Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 1 i Project Calm

For a permanent blackboard look, but without the chalk dust, Lily & Val original chalkboard prints are hand-lettered using chalk, then digitally photographed and printed. Culinary herbs print, lilyandval.com…

Step 1 Assemble two triangular brackets using wooden battens. Allow enough wood on the back of the bracket to attach it to the window frame. Step 2 Make a simple slatted shelf to the width you require, with a short batten in the middle for stability. Step 3 Paint your shelf any colour you like using interior wood paint. This will protect the wood from wear and tear. Step 4 Once dry, offer the shelf up to the window frame and check with a spirit level before marking the position of the shelf with a pencil. Step 5 Screw the bracket into the window frame. Arrange your plants, putting the trailing plants at the top so they can grow downwards. Extract from My Tiny Garden by Lucy Scott with Lucy…

Juggling parenthood, work and your personal life is the most difficult of all circus acts, yet probably the least impressive to the crowd. Surely the lion tamer who is holding the whip and focused on one single task is the one who gets the loudest cheer? According to a recent study in the BMC Psychology journal, multitasking is difficult for both sexes, but women still came out as better at it. Simply put, men are slower, but does slow and steady win the race when it comes to mental health and happiness? Often blamed for their ‘one-track mind’, this ability to maintain a singular focus could actually be more beneficial and healthier, when it comes to the accomplishment of daily tasks. Historically, men are more attuned to these linear tasks…

GARDEN Absorb yourself in nature and delight in the changing seasons. www.catherinestudio.blogspot.com MAKING PLANS Plan your home’s makeovers with words, mementoes and sketches. www.josenaranja.blogspot.co.uk SETTING GOALS List what you’d like to learn or experience. Make it colourful! www.sarahschapter.co.uk AS THERAPY Release your emotions with doodles and notes – it’s cheaper than therapy! www.pepperandtwine.blogspot.co.uk TO REMEMBER So you don’t forget… write facts as well as feelings to jog your memory. www.makemynotebook.com PROJECTS Motivate yourself & focus on an idea or passion & enjoy building it over time. www.seanwes.com REMINISCING Remember when…? Record key parts of your life to keep forever. Image: Claire Hamilton EVENTS & TRAVEL Journal a significant occasion or trip and bring back positive memories. Theresa D @mydocumentedlife TO LIST Get in the flow: create a journal of your…

Revive the traditional craft of bookbinding and make this travel diary. It’ll make a wonderful, personal treat for a friend – whether it’s to record impressions of their everyday adventures, exciting travels, new course or job. You’ll need to gather: a piece of leather, 22 x 38cm (8¾ x 15”), strip of leather, 0.7 x 70cm (¼ x 275/8”), 10 or more sheets of paper, old map cut to A4, tracing paper, neon string or thread, neon cord or yarn, neon paint (optional), needle, scissors, scalpel, ruler and superglue 1. Our book is A5 size. One by one, fold 10 A4 pages in half, pressing down on each fold. Place them inside one another to form a ‘signature’ (or section) of A5 size folded paper. 2. We’ve used an old…

Remember those days when buying fresh new stationery used to be a thrilling experience? Feeling the crisp, new paper and putting pen to paper and letting the ink flow was oh so satisfying. The curve of letters connecting in a sublime stream felt like you were creating a work of art. Now postcards in shops are gathering dust, postbags are carrying a lighter load, and somehow we’ve replaced this precious process with the ease of clicks and hits. The leisurely art of letter writing has been crushed by computer generated captions and colours, with virtual postcard apps such as Touchnote which will do it all for you in seconds. Yet unlike messages received on a screen, handwritten letters are visual and tactile, which makes both writing and receiving one more…

MIND & BODY Looking after our minds and bodies should be a natural instinct for us all, but surrounded by today’s digital, fast-paced world, we don’t always make the kindest choices. If slowing down and being mindful are key to a happier and healthier mind and body, just how do we do that? We talk to yoga guru Kathryn Budig, discover new ideas for yoga and meditation at home, choose our words wisely and learn to breathe again. Slowly……

