Project Calm Issue 11

I often feel lucky in the UK that we have four distinct seasons in the year - four chances offered up by nature to take stock, notice I change, feel a shift in our own experience and be reminded of the rejuvenating power of both rest and bloom. Even if you live in a part of the | world that doesn't have such marked calendar points, making a note to assess where you're at every quarter is a welcome practice. So, falling leaves have us musing this issue (read Claire Storrow's beautiful piece of prose on page 58), and in turn, the symmetry inherent in so much of nature (page 52). A closer look at butterflies and moths led us to metamorphosis and the big changes we go through too (flick…

1 MINDFUL MAKING AND MENDING We all know how beneficial getting into the ‘flow’ state of mind can be on our health. Focusing on doing something creative and repetitive with our hands brings a moment of calm and quiet focus. This is why Jessica Marquez, aka MiniatureRhino’s, new book Make + Mend is so appealing. Showcasing sashiko-inspired embroidery throughout, these simple running stitches are combined to form delicate and decorative patterns over denim, homewares and pre-loved clothes. Aimed at crafters of all levels, including complete beginners, Make + Mend encourages us to create truly treasured items by making the most of what we already have in our homes. miniaturerhino.com. 2 KEEP A MOON CLOSE TO YOU For Lorena, aka Gemagenta, every piece of jewellery she makes tells a story. Her ‘Under this moon’…

While metamorphosis in the truest sense is reserved for the complete change of form that insects and some animals make in their maturation to adulthood, the word itself has come to represent any profound change, transformation or reinvention that renders the earlier form wholly unrecognisable. Our enduring fascination with the possibility of substantial and transformative change is reflected in our global canon of literature, our visual arts, the structure and content of our language, and especially the way we view and manage our lives. From childhood we are reassured by the promise inherent in the story of the ugly duckling: that one day we will become the beautiful swan, and we remain forever transfixed by the miracle of butterflies, surely the most identifiable and hopeful expression of positive change. From the…

ON WAITING FOR THE RIGHT TIME the mayfly Have you ever felt that you’ve been preparing for a big change forever? That you’re almost ready to fly, but that something just doesn’t feel quite right? That you’re equipped for take-off, but something is holding you back? In that case, you may well find solace in the life of the humble mayfly, who though born with wings cannot fly properly until fully matured, only to reach adulthood and only live a few hours of full, unencumbered flight. It seems we are not the only ones to feel as if we’ve spent all our time preparing only to find out we’re still not ready, and now running out of time. It turns out that sometimes we think we’re ready when we’re not. There’s still…

Where does your Lady Desidia label come from? Lady Desidia was the protagonist of a project I was working on; ‘desidia’ means ‘sloth’. My project was a celebration of laziness, about facing the world as a game, with creativity. What do you do to create a calm environment? I clean the studio. I often have fresh flowers and always light some candles in winter. I need to start surrounded by order, because when I am immersed in work I am quite chaotic. What has been your favourite illustration project? I embark on projects that pose a challenge. My favourite is always the last one, so right now, it’s the illustrations of a poetry book about ghosts written by Nelvy Bustamante and published by Kireei this autumn in Spain. “Nature is an infinite source of inspiration and…

Whether you have kids, pets, a career, your own business or all of the above – there are never enough hours in the day. Time disappears like sand through our fingers. The long to-do lists and unfinished projects can leave us feeling exhausted and creatively unfulfilled. But, it doesn’t have to be this way. By making a few small adjustments to our daily routines, we can carve out some precious time for our personal projects. “Creatives of all industries are known to be quite sensitive souls by nature and sometimes the day-to-day grind of pleasing others and accepting criticism can take its toll,” says Carly Stalker, owner and creative director of homewares brand, Roo-tid (roo-tid.com). “It’s taken nine years working in the graphic design industry to truly appreciate and see the…