Table of contents for Issue 17 in Project Calm

We’re doing things a bit differently this issue: taking a fresh perspective in so many ways, from seeing the world the Hawaiian way to rewilding our lives. It’s all about sustainable shifts and second chances – a theme I’ve wanted to explore for some time as it seems so prevalent in my own life, from the rekindling of my high school love to getting another opportunity to buy our dream home after we missed out last year. Often second chances can feel like they’re meant to be, can’t they? Elsewhere, our Travel section takes an unusual approach this issue – you could almost call it the antithesis to adventure! But maybe that’s exactly what you’re after? Helen Martin and Naomi Bulger write about the joy to be found in correspondence…

MIND & BODY This issue we look at ways to find peace with ourselves: whether that’s trusting our intuition, living by the moon or making a decision when it comes to forgiving a wrong – or not. Life Coach, Sas Petherick, advises that it’s not always necessary to forgive and forget – what’s important is the way in which you tend to your boundaries. Tear out Sas’s forgiveness worksheets to guide you on your path to resolution, and tune in with yourself with Matilda Smith’s beautifully illustrated oracle cards, designed to prompt your inner knowing. Plus, we hear about the biggest second chance of all: saving a life. Pippa Kent’s moving story of her double lung transplant is an inspiration to us all.…

STEVIE NICKS The singer gives gold moon necklaces to women she feels close to, calling them ‘sisters of the moon’, a phrase taken from a 1979 Fleetwood Mac song. These women “deserve to have that inspiration,” she says. “You can have it all if you want it.” JOANMIRÓ Painter, sculptor and ceramicist Miró painted dreamy, imaginary landscapes exploring humanity, nature and the cosmos. His famous collection ‘Constellations’ was a series of 23 paintings on paper, inspired by stars and birds. His grandson later said it was “as if Miró was a nocturnal bird escaping from the earth.” DAVID BOWIE Released just five days before the launch of Apollo 11 in 1969, Bowie’s Space Oddity was originally inspired by Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. The song weaves the atmospheric tale…

1 RUSTIC INTERIORS As more and more of us try to pare back our belongings and consume less, opting to decorate our homes with natural finds and materials is the perfect way to counteract manmade consumerism. Interior stylist extraordinaire Hans Blomquist has just published a new book dedicated to this very concept. Inspired by Nature first takes us through ideas and inspiration – beautifully illustrated through Hans’ photography – for decorating with flowers, plants and found objects such as shells, feathers and pebbles, as well as natural materials such as linen and wood. The second half of the book takes us on a tour of real-life homes which have adopted this philosophy. Published by Ryland Peters Small, £19.99. 2 SQUEAKY CLEAN Air pollution is a real environmental concern and many…

When and why did you decide to become a professional artist? I don’t believe there was ever really a decision, it was just kind of a natural progression. In terms of just doing art, I always did it and I went to art school as well. I had a lot of other jobs, and then I had my kids and things kind of slowed down, but I still worked. It was just a few years ago when I really started doing art full-time. How would you describe your style? Oh, that’s a really hard one! I get asked that all the time – you know when you meet people and they say, ‘What kind of art?’ I’d say, ‘Well, it’s mixed media, collage, you know.’ I used to do more…

TRAVEL We all feel the benefit of time with loved ones, and there’s no substitute for meeting in person, however far we need to travel. But in those in-between times, there are so many creative ways to show your love, beyond WhatsApp and Skype. Helen Martin has lots of lovely examples in her emotional piece about far-flung family and friends. Naomi Bulger then shares with us the joys she takes in handwritten, thoughtfully-decorated mail – “It’s the next best thing to a big hug”. Elsewhere, Tracey Ellis explores how to travel with fresh eyes to places you’ve been to before, and Sian Meades praises the creativity to be found in a long train journey.…

1 THIS IS US by NBC NBC’s This is Us flips between the present and past, so when you travel back to the 1970s, the start of the Pearson family story, you know some of how it ends and you find out more details on the beginning. With this it simultaneously throws love and heartbreak at you in sepia tones and raw lines that will have you in an emotional whirl. 2 THE LET DOWN by Netflix Netflix’s The Let Down is an Australian comedy drama that tells the story of early parenthood with honesty and feeling. It focuses on the adjustments to daily life, identity, expectations and relationships, as well overwhelm and the love for a new baby that grows and grows. 3 PARTY OF FIVE by Freeform Party…