We can be connected and spiritual anywhere in the world, but it helps to create a space conducive to appreciation, gratitude and connection. An altar can be an entire room or a small table with symbolic items on it. Create an altar the way you would decorate a mantel – full of images and symbols that create good feelings and memories. Here are some ideas: • Symbols of hope and inspiration. (My altar has my childhood teddy bear to remind me to be playful, and a wand that my mother gave me to remind me that magic is real and I can create it!) • Pictures of loved ones, teachers, people who inspire you. • Sculptures/physical representations of deities. (What deities do you relate to? Shiva, the Virgin Mary, or…

1 GO GATHERING WITH A BASKET With the rich bounty on offer as we roll into the golden months, it’s time to gather and feast. Online store Decorator’s Notebook seems to have just the solution for our gathering needs. These classic French shopping bags get a modern update with soft leather handles and buckle. Each basket is individually woven by hand from eco-friendly palm leaves. Brother and sister team Bethan and Joe have sourced a bag big enough to hold all our flowers, fruit and veg while keeping our consciences clear too; these bags support a fair trade artisan group in Morocco. Available in tan and sage at decoratorsnotebook.co.uk 2 GORGEOUS GARDENS Gardens are about to hit their abundant best and the National Gardens Scheme offers you an opportunity to…

Katie Vernon is a US-based illustrator who has spent most of her life in the Midwest but whose heart belongs in the mountains. Her inspiration comes from being a florist, working with alpacas, and living on a bus. She’s worked with Ikea, The Land of Nod, Hallmark, Oopsy Daisy, and Chronicle Books; and has been featured on American TV channel HGTV and online on Design*Sponge and Oh Joy! Some of her favourite things include rearranging furniture, seltzer water, and two different species of animals becoming friends. Katie is also rather fond of her partner, daughter, and part-dingo dog. “Like most people, my background has influenced what I’ve become and the work I do. I grew up in an artistic family – my mum painted and sewed needlepoint, making things for…

The Earth is a modest planet, who hates to be unclothed. In nature, usually the only time she reveals her bare body is after forest fires, or earthquakes, and even then she soon clothes herself again with pioneer plants to restore her green mantle. In the garden we call these pioneer plants ‘weeds’, and do all we can to eradicate them from our precious plots. Mostly, of course, this is understandable because we have plans to cover the soil with our own chosen pioneers (or should we say ‘settlers’?). Despite all this, I admire the plants we so disparagingly term ‘weeds’. There is something about their stubborn determination to insist on choosing their own place to live, in spite of our efforts to discourage them, that I find quite appealing.…

Imagine, for a moment, your life without rushing, without being busy, without getting from A to B and then to Z. Imagine what it would be like always to have enough time, time to spare, time to breathe, time to see, experience, be. Imagine time slowing down, so that you’re unaware of it passing. Imagine timelessness, a pause in the spinning of the world, where a few minutes might feel like an hour, or an hour like a few minutes. Sounds kind of heavenly, doesn’t it? And yet this spacious, timeless existence is available to us, we can dwell in it every time we pick up a pencil. This is what it is like to draw. This is the mindfulness of drawing. When we are in that mindful now, really…

A love of animals, creativity and of working with his hands ignited a second career for Wolfram; his business, Paperwolf, sells funky 3D paperkits of his imaginative designs. “Papercraft is really popular now. When I started my business in 2010, I was more or less the only one offering papercraft animals commercially. I started the whole thing just because I could design my own animals and loved how they looked. Plus, feedback from others was good enough that I dared to try selling my templates. Then, suddenly, there seemed to be geometric shapes everywhere and people bought a lot of designs from me. “I was very creative growing up. I remember my dad would always give me things like old vacuum cleaners and broken laptops to disassemble and I’d make…

