Letterpress workshop

Hello lovely people. At the beginning of this year I had made a few goals. One of them was to do a letterpress course/class/workshop. I also wrote another post about more goals and getting out of comfort zone. So far this year I'm achieving these goals slowly and it feels amazing. A few weeks ago I attended a two night letterpress workshop at the Design College Australia. 

It was a wonderful experience and I'm so glad I finally took the plunge and enrolled in the workshop. They work with traditional letterpress and type and even though in the future I'm aiming to work with polymer plate letterpress printing it gave me a better understanding of the whole process and the history of the printing form. My instructor was so passionate about it that it filled me with excitement. 

The workshop was over two nights over two weeks. We worked in partners because it takes a long (loonngg) time to put it together and it's easier having someone to bounce ideas off. 

It's terrible but I can't remember what type of letterpress machine this is but it's the one that we all used. 

*TheDesignKids Instagram

I was trying to figure out another way to put the type together and I was concentrating hard. 

* Stongarmpress Instagram

I like this birds eye view of us working. This was taken by our instructor. 

* Strongarmpress Instagram 

Another view from the top. This place was amazing! Apparently it's an old bacon factory (or something like that. Lots of character). 

This was from night two. This part took a long time to do. It doesn't seem like much but if you've done any traditional letterpress you would know the time it takes.

* Minusculetiny Instagram

As you can see I was quite excited to paint and get the print finished. 

A few of our prints. We had to make a few as they are all slightly different. 

So this is the final product. What I love about the traditional form is feeling the wood type in your hands. It has a nice texture and I like the rustic look. The imperfections give it character. Plus our instructor suggested the awesome orange. You can't tell from this photo but it's a delicious looking fluro orange. It adds a more modern element to an otherwise traditional piece.

At the end you feel a sense of satisfaction knowing that you put together this print. We chose the type we wanted to use, the layout and we had to pick a print saying from a list they provided us. 

You can not believe how excited I was to finally do something I've wanted to do for ages. I'm glad I finally stopped making excuses and just did it. 

Oh if you want follow me via instagram. My username is Graciebellabutterfly. 

What have you done that you have been wanting to do for a long time?

Have a wonderful weekend. 

That time I went to Disneyland...Part 10

Hello lovely people. So after about seven/eight months I've finally got my last USA post up. This was one of my favourite parts of the trip. It was a childhood dream come true to visit Disneyland that I can't even begin to explain how excited I was to be there. 

Halloween decorations just shows how long ago this trip was.

I'm a huge Star Wars fan!

I can't believe we didn't have time to go on the teacup ride, especially because I love Alice in Wonderland. 

My name is never on anything so it made me so happy to get my name on my Mickey Mouse ears. 

This is when we left. I was so sad to leave and wish I had booked to stay the night there like my original plan.

I've wanted to visit Disneyland ever since I was a child and to be there was so amazing! As soon as I saw the Mickey Mouse lamp posts I started to squeal (inside!)

So that finally concludes my USA posts. It might be late but at least it's finally done :) What have you done that was a childhood dream? Have a wonderful weekend!

Modes4U Review...I get a bit creative

Hello lovelies. As you know I'm a major stationery, letter writing, journal writing fan. It's been a part of my life for many years now and I hope it continues to be a part of my life. Cute stationery is especially a favourite of mine and when I find an online shop that sells stationery it makes my happy meter go up. That's where ModeS4u comes in. It's a Kawaii online shop (Japanese cuteness explosion!) that sells stationery, fabrics, DIY clay sets, bento lunch boxes, Re-Ment Miniature toys and accessories. I had the opportunity to use some of these products. 

I think cute packaging is always a plus.

Colourful business cards and some deco tape thrown in as an extra will make my smile. 

These stickers are so fun! 

Who doesn't love Pandas?? 

What I love about this stationery is it can be used for sweet letters to a friend, or for writing lists, or put into your journal to add a bit of cheer. 

The envelopes have this sheer window and a little card to slip in to write the address. It adds a little 3D element to the letter. 

The stickers inspired me to create this Alice in Wonderland page in one of my journals. I think it adds a nice touch to the page. 

I also made this little fawn page which has nothing to do with the quote I added but to me it makes me think of fairytale books and how much I love them. I just love those stickers. 

What I like about this online shop is the close up photos of the products so you can see the detail. There's also free international shopping when you spend over a certain amount and there are a lot of different items you can purchase. If you like Kawaii stationery and items this online shop is a must. I wouldn't mind getting myself more stationery and trying out one of the DIY clay kits or getting some Re-Ment Miniatures. 

So check out ModeS4u and get creative and add more cuteness into your life.

Disclaimer: ModeS4u sent these items to me without charge to review. Words and opinions are my own. 

On my mind...

A few of the unused journals/notebooks/stationery

Hello lovely people. I hope you had a wonderful Easter. It is always important to remember the death and resurrection of Christ. He is risen indeed.

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about a habit of mine that I want to change. I tend to buy things or receive pretty things as gifts and they will just sit there. I might put them in a nice box or leave them in their packaging and just...look at it. For example I have a ton of beautiful notebooks and journals yet I find it difficult to write in them or use them. They are just too 'pretty' to use. So instead of writing my thoughts or writing lists or recording memories they look pretty and stay in pristine condition. I find this is the same with pretty stationery or pens or even clothes and beauty products. I have trouble using them. I feel like I'm waiting for that perfect moment, for when everything falls into place and I will finally make that memory journal I've been wanting to do for years. Or that print that needs the right frame and only then I will display it. I mean what a waste?! I have all these lovely items that don't get used and it just accumulates and doesn't really get used. (♥ picture up above).

So, I've decided that I'm going to write in those journals (that I'm saving for what?), use that pretty paper (because who doesn't like to receive lovely mail) put those special stickers I'm saving into a notebook (because why not?). I want this to spill out into my everyday life too and use those special tea cups for my afternoon tea, or wear that dressy top to work, or cut up those magazines because I want to display or put that picture into a journal.

I want to stop holding back with admiring the beautiful things in life and instead experience the beauty of life. To stop looking just for inspiration but use what inspires me to create things instead of just dreaming about it and making lists. I'm a master list maker but a terrible doer.

I'm not sure who else feels this way but I'm sick of watching my life pass me by when each day is certainly a blessing. I can't take it for granted. I know I don't get very personal on this blog but there are some things that bounce around in my mind and I need to get those thoughts out.

Please tell me I'm not alone in this :) What do you need to let go of, or need to use or want to experience?

Have a fantastic week lovelies.

P.S. I'm sorry if this is just a jumble of words. I just started typing and the words just started flowing.