Friday 29 April 2016

Five on Friday








Joining in with Amy and Five on Friday.

1. I thought I'd mention my love of all things word-related today. Books, writing, handwriting, pens, crosswords, everything. This week was National Stationery Week. And yesterday was Notebook Day. Doesn't get much better than that. The biggest boy understands, he is a notebook person as well. I can rarely sneak one into the house past him. And when we see a notebook shop we draw in a deep breath and I try to stop us from going in. I don't know if I can articulate the attraction. It's the potential I think. I'm a bag person as well. A nice bag, a fresh notebook and a good book and I'm ready to go. I'm particularly fond of the Silvine notebooks, so good to find ones that are Made In England.

2. Continuing my flirtation with calligraphy. I found gold ink in the local stationery shop. Gold! I've just got a dip pen so I'm experimenting with it, thick strokes and thin strokes. It's so tricky at the beginning. I had a lovely hour with the littlest boy tonight though. He likes to do it with me, with his little calligraphy pen that he asked for. It was such a treat to have quiet time alone with him while everyone else was out. It can be quite loud and competitive when everyone is here, but it all calms down when it's just the two of us.

3. I made some of my own stationery this week from a couple of vintage maps I found in the local community bookshop. I cut them up (I know, I know, but there are so many homeless maps out there I think maybe some of them are destined to be other things) into A4 sheets and printed some faint lines on them. I like straight lines, but the paper is too thick to see a guide sheet placed underneath.  A word of warning, one or two of the sheets caught in the printer in horrifying fashion. They need to be as flat as possible otherwise it all ends in disaster. Then I made some envelope templates and did some matching envelopes. I've got a great old book that I'm going to use for envelopes as well. I think. It's actually such a lovely book that I might not be able to cut it up, but it was one I bought for £1 specifically to make envelopes from. We'll see. The biggest boy likes to police me quite closely and he was pretty horrified to see the maps being cut up. And also I opened out an envelope to get a template and he was aghast at that as well. I promised to stick it back together and use it. And when I come in the house sometimes he'll say things like, "Is that another new notebook?" So if I start cutting up books my number may be up.

4. I've noticed quite a few posts about letter writing lately. I have a few friends that I write to from time to time. The bee is on an envelope I decorated for one of them. Letter writing is a slow pleasure. Time to sit quietly and put down news and thoughts and share a little. I often think how wonderful it would have been to have been a lady of leisure back when the morning was spent attending to correspondence with perhaps a quick turn around the shrubbery before lunch. I should like someone to deliver a little pile of envelopes on a silver tray along with a light breakfast first thing in the morning.

5. I'm reading "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society", as recommended by several of you when I mentioned that I was enjoying another book set in Guernsey in the 1940s. It's written as a series of correspondence between islanders and a woman in London. I'm loving it. It's funnier than I imagined but also very moving in its descriptions of the German occupation.

So there you have it. I'm totally immersed in a world of words and ink and letters and writing. It's a dreamy place to be, especially while the weather is so wild. When it warms up I shall venture outside a little more and tackle plant related things, but in the meantime as the hail lashes the windows and the mornings bring frost I'm happy to sit at the table and write. Wishing all a good weekend. CJ xx

51 comments:

  1. Hello, your calligraphy is absolutely beautiful; especially with the colored inks. What a great idea to make your own stationery out of vintage maps. They are so special to send a note to a dear friend. Wishing you a wonderful Friday and weekend, Pat :)

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  2. So many things to love here: gold ink, beautiful map stationery, notebooks (I'm with you on loving a good notebook) and the bee you drew on the envelope is gorgeous; how I'd love to receive something like that through the post. I also love the thought of you and your son sitting down to do a bit of calligraphy together. Have a great weekend. xx

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  3. A light breakfast and post on a silver tray sounds exactly how it should be :) enjoy your weekend xx

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  4. I love your map stationery! I would cover notebooks too. your envelopes are super, and are very fitting for sending letters :-)

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  5. Your calligraphy is constantly improving, this is looking great, love that you are taking us on this journey with you. I totally get stationary love and notebooks and pens and paper, just love it x

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  6. I didn't realise it was stationery week, I am a great fan of notebooks so would have treated myself, any excuse. Your map stationery is amazing such a wonderful idea. I have a couple of damaged books that I am going to have a go at making envelopes with and maybe use as backing paper for card, you really have inspired me. Have a great weekend.

