Making Valentine cards

The blogs and websites I read are full of ideas for Valentines Day.  Though we don’t mark the occasion with anything like as much enthusiasm as some seem to do, a card or two is normally sent, especially to friends of the smaller variety.  I don’t think my idea is new or original in any way, but in the spirit of sharing, this is what I’ve done this year.

I found a bag of tiny cards and envelopes in the stash.  Dated 2001, I have no idea if such things are still available, though actually, they’d be a cinch to replicate.

To give an idea of size, I’m working on a cutting mat with a one inch grid.

They’re just over a square inch when folded.

I’ve used patterned origami paper which is plain on the other side.

Folded in half.

Opened, turned over and folded in half again, along the diagonal.

Opened and repeated the fold along the other diagonal.

Then I made that origami fold which creates a triangle, with sides folded in.

I drew and cut a heart shape using the centre as the bottom point of the heart.

I tried to get smooth curves by opening the scissors wide and cutting in one smooth cut rather than snip-snip-snip.

I used a square of my favourite double sided tape on each side of the folded shape to adhere it inside the card.  Stuck one side first

Then opened up, removed the tape backing and folded the card closed.

It fitted snugly within the card – perfect.

Time to write in the greeting.

There.  But the front looked a little empty and needed something.

I have only a large rubber stamp but thought those small motifs would fit well.

 

I inked just one motif using a small “catseye” ink pad

I carefully cleaned excess ink from the adjacent shapes

Then broke all stamping rules by applying the card to the stamp rather than vice versa.  That made sure I got the motif in the right place.

Which looked pretty good, I thought.

Finally, I couldn’t send these little cards in a plain envelope, so tied a ribbon around and glued a small pressed rosebud on the join.

All done – and still a week to go.  That must be a record!

and yet…

However much I adore being out and about, there is nothing to beat an empty weekend at home!

Especially when the weekend happens to be wet and blustery.  What better way of spending a couple of days than staying indoors with a few good books, a couple of new magazines, a fridge full of food and a bit of this and that to play with in the studio?

The Social Whirl

I love it when my diary is filled with days full of fun, shared with friends and family.  This weekend was one such time.

A year ago, Mary tipped us the wink that our discovery  ;-) was to perform in London and we might keep an eye out for concert tickets.  Keep an eye out we did, so carefully that we were the first to book for Friday night’s concert at The Barbican.

So, best seats in the house for the most memorable evening, thanks to “The Dude” and his band.  We heard Mahler’s 9th, which isn’t high on our list of Mahler favourites – or should I say, wasn’t.  The length of the symphony meant that it was the sole piece on the programme and to begin with I wondered if we’d feel a little short-changed.  The tickets were expensive and the effort of getting to the Barbican is considerable. We needn’t have worried, though, because after listening to an hour and a half of the most compelling and powerful, roller-coaster of a journey through every emotion, mood and spirit, neither of us wanted to overwrite that magical final movement.  Indeed, the man himself stretched it out as long as he felt able; the audience and the orchestra left hanging on his upheld baton for a good minute and a half’s silence after the final note had drifted away…before gradually, ever so slowly, the lowering of the arm and the gentle sigh of relief was broken by first a single clap and soon the sound of rapturous applause.

What a night!

Coincidentally, two dear friends decided to hold their joint birthday party on Saturday lunchtime, in the very smart surroundings of The Ivy.  We had a lovely time in delightful company and who couldn’t enjoy a birthday lunch which features Rhubarb Sponge and Custard for pudding?

Not only that, but we were given going home presents too!

We couldn’t leave it there, so a bunch of us went to Les Mis (some for the first time, some for the fourth or fifth!)

Of course, we still didn’t really want to go home…and another birthday was dawning for one of us, so we adjourned to the appropriately named Cafe des Amis where we gently put the day to rest over a plate or two and a bottle or three.

What a grand weekend.

The Fishwives of Billingsgate

We’ve been in London for a few days, celebrating friends’ birthdays and enjoying a bit of Mahler at the Barbican.  On Friday morning, with a bright and clear outlook, we decided to revisit some recent discoveries and add a couple of new ones to the list.  With camera in hand, we set out from our bolthole in Spitalfields and headed towards the area of our photographic walk last December.

What a difference the weather makes.  Last time, it was all rather wet and flat and those reflections in the windows were of grey skies and raindrops.  This time, it was bright and breezy – still cold, but we were wrapped up warm and still reaping the rewards of the porridge we’d had for breakfast!

So, with a spring in our step and Oyster cards in our pockets, we headed for the Docklands Light Railway and for the first time in twenty or so years, decided to explore Canary Wharf.  It’s changed quite a bit in that time and on a busy Friday lunchtime, we appeared to be the only ones with time to spare to stand and stare.

As the hundreds and thousands of office workers hurried around, we admired the details underfoot, taking photographs rather quickly, so as not to get in the way!  These mosaics, beautifully detailed and offering an insight into the history and background of London trades and occupations caught my eye and I made a mental note to return at a quieter time of day to spend longer looking, reading and drawing.

So, taking my photograph quickly, I wasn’t able to capture the wording which surrounds the panel: “The trade in tea, coffee and chocolate created a huge demand for porcelain cups and saucers” 

I did, however, get this one:

“The fishwives of Billingsgate Market had an awesome reputation for their foul language and ribaldry”

I bet they did!

How about “The original Canary Wharf took its name from the tomatoes, fruit and potatoes imported here from the Canary Islands”?

And “Dockers in the carpet warehouse were more skilled in identifying origins than experts in museums”

A total of thirteen panels each one telling a different story – what a great way to record the history of this city.  Sadly, my photographs don’t do the rich colours and beautiful compositions justice, though this gives me a very good reason to return.

I have a sneaky feeling that someone else will enjoy a visit here, too.

But next time, we’ll not come on Friday lunchtime!

Monday Morning Mystery

I am about to begin some work which will take most of the day and trying my best not to prevaricate, I assembled the references I needed.  As I picked up one book, this fell out

The letter isn’t addressed to me, nor to anyone who I know.  I don’t recognise the name of the sender and though I know the location of the address, it’s not near here nor is it somewhere with which I’ve ever had any connection.  The book it fell from was only published in 2008, so quite how a letter dated 1993 is a complete mystery to me.

Now, I really must get on with my work.

You can make the rest of the story up for me!