9. Postcards

This week there is something else for the journey... we are making our card into a mini postcard.
You can send it from any place, real or fictitious, and include the usual things - an image, stamp, address and short note.

Wish you were here!


Just after we had returned from our most recent trip to England (including Shropshire), I read about Fordhall Farm. It was a tenant farm and had been in the same family for generations but was about to be sold to developers. The family wanted to stay farming the land but couldn't afford to buy it so it was set up as a community farm where one could by a share. My request for my birthday that year was the 12 square metres or so of land that would constitute my allocation as a shareholder.


Yesterday I received the latest mailing so decided to base my postcard on Fordhall Farm, using bits and pieces from the letter. I placed the card on a leaf of a pumpkin vine to photograph it - it is an overcast day today so the image is not very clear.

I would love to visit the farm and hopefully may do so later this year.

8. Maps

Now that we’ve packed our bags with enthusiasm, wonder and creativity … the journey is underway but do we need a map?

I love maps! At one stage I even considered undertaking a degree in cartography. I especially like maps that include images but I also enjoy looking at ancient maps, reading the interesting place names wondering about the lifestyles of those who lived in past times.

Many modern maps focus on roads – and where would we be without our street directories (lost!) – but think of other maps like pirates’ treasure maps, mind maps, mud maps, time lines mapping history, personal maps detailing our lives.
Where have you come from? Where are you heading? Where would you like to be going?

Paste, draw, paint, collage or somehow incorporate a map on your card this week.

My card uses part of a map that guided me around the ancient city of Chester a year or so ago. I particularly wanted to include the cathedral as I discovered the 'King Chamberlain's Men' setting up in the beautiful grounds. I peeped down from my bird's-eye view and thought - how amazing - as I had only recently been reading of this acting troupe in a book about Shakespeare.


I added a pointer for north to give direction but on the back wrote one of my favourite verses, words from the real guide to direct our paths ...

7. Creativity

The prompt this week is something else to take along on the journey – creativity! I think wonder, enthusiasm and creativity are three essentials for this miscellany.

Is there a place in which you feel more creative, or perhaps some items – paper, pens, fabric – that get your creative juices flowing? Is it keeping to routine or being open?

What is this often elusive but key element in leading an artistic life?

The image shows the front of my card and on the back I wrote, in a spiral, lots of ideas to promote creativity - I'll have to refer to them for inspiration!

6. Wonder

“Wonder is more than novelty. It’s more than thrill-seeking, although it can appear as a sudden intrusion or invigorating jolt. The merely novel, the brief thrill is totally self-centred, what makes us feel good or superior. Wonder is deeper, wider, and healthier. Wonder is bumping up against an astounding world of external glory, then reverently entering in.”

JANET CHESTER BLY

For my card I started thinking about the stars in the heavens, the beauty of nature but then moved to "lost in wonder, love and praise" from the old hymn. After a little search I found a 'lost in wonder' site set up by the Methodist Church in the UK which takes you through a labyrinth as you explore the wonder of God's love. Finally I chose part of an illustration from "Alice in Wonderland", wrote my phrase on the back along with the website address.

Wonder is such a special and essential aspect of our journey through life.
Include wonder in your miscellany!