Dear Friends and Readers,
I wanted you to know that my up coming blog posts will now be found on my website, mjgibbs.com.au/blog Please don’t go far, join me in my travels, inspiration, happenings and literary journey. No longer on WordPress.com. Stay tuned for creative musings, news and wonders. Follow me, Yours, in heart and words,
Marg Gibbs, the creative grandma.
Mim Cohen roams the world in a travelling bookshop, with her dad and brother and a horse called Flossy.
From award-winning author, Katrina Nannestad and beloved illustrator Cheryl Orsini comes an enchanting series for young readers.
I love Katrina’s style of writing. I adore her play on words and how each chapter heading brims with words like “Waffles and Worms”, “Pink Things Good and Bad”, “Sludge and Grubs and Double Trouble.”
I have just finished reading The Travelling Bookshop – Mim and the Baffling Bully.
Rather than tell you the plot, I am interested in the way words empower, enthuse and capture emotions.
Chapter Two starts with “Termites, tea cosies and three legged sheep.”
Imaginative. Fun and Childlike.
Words are treasures to find and use. “There’s a happy memory wrapped up in these words,”
“I collect letters,” says Nat. Postcards, love letters.
Words that end in “ous” – curious, strenuous, anxious, righteous, oblivious, bulbous.
This book is a must read for parents to child ( ages 6+) with its cast of characters and themes of overcoming adversity, bullying and friendship. Her other titles of The Girl, the Dog and the Writer have been very popular.
‘We are Wolves” is shortlisted for the CBCA awards shortly. Brilliant, emotional and penetrating. The story revolves around the Wolf family, Liesel, Otto, Mia their baby sister who find themselves lost and alone as they search for their parents in the middle of a war zone. Older readers from 10+ will read it perhaps with a tear.
To contrast these well written books, I found a picture book by Robert Vescio called The Art of Words.
Illustrated boldly by Joanna Bartel, the pages are filled with colourful words, shortened words, words that shout ( with an exclamation mark) plain words and words that string together like ” droplets of dew on a silky web.” The pictures do tell the story. Great for teachers who would like to introduce grammar, such as punctuation and full stops.
With Children’s book Week fast approaching after August 21, it’s a good reminder to share with children the power, meaning and beauty in words. Delicious, gooey gooey words. I hope this week, your kind words will POP.
This post is all about a wonderful book that I borrowed from the library called, Making a Life, Working by Hand and Discovering the Life You are Meant to Live. Mekanie Falick, author and maker interviews and visits the homes of many weavers, painters, quilters, potters, printmakers, woodworkers, silversmiths, and more, to uncover the transformative and inspiring journey of using your hands to make things.
We make in order to slow down. We make to feed the soul. We make to serve others.
As I browsed, read and hungered for more in this book, I examined the nature of many creatives who love to do handwork. All the chapters have fascinating titles that grab your attention. Early on I read, The Spiral of our Galaxy about Renate who uses all her senses to experience weaving. She believes in the Waldorf style education from Germany that connected her to parent group for her children when they were growing up.
With her designs, she says,” when we are following someone else’s patterns, we are mostly stuck in our heads: thinking, counting, reading. When we are figuring out a design for ourselves, we are feeling, asking questions, observing and making decisions, connecting to the process and the metamorphosis of the work on a deeper level.”
Other interesting chapters include, An Artful Life, Curiosity as Wayfinder, Integrity, Simplicity and Grace, Textiles in the Landscape, Dyeing for a Better World and so on.
Kindred spirits find one another all over the world. Coming together to stitch, throw a pot, cut paper or print.
Day by day, Nikki cuts paper intricately to create beautiful designs for her cards, children’s books or commissions.
Nikki says,
“I don’t think we’re going to be happy as a species just interacting with computers and having robots do our work for us. I don’t think that’s a future that will be satisfying.”
For Elsa who has come from a very poor background in Cuba where her family struggled to survive daily, to Los Angeles where she lives comfortably with Bill and their two children in a 1917 farmhouse, life has changed dramatically. Her mantra is below. Something to think about. Remember. Cherish.
One of eight children of divorced parents, Elsa’s story of creativity is remarkable. She felt like an outsider. And at twelve, she was admitted to a local vocational art school that saved her life.