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  7. Silvine notebooks! They hold such wonderful memories for me. Our local shop sold them, so whenever I had to do a school project that was what I worked with. I know what you mean about notebooks though. I can't stop myself when I find nice ones in the shops. Though I never seem to have exactly what I need when I want to start a new project!

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  8. Not sure how I miss national stationery week... I'm totally addicted to notebooks, sketchbooks, any blank books. Like you say, I think it is the potential. I enjoyed reading the Guernsey literacy society too!

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  9. I'm totally with you on the notebooks (having a new, fresh one makes me happy) and I'd love to have been around in the time where it was the done thing to spend your mornings reading and writing letters (well, maybe for a week or so). My eldest son is using maps for his GCSE project – cutting them up and creating collages, all very interesting and creative. I've checked he hasn't pinched any of our precious ones. I enjoyed reading that book very much, too. Have a lovely long weekend. Sam x

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  10. Wow! What wonderful wordy papery inky things! I loved the envelope you sent me (and the letter inside it too of course!). It has been much admired here. The maps are a great idea, although I suspect would be considered sacrilege were I to attempt it here, so I'll just admire yours instead. Xxx

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  11. I am not much of a notebook person, not because I don't like them but because I can't bear using them. Best not to buy beautiful ones.... I regularly iron paper, on a lowish setting with a bit of steam, it works a treat. My little ones don't grasp the fact that a homework folder can be used to keep paper neat and prefer to scrunch it up at the bottom of their bags. I am sure your maps wouldn't mind a bit of steam and heat, and your printer will be grateful. Your envelopes are fun, must make a note of this idea. I enjoyed the Literary Society book very much. Wishing you a happy weekend. x

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    1. I did try a quick iron of a bit of map but it went rather crumply. I may need to try it again and see if I can make a better job of it. The printer was very cross with me and we both ended up all inky. CJ xx

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  12. I too have an obsession with notebooks, my newest one might just well appear in my Five On Friday post! The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society is a great book, I really enjoyed reading that one. xx

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    1. I saw it! It's lovely, and a new bag too, happy sigh. CJ xx

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  13. I think we are all in agreement on the love of pens and notebooks and writing things down. I don't use notebooks for lists or things to do (I keep all that repetitive prosaic stuff in my head as I've always done) but I do love writing down thoughts and memories and lovely bits of other's writing I come across. Today I've copied a paragraph by Jenny Diski in Skating to Antarctica (who died yesterday) that was included in her obituary by Kate Kellaway in the Guardian. Here is just one extraordinary sentence: "It is coloured white and filled with a singing silence. It is an endless ice-rink. It is Antarctic.". Have a lovely weekend CJ.

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    1. Wonderful. I have a place for writing down quotes as well, I love them. CJ xx

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  14. Gold ink, how decadent! You sound in your element surrounded by notebooks and ink, you just need a few seed packets thrown in. x

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  15. That sounds like the best place to be. Throw in a bar of chocolate (messy with all that white space, I know) and it would be perfect. Your calligraphy is coming on a treat (I'm working on improving my everyday handwriting as even I can't read it these days). Byron described his quill pen as 'slave of my thoughts, obedient to my will'. As someone said, just think what he would have been able to do with a Mont Blanc and Moleskine.

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    1. Oh yes, I shall definitely add chocolate next time. Love the idea of Byron with a Mont Blanc and a Moleskine, you have made me smile. CJ xx

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  16. I must admit that I find it easier to keep in touch by email. Using email is more like a conversation which I like. I was taught ti write in italic script at primary school which caused a problem at high school as it was too,slow for note taking.

