Table of contents for Issue 11 in Project Calm

I often feel lucky in the UK that we have four distinct seasons in the year - four chances offered up by nature to take stock, notice I change, feel a shift in our own experience and be reminded of the rejuvenating power of both rest and bloom. Even if you live in a part of the | world that doesn't have such marked calendar points, making a note to assess where you're at every quarter is a welcome practice. So, falling leaves have us musing this issue (read Claire Storrow's beautiful piece of prose on page 58), and in turn, the symmetry inherent in so much of nature (page 52). A closer look at butterflies and moths led us to metamorphosis and the big changes we go through too…

Mindfulness is purposeful awareness of the present moment. With mindfulness, we accept what is happening right now, with curiosity and without judgment. Mindfulness means we know what we are thinking when we are thinking it, and what we are feeling when we’re feeling it. It gives us the ability to pause, and to respond skillfully to challenges, instead of reacting based on our unconscious habits. Mindfulness brings us into the only moment we have – now – and allows us to see the goodness (or even just the okayness) that is present even in the most ordinary of experiences. Neuroscientist Rick Hanson has recently suggested that mothers in the developed world are suffering from what he calls ‘Depleted Mom Syndrome’. Mothers still carry the work of the so-called “second shift,”…

You will need: pencil and paper, tracing paper, sellotape, piece of lino, lino cutting tool, sheet of acetate, printing roller and relief ink, newspaper, string washer envelopes, cleaner and a rag to clean your tools. Step 1 Start by choosing and drawing a design on to paper as you would like it to appear on the envelope. Keep in mind that you will be tracing over the sketch for the next step, so strong outlines and graphic shading work well. Next, secure the tracing paper over your drawing with some small squares of sellotape to keep them from shifting. Trace over the design with a pencil; at this stage you can make changes to the design. Step 2 Place the lino right side up on a hard surface, and flip the…

TAP TO DOWNLOAD KALEIDOSCOPE LAMPSHADE The collective noun for butterflies is ‘a kaleidoscope’ and for moths, ‘a whisper’. Our winged friends are attracted to the light, so make them a colourful lampshade. By Hannah Read-Baldrey. You will need: butterfly illustrations from the pull-out sheets over the page; two sheets of 190gsm printable card; two sheets of printable tracing paper; a selection of colouring pens (preferably permanent markers); 20m x 0.5mm black wire; a balloon; glue gun and glue; paper scissors or craft knife. To begin, make four copies of the butterfly illustrations on the pull-out sheets onto two sheets of printable card and two sheets of printable tracing paper. 1. Using the pens, colour in the butterflies. Permanent markers are best to prevent colour fade next to the lightbulb. Don’t…

I would rather own little and see the world than own the world and see little of it.…

When you’re visiting a city, how much do you take in your surroundings? It’s not hard to notice beautiful buildings and famous landmarks that our guidebooks tell us we ‘must see’, but that often means we miss out on the cultural essence that can exist below the surface of a city, within its lesser-known urban spaces. Beyond architecture and street maps, it can be fascinating to behold a city’s underground subculture instead of treading the beaten path. The street art scene is where you’ll often find the grittier side of a city, but also the more interesting, subversive, and creative slants you might not normally take the time to observe. As a metropolis evolves through the years it undergoes many transformations, and not all of them are pretty. When economy…

The details are not the details. They make the design.…

Where do you shop for beautiful items to style with? Botanique Workshop in Stoke Newington, London. I’m lucky that I live in an area that can support beautiful independent shops. I also go to Habitat and West Elm. Do you have a ‘go-to’ when it comes to props? Definitely! I love handmade ceramics and natural, wild looking flowers. I also use a lot of books and small pieces of art too. I love a pretty postcard. Are there any particular styling ‘rules’ you follow? I learned the basics when I started out but now I regularly break them. Sometimes it’s all about confidence. I’d suggest learning the basic principles of symmetry, balance and flow first and then you can add your own flair. I just make sure to add in…

There’s an episode of Friends called ‘The One With The Apothecary Table’ in which Rachel tries to convince flatmate Phoebe that their new coffee table did not come from Pottery Barn (it did) but instead was a bargain flea market find. The back story is that Phoebe, the weirdo hippy character, doesn’t agree with buying reproduction furniture new from big shops, whereas Rachel is quite happy to replicate a page of the catalogue in their living room. Phoebe wants integrity, heritage and history – objects with a story. Back in the spendy nineties, Phoebe’s ideals seemed kinda hokey, a bit worthy, and certainly at odds with the then cultural norm. But fast forward 20 years and they don’t seem so weird after all. In 2018, fast fashion is fast becoming…

