The Crafters Gym

Building connections is something I will never take for granted, through calligraphy I have connected with many like-minded people from many different walks of life. Those who love creating for themselves, those who create to socialise, to make gifts for others, or even to build a budding career. Who knew that doing something so simple could allow you to connect to others outside of work and family life! If you'd like to give calligraphy a go, I am releasing tickets this week for 2 new brush lettering classes which have sold out within 24 hours in the past! Or if you have your group of friends or colleagues then I also offer private group sessions, but these are limited now until next year

It’s a sell out!! The first bauble brush pen workshop was announced last night and we’ve already sold out on all the spaces 😍 thank you so much! If you have a group of 6 or more of you interested, I do offer private workshops which is discounted from the usual rate. So please get in touch if your team or friends would be interested in a creative get together over the festive season ❤️

It's coming!! Here's a sneak peek at the introduction for the new Brush Lettering course, designed so that you can learn this skill either by yourself or with friends with lots of short supporting videos! More to come soon 😍

Practice really does make progress! Starting Calligraphy over 7 years ago, I was using the wrong tools, no particular guidance but with time and experimentation, we finally got there! It's the longest I've been able to stick with a single hobby, mainly because you can see your improvements if you document your work plus it is extremely relaxing and enjoyable. Nothing is ever quick, but if you'd like to get good then the best thing you can do is just start 💖

Modern calligraphy is the most versatile creative tool! Not only can you make your notes & headlines a little more fancy with a regular pen but you can also experiment with lots of different types of pens Typically I teach modern calligraphy with a dip pen, but on the 30th Sept I’ll be teaching how you can learn modern calligraphy with a brush pen! The foundations are the same - pressure on the downward strokes to make them thick and hardly any pressure on the upward strokes for thin contrasting lines I also offer corporate group bookings if you’d like to get creative and learn as a team ✒️

Do you feel that constant need to be productive all the time? Not being 'productive' is actually productive - if you're allowing yourself to properly switch off You may give yourself time to scroll, but does that actually make you feel better compared to when you do something mindful with your hands. Doing something with your hands allows your mind to focus on the task at hand, as opposed to the constant thoughts that crop up when you scroll. So the next time you don't have plans and allow yourself some downtime, ask yourself how you want that time to make you feel to help you decide how to use that time

If Albert Einstein did it, we should too! Einstein coined the term "combinatory play." When he encountered a problem in his work, he would step away and play the violin. Sounds counterintuitive, right? By engaging in an activity that was both relaxing and required focus, he allowed his brain to subconsciously connect memories and thoughts in the background, forming original ideas and solutions. These are commonly known as "eureka" moments! When do you think of your best ideas?

'Creativity is experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes & having fun' - Mary Lou Cook I love this quote as it summarises perfectly what creativity is! It also demonstrates that we are in fact all creative, it will just show up in different ways. Whether it's at work or even when you're cooking! It doesn't always have to be a craft. Why is creativity important? It allows you to think differently and try new things as opposed to doing what we've always done. In the workspace, being creative has allowed me to fail, be a beginner and try new things to figure out what gives me that spark! Tomorrow I'm releasing Modern Calligraphy workshop so if you'd like to give something new a go then I'd love for you to join me! https://lnkd.in/eaBh74Ye

The course is now live!! Thank you so much to everyone who came and had a go at Modern Calligraphy last Thursday and to those who have invested in their creativity through purchasing 😍 Couldn’t have done this with out the amazing support from Creative Futures ! The next cohort is now open to applications if you’re a creative business! This wonderful video is the fine work of Julia Mau ❤️

Your creativity isn't dead! Get creatively curious again with Modern Calligraphy. Apart from being THE most versatile creative skill, it has the added benefit of allowing you to switch off after a busy day at work and helps you whip up that last minute card. Join me at 1 Mill Street this Thursday 11am-2pm to celebrate the launch of my online course! There will be freebies, exclusive discounts and more information about the course.