1 TREASURE HUNT Plan to explore different areas in your repeat destination, either by car or by foot, and create a travel treasure hunt. Aim to seek out a place you’ve never been before to eat, have a drink, shop, walk or visit a new cultural spot. Try to engage in something completely new, every day. Done the bus tour in Lisbon taking you to all the famous sites? Try a street art walking tour to see some places off the beaten path, or take a graffiti workshop. 2 COOKING UP A STORM If you return to a place because you love the cuisine, consider taking a cooking course there and learning how to create your favourite dishes by the locals. 3 THE END OF THE LINE Create your own…

When did you realise you wanted to be an artist? I can say, literally, I was born this way. I realised I would be an artist when I was at high school, when I was a teenager. You portray beautiful, exotic women, often with flora and fauna. What inspires your pieces? I’ve always loved painting portraits, especially female portraits. Any woman can inspire me. My first portraits were of Tibetan women. Their colourful, traditional clothes, dark red cheeks and accessories influenced me a lot. Can you describe your creative process? Most things happen spontaneously while I’m painting; I do not sketch beforehand. I draw directly on paper, and start to paint. I rarely know what will happen next. What is the best creative advice you’ve received? Be yourself and create…

Humans love making connections. Of course, it’s in our nature to seek out similarities with one another, but we choose to look for shared traits in the natural world too. Owls may be wise and wolves wicked, but few alliances have endured longer than our fellowship with flowers and gemstones. Throughout history artists, poets, royalty and religion have endowed them with human quirks in a shorthand that remains alive and well today. Shrinking violets, rough diamonds. But where did these traditions come from? And why are they still so popular? Think of the meanings of flowers and you’ll probably think of the Victorians. However, the tradition is thought to be much older, starting with the Greeks and Romans. While the Greeks wove flowers into their myths – like Narcissus, the…

1 TAKE SOME TIME FOR YOU Last year, Australian author, advocate and social worker Jessica Sanders founded Re-Shape Social Enterprises (re-shape.info) as a vessel for her women’s empowerment efforts. Her guide for young girls, Love Your Body, was published in 2019, and now you can read Me Time, a self-care guide to being your own best friend. Moved by conversations which made her realise that “we are all collectively struggling to prioritise what we need in this crazy ass world”, Jess has filled Me Time with invaluable advice, from boundary-setting to balancing your news intake, with timed selfcare ideas. It’s illustrated by Steph Spartels, whose art is as inspiring as it is beautiful. Me Time, published by Five Mile. Available from bookdepository.com, £16.52 2 EARTH-FRIENDLY PILLOW TALK Taking inspiration from…

Hawaiians have an advantage over us: they’ve learnt since childhood to clear out the thoughts and actions of each day that could disrupt the flow of life. To ensure that children are raised in this spirit from an early age, their elders tell them a tale that’s been handed down from generation to generation for centuries: the bowl of light. Every child is born with a bowl of perfect light. If the child learns to cherish this light in love and respect for life, they will grow up to be strong, powerful and in communion with the universe. They will be able to swim with sharks, sing with birds and they’ll have a good understanding of all things. But each time a child turns to fear, worries, doubts or negative…

MY LIFE HAS CHANGED IN SO MANY WAYS THAT MAKE ME PROUD In April 2017 I was running out of options. Born with cystic fibrosis, I had spent the last three months in hospital, tethered to both oxygen and an endless range of medication just to keep me alive. My life as I knew it had been taken away from me with a sharp decline in the health of my lungs and the only option left was a lifesaving and, in hindsight, completely life-transforming double lung transplant. Thankfully, 14 April brought the call that saved me. I was told the hospital might have a pair of lungs suitable for me and finally my thoughts of a future started to seem like a possible reality. The next few days then passed…

From the very first photograph taken back in the 1800s to the inescapable snaps ’n’ selfies of millennial life, photography remains the best way to capture the moments and people that make up our lives. And those captures endure, with 33 percent of us opting to save our photo albums in the event of a house fire, according to a 2019 AA survey. It’s an understandable choice, as those precious prints would’ve been impossible to replicate until recently. Digital photography – reserved for wealthy early adopters at its inception – is now a part of most of our lives. Every day, we walk with our smartphone digital cameras in our pockets and bags, thinking nothing of taking photos of anything we fancy. Back in the day, the restrictions and expense…

