Hello! And welcome to my latest blog post, a roundup of inspiration and links to cool stuff. Fingers crossed, this is the first one going out as a newsletter and I may not have all of the bugs worked out, so thanks for being patient.
Botanical Colouring Pages – From 1760
In 1760, The Florist became the first book to offer colouring pages for adults. The 60 line drawings of flowers were presented with instructions for making pigments and how to use them to make your own botanical plates. Read more about it here and if you want to find and download pages for yourself and your own work, go here. (Look to the left side of the page for a menu of pages numbers. Scroll down until you see “Pl. 1”, etc. This stands for Plate 1 and these will pull up the colouring pages that you can download and print.)
Embroidered Book Covers – From the 16th Century – and On
“There are few more pleasing occupations for the skillful fingers of a lady than that of embroidering a book-cover” wrote William Salt Brassington in his 1893 volume A History of the Art of Bookbinding
Well, I don’t know about that but this article at The Public Domain Review about the embroidered book cover as an art form is a wowser. I don’t even embroider and I am ready to get some needles and thread and see where it leads.
Kung Fu Nuns? Yes, Please!
In 2008, the leader of the Drukpa order of Buddhist nuns reversed a 1,000 year-old tradition that banned them from exercising. The good ladies wasted no time and hired themselves a kung fu master to train them in the art of self-defence. Today they are bad-ass incarnate, following a physical regime that has them wielding swords, lances, nunchucks, and some surprisingly formidable fans. Their training makes them focused, confident, and strong: they all have the same first name, Jigme, which means “fearless one”. It also aids their meditation and so their spiritual lives, which involve humanitarian work and efforts to fight human trafficking.
To read more about the Kung Fu nuns of Tibet and their journey to black belt status athletes and fighters for humanity, there is a delightful article on the BBC.
You can also see them in action on Youtube here (trust me, you want to see this):
More is coming soon so stay tuned and get out the word if you like links, ideas, and other things that speak to our imagination and curiosity.
Wildly, creatively yours,
Kelly
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August 25, 2024 at 3:36 am
Hi Kelly! Got the first issue of the newsletter. Very nice.
I just loved looking through The Florist images. I may have to go back and print off a couple to use. The hand-embroidered books are gorgeous. My mom did crewel work back in the 70s and she even embroidered a chambray shirt for me with Holly Hobbie on the back. I wore it everywhere! Now days I seem some seamstresses and journal lovers making slow stitch booklets. The pages are crudely pieced snippets of fabric, and floss and the results are one of a kind masterpieces, everyone! I will save sewing for later. I am really loving making books now and I am finding some great inspiration through your videos.
I enjoyed your newsletter, and finding your blog recently as well.
Are blogs coming back?! It seems so.
Take care.
Have a great week.
August 25, 2024 at 4:26 pm
Hi Patricia. It looks as though blogs are, uhm, flexible. I have only used mine occasionally recently but I wanted a newsletter and I thought, hey, I have one already. So – maybe? Thanks for comparing notes – I am just beginning my first slow stitching project: patching some jeans in a boro style. Fingers crossed!
August 25, 2024 at 8:02 am
Those nuns rock! We need more women like that in this world.
August 25, 2024 at 4:27 pm
Centi, now I really want to be a kung fu nun. Lives devoted to service and the search for the spiritual but who can kick your ass. Join me?
August 25, 2024 at 12:04 pm
Wonderful blog post! So happy to be reading and viewing this stuff!
August 25, 2024 at 4:31 pm
Thank you, Rhonda. More is coming up. I have tons of weird, fun things bookmarked to share. Let’s learn stuff! Kelly
August 25, 2024 at 12:11 pm
TY Kelly, these were all very interesting. Great 1st blog, I love learning new things and watch documentaries. This made me want to know more. Who new how old adult coloring books were.
August 26, 2024 at 5:23 pm
Thanks bunches, Theresa. I also love learning new things and tend to gravitate toward reading non-fiction. And you?
August 25, 2024 at 1:41 pm
Yay for the newsletter!! Fantastic!
August 25, 2024 at 4:32 pm
Now Myra, this is what I like to hear. Thank you!
August 25, 2024 at 4:21 pm
Thanks for the gorgeous scans!
August 26, 2024 at 5:24 pm
Debbie, it is my real pleasure. I hope you use them to make some gorgeous pages!
August 25, 2024 at 5:07 pm
Wonderful first edition! I woke up energized this morning but my energy was flagging a little. When your newsletter arrived I was energized all over again I love the embroidery ideas. I have been doing a tiny bit recently and saw a charming cabinet card with surrounding embroidered matt at a local antique mall.The execution is not great but I love the idea! I’ll try to insert a link. (https://photos.app.goo.gl/DP7ibvocDpyfncaK8) In a related topic, check out the slow stich movement! And finally, my older granddaughter is taking weekly Kung Fu lessons. Your links have really improved my knowledge of what she is learning. Thnak you so much
August 29, 2024 at 11:37 am
Hi Kathy. Let’s catch up soon as I have just started slow stitching jeans for the first time ever. Your granddaughter sounds so cool, but you knew that already. xxx
August 25, 2024 at 7:57 pm
Ah Kelly, exactly what I was hoping for from your newsletter! Beautiful imagery and interesting articles I wouldn’t have come across otherwise. Love, love, love it! Thank you so much for the time and effort you put in to providing this, and all your video content, for us.