I’m privileged: Cherrell Avery has invited me to her home studio to have a one-to-one handwriting lesson. She will show me the basics and talks through how she helps her students reinvent their writing styles. Prior to the lesson, I fill in a form (by hand) with answers to questions based around what I’d like to achieve, what sort of writing I do and so on. My suspicion is it’s just a rouse to find out just how unruly my script actually is, and I’m not totally wrong. “First I’m going to have a look at how you write,” says Cherrell. “Your posture, grip, paper position, pressure and speed.“ I start writing a few sentences so Cherrell can watch me. “Your pen is tight in your hand – try loosening…

From Samuel Pepys and Anne Frank to wine-guzzling Bridget Jones, the diarist is a powerful cultural figure. But while many of us may have dabbled in journal-keeping at some point, whether as a school project or a vessel for our teenage angst, chances are it’s slipped by the wayside as the busyness of modern life takes over. But taking the time to record your thoughts and feelings, daily in longhand, could prove to be a potent tool for aiding wellbeing. A study at the University of California found that writing down your thoughts and feelings can help the brain regulate emotions, particularly for men who may find it tricky to vocalise them. Documenting our lives also gives us a record of the past that is for us alone, rather than…

TRAVEL Travelling has so many mindful benefits, it’s a mindful super food! It takes us away from our routines and habits, slowing us down and helping us see things differently. Experiencing new parts of the world awakens our sense of adventure, broadens our minds and recharges our energy. And you don’t have to be by the sea or on a beach to benefit – cities offer so many ways of exploring cultures, people and places. Join us as we find peaceful places in urban environments, colour-in summer scenes from our favourite cities and get all ‘makery’ with stamps and maps.…

You will need An old map, sheet music or pages from a book, baker’s twine or string, hole punch, scissors, pencil, ruler, PVA glue or a glue stick Step 1 Cut out a small rectangle measuring 6 x 10cm (23?8 x 4in) from your map. Use the punch to make a hole at one end of the rectangle. If you don’t get the hole in the centre, trim off the excess from the larger side to make it even. Then trim the bottom to keep it in proportion. Step 2 Cut the corners closest to the hole off the rectangle. Make sure the angle you cut at is 45 degrees. Step 3 Take a plain piece of the map and punch another hole, then cut a circle approximately 5mm wide…

In ancient Greece, the library was considered a healing place for the soul. And we can’t help but agree – they’re possibly the one public space you can be entirely alone, expanding your mind and knowledge, without any pressure to buy or consume. The slow pace of browsing and reading they offer gives us space to disconnect from otherwise-hectic lives and engage with our thoughts. The beauty of the library lies in its accessibility. In small towns or big cities, libraries become community hubs filled with people from all walks of life. You can just as easily spend your time there people-watching as you can curled up in a corner with a pile of books. The fact that no money is exchanged (unless you’ve been naughty and racked up a…

1 MANAGE YOUR TIME & MINDSET Start each day with good intentions with the help of a Dailygreatness journal. Options include the Daily Journal, Yoga Journal and Training Journal as well as a Business Planner. Each journal includes goals, tools and resources to empower you to ‘be your own guru’ and the architect of your own destiny. dailygreatness.co 2 POP TO A POP-UP WORKSHOP Learning a new skill feels extra special in beautiful spaces. Pop-up events are making communities richer all around the UK, offering sessions from pottery to wreath making. West Elm UK are offering a schedule of pop-up events and workshops, with the aim to support and promote small businesses in the community, in the Tottenham Court Road store (westelm.co.uk). Highlights include terrarium workshops with Geo-Fleur as well…

• Create a sacred space. This can be a small unused room, a corner of your bedroom, a spot in your living room, or even a place outside (weather permitting). All you need is a space free from distractions and large enough for you to place your yoga mat and reach your arms wide and overhead. • Make it cosy! Light some candles, burn some sage or incense, play music that soothes or motivates you, and put on clothing that makes you feel good. • Set a date. Try to practise at the same time every day. Drop what you're doing and remind yourself that this small amount of time will improve the rest of your day. Notice how this routine affects your mood and physicality. It's worth it. •…