HANNAH READ-BALDREY Hannah is a stylist and craft author. She wrote our feature on symmetry in nature on page 52. Best known for co-writing Everything Alice, Hannah’s latest is the floral inspired craft book, Flowerbomb! @couturecraft SAS PETHERICK Sas is a self-doubt researcher, coach and podcaster who helps thinking humans discover why they’re holding themselves back, and how to cultivate lasting self-belief. Read part of her story on page 26. saspetherick.com CAROLINE ROWLAND Caroline compiled our Home news on page 102. She’s editor of 91 Magazine and author of The Shopkeepers Home. She lives in Surrey, England, with her husband and daughter. Follow her on Instagram: @patchworkhrmy NANCY STRAUGHAN Nancy is an interiors and events stylist. She loves to create spaces filled with warmth and soul – be inspired by…

A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform.…

VIVIAN MAIER Vivian Maier was an American street photographer born in New York City in 1926. Yet, while she was alive, people knew her as a nanny and care-giver. No one had any idea about her vast body of work – said to comprise over 100,000 negatives, plus documentary films and audio recordings – until it was discovered in a thrift auction house in 2007, two years after her death. Learn more about this extraordinary women in the documentary, Finding Vivian Maier. vivianmaier.com. MAYA ANGELOU Even if you’ve only read one of this incredible woman’s seven autobiographies, you’ll know this: her life was extraordinary. This author, poet and activist has inspired people across generations with her words. Yet she held down lots of jobs, including working as San Francisco’s first…

The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain.…

Ninety-five percent of the raw material used to make paper comes from trees. One could almost say that the roots of paper are the tree, even though whenever we see a tree it’s hard to imagine that something so delicate and refined as a piece of paper actually comes from something so sturdy, tall and strong. The leaves from a tree are just as delicate as paper, so why not collect freshly fallen autumn leaves and cut them into decorations? They look beautiful when still fresh (perhaps to accompany a cheese platter), and they last for a while afterwards as they dry. Cutting into a leaf is an altogether different experience, but the effect is great, especially if you stay simple and small. You will need: Foraged leaves A pair…

1 SOFTLY TO THE LAND OF NOD Have you heard of Tencel? Tencel is a super soft, luxurious yarn made from sustainably grown botanicals such as eucalyptus. Not only is it biodegradable, it is also breathable, anti-bacterial and temperature regulating, making it a great fibre to sleep under. Undercover, a recently launched bedding company is using the material (also known as lyocell) to produce its high-quality bed linen. The company combines Tencel with the highest quality cotton for a soft yet crisp feel to its sheets, while its duvet covers and pillowcases are reversible so you can change the look to suit your mood. undercoverliving.com. 2 DITCH THE PLASTIC With zero waste shops slowly popping up across our towns and cities, and even websites such as zero-waste-club.com delivering food plastic-free,…

The truth is I didn’t want my life to change. I’d always been interested in personal development, had been journaling for years and there was certainly a creeping sense of dissatisfaction poking me in the ribs when I woke in the night but mostly I chose to ignore it. To change anything would mean facing things I didn’t want to face and who wants to do that? And then on a Tuesday in 2005 the man I had given my heart to died suddenly of a heart attack. I was 32 years old and everything I knew about the world turned upside down. It’s inevitable we will come out the other side of dramatic change a different person. Bereavement shatters you into a million pieces so how can you possibly…

1 MINDFUL MAKING AND MENDING We all know how beneficial getting into the ‘flow’ state of mind can be on our health. Focusing on doing something creative and repetitive with our hands brings a moment of calm and quiet focus. This is why Jessica Marquez, aka MiniatureRhino’s, new book Make + Mend is so appealing. Showcasing sashiko-inspired embroidery throughout, these simple running stitches are combined to form delicate and decorative patterns over denim, homewares and pre-loved clothes. Aimed at crafters of all levels, including complete beginners, Make + Mend encourages us to create truly treasured items by making the most of what we already have in our homes. miniaturerhino.com. 2 KEEP A MOON CLOSE TO YOU For Lorena, aka Gemagenta, every piece of jewellery she makes tells a story. Her…