Most of us dabbled in it at nursery school. After scribbling with crayons, collage was the next step in creative exploration. A simple technique comprising cutting and sticking, whether you used words, shiny sweet wrappers or magazine pages, the results were always satisfying, and an early introduction to recycling! The ultimate rainy day activity, its appeal didn’t stop there. Collage has infiltrated into our everyday lives from animation and advertising to home interiors, but where did it come from and how did it become such a celebrated form of art and design? Considered as ‘high’ and ‘low’ art, collage has a colourful past. Some people believe it was conceptualised by artists Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque around 1912 and though they coined the term ‘collage,’ it had already been practised…

1 UNWIND IN A PASTEL PARADISE For dreamy interiors, pink exteriors and bold blue skies, head to Sands Hotel and Spa in Indian Wells, California. The 46 rooms designed by Martyn Lawrence Bullard, including two suites and one presidential suite, are decorated using, “a series of different colour combinations, bespoke furniture and custom textiles”. Think sugary pastel mixed with natural shades, bold monochrome patterns and smart luxury details. The pink painted accommodation surrounds the pool, with its palm trees, sofas and loungers creating an idyllic scene. The restaurant and spa have a Moroccan influence meanwhile; the latter a tranquil and calm space offering a range of rejuvenating treatments. sandshotelandspa.com 2 RELAXATION RETREAT With yoga, meditation, spa treatments, holistic therapies and a delicious vegetarian menu, The Tree has been welcoming guests…

“In this digital era, many of us are searching for more meaningful ways to communicate and forge friendships. For me, old-fashioned handwritten letters have become a beautiful, personal way to share.” Last year, my husband bought me one of those Ancestry DNA tests for Christmas. It didn’t tell me anything about my heritage that I didn’t already know, but I did find the timeline map quite fascinating. The map pinpointed a distinct period in history when the world opened and expanded for my ancestors. After venturing no further than a cross-channel marriage here and there for hundreds of years, all of a sudden, curved, dotted lines represented my forebears soared across the globe, to Asia, America, the Pacific Islands and Australia. Of course, this story is not unique to my…

JULES TAYLOR PROJECT CALM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF I returned to Florence ten years after I had visited with a group for my friend’s wedding. Attending a yoga retreat on my own this time, I was dropped off by Ponte Vecchio, the busiest tourist spot where everyone seemed to be enjoying the sights with someone else. Though I was happy to be here again with the sun shining, I felt lonely, with no one to share it with. But then I got a gigantic gelato and found myself in the same square that my friend was married in, and those lovely memories instantly came flooding back. I took a photo with my ice cream in a place she would recognise and sent it to my friend, and we shared a lovely, nostalgic moment…

The issue’s themes switch tracks and overlap through a selection of our songs in this eclectic mixtape. The Guillemots’ jaunty 2006 hit Trains To Brazil explores living life to the full, while Heather Nova’s brand new Rewild Me speaks of acceptance and forgiveness, as well as a return to nature. Join us in following the tracks back through time too, with Vashti Bunyan’s 1966 single Train Song, which received little attention then, gathering cult status much later on – a second chance in itself! And Collage by The Three Degrees, released in 1970, is a melancholic melody full of colour, the passing of time and unfinished business. From revisiting moments, to revisiting a classic: listen out for Neil Young’s Harvest Moon covered by Poolside. It all comes together rather beautifully.…

Intuition is a natural part of being a human being, the sixth sense that steers us around the roadblocks and keeps us headed in the right direction. I think of my intuition as a radio station that’s broadcasting on a frequency only I can receive. Some days the connection is stronger than others; some days I don’t remember how to switch the radio on! And yet even when I’m at my most unconscious, my inner guidance whispers to me when I need it most. Our intuition sends information as a knowing or a feeling, and as we experience the world through our bodies it makes sense our bodies are the receivers (and interpreters) of that vibration. Most people pick up intuitive feelings in their heart or their gut. Over the…

NATURE Rewilding: the word conjures up great forests, huge meadows with grasses as tall as your knees and animals running free; nature taking care of itself. Our regular nature writer, Tiffany Francis-Baker, delves into this hot topic of modern conservation and asks how it can also take care of us. Follow her tips for how we can rewild on a personal and local level. Elsewhere, wild flowers provide some of the inspiration in artist Harriet de Winton’s watercolour lesson this issue, and we turn to birth flowers, and gems, to inspire a year of natural gifts with an illustrated pull-out birthday calendar to match.…