Drawing.
Today she is hatching new beginnings with creativity, community and collaborative energy.
I enjoyed reading about anything to do with textiles and hand dyeing. The author takes us into these homes.
Creating a book like this one has allowed the author to indulge her passions and invest time in others, thanks to her wonderful editor, friends, family and husband.
I believe there is potential in all of us to use our hands to make a life richer, better and in service to others.
Turning a bowl, making a teaspoon, tying knots, sharpening stones, threading beads, spinning wool.
Keep well my friends. Enjoy some lock down reading and creating. “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.“ Annie Dillard
from Marg
My birthday falls in July. Every one is important as I reflect upon the friendships I have nurtured and grown.
My friend, nephew, son, sister and passed father-in-law’s birthday are remembered in the Winter month of chilly July. To cherish a lifelong friendship is a golden nugget of joy.
Joy my oldest buddy, childhood neighbour and friend is one such gem. Over many years, through good and bad, Joy has encouraged me, written to me and shared her life dreams, difficulties and family connections. Thank you dear Joy. She even reads my blogs!
Jenni who now lives in Townsville, has 7 grand children is another sweet friend who I have known since high school days. Riding our bikes to school, studying, sharing her mother’s cooking and hospitality, church youth group, and then topping it off with shared twin grand children. How fortunate to have Jenni in my life. When I lived in Townsville, she lived in Brisbane, then after several years, the reverse happened,.
I moved back to Brisbane to settle and she and her family made Townsville their new home. We hardly saw each other. Frustrating but that’s life.
Birthday cards from friends enrich the memories of growing up. I pile up this year’s ones to display, read the verses and giggle at the art and sentiment.
Having a friend is like owning a handbag for all occasions – the showy, bright one like Brooke, the practical everyday one like Marg, the travel handbag and suitcase like Dallas, a dependable, trustworthy and comfy handbag like Gael, a classic black clutch purse like Wendy, and so on.
My newest literary author and illustrator friend, Jenny – I liken her to a handbag for all occasions, hard wearing, deep to fill up and a delight to carry with me. In this handbag I have inspiration, ideas and goodies to unpack. A backpack for hiking is my dear friend Glenis who is thoughtful and intelligent. Catherine is my arty friend, the handbag with flair, style and a good dose of common sense.
What does friendship mean to you? How far do you go to help a friend? Why?
I wonder about the beauty and loyalty of friends far and near, the abiding strength through comedy and tragedy, the ties that unite, the love that flourishes.
I have other school friends like Julie and Sorrel ( the name of a herb) Both offer different talents and gifts to me. Margot from primary and high school, wise, worldly and innovative. Business woman and writer.
Then, there’s my almost lock down friends not far from Sydney – Jean and Julieanne. Honest, insightful, caring and kind. Love their phone calls and catch ups.
Not to mention friends whose names start with A, L, H, A, and L. C, J, M…
Here’s to all the lovely friends we cherish and more to come. Stay safe and well. Until next time. Marg
It’s July and this is the month of birthdays, mine and my son who is reaching 40. It’s a time of reflection, new opportunities and courage. Some people think of the cold wintry days inside sipping warm hot chocolates, others celebrate Christmas in July while others have to cancel special occasions due to Covid. July is over half way through the year and marks school holidays in most States of Australia.
For me dear readers, I am experimenting with the ancient past of the Vikings, their daring adventures, raids and culture. I have been working on a book of poems for kids, called I’m a Viking Kid – Poems for the brave and fierce. It’s basically a gift for my son’s birthday and a creative venture that has seen us do some illustrations side by side.
I would like to share some of the artistic processes with you.
From wild warriors, sacrifices and sagas, to cruel competitors and family insults, the Vikings lived over 1,000 years ago in the lands we now call Scandinavia. From around 800 CE, they were a feared and famous people.
The Vikings had their own alphabet of 16 letters called runes. They sailed in longboats. And I have enjoyed making collages to capture this in the poetry book.
The process of collage involves cutting and pasting papers onto a surface. It includes many different textures, but for this book, I kept with papers and hand painted pieces.
Find a drawing or cut out templates of shapes, assemble them on a blank page, then glue them into position. Voila! You have a cute viking boy.