1 Choose plants that are healthy and pest free, unless as a last resort. 2 Propagate during a plant’s active growing period (this is usually spring or summer), and before midday if possible. 3 Fertilise the plant several months before you intend to start propagating. 4 Water the plant to be propagated a day or so beforehand; this is particularly important for succulents. 5 Take more cuttings than you need, as some (sadly) may not flourish. 6 Ideally collect rainwater or use distilled water to quench your plants. Let it come to room temperature before watering. 7 Keep cuttings at a suitable temperature – consider providing bottom heat during colder seasons by using a heated propagator or heat mat. 8 Reuse old materials, such as glass jars, plastic bottles and…

1 THROUGH THE GLASS CEILING In their new book, photographers India Hobson and Magnus Edmondson take us on a journey through their favourite botanical spaces, a world of different cultures fused together under the glasshouse roof. Over four years, they visited countless places around the world in search of beautiful greenhouses, capturing dramatic palm houses, tropical hothouses and the smallest private potting sheds. We particularly love their photo-essay style, drawing on the different plant collections and character of each space. A sliver of green amongst the browning shades of autumn, Glasshouse Greenhouse is out on 4 October from Pavilion Books. 2 IT’S WRITTEN IN THE STARS The colder months might bring shorter days, but this time of year is the perfect time to get outside and gaze up at the…

1 THE FIREPLACE A fireplace is usually mounted centrally in a room and painted black with a stone or wooden surround. This brings an immediate central focus and balance. Above the mantle, hang a large mirror to add reflection to the space. The mantle itself is a great place for display. My tip would be to use larger objects such as vases of an equal height either side of the mantle and work your way inwards. If you have a period house where the fireplace has been removed, you can always replace it with a second-hand one. 2 BOOKSHELVES Stack same-height books together, or arrange in colour order. Use book ends to accentuate the reflection. Ornaments and small potted plants are great too to add interest, make sure you add…

BUDAPEST Visit the colourful Jewish quarter of Budapest and see the artistic firewalls. A neighbourhood once populated with crumbling houses has been taken over by urban art group NeoPaint Works who were commissioned to ‘brighten up the district’. triptobudapest.hu/tours/street-urban-art-tour. AMSTERDAM See hidden spots with Alltournative Tours. It offers a bike tour, subway tour and one with a focus on larger urban artwork. Learn about Amsterdam’s sub-cultures and visit independent galleries and the graffiti hall of fame. alltournativeamsterdam.com/tours-t/street-art-ngraffiti-tours. LONDON Camden Street Art Tours give great insight into this part of London. They also offer a graffiti workshop. camdenstreetarttours.com. In East London’s vibrant street art scene, see artists like Banksy, Eine and Stik. streetartlondon.co.uk/tours. KIEV Kiev has recently become one of the world centres of street art. See how ordinary buildings in…

TAP TO DOWNLOAD MAKE YOUR OWN STENCIL Spray paint our beautiful stencil on to a cotton tote and carry the call of the wild with you always. Create your own piece of graffiti-style art by spray painting our exclusive stencil on to a natural cotton tote bag. Featuring a graphic mountain landscape with fir trees and shining stars, the positive message reminds us that adventure is just around the corner. Whether your interpretation of ‘finding your wild’ is camping in the woods under a moonlit sky or hitting the rapids white-water rafting, the words serve as a gentle reminder of our human desire to live at one with the great outdoors and connect with nature. Our pull-out stencil is easy to use again after you've cut it out once –…

We were so inspired by the power of water and the female spirit while making this edition of the magazine that the powerful anthems of Florence and the Machine and Eurythmics were immediate additions to our office playlist. Peppered with songs dedicated to change, symmetry and planting ourselves with purpose, we’ve struck a harmonious compilation designed to immerse yourself in. 1. Mother – Florence and the Machine 2. Growing Pains – Birdy 3. Roots – Billie Marten 4. Here Comes the Rain Again – Eurythmics 5. I’ll Be Your Mirror – The Velvet Underground 6. Mother Protect – Niki and the Dove 7. Symmetrical – Allen Stone 8. Balance – Future Islands 9. Catching the Butterfly – The Verve 10. Rooting for You – London Grammar 11. Perfect Symmetry –…

Paper always held a special fascination for me. I became most known for the technique that is called ‘quilling’ which involves coiling and shaping strips of paper and then gluing them into a design. The practice dates back hundreds of years to the Renaissance or even earlier, and is enjoying a recent resurgence. When 10 years ago I first attempted working with paper strips, I didn’t know anything about traditional quilling. It turns out that my method is not really the same: the key difference is that I use heavy paper or card which I shape and manipulate any way I want to, as if I’m drawing with paper strips – I don’t limit myself to the basic shapes of traditional quilling. After years of doing commercial work for brands…