PLAYFULNESS + CURIOSITY Page 10 of 16

Paris story

Posted on 2012-02-28 at 9:28 pm.

Stole away from my desk for a little trip to Paris a week ago, visiting my first ever trade show and trying out my new camera. It was just what I needed, even though it was for ‘work’. I also had the most wonderful crazy serdipitous happening occur, but more about that another day.

All this week I am going to share some photo stories of my wanderings. Forgive me for my lack of words this week – running, running, running – and anyway, Paris doesn’t need words…

More Paris posts here: Parisian markets / Paris story / Les papeteries / Parisian cafes / Paris details / Window shopping in Paris

I was in Paris researching The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design – join us for the next course starting in April!

To do list done. I’m off to Paris

Posted on 2012-02-14 at 3:37 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

Making notes with the help of Pia Jane Bijkerk’s lovely book ‘Paris: Made by Hand’

So excited to be heading off to Paris tomorrow with Rachael Taylor for my first ever design trade show. Love Paris. Cannot wait!

Any recommendations gladly received (especially of the papery or wine-related variety!)

A commitment to myself

Posted on 2012-02-08 at 9:43 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

I’ll admit it, I am a little bit exhausted these days. Believe me I am not complaining – I chose this path and I am so grateful that I am truly doing what I love. I am just making a note to myself that I need to take it a little easier in the coming months, and plan some slow time, not always be running at this crazy pace.

Just as I was in the middle of everything, trying to answer the phone, deal with a technical issue, get on top of my emails and arrange for some new doors for our house before we move in a few weeks, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to find a huge bunch of beautiful white flowers, with a note from my family encouraging me to keep going with it all. Ah my precious family. They could not have timed it better. It was the little lift I needed to bring my energy back up but also to remind me to stop for a moment and literally smell the flowers. Thanks Mum!

I have always been someone who commits 100% and works at 100 miles an hour – which means I have also always been someone who has always found it really hard to take my foot off the pedal and practice gentle self care. So now I have committed to myself that I am going to slow down this year.

Once we have moved to Japan at the end of March I am going to take it easy. For months now it has felt like I have been standing at the door telling the whole queue of ideas waiting outside that they can’t come in yet. I’m not ready. So come the Spring I am going to be ready. I may need to continue at this same crazy pace for a few more weeks but I have cleared my diary from April and I am going to focus on soaking up the sweetness of life in Japan and let new ideas emerge and develop.

I cannot wait.

Weekend book club: Sketching and illustration

Posted on 2011-11-13 at 5:40 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

I have always been a bit scared of drawing formally (still lifes etc) but I hugely admire people who can whip out a fantastic sketch in seconds and would love to be able to do that one day. I do love peeking into other people’s sketchbooks though, and have many books which either display incredible talent or try to help me draw better myself. Here are a few of them…

(PS With ‘Weekend Book Club’ I share a different theme each weekend and archive them on the sparkly new Weekend Book Club page here.)

Beauty in Bloom by Natalie Bloom

Written and stunningly illustrated by the founder of Bloom Cosmetics, this is actually a beauty book but never fails to inspire me.

Tokyo Sanpo (walks around Tokyo) by Florent Chavouet

Having lived in Tokyo for three years I love the memories this book recalls for me. There is incredible detail in the hand-drawn observations, and it makes me want to put a pack of coloured pencils in my handbag and go out right now.

Street Scene by John Lee

This brilliant book shows you how to draw people graffiti-style

Manolo Blahnik Drawings by Anna Wintour

I love fashion illustration and no-one does it quite like shoe-designer extraordinaire Manolo Blahnik, edited by Anna Wintour of US Vogue

‘Fashion Illustration School’ by Carol A Nunnelly

And if you want to learn how to do it yourself, this is a fantastic guide to fashion illustration

‘Zakka sagashi no tabi nouto (notes from my shopping trips)’ by Yuki Fukui

This is a delightful book of handdrawn sketches done by a Japanese girl while out and about shopping

The Creative License by Danny Gregory

A great book for building your sketching confidence

A painter’s guide to the Catskills of Rip van Winkle by Judith Orseck Katz

A beautifully illustrated guide to the Catskill Mountains of New York State, which I picked up on a recent trip there.

‘Drawing on the right side of the brain’ by Betty Edwards

The classic book on how to draw – and it really works.