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  17. Oh how I wish letter writing was more popular today but if it was we wouldn't have much use for blogs, now would we? But, it would be lovely to have both.

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  18. That's all looks and sounds good to me. thanks, and you too. Flighty xx

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  19. Your calligraphy is like a work of art. After your post a week or so ago about calligraphy I found myself browsing the calligraphy books on Amazon. The only thing that kept me from hitting the purchase button was realizing I don't have an artistic bone in my body, and most likely any attempts I would make would resemble a six year old learning how to write.

    Your idea of using old maps was brilliant, even if your printer didn't think so. :-)

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  20. reading your "about" i found we have much in common, i also like to grow things and make things!!! i like this entry, handwriting seems to be a lost art. even for myself, when i "have" to sign my name, i find my penmanship to be terrible!! the papers and images excited me, i love the idea of using old anything.....but the maps was a really great idea!!!

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  21. What a wonderful world of notebooks and letters and writing! I love that your son polices your activities, I guess that it means that you have done a good job bringing him up to treat things carefully and respect them. I just put some old - and not any use to anyone out for the charity shop, not that I had any idea what anyone would do with them, but now I have great ideas for making them into envelopes for my handwritten letters! Thank you for a great idea!! I don't have anyone to watch me opening envelopes to use to make new ones! Thank you for joining Five On Friday, I hope you have a fun weekend! xx

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  22. What a lovely post! I do believe that galligraphy 'absorbs' you and you forget the time and place. Great use for old maps, I love it! Bad weather - inside hobbies. The same here.

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  23. Collecting bags and books and stationary and notebooks and maps and pens and pencils, to capture, create, savor and share words are all favorites of mine as well. Thanks for the map stationary idea. I have some old AAA maps that would be well repurposed that way. I enjoy your story telling very much CJ :) Happy Weekend! xx

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  24. Hello! I totally understand your love of calligraphy...stationery...and notebooks :) I feel I can never have enough :) Now you are entering into the world of calligraphy....beware! once you find so much joy in letters and creating them it is unstoppable....not to mnetion the inks available...oh my gosh! Wait until you discover pearlesent inks....there will be no stopping you...trust me...I am addicted. A wonderful calligraphy teacher who runs classes at The Chantry is well worth a look out for...I learnt the basics from her... and now I cannot stop :) Enjoy!! It is good to know there is another calligrapher...stationery...notebook lover so close by :)

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  25. Your stationary is lovely, a great thing to do for homeless maps. I loved that book, I read it a few years aback and enjoyed every word. I would love to live in Jane Austin times, writing correspondence, having tea and meals served while I took a basket to people needing it down the road.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  26. I adored this post. Every image, every word. I am so with you on all this.. except the son who polices you. He might need a bit of a lecture on who's the boss around there.. LOL!! Send him to me. haha. I think you made fabulous stationery and you deserve more notebooks. I have a similar weakness for stationery shops. Love love love.. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  27. What is it about stationary? I love going into a good stationary shop, though they are few now, but I always come away with something, even if i don't really need it, lol. The gold ink is fab :)

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  28. PS.. I just bought that book on my iPad. Thanks for the suggestion!

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  29. Your calligraphy is gorgeous and gold ink will only make it better. I like letter writing g too, but have only one person I correspond with.

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  30. I also love pens and stationary of any kind. I remember when I was a teenager there was a great stationery shop in Ipswich right near the library. I LOVED going in there, walking around and browsing and, if I was lucky enough to have money, buying all sorts of goodies there.

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  31. So many of the things I love in this post - beautiful paper and stationery, and re-purposing of maps (except in my case, it's old sea charts). The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is one of my all time favorites - I've read it at least 6 times by now, most recently last month.