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CREATING YOURS HADOWBOX Pullout the cardboard insert over the page and gather together your kit: craft knife, cutting mat, safety ruler, glue, and sticky foam pads Step 1 Using a cutting mat and a scalpel or craft knife, carefully cut out all the elements of the vignette according to the instructions on the sheet. For fiddly areas you might find it easier to rotate the card around the scalpel, rather than moving the blade. Step 2 Using a ruler to keep your lines straight, score along all the white dotted lines around the edge of the sheets (as well as on the smaller pieces such as the bear). Using a scalpel and ruler, cut along the solid white lines to create tabs at the corners of the scene. Step 3…

CLEAR THE DECK Use Matilda Smith’s exclusive, beautifully illustrated intuition cards to hone and trust your inner knowing. Based on the principle of an Oracle card deck, this pack is designed to help you meditate on a particular situation with simple words and images to guide your thoughts, actions and resolve. SPREAD LOVE When you use your cards, try the following ‘spreads’ and ask an open question, such as ‘What do I need to know about this situation?’. A popular spread is the three-card draw, representing ‘past’, ‘present’ and ‘future’. Allow the words and images to guide your thoughts. Alternatively, try a two-card pull: ‘what I need to receive’, and ‘what I need to let go’, while you ask an open question. With practise, you’ll find the answers are already…

HOME A house turns into a home when you get your pictures on the wall. We could all do with a little nudge to get our snaps off our phones and into frames. Lottie Storey speaks to women who are taking a different approach to family photos – perhaps it will spark your next project? Maybe you could use some of your pics in a collage? Momtaz Begum-Hossain takes an in-depth look at the art form this issue, and we encourage you to have a go yourself, with our 14-page collage kit of patterned papers and bold images. There’s no right or wrong, just lots of fun. Be inspired by mixed media and collage artist Julie Liger-Belair, from her beautiful Toronto studio.…

1 UNPOSED Often the most treasured photos are natural and unposed. In years to come they have the power to conjure up a pocket of time you used to inhabit – the stuff of daily life that takes up the most time, not just the ‘big’ moments. 2 REFRAME Reframe your idea of a family photo. Not everyone needs to be looking into the lens with their cheesiest grin in spectacular scenery. If you’re quick and take a surreptitious snap on a normal family day you just might hit gold. 3 MOVEMENT Get yourself moving rather than your subjects. Teens may balk at the idea of having to pose for a shot and grandparents may not quite appreciate the joy of a candid shot so use a bit of stealth…

FANTASY AND REALITY The possibilities with paper collage are endless–create your own dream like artworks to hang on the wall. Step 1 Cut out the collage pages with a sharp scalpel. Alternatively you can photocopy the pages. Or, visit bit.ly/PC17papers and download and print out the pages on paper of your choice. Step 2 Take one of the portrait photographs. Produce a sketch, planning the areas to be cut out and which patterned papers to use where. Cut out the areas and papers with a scalpel. Step 3 Start collaging by carefully gluing your cut-out papers together. You can also create three-dimensional elements like flowers and leaves. Step 4 When you’re happy with the arrangement, frame your completed artwork and hang it on the wall for all to admire! Photography:…

In the hazy daze of new parenthood I read that a good family is like a pot of gold. In part identity, along with a great kindness and a sense of safety, it is an eternal boost and a supportive high five. It is love. A huge benefit is that wherever you are, wherever they are, the gold will be with you. A solid and shiny foundation to draw and grow from. With so many of us living many miles apart from our family, it’s important to remember this connection and there are ways to keep it electric. First, try to save a little a month and visit your loved ones if and when you can. Even if it means a five-hour foggy bus journey or nursery rhymes on a…

PIPPA KENT Pippa lives in London with her husband and puppy, Sid. She writes about her double lung transplant on page 63. You can follow her story and get involved in her upcoming charity cycle at @nowwhatcanieat on social media. MOMTAZ BEGUM-HOSSAIN Momtaz spends her spare time travelling and is on a mission to learn about art, crafts, design and fashion from around the world (this issue she’s explored the craft of collage, on page 82). She records her findings on her blog, craftandtravel.com. NAOMI BULGER Naomi is a writer and illustrator from Melbourne, Australia. She teaches courses that help women share their creative work and find their tribes. She writes for us about the beauty of snail mail on page 114. Naomiloves.com, @naomibulger ANDREA MARVÁN Andrea Marván is a…