The creative part involves the choice of colours and how you blend and match them together.
American artist Ezra Jack Keats and Australian Jeannie Baker are experts in the field of collage making.
I like to browse books, gather ideas and trace some things like helmets and boats. I have a plastic container full of coloured papers, old music sheets, cards, stationery, stamps and photos. I rummage through these looking for the right piece.
Inspiration comes from greetings cards, the internet and library books from the children’s section.
My son drew in pen and ink a Viking house, dragon, weapons, man, girl and dog. My grandchildren also took time to get involved around the big pine table upstairs in the Loft. From 7-10 years of ages, they copied ideas and drew freehand. Their illustrations are loose and relaxed, not hard work, but play. We had a lot of fun doing this together.
I’m a Viking Kid will retail at $24.99. It is ideal for family discussion, children from 6+.
Life was very tough indeed for the Vikings. I am reminded about our history today, what we face, how we overcome adversity and go on to grow and learn. Being kidnapped, held captive still exists today. Let’s not fear the future, but like the explorers many centuries ago, embrace our tales, poems and stories to share with the next generation.
I have to bring to your attention our lovely little Post Office family who work tirelessly behind the counter to serve others. Elizabeth Buckley, her son David and daughter Yyvonne Dawdle, and her children particularly Anika who is 18 years. A strong family business. They take pride in what they do. They deeply care.
The family are responsible for handling duties in a post office, including receiving and sorting mail, selling postage, weighing packages, stamping envelopes, assisting customers, selling money orders, taking passport photos, (although this task is found in Nambour) and ensuring mail has the correct postcodes and addresses.
This list is minimal. There are many, many other jobs they work on daily. During Covid, they were diligent about safe distancing, signs and warnings and minimal numbers of people inside.
More jobs! Never stopping. Working together as a team.
Complaints, cash money orders, selling books of stamps, loading trucks, redirecting mail etc.
On our recent road trip to Dubbo and further south, I stopped to notice different post offices. Old buildings, simple shops and even country mail boxes on dusty roads. They all have personality and character.
Our dear Shilo lies on the floor behind the Mapleton counter waiting to smell the parcels. He hardly barks because there is so much conversation and interaction going on when customers walk through the doors.
Shilo has his own bed at the post office where he spends most of his day. 10am is morning tea time.
David always has a friendly smile and joke ready. Anika checks the postcode and weighs the packets to send to Hervey Bay. Yyvonne checks the daily mail inside the shop. And Elizabeth with her long years of service, makes sure that questions are answered and facts given. She is a capable gift buyer for the shop and organises competitions and prizes for children. She stocks jewellery, ornaments, woolly socks, toys, gift cards and stationery.
I believe she also helps with the back to school packs and books.
In busy Maleny, people line up to buy gifts, send letters, track overseas parcels. These days you can purchase soft cuddly toys, games and specialised children’s books.
Next time you wait patiently in a queue at the Post Office, offer a smile and greeting to the men and women who connect and care about your safety and helping you.
Lastly, trivia facts.
Postage stamps first appeared in 1847; prior to that, postal clerks simply noted the amount the sender paid on the envelope.
We have more than 75,000 in our extended workforce and we have one of Australia’s largest electric vehicle fleets of more than 3,700 vehicles.
Until next time, stay well.
My Country Style magazine arrived when we returned home after our nostalgic road trip past Dubbo and into the Southern Highlands. How timely. Firstly, I turned to page 28 and read with interest the article on Mea Campbell who has founded an organisation based on good old fashioned pen pals and letter writing.
It’s timely because Mea lives in Dubbo with her daughters and husband who works away. Loneliness and isolation, she says, hits many people. “It was the best and worst times.” The memory of her late grandfather as well as feeling the need to reach out to vulnerable people, allowed Mea to distribute hundreds of letters to the lonely and isolated Australians each week.
“It’s estimated that 40 % of the 250,000 Australians in aged care don’t get visits, and 2.5 million Australians aren’t connected to the internet.”
Connected AU offers a number of online hobby groups, gardening clubs and virtual book club.
Secondly, I think we need to appreciate the postal service and its commitment to helping others.