August 29, 2024 at 11:39 am
Thank you for this thoughtful message, Karen. It really does make me happy as, yeah, it does take a surprising amount of time to put this together but I love it so much and if you do, too, then that means something.
August 26, 2024 at 12:19 am
The Kung fu nuns rocked my world! Thank you for sharing this.
Susan
August 30, 2024 at 10:20 am
Hi Susan. I am so inspired by these women and who knew? Thanks for getting in touch.
August 26, 2024 at 10:16 am
Thanks so much Kelly… I find such inspiration from every thing you post and do…I love looking at all your tutorials and blogs. Thanks for sharing…much appreciated!!
Ricki
August 30, 2024 at 10:21 am
Why thank you, Ricki. This is truly lovely to hear and it makes all of the fiddling about making it come together worth it. You have made my day! Kelly
August 26, 2024 at 11:41 am
“Helping others is my religion.” That says it all for me. Thank you, Kelly!
August 29, 2024 at 11:40 am
Hi Martha. You nailed it. I didn’t go into the work these women do as much as I would have in a long form piece so I am glad you caught it. Humanitarian work, disaster relief, anti-trafficking: they truly are inspirational as to what the spirit in the right place can make happen.
August 26, 2024 at 1:17 pm
Brava!
August 26, 2024 at 4:22 pm
Thanks Kelly . Got it. Great information. Thanks love your YouTube. I am doing your free class. Made the 1st booklet. love the creativity outlet junk Jourals and alterd books gives me.
August 30, 2024 at 10:22 am
Thank you, Vicki. Good on you making your blank books. In a couple of days on Youtube I am going to talk about filling them up. Join me!
August 26, 2024 at 4:40 pm
This was great Kelly. I look forward to more. Love the embroidered book covers.
August 30, 2024 at 10:23 am
Aren’t those stunning? Those books are inspiring me to do some stitching although I am not very good at it. Yet.
August 26, 2024 at 5:12 pm
From the botanicals to the Kung Fu nuns, love it! What a fun and interesting first blog. Cheers to a long and exciting run! Gilly
August 30, 2024 at 10:24 am
Hey hey, Gilly. Thanks for the vote of confidence. The truth is that even a simple format like this takes ages so the feedback is helpful and makes it worth it. I have about 150 round-up links in my bookmarks to unearth that deserve to be better known so – stay tuned.
August 26, 2024 at 5:44 pm
Thank you Kelly!! I have been looking forward to your newsletter and it did not disappoint! Not even a little bit!! Love everything you’ve shared. I’m definitely going to download some of those botanical prints – they’re gorgeous! I have been gathering supplies to get back into embroidery (did it a lot back in the 1970s) and to learn slow stitching. I’m making books a lot so want to give the embroidered book cloth a try, too. I need more hours in the day to do all the things!!!!
September 5, 2024 at 3:59 pm
Amen to this, Katie. I’ve also just started slow-stitching as it has been in the pipeline for years and I’ve finally moved enough aside to make time and room for it.
August 26, 2024 at 5:45 pm
Thank you Kelly!! I have been looking forward to your newsletter and it did not disappoint! Not even a little bit!! Love everything you’ve shared. I’m definitely going to download some of those botanical prints – they’re gorgeous! I have been gathering supplies to get back into embroidery (did it a lot back in the 1970s) and to learn slow stitching. I’m making books a lot so want to give the embroidered book cloth a try, too. I need more hours in the day to do all the things!!!!
August 27, 2024 at 2:52 am
Love the kung fu nuns! Thanks, Kelly!
September 5, 2024 at 12:49 pm
Thanks bunches, Sandra. They have been in my dreams ever since I first read about them.
August 27, 2024 at 7:17 pm
Good luck with the new newsletter. Always an inspiration. I embroider, my grandmother taught me many years ago. I might put up my hoop and give book covers a go. Take care, Linda
September 5, 2024 at 12:49 pm
Thanks bunches, Linda. Funny thing, I’ve started a bit of slow stitching and can’t find an embroidery hoop ANYWHERE in a real shop. Crazy and a little bit sad. I am ordering one online. Keep on stitching!
August 27, 2024 at 9:56 pm
Great content and I love the stitching! What inspiration for journal covers. Thx Kelley!
September 5, 2024 at 12:48 pm
Hi Regina. Can you believe I am getting back into stitching for the first time in 30 years? And I keep seeing inspiration for it all around. More to come soon!
August 28, 2024 at 1:05 am
I enjoyed your first blog post so much! Thank you.
September 5, 2024 at 12:47 pm
Thank you, Heather. It is truly nice to hear this.
September 2, 2024 at 8:32 am
YAY videos and a newsletter, maybe we’ll get really lucky and you’ll publish a book – a how to art book I mean. Thank you for putting so much work into your teaching. Your videos really mean a lot to me.
September 5, 2024 at 12:46 pm
Hi Sheryl. I am really touched especially as, okay, I DO put a lot into these things. It means so much to know that they are seen and appreciated.Thank you for this lovely message.
September 6, 2024 at 7:02 pm
Thank you so much for having a newsletter. I found the video of the kung fu nuns to be soooo encouraging. So nice to hear about them.
September 9, 2024 at 5:53 pm
Hi Diane, thanks for this. I pretty much made the newsletter JUST so I could write about kung fu nuns and I’m not even kidding.