Santorini’s long been a Greek island getaway, a favourite with Aegean Sea island hoppers for its dramatic geological landscape and hot springs (it was once an active volcano) and famous for its incredible sunsets, black sandy beaches and Akrotiri, a 3,500 year old Minoan town preserved in volcanic ash like Pompeii. It’s the largest island of a small, circular archipelago that bears the same name and is the remnant of a volcanic caldera. Getting about Santorini is best by foot or bus and there are well-signed hiking routes with marked walks along and down the caldera cliff, the historic vineyard and variety of remote villages and hidden beaches, although one beach – the white beach at Vlychada – can only be reached by boat. Kathryn Budig visited Santorini with a…

How often have you placed a scented, calming lavender sachet by your pillow to help send you to the land of nod? Or picked some fresh mint leaves to make a stomach-settling brew after an overindulgent lunch? The medicinal value of these two common plants are well known to us, but there are hundreds of other herbs used as traditional remedies. Not only does it perk up your pasta, but holy basil is said to alleviate nausea and flatulence and though it’s best suited to warmer climates you might be successful growing it at home in pots. You probably already tuck some sprigs of rosemary among your roast potatoes, but as well as adding a wonderful flavour, this herb may help improve your memory and concentration. Got some parsley? Nibble…

Who wouldn’t want to have fresh flowers in their house at all times? To keep your home positively blooming all year round, it’s worth having a go at drying them. Fresh flowers can be kept for years with their colour intact by pressing them, which flattens the flowers as they dry. Pick flowers from your garden or gather wildflowers from a field. Flowers should be picked either in bud or as soon as they open, which is when the colour is best – and select ones with petals that haven’t been bruised, torn, damaged by insects, or wilted. Flowers with naturally flat faces, such as pansies, violets, or apple blossoms are easier to press than flowers with a more three-dimensional shape like orchids, lilies, or peonies. However, you can take…

Centre yourself by mindfully following your breath. Take as long a time as you like to look closely at the plant – at its shape and form, the nuances and shade of its colouring; look at the way it moves in the breeze, the way it flutters its leaves; notice any insect, or other creature, that may be crawling around on it, or near it. Imagine being one of those creatures; how big the plant must appear to it. Focus your vision and mind really closely upon it so that its stark existence is laid bare, and observe how it is truly the centre of its own universe. And then... Open out your awareness to the rest of the immediate garden surrounding your chosen plant by gradually widening your circle…

1 DON’T THROW THEM OUT! Recycle objects and make them useful again. For these wall mounted vases you’ll need a piece of wood measuring 40 x 20cm (16 x 8in); 2 D-ring picture hangers; small screws; 2 hose clips, 80–100mm (3–4 in) diameter; drill with a metal bit; 2 jars, 9cm (3in) diameter. Paint the wood. On the back top edge measure in 5cm (2in) from each side and mark the spot. Screw the hangers to the back of the wood at these points. Mark the central point on the hose clips, opposite the clasp. Drill a hole through each hose clip at this point. Screw the hose clips to the front of the wood, an equal distance from the sides. Slide a jar into a hose clip. Using a…

This drawing exercise is almost a drawing project – an easy, accessible one, which can bring enormous pleasure over weeks, months or even years. It focuses on capturing a landscape and the passing of time within it. Again, you may use any medium for this and the time you choose to spend upon it is up to you. Choose a landscape subject that is near to you and which would be accessible on a regular basis. If you live in a town or city, as so many of us do, this may be something in your local park or your garden, if you’re lucky enough to have one. Trees can make an excellent subject for this exercise. Even if you live in the heart of the metropolis, there is often…

Step 1 Start by scoring all the dashed lines using a ruler and the blunt side of your scissors. Be careful not to cut through the paper! Step 2 Cut out all the pieces using a scalpel or pair of small scissors. Take care with the small details. Step 3 Fold all pieces. Pay attention to valley and mountain folds: _._ (dash dot dash) = valley fold. ___ (dash dash dash) = mountain fold. Step 4 Glue the flaps together, working in the order of the numbering. Pritt Stick or bookbinding glue are ideal. If you like, you can print pages 63 and 64 at home (ideally onto 190gsm cardboard) to practise scoring and folding. See if you can come up with your own folded creature creations!…

