Fringe 2013

Just like every year in August, Edinburgh is packed with people. The Fringe along with other festivals in the city gather thousands of locals, tourists and artists from all over the world. All sorts of  artistic acts are performed everyday. And Music is surely playing an important part. There are concerts everywhere and throughout the day. You can attend all kinds of music performances, from buskers to well-established music bands (locals and internationals) in dedicated venues such as pubs and theatres . You can also assist to great performances in the open, such as parcs (Meadows walk) or on the street (Princes St, the Mound...).
I attended a few performances and made some interesting discoveries:
On 14/08 the Sneaky Pete's (pub on Cowgate) hosted three folk performances:

The evening started with Bevan and his solo act. Bevan is a young singer, songwriter and guitar player from Wales. He played original songs regulated by his great guitar skills.  Check out his website for more information.

Holy Moly and The Crackers came second on the stage. They gave a lively folk performance and got everyone on the floor, stomping and dancing. Absolutely brilliant! Check out their website for more information.

The last group to perform that night was The Last of Barrett's Privateers. This folk-indie band based in Edinburgh closed the show interacting with the audience. Check out their website for more information. 

For their 10th Anniverary, the Foakies organised a series of concerts at St Cecilia's Hall (on Niddrie St), as part pf the Fringe. The evening hosted music (Tom Fairnie, Stephen Harrison and guests) and poetry (Louise Peterkin).
On 15/08 the Foakies hosted Lindsay & The Storm. The band did a great performance combining delicate acoustic folk (acoustic guitar played by Lindsay Sugden) powerful harmonies, vibrant percussions and strings. An excellent performance in a place with wonderful acoustic.

Album Behind us is Water by Lindsay & The Storm

Feel free to leave a comment or send me a message.

The next post will be dedicated to my one week journey to Motherland.

from tissue paper to cardboard - part 2: versatile material

Paper is such a great material to work with.
It exists in a variety of thickness (very thin like silk and tissue paper to thick and sturdy like corrugated paper and extra strong cardboard) enabling you to crease, fold, create tiny shapes with details (flowers, jewelry...) or build resistant objects (such as boxes, furniture...).  Paper is proposed in a infinite range of colors and designs . Yet I often make my own to create backgrounds or ornaments. I might draw a pattern in Illustrator, print it and use it as a whole (for a card or notebook) or as background and add some embellishments like buttons, ribbons... Or I might just take a blank card and make an original lay out using stamps, painting, doodles... Another great thing about paper is that it can be used for many different purposes : it can be used as object (flower, box...), as holder (card, frame...) or as garment (as decoration).

For example when I make a card I use cardstock as basis for the card. I might use blank cardstock and add decorations using patterned papers, chipboard... But I could also just use paper as support and use garment from other material such as fabric, rubber, buttons, wood or I can print a design on the card.
I also often turn to paper, usually patterned papers, to decorate objects. I love using existing objects (mostly boxes and frames) and give them a new look. (I will dedicate the next post to customisation / upcycling).

• Scrap card

• Blank card + illustrator design

• Blank card+stamp design

• Notebook + illustrator design

• Notebook + scrapbook

• Frame+scrapbook

I am both interested in the creation of an object as to decorating it. And paper is so versatile that it enables me to do so. For example, I use corrugated paper and cardboard to make gift boxes, picture frames, doorhangers, and I turn to tissue and crepe paper for their flexibility to make flowers.

• Tissue flowers

• Gift box

• Doorhanger

So it doesn't matter if you love creating objects, making cards, scrapbook or add some color to a piece, paper is the perfect companion for all sorts of projects. Ther's no doubt paper will add an invaluable dimension to your craft.

If you have questions or suggestions feel free to contact me or leave a comment.

Fringe 2013 and Belgian presence

Here we Fringe again!

When I think about the month of August here in Edinburgh, I might visualise summer, a holiday period crammed with happy tourists…  But what naturally comes to my mind is  the Fringe Festival. Last year I wrote a few posts in which I explained what the Fringe is and I also gave information about a few acts I attended. I will dedicate the next posts to the shows, events and any particular thoughts about the 2013 edition.

You can find the posts from last year's Fringe here.