The Letterbox project caught my attention. Especially as this week, my children’s picture book is ready to be born, The Post Office Pup. Mea thought she would facilitate around 20 pen pal letters a week. After 12 months, the project has reached more than 3.5 million Australians. WOW!
Letters are tangible. They offer people support. I love receiving mail, and especially love responding to my friends and family. As Mea says, “we can see the slope of the handwriting and the smudges and blemishes. From all this, we can see and feel the effort.”
Reaching out to others through stories, poems and wishes can bring smiles, cheer and more connection.
I would like to think that dogs can do the same. They may not be sent in the mail ( although some do fly first class) but they offer companionship, hope, comfort and play with others and their owners. Dogs, cats, birds and moving creatures add sparkle, enrichment and relationship.
Shilo, snuggles down behind the counter in the Mapleton Post Office. He is a well loved pet.
He’s not the boss although he is very aware of his surroundings and the mail and parcels being delivered daily.
Here’s a Winter challenge for you.
Why not hand write a letter to someone this week, compose a poem for an elderly person in a nursing home or take your dog for a walk to post the letter. Buy a lovely postage stamp. Write in your finest hand writing. And for a child, include a sticker on the back. Make sure to include your own address and postcode.
Until next time, stay safe, and find someone who feels small and invisible, and make their day happier.
instagram @marg_gibbs
instagram@marg_kingdomofrooms
It’s magical to have a children’s book develop and grow from an idea to the finished product. Coming soon is the Kingdom of Rooms, a poetry book for children who love to collect things. Growing up in Brisbane, I had a few collections that kept me interested and curious – stamps, owls and elephants, not the big beasts of course! I loved to see my collection of animals grow and whenever my Mum received a letter in the mail, I soaked off the postage stamp. I always loved the colourful stamps the most. And my little owl collection started with three and grew to twenty-three.
Kingdom of Rooms is about 9 rooms in a Royal palace that are home to different collections. Written by me, Marg Gibbs and featuring my creative friend and Mum to three young daughters, Jenny Catalano, this new book brings excitement to a child’s world. In each room, painted by the skilful Margeaux Davis, the mystery comes alive with a collection of bird’s feathers, dolls, shields, toy soldiers, bugs and more. Today’s child might own a lego collection of pirate ships or miniature cars, trains or pet rocks.
Because I love writing and reading poetry, I asked Jenny, a children’s writer/ artist if she wanted to contribute some poems to a themed anthology. Jenny loves family, history and the past, so I suggested a few specific topics and she delivered promptly. I searched the internet for Palace rooms, interiors and furnishings. There was more sites on castles, however, after looking at Buckingham Palace, Danish Palaces and Scottish ones, it seemed a fun thing to do, create different rooms and write the poems for that room so that children could see more clearly inside the residence.
The writing stage came easy. In the Nursery Room, I had to have dolls, teddy bears and toys. Margeaux painted me a rocking horse and on each of her beautiful art pieces, she hid a small mouse for children to find.
“Tick tock nursery clock,
Alice and Helen are asleep
Tick tock nursery clock
The mouse comes out for a peep.”
Jenny wrote a poem called Model Train for the Nursery Room and used WHOOSH! to convey the speed and pitch black into the tunnel entrance.
Her Shield poems are fun to read aloud and her girls, Regina and Carmela took part in a dramatic role play out at Bli Bli Castle for Legionnaire’s Statues and Make Shift Shield. Marg also had fun to engage children with her poem, A Bottle of Bugs set in the Banquet Hall. Dressing up is always fun especially if there are costumes and ready made shield and helmets with swords too. Inspiration for these poems comes from history books, movies and real life collections that people have at home.
The illustrator’s journey comes from imagination and research as Margeaux used her own son’s idea on the cover. There’s a Throne Room and Bird Room plus more to appeal to the child and parent/ carer.
This creative collaboration involved hard work, responsible communication and rapport, co-operation and at the end of the day a motivation to engage young minds.
Kingdom of Rooms fits in nicely with the School curriculum of year 2 with its poems and stories, portraits and visual arts. I hope you love it as much as we loved doing it.
A Royal wave and best wishes, from Marg and Jenny. Thanks Regina (short hair) and Carmella (long hair) for your support, co-operation and love. Stay tune for the next blog on the Author’s favourite historical picture books for children.
The Creative Grandma 