Birthday gifts
So I had another birthday on Saturday, and part of the celebrations were with girlfriends—Carrie and Eleanore—who have been my friends since high school. We don’t like to refer to each other as our “oldest” friends because we don’t consider that a happy descriptor. I like to say they are my longest-lasting friends. And, as the card they gave me stated, “we’ll always be friends because we know too much about each other!”
Two of the many things I love about these women is how well they know me and how supportive they are of me. The gift this birthday was of a journal, but a special journal: it’s made of an old book that was destined to be destroyed. Rather than see that happen, this woman, Margi Laurin, gives them a second life by cutting off the spines, keeping some of the interesting pages (see photo left) and replacing most with bond (or watercolour) paper, and then adding the cerlox (curly) binding. I’ve seen Ms. Laurin at the One of a Kind Show and purchased several of her “books” over the last couple of years and she always has really cool “books” to choose from: old science or math texts, old primers and children’s books, something for anyone’s taste. My friends want to encourage my writing and perhaps even my drawing or sketching, from which I’m really far removed nowadays. But I love this journal and may take up my journaling. Particularly because this book came with a great “Suggested Reading” list from Ms. Laurin. I checked out a couple of the blogs and found two that are amazing! First, I found Moonlight Chronicles by Daniel Price. His site is filled with photos of his journals. He writes and sketches every day and it’s really cool the way his digital site is so reliant on his more “analog” work. No wonder he wrote a book called How to Make a Journal of Your Life. Check him out at http://www.moonlightchroniclesblog.blogspot.com/
The second site I loved is by Danny Gregory, another writer/artist. Although he seems to have just gone on 
“hiatus” from blogging, he has five years’ worth of writing (and art) to check out. I absolutely love his brush techniques and his fantastic watercolour technique. Although I have that lovely watercolour book I bought myself, I don’t have the confidence with that medium to really let loose in that wonderful style he has. I’ve included one piece by Mr. Gregory (right) for reference, but I really want you to check out his site http://www.dannygregory.com/ For anyone else out there who thinks about writing, drawing, painting, or anything creative, check out this site: you’ll be inspired. Danny Gregory manages to weave his thoughts about life, about the creative process, about his family with his painting and drawing and shares it all with the world. The few posts I’ve read make me want to look for one of his books.
“hiatus” from blogging, he has five years’ worth of writing (and art) to check out. I absolutely love his brush techniques and his fantastic watercolour technique. Although I have that lovely watercolour book I bought myself, I don’t have the confidence with that medium to really let loose in that wonderful style he has. I’ve included one piece by Mr. Gregory (right) for reference, but I really want you to check out his site http://www.dannygregory.com/ For anyone else out there who thinks about writing, drawing, painting, or anything creative, check out this site: you’ll be inspired. Danny Gregory manages to weave his thoughts about life, about the creative process, about his family with his painting and drawing and shares it all with the world. The few posts I’ve read make me want to look for one of his books. Again, my fantastic girlfriends know me pretty well: after a night out at one of our favourite haunts, they’ve given me a lovely supportive boost to return to writing and drawing. That’s why they’re my “oldest” friends.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
I took this photo just now, at 6:53 p.m. The book on the left is the one my girlfriends gave me for my birthday; it has bond paper and can be used for journaling. The one on the right is one I bought for myself last year and is made up of watercolour paper.