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  32. all of these things. all of them. all. *sigh*. I LOVE that book...it's a re-read-er for certain. oh happy days...stationery, books, ink, letters....xo

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  33. enjoyed your five on Friday. The stationary is wonderful. New to this blog party, and must say I love all the variety of the group.

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  34. love your five things this week. one of my friends makes things out of maps, they are always so beautiful x

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  35. I'm with you on new notebook, bag and book. I think it must be 'new term at school' thing! And I love maps too. It's fascinating how much information is contained in them through symbols and lines. I like to see how places relate to each other, so much more interesting than a sat nav. Re-homing old maps is a very good idea. :)

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  36. It's so nice to find another Silvine notebook fan. I can't resist them, especially the spiral bound, narrow lined ones. I rarely see them on sale so when I do I can't resist bulk buying them. Goodness knows what I'm going to write in them all!

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  37. I read that book several months ago. I found it a bit hard to follow at first, but then enjoyed it. I enjoy reading about that time period. It seems easy to romanticize the war period when we are so far removed from it now.

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  38. Lovely, all lovely - the words, the writing, the stationery. Those repurposed maps are fantastic. Do you know the blog Kate's Creative Space? She has some fabulous ideas for paper craft - and I suspect shares your love of stationery - and some great tutorials too. Definitely worth a look. Xx

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  39. Your calligraphy is super! Daughter and I have a bit of a passion for stationery. I recently went into our local students' union shop, haven't been in there for ages and came out with several glorious notebooks and coloured pens. Great fan of letter writing too - sent a little letter off to an elderly relative just yesterday - a great way of having all your own say!
    Caz xx

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  40. Oh yes - notebooks! I have a collection languishing in drawers just waiting for inspiration. Your writing is so neat! Left-handedness is my excuse. I must make an effort - a nice new pen and ink might do the trick. Although I'm very partial to pencils too.

    I love the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, a perfect blend of gentle humour and seriousness. Note to self - visit Guernsey one day. And make sure to have a nice capacious bag that fits a book, notebook, pens pencils and all the other essentials. The straps have to be just the right length, and it has to last for ages, I just want one bag really.
    You do write about the most interesting things.

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  41. What a lovely post! I, too, love a notebook, but I have trouble actually using them so they sit in a drawer and are occasionally taken out to be stroked/sniffed. Mad, I know. I love old maps as well and have some waiting to be cut up for craft projects, but I haven't been able to bring myself to do that, either. Maybe you have inspired me. Hope you are enjoying the weekend. x

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  42. What a lovely post. I love notebooks and pens and when we went on holiday recently I took a canvas bag with note book, pens and a book to read, couldn't go anwhere without those. I enjoyed 'The Guernsey Litarary and Potato Peel Pie Society':)

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  43. A post full of things I love! Using gold ink for your writing must be wonderful! I have cut up old maps before to cover the end of box files. I shall have to look at that book recommendation too! Sarah

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  44. Oh CJ I love your calligraphy and the maps, what a fabulous idea! Great post. Jxx

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  45. Oh CJ I love your calligraphy and the maps, what a fabulous idea! Great post. Jxx

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  46. I too have a selection of old maps from a charity shop. National Geographic ones, £1 each. They're just sitting there because I'm agonising over 'upcycling' them. Although I know it makes more sense to put them to good use rather than letting them gather dust.
    I read that book a few years ago and really enjoyed it - one of my favourite eras for literary fiction to be set in. Have you visited the Channel Islands? They're really beautiful. And lucky you, having a local stationery shop! Nothing like that here, although I did receive a nice notebook and pencils yesterday as a birthday present from my fab friend Grace.
    As for quotes - I found some rather wonderful ones last week in - ahem - the cemetery. I do love reading headstones and some of the poetry and epitaphs are beautiful. In fact we used a few lines from John Milton for my mum's: 'And, as I wake, sweet music breathe
    Above, about, or underneath'.
    It was one of her favourites. She was also a big fan of Silvine notebooks - they were always lying around he house when I was little :)
    S x

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