Like every year the Fringe festival offers performances in major artistic disciplines such as comedy, theatre, dance, music…  Artists from all over the world entertain us with their acts in the hundreds of dedicated venues. Pubs, theatres, art galleries…are transformed in venues for indoor performances. And thanks to the numerous outdoor stages built all around the town we can also attend shows in beautiful surroundings.  And YES, the summer 2013 is particularly sunny and mild in Edinburgh, which is a great opportunity for each of us to enjoy the outside acts while adding some colour to our pale skin :-).  Needless to say that outdoor venues attract a lot of people. And as you can imagine the numerous open bars and drinking spots are also very popular; the perfect place for a get together in the open. I've already chilled out at The Famous Spiegelterrace on George Street and had a few iced coffees (yes I'm a coffee lover) at the Assembly George Square Gardens with its lovely bars and food stalls built on synthetic grass. There are also barbecues at disposal so we can really make a great moment of our time out.

If you want to know more about the outside drinking spots during the Fringe, check out this blog. 

You can find more information on the venues and shows of the Fringe 2013 edition on the official Fringe website 

Belgian presence at the Fringe

The Fringe welcomes thousands of artists from all over the world each year. And my precious homeland, full of great talents, is also taking part. Indeed, a few Belgian artists have taken the opportunity of this internationally renowned artistic event to share their passion and craft. I will start the Fringe series with the Belgian acts. I have listed below this year’s Belgian performances. And I am happy to say I attended 2 of them.

Micheline Van Hautem

The Fringe officially started on August 2 and I was lucky enough to attend a great show on that very evening.  My friend Celia had won 2 tickets to see Micheline Van Hautem, a Belgian singer known for her French cabaret (Brel and Piaf) interpretation. This show was dedicated to a few of  Jacques Brel’s best songs, such as Ne me quitte pas, Bruxelles, Amsterdam, Les Flamandes….. Micheline is a great singer and performer. She has a beautiful and powerful voice and she sings with the heart. On that night she offered us a great performance interacting with us. Each songs came to life. For sure, singing Brel’s songs is not an easy job as there are so much emotions involved to render the  profound meanings of the lyrics. Micheline did a great job, her performance was so good that if I didn’t know the songs before I would easily have thought they were hers.

She was accompanied by Bert Verschueren who offered strong acoustic sounds on the piano and guitar. 
I really enjoyed the act. 
Micheline will be performing every evening (except Mondays) at The Famous Spiegeltent on George Street until August 25.

Booking info: www.afringe.com
If you want to know more about Micheline Van Hautem, have a look at her website   or follow her on twitter.

Les Taupes qui boivent du lait

Last Saturday, I was invited to the Mediterraneo festival at the Summerhall. The Mediterraneo Festival is a celebration of Italian and Mediterranean music. It gathers over 30 musicians from Europe offering a mix of tarantella, brass beats… everything to bring you in the mood for dancing, singing and being connected to one another. I really enjoyed the performances of the Edinburgh based Italian collective The Badwills and Les Taupes qui boivent du Lait, coming all the way from Brussels.

Their music is different but oh so entertaining, and most of all, it had the same effect on the audience: everyone was dancing, stomping, clapping hands – in a positive and collective spirit.

At the end of the show The Badwills and Les Taupes qui boivent du Lait got together for a last performance, offering us a moment of great music full of passion and the sense of being connected. They finished off leaving the stage to join us on the dance floor. There was such a positive and collective spirit floating around.  I had a lot of fun and felt so good being part of it.  I’m so thankful for having the chance to live such great human experience. 
I have a special thought for my sweet Love who let me enter his world, enabling me to enjoy great moments like this.

Apart from the music scene, Belgian artists are also present on the Fringe theatre programme. I’ve listed below the other Belgian acts that are performed this year.

Bonanza, contemporary theatre

More info: https://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/theatre/bonanza

Crying Out Loud presents Daydream, short music show (for children)

More info: https://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/childrens-shows/crying-out-loud-presents-daydream

Fright Night, contemporary theatre

More info: https://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/theatre/fight-night

Freeze!, devised, performance art theatre

More info: https://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/theatre/freeze

Good Mourning!, new writing theatre

More info: https://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/theatre/good-mourning-vostbil?day=16-08-2013&performance=1%3A51454#book

A Marriage Proposal, comedy/drama theatre

More info: https://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/theatre/marriage-proposal

Parkin’Son, devised, modern dance and physical theatre

More info: https://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/dance-and-physical-theatre/parkin-son-giulio-d-anna

Robin Hood, storytelling (for children)

https://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/childrens-shows/robin-hood

Tourniquet 2013, contemporary theatre

More info: https://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/theatre/tourniquet-2013

The Fringe Festival is such a great opportunity to discover next-door talents and international performers. Artists from all disciplines get the chance to share their passion and craft with a large audience.  Thanks to the Fringe we can enjoy moments of entertainment and we open ourselves to a world full of creativity.

