A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME ......ABOUT COMMUNITY

Dear Reader

My finished bird house

Here's the side view. A bird house wouldn't be complete without a bird.

And here's how the roof lifts off and surprise! there's a mini book attached to it

Whoops photo came out sideways on for some reason! But you get the idea of what the book will be used for and an example of the lovely bird tag on one of the pages.

And here's the cover of a page with a couple of tags peeking out the side 'pockets'. The birds in these papers were so lovely I didn't embellish much

The above pix are of a project I made a few weeks ago, photographed with a borrowed camera. I loved making this' bird house'. I'd been hanging on to the Martha Stewart bird papers for some time looking for just the right project when I got inspiration from Laura Dennison's birdhouse mini book and they seemed, well, just right! The 'shell' for the mini book is made of four chipboard pieces held together with laced ribbon, covered with a removable 'roof' to which is attached the mini book. I've made mine into a birthday book (to be filled in before the New Year starts!). The design of the mini book is so clever that it allows for four tags to be hidden away in the middle of all the pages, giving oodles of room for journalling/extra photos etc. Each of the pages has a front flap and a back flap, there are six pages so bingo! enough space for a different month on each page plus an extra page for gift ideas, receipts etc. I didn't make my tags and used the suggestion of the Cavallini ones. Not cheap these but so pretty I couldn't resist and the tin they come in is beautiful too! There are also butterflies and travel tags in the range and I'm sure I'll be seeking them out soon. I've used a little owl charm to remind me to be wise and check my book often! The flowers I used were Petaloo.

Reverb10

Day 7 Prompt: Community. Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011?

Community - a word I love. Who could not love a word which broken down into its syllables literally means 'together harmony'. My job is about community. Not a community that instantly springs to mind. It's the business community. But just as in so much of life human beings want to 'belong', to interact, to help each other, so that it is true of business too. And as a business community we are able to help build relationships with our local communities too. I could really get on my soap box for this prompt! But I do believe that it's only by being involved with others, that being actively part of a community initiative - any community initiative I'm not fussy - that we can live fulfilled lives, help our area to thrive and each other to flourish. And the community I'd like to join? I'm hoping to join a creative industries forum that meets monthly to share ideas and promote creative and digital industries locally.

And here's today's Reverb10:

Prompt: Beautifully different. Think about what makes you different and what you do that lights people up. Reflect on all the things that make you different - you'll find they're what make you beautiful.

Whoa! Now this one is a bit too strong for me, a little too much navel gazing. I'm thinking we're all different - that's what makes us unique individuals. What makes me 'different'? Just being me!