal sign above the entrance - on a blue skied summer day
Across the road on a grass embankment is a tall column with a lion on top
Outside Barter Books the old railway station - looking at the old station clock

The bookshop opened in 1991 and as its name suggests was based on the swap system. It opened in Alnwick’s old Victorian railway station, where it remains today. Today the bookshop is made up of seven rooms, and retains the Old Waiting Room as a place to sit, have a meal, read newspapers and enjoy the open fire with a coffee.

Rows and rows of books and bookshelves at Barter Books

A model railway circles above you as you browse the books, and I must admit I became quite taken with it, trying to get a shot of the engines as they passed by. There’s so much more than I can share with you in a single blog post - but if you’re in the area, or close enough to visit, then it’s really a must visit kind of place. But if not, there’s so much more for you to see on their website.

Above the bookshelves among the ironwork is a train track complete with running engines
One of the trains crossing a bridge above me with bookshelves in the background

The books, the building, the trains and the whole ambience was a wonder to experience. And that’s without mentioning the cafe, ice cream bar, the art installations and the poetry on display.

Neon lights in a sun like shape at one end of the building (the lights are mounted on a red background)

SUNSET AND EVENING STAR. AND ONE CLEAR CALL FOR ME! AND MAY THERE BE NO MOANING OF THE BAR. WHEN I PUT OUT TO SEA. - TENNYSON.

The poem 'To Posterity' displayed high up on the wall in Barter books

TO POSTERITY

WHEN BOOKS HAVE ALL SEIZED UP LIKE THE BOOKS IN GRAVEYARDS
AND READING AND EVEN SPEAKING HAVE BEEN REPLACED
BY OTHER, LESS DIFFICULT MEDIA, WE WONDER IF YOU
WILL FIND IN FLOWERS AND FRUIT THE SAME COLOUR AND TASTE
THEY HELD FOR US FOR WHOM THEY WERE FRAMED IN WORDS,
AND WILL YOUR GRASS BE GREEN, YOUR SKY BE BLUE,
OR WILL YOUR BIRDS BE ALWAYS WINGLESS BIRDS?

LOUIS MACNEICE (FROM VISITATIONS, 1957)

We spent a good hour or so here, and could quite easily have spent the same amount of time again. It’s a place you could come back to again and again, and each time find something new to marvel at. And that too is part of what makes it great.

I was featured on Blogger Showcase

Eight autumnal cards

I’ve received my latest box from Cardboys, and again they’re mini pieces of art which will be popping through letter boxes of people I know celebrating over the next few months. As ever for £24 I received eight cards, once again with a thank you card, some specifically for birthdays and others which can be put to many uses.

Two green budgerigars sitting on branches against a light blue oval on a darker blue background

ARTIST: LAURA BARNES

This box covers the three months September to November, so I wasn’t surprised for there to be an autumnal leaf design, which I think is one of my favourites this month.

Green, red, amber and purple autumn leaves on a brown background, with the previous card beneath

ARTIST: GRACIE GERSTMAN

yellow and peach flowers with green leaves on a white background, both previous cards are at the bottom of the pile

ARTIST: REBECCA DIGGLE

I’m not always a fan of more comical designs, but this unicorn pigeon made me smile. I think we all need some unicorn pigeons right now!

On top of the previous cards, a picture of a unicorn pigeon on a pink background with text "hope your birthday is as magical as this unicorn pigeon"

ARTIST: GRACE CHILTON

pastel pink, yellow, red and green splodges creating a flowerlike patter on a cream background

ARTIST: FLORA DUKE

What I like about these is that they encourage me to share them, not necessarily always by post. We don’t need to talk about the cost of postage, but isn’t it always nice to receive something nice in the post?

A hand drawn female wearing a beret, striped top and trousers holding a present behind her back

ARTIST: HOLLIE FULLER

This month though, there was one card that had me considering if I wanted to continue with the subscription. And it was this one. I like the idea and depiction of Party Thyme, but I’m struggling with the typo. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to use this one without pointing out the misspelling, but then again that says to the person receiving it that I think they’re ok to be sent a typo - see, what a dilemma.

A green card of Birthday Herbs with 9 illustrations of herbs, including Party Thyme

ARTIST: GRACE CHILTON

A tiger lazing among golden flowers, and palm trees with a yellow sun on the horizon. The words 'thank you' in orange at the top of the card.

ARTIST: HANNAH GRACE

But then again, one card in what is now twenty four isn’t bad odds, but I know I wouldn’t have bought that card. Thankfully though the last card in this set is a zinger, and I’ll be sorry to part with this one. What would you do about the typo card, I’m interested to know your thoughts.

————

If you want to see previous boxes, read my post from August.