1 Invest in a quality book that you’ll want to write in. Sitting down to record your thoughts in a beautiful leather-bound journal will feel more of a treat than scribbling in an old notebook. 2 Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Don’t start worrying about your writing not being good enough or your sentences ineloquent. Nobody ever has to see this - it’s all for you! 3 Experiment with what works for you. Try doodling your thoughts, or sticking in mementoes, like Claire does. 4 Five or ten minutes at the end of the day is the best time to write. Add it to your evening routine, like brushing your teeth. 5 Don’t block yourself. If there are things you’re embarrassed or scared to write about, just remember:…

You will need Small craft box, white card, cutting mat, pencil, ruler, glue stick, scalpel or scissors, Canon Selphy CP1200 Wi-Fi photo printer, Canon square labels or photographic paper Step 1 Choose your craft box. Measure the width and length of your box ready to cut the correct size card and mark out the concertina folds. Step 2 Using a ruler and pencil, mark out a column (along the longest side of the card) that measures a few millimetres less in width than your craft box. Cut your piece of card. Step 3 Along the length of the card, mark the concertina folds in pencil. Make as many as you like. Then, using the reverse side of your scalpel blade, score a line for each fold. Fold along the scored…

Becky Bettesworth is an artist living in South Devon, with her husband, three children and dog Twiggy. Her pictures are an explosion of colour, influenced by the vintage 1930s railway posters, celebrating the amazing natural beauty of the South West of England. You may be familiar with Becky’s work – her vintage travel posters and seaside prints of Devon and Cornwall beauty spots are modern and fresh, yet depict a time when life was drifting at an easier, slower pace. And it is that calm, slow feeling her work evokes that lead us to asking Becky to adapt one of her artworks – a scene of the beach at Blackpool Sands in south Devon – for the covers of this issue. Becky says she’s happy that her work connected with…

Asked ‘Where are you favourite retreats?’ Kathryn Budig instantly replies, “Xinalani in Mexico – it’s wonderful, and Santorini... it’s sheer magic”. Here, we explore what makes them both so special. Xinalani is an eco-resort and a leading centre for yoga retreats in Puerto Vallarta, on the Bahía de Banderas bay on the Pacific coast of Mexico. It offers excellent yoga facilities, beautiful eco-chic accommodation, delicious healthy food and supportive staff, as well as an extensive list of spa treatments and excursions. Xinalani’s location is breathtaking and its climate idyllic; sandwiched between a wide, pristine, sandy beach and lush, palm-covered mountains, the resort has more than 300 days of sun a year and an average temperature of 25°C. Meaning ‘seeds’ in pre-hispanic language, Xinalani (shenah- lah-knee) is proud of its culture…

The way we speak has a powerful impact on our ability to be successful and happy yet few of us are intentional with our choice of words. Studies have shown that use of negative words like ‘no’ can actually change the release of hormones and neurotransmitters to ones that damage key structures that regulate your memory, feelings, and emotions. Changing the way we speak to ourselves and to others through making better word choices can impact our optimism and improve the willingness of others to hear what we are saying. “The words you speak become the house you live in.” – Hafiz Here are a few handy tips on how to make your language really work for you: The most powerful word in your vocabulary… ‘yet’. Often we make statements…

TRACEY ELLIS Tracey has written three fab features for this issue on photowalking, multitasking and letter writing. Tracey is a Canadian freelance writer and photographer who has lived in Paris, Florida and is now back in the UK in Bath, capturing her adventures in words and on camera at every opportunity. traceylynnellis.com ROSEE WOODLAND Rosee writes about her experience of being a minimalist on page 50. She’s a freelance journalist, knitwear designer and outdoor swimmer, who lives in Bristol with her husband, daughter and dog in a small house that makes her very happy. Read about her swimming adventures at iswimlikeagirl.com and her work at roseewoodland.com SAMANTHA A SHERRING Inspired by walks with her daughter, Samantha created our super-pretty papercutting project on page 28. She makes one-off designs and templates…