Hello!
There's lots to be very thankful for in this current season - sunshine & hugs are two definite highlights for me! But I'm also finding it a challenge to stay present in the moment - it feels like there's still plenty to process from the past year or so, and plans and possibilities for the future are calling...
In the midst, I'm finding creativity such a powerful way of helping me be still and connect with right now. Whether it's a super slow but lovely walk with my son, time playing with new ideas and materials, or enjoying the creativity of others, there have been lots of times recently when having a creative, beauty-loving outlook to life has felt so important.
I'd love it if you'd like to get in touch to share what you're finding encouraging this week...
Love,
Ruth
|
|
|
'yum, pumpkins!' Bookmark
|
£3.50
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Old Book Spine Bookmarks
|
£3.50
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reading is one of my all time favourite things and I'm very much in agreement with Stephen Fry when he says that 'books are no more threatened by Kindle than stairs by elevators'. So I have piles of books around the house, as does each other member of the family! But I've noticed recently that we are very short on bookmarks and yes, receipts can do the job just fine, but a good bookmark adds that extra bit of joy to the pleasure of sitting down with a good book.
As well as being great for all the summer reading coming up, bookmarks make brilliant gifts - wonderfully useful and easy to pop in the post. We've recently enjoyed giving these striking photographic bookmarks that also support the Mind and Soul Foundation and we love the chunky, eco-friendly, hand-woven bookmarks in the Handmade to Heal shop. We also have bookmarks in our Made Unique shop - a gorgeously colourful range from Abiy and a few I've loved making from old book spines.
For anyone looking for a Father's Day present, one of the suggestions above could be just what you need. But if you'd like to go a more personal route then why not try our first ever Made Unique 'printable'! We've gathered four fun quotes about reading, paired them with some graphics to colour in and put them in a bookmark format that you can download, print out, colour in, and give away!
|
|
|
We've also collected a whole range of craft ideas for creating bookmarks and thought I'd share a few of my favourites with you. Firstly I tried this super simple technique for origami corner bookmarks - it was really quick and easy and I enjoyed using some fun craft paper, but you could choose old wrapping paper or whatever you've got scraps of.
I also enjoyed trying a braided technique using old book pages (once I found ones that weren't so old they ripped as I folded them!) and upcycling a bit of ribbon into the mix as I got more confident. A brilliant idea that I haven't got to yet is this fun photo bookmark, and there are some very pretty macrame tutorials and crochet patterns out there too.
Most of these are ideas are just as appropriate for older kids as for adults but there are also a few extra fun ones like confetti bookmarks, nature bookmarks, lollipop stick monsters or sweet paper cats.
It would be amazing to see your creations - you can email me a photo or you can tag @madeuniquecic on Instagram or Facebook.
|
|
|
Running Made Unique is a privilege. It can also feel like a huge responsibility. I'm constantly learning, through training courses but mainly through the people I connect with. I see so much to admire and emulate in you lovely lot, and in the social media communities Made Unique has joined - so much to encourage and inspire me, so much to spur me on to more and to better. That's a brilliant thing but it can mean a subtle shift in how I feel about our progress.
There are lots of ways to measure growth but Made Unique is growing very slowly if you look at the statistics. I'm sure its not good business practice to share that, but the realisation has brought me back to the very beginning of Made Unique, to the belief that things didn't have to be done the way everyone else was doing them. I wanted to provide a space for makers to feel supported without the pressures of deadlines or sales figures. I wanted to help form a community who celebrated the little wins and viewed growth holistically - in our outlooks, our experiences, our wellbeing, our skills, our connections... and not just our statistics.
It's been a fantastic challenge to me, to remember that vision and to bring my perspective back in line. Rather than trying to just accept going slowly, I'm now trying to embrace going slowly. The allotment (as ever!) has been a good pondering place. The levels of growth there are spectacular... unfortunately its mainly grasses and bindweed! But it brings me lots of joy to see my little asparagus plants holding on in there. They're looking pretty fragile and we won't be able to harvest from them for another couple of years, but they're good growth. Slow, but good.
If there are any areas of life where progress feels slower than you would like then I hope you can feel encouraged today. And I'd love it if you'd like to share your thoughts on going slow as it's great to be on the journey together.
|
|
|
|
|