Previous ‘Weekend Book Club’ posts here: Paper / Pattern. More inspiring books over here!

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The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design Module 1 starts tomorrow! Still time to register if you are quick!

Weekend Book Club: Paper

Posted on 2011-10-29 at 5:16 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

For a while I have been meaning to share some of my favourite books with you. I literally have hundreds, kept in every room in the house. I have decided to split them into themes, and share a different theme each weekend, to share some of the delicious papery works of genius and inspiration I have discovered. I will archive there on the sparkly new Weekend Book Club page here.

To begin with for this week, one of my favourite topics: PAPER…

Perfect Paper by Adeline Loh

Features stunning art works crafted from paper. Love the tactile cover…

Washi no aru kurashi (Living with Japanese paper)

A beautiful collection of unique papery objects for the home, along with features on the makers.

Masukingu teepu de collage (Creating adorable collages with washi tape)

Inspired ideas for crafting with delicious washi tape

Paper Yarn by Uta Donath & co

Lots of fun ideas for crafting with paper yarn.

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Only a couple of weeks to go before The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design kicks off!
Have you secured your place yet? Register here.

Textile study in the mountains of Kyoto

Posted on 2011-10-14 at 8:37 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

(Image via KnitJapan)

Do you remember the thrill of that moment when your acceptance letter for a new school, or university dropped through the letterbox? Well these days it’s by email, but I got the same feeling this morning when I opened up the mail that said I have been accepted* into the Kawashima Textile School in Kyoto for a delicious month studying traditional Japanese textiles, during my time in Japan next year. (*There isn’t actually an entrance exam or anything, but it’s always nice to be accepted!)

KTS is somewhere I have wanted to study for a long time. Besides the alluring fact that the school is nestled in a village in the mountains north of Kyoto, its courses have always drawn me in. I must have read and reread their website 50 times over the last few years, always trying to work out how I could squeeze in the time to go. But now I am going to be living down the road for several months, so it is perfect.

(Image via KnitJapan)

The school – one of the oldest textile academies in Asia – has been teaching textile studies since 1973, and has substantial facilities for dyeing and weaving, including a variety of looms. They teach traditional techniques and culture, alongside modern textile practices. One of the courses will be in English and one in Japanese, so I’d better get learning some textile-related vocabulary before then! The school was founded by Kawashima Textile Manufacturers Ltd and students have the chance to see the company’s specialised textile processes up close. I cannot wait.

So much for my plans to have no plans while in Kyoto next year…

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If you have ever dreamt of seeing your designs on stationery, fabric, homewares or other products, sharing your art through pattern, and monetising your designs this groundbreaking course is for you! ‘The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design featuring Rachael Taylor’ is the definitive guide to becoming a surface pattern designer. Find out more here.

Roadtrip #8: Niagara Falls

Posted on 2011-09-03 at 1:38 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

As one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Niagara Falls is indeed stunning, but I was shocked to see how it has been completely ruined by the ugliness of the city built around it to capitalise on the visiting tourists. Concrete everywhere, huge casinos and hotels and very little else. I had heard a whisper that it was like that, but wasn’t really expecting that people could actually build in such an unsympathetic way next to somewhere so naturally beautiful.

On my travels I have had the good fortune to see the Iguacu Falls in Brazil/Argentina, and the Victoria Falls in Zambia (where I took a helicopter ride over it to see how the falls are really just a huge gash in the landscape – breathtaking). In both cases visitor numbers are high but the locals have realised the value of the natural wonder they have been blessed with and have sensitively preserved it. What a pity the same hasn’t been done at Niagara.

Mother Nature triumphed in the end though – as we were leaving (and as most of the other visitors were arriving), a beautiful rainbow appeared and stretched up into the sky right in front of our eyes. Magic.

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More roadtrip posts here: #1 For the love of travel; #2 Sharks and jellyfish; #3 Boston and Harvard; #4 A fairytale wedding; #5 On top of the world; #6 To Canada, in search of stationery; #7 Japanese paper and pattern inspiration

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“Life-changing”, “Revolutionary”, “Awe-inspiring”, “Transformative“ – just a few of the ways former participants have described the Do What You Love e-course.

Do you fancy some of that in your life? Do you want to get closer to identifying your true passion and finding a way to do what you love, for life? Then this is for you!

