When I signed up to the Do What you Love Retreat, I was not only excited to be in Rachel Hazell’s Book Art class, but also to be her teaching assistant for the 3 days. (no “real” work really required, just a lot of chocolate and cake eating, tea drinking, singing and laughter!)
My book shelves in my studio are full of “Make your own book” publications, but I had never had the opportunity to spend 3 whole days in this total bliss you find, when creating with the same teacher and the same creative souls in class.
Not only was it total bliss, but full of tummy tickling, playful laughter and soul searching moments. Moments that are hard to put down in words.
Paper passion and folding exploration.
When you fully commit and give yourself permission to leave all your troubles and to do lists behind, there is something that happens to the mind and the soul when you just let yourself go in the moment of creative exploration and adventure. It’s like laying in a quiet park on a warm sunny day in the shade, looking up into the tree above you, watching the breeze blow the leaves and feel the silent movement of nature, mind shifting sideways and wandering into un-chartered subconscious waters. I can totally get lost in those kind of moments and its times like these, we find ourselves again.
This class so aptly titled:‘Maps, charts and other discoveries: An extraordinary expandable sketchbook journal’ gently guided us on our own discoveries of self, expanding our own creativity as well as the sketchbook. Rachel believes “everyone has a book inside them” and after taking this class, I am dreaming up a whole library for years to come.
I found a kindred spirit in Rachel.
“I know we will meet again”
Below are my favorite photos I took in class and pages from my book “A Journey of Heart”. I hope you can get a tiny glimpse of how much this class healed and revealed. I am itching to take a week long class with Rachel now, and if you get a chance, don’t hesitate!
Rachel showing us how to bind our books together.
Our class was full of color, creativity, heartfelt moments and laughter.
My Book: A Journey of Heart.
“Label of Love”
Collage paper, pages from an old dictionary and ribbon
Expandable page for “Love Struck and Heart Strings”
Secret flaps and envelopes for “I cried a river” page
I loved these neutral colors for “Friendship”
Gorgeous hand-made paper and some favorite words; “past life”, “soul” “law of attraction”, “universe”, “awake”
More exploring on “Push me, Pull me” page
My affirmation message from Beth in my book. We all chose one at random on our first evening.
A cut out window for the “timeless” page
Torn pages and the amazing Japanese hole punch for “Write yourself a love letter” page
Lovely paper folding expanded music paper for “Write yourself a love song” page
Window and map for the back page. The little square map inside the window was in my kit package and it wasn’t until day 3 I noticed the text on the map.
It reads “Rest and be thankful”
Dearest sweet Louise, this is such an inspiring and beautiful post! I love everything about this post and it made me smile! Thank YOU so much for sharing your retreat experience with us! Loving your beautiful heart journal and i especially adore that quote “it will happen for you” and yes i believe in this too. Have a lovely merry happy sunday and love to you!
Hi Louise ~ I absolutely love your heart journal ~ I would love to make one of these ~ I love the affirmation, the map, the “open heart”, the dictionary pages – They all have a special place in your life – For a special reason – I am on the East Coast, wondering if there is a workshop like this, or a retreat I could attend to learn to make a book like this … Thanks so much for sharing your journal with us! Please come and visit me at my blog http://www.kristinelivinginthemoment.blogspot.com … Please come and take my photography journey with me …
~Kristine
Lovely lovely pictures! Thank you for sharing those – your book is a work of art! I laughed when I spotted myself in the photo above too -thank you!
What a wonderful class this must have been. Three days of soul searching. The photos make me want to take a class myself. Just simply beautiful pages in that journal. Thank you so much for sharing that.
oh thank you so much for such a lovely post – your book is amazing and so heartfelt. I love all of the secret compartments and the special inclusions which you have added to totally personalize your book. This incredible class and all of your discoveries i’m sure will be with you for ever!
Love, violette
Hi Louise! I so enjoyed reading about the retreat, as well as taking in the photos of your lovely book! What a joy it must have been to create! I wonder if Rachel ever teaches workshops in the Chicago area? The idea of creating alongside so many other creative souls really piques my curiosity!
It’s so lovely to see your book in so much detail Louise – I didn’t get to see them all on the Gallery Night. I really like the way you used all those phrases to do with love and the heart for each page. Gorgeous 🙂
DEAR Louise, Thank you for such heartfelt posting and binding. Captured beautifully in the light. You’re right; we have only just begun…
Kristine and Jenny, and anybody interested in creating an Extraordinary Expandable Sketchbook Journal of their own – please send a message; i’m up for adventure!
With love from Rachel, The Travelling Bookbinder
Louise this is absolutely beautiful. What a storyXx
Beautiful images and beautifully expressed, Louise. It was a joy to sit next to you in Rachel’s workshop and watch your journey of the heart unfold
That is absolutely beautiful Louise. So nice to see your book in such detail. A workshop with Rachel is high on my wish list ! Best wishes,
Rhiannon x
I loved your book Louise. Very special indeed. I was very inspired and have booked to do one of Rachels courses next year. I can’t wait. I have so many ideas! Thanks for being inspiring!
Louise~ what a beautiful book, and lovely insight into your creative life. So very special and inspiring.
A.w.e.s.o.m.e! Looks like a lot of fun and inspiration! Patsy from HeARTworks
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