The Do What You Love e-course is open for registration now and places are limited so book now to secure your place. This is the last time it will run this year.

This is your chance to join a global tribe of like-minded people who will support and encourage you to find your way.

It could be the most influential six weeks of your life…

Join now!

Roadtrip #7: Japanese paper and pattern inspiration

Posted on 2011-09-02 at 11:02 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Found in this little slice of heaven in Montreal…

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Other roadtrip posts: #1 For the love of travel; #2 Sharks and jellyfish; #3 Boston and Harvard; #4 A fairytale wedding; #5 On top of the world; #6 To Canada, in search of stationery

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“Life-changing”, “Revolutionary”, “Awe-inspiring”, “Transformative“ – just a few of the ways former participants have described the Do What You Love e-course.

Do you fancy some of that in your life? Do you want to get closer to identifying your true passion and finding a way to do what you love, for life? Then this is for you!

The Do What You Love e-course is open for registration now. Places are limited so book now to secure your place. This is the last time it will run this year.

This is your chance to join a global tribe of like-minded people who will support and encourage you to find your way.

It could be the most influential six weeks of your life… Join now!

Roadtrip #3: Boston & Harvard

Posted on 2011-08-26 at 9:34 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

I normally steer clear of tours, but I couldn’t resist the tour around in Cambridge. Led by a current student, we were given a glimpse into life at one of the world’s most famous colleges.

It is a beautiful campus which undoubtedly inspires academic curiosity. It was fascinating to hear stories of former students – Al Gore, Matt Damon, Mark Zuckerberg and others – and to be treated to stories about the traditions and superstitions.

While we were there a reunion picnic was going on. The average age of participants was over 70, and I only just resisted eacesdropping on their conversations – imagine the lives and experiences of the gathered group of nonegenerians! There is something very special about places like Harvard, which make you want to keep on learning.

We only had a couple of days in Boston at the beginning of the trip.

Unsurprisingly we were drawn to the harbour, and sat happily listening to the tinkling of the yacht masts and the calls of seagulls.

The weather was glorious so we headed out into the Bay in search of whales.

We didn’t find any, but it was peaceful out on the water, and some welcome respite from the steaming concrete.

It was lovely to meet up with Jess Greene of Seek Your Course for an afternoon. We sat at a cafe on Newbury Street, watching the world go by and eating the largest pizza I have ever seen!

The man and I returned to Boston at the end of the trip and explored further – more on that later!

Next stop Concord… for a wedding!

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“Life-changing”, “Revolutionary”, “Awe-inspiring”, “Transformative“ – just a few of the ways former participants have described the Do What You Love e-course.

Do you fancy some of that in your life? Do you want to get closer to identifying your true passion and finding a way to do what you love, for life? Then this is for you!

The Do What You Love e-course is open for registration now. This is your chance to join a global tribe of like-minded people who will support and encourage you to find your way.

It could be the most influential six weeks of your life… Join now!

Roadtrip #2: Sharks and jellyfish

Posted on 2011-08-25 at 7:01 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

I have always loved the ocean. I grew up by the sea, and I find aquariums a kind of blissful escape from the city. While on our recent roadtrip around the US we visited the big aquarium in Boston. It drew us in with its huge central tank that runs over several floors (full of all sorts of ominous creatures – see above!) and its shark and ray touch pool (the rays felt kind of slimy if you are interested!)

But what surprised me was the slightly odd obsession I developed with the ‘moonjellies’.

Glowing an eerie blue colour, they pulsated in the dark waters. Silent, peaceful, squidgily beautiful. I couldn’t take my eyes off them.

I also loved these graceful jellyfish, dawdling along trailing their stings like ink drips.

And of course the penguins are always delightful, although having sat among several thousand on an Antarctic island I would much prefer that they were in their natural habitat…

More tomorrow!

***

“Life-changing”, “Revolutionary”, “Awe-inspiring”, “Transformative“ – just a few of the ways former participants have described the Do What You Love e-course.

Do you fancy some of that in your life? Do you want to get closer to identifying your true passion and finding a way to do what you love, for life? Then this is for you!

The Do What You Love e-course is open for registration now. The adventure begins on September 26 but places are limited so book now to secure your place. This is the last time it will run this year.

This is your chance to join a global tribe of like-minded people who will support and encourage you to find your way.

It could be the most influential six weeks of your life… Join now!