The next post will be dedicated to music.

Feel  free to post a comment or send me a message.

From tissue paper to cardboard

I love working with paper as it is such a versatile material. Paper exists in a variety of textures and thickness, giving you the opportunity to create small, precise and flexible objects as well as larger and stronger ones, such as boxes and even furniture.
Thin paper
You can create lovely flowers with tissue paper and crepe. The thinness and flexibility of those papers enables you to work on the shape by creasing for example. And it is perfect to render the texture of flower petals.

Cardboard
If you want to create a more resistant or larger object I'd suggest using cardboard. You can find cardboard in a great range of thickness, from thin if you need to fold or work the shape, to thick if you need to make stronger objects such as frames, boxes and even pieces of furniture.

Yes this cupboard is made of cardboard. I realised this piece two years ago during a workshop given by Valérie Chauvenne at Le Show du Carton. In a next postI will explain how I realised it showing pictures of every stages.

The next post will be dedicated to customisation. I'll explain how to give a new look to objects with paper using techniques such as scrapbooking and stamps.

Creation: triggers and process

I've been crafting with paper, scissors and glue for as long as I can remember.  Maybe I should find another word for crafting as it does not really express what it means to me. For me crafting is a real moment of fun in which I can fully express myself, let myself go... well, be me.
I really enjoy to create with paper,especially making cards.  
But what triggers the making of a card ? It varies from the followings: the birthday of someone I care is coming on, another creation has inspired me, ideas running in my head or simply the need to create.
My crafting process is pretty much the same everytime: it begins with one of the triggers mentioned above, then I come up with a design, I gather the needed material, I create, I finish up with adding The  final touch (doodles doodles...) and it's done.  I love each part of the process with probably a preference for the design part. To come up with a design I usually think of the purpose of the creation and the person it is meant for.  When making a card for example, I first think about the type of card: is it for a birthday, a wedding, a celebration, a new-born baby... (quite logical indeed). Then I think about the person who it is meant for: what does he/she like (hobby, passion, favourite colour...) and I make sure my card will reflect this. This can be done using special patterned papers, stamps... And believe me it works; the comments from the one who got the card are the greatest reward ever.

A few examples below:
 - a card for someone passionate about music and birds

- birthday cards for someone who loves flowers

- a congratulation card to motivate someone excell (star) in the new job

Feel free to leave of comment and / or ask questions.

Patterned papers

I   L O V E  patterned papers. 

They exist in a huge variety of designs, colours and materials.

And they are so easy to find. 

- Many craft magazines (1) offer them in their latest issue. 

- You can buy them from craftshops (2) or via one of the oh so many webshops.

Patterned papers are very easy to use and enable you to make a nice card in a very short amount of time, even if you run out of ideas. You just need to put 2 patterned papers together and add some extra features (embellishments, text, buttons, flowers, doodles...) and that's it!

Like the 2 birthday cards below. Both cards were made in 5 minutes!

For the first card I used 2 patterned papers as background. I added a paper butterfly and a Happy Birthday tag (offered in one of the Papercrafter issues). To finish off I added some doodles with a coloured marker.

 For the second card I added an extra piece of patterned paper on the top edge.

 (1) Craft magazines with lots of ideas on cardmaking and other crafts : Papercrafter, Papercraft essentials, Craft Stamper, Crafts Beautiful, Quick Cards, Simply cards and papercraft.
(2) Craft shops in Edinburgh: Stamper Grove, Hobby Craft.

Holiday in France

I just got back from a 10-days holiday in France.  
What a great holiday full of discoveries and gorgeous weather. I stayed a few days in the South of France discovering the villages of Séguret, Sablet and Vaison-la-Romaine before going to la Ville Lumière. 
Here's a brief summary of my journey.
It started in the small village of Séguret, hometown of my sweetheart. 

Séguret is a small village in Vaucluse. It is surrounded by the dentelles de Montmirail and the Mont Ventoux. It belongs to one of the most beautiful villages of France. The village lies at the foot of a hill topped by the ruins of its feudal castle. And it is also famous for its excellent Côtes du Rhône wine. More infos about Séguret here: http://www.provenceweb.fr/e/vaucluse/seg

                                  

  

 

We chilled out on Sunday afternoon at the lac du Paty and were darous enough to have a swim in the oh so cold water.

I then explored the lovely medieval town of Vaison-la-Romaine and bought some local products on the  weekly market. One of the most interesting aspects of the town is its geography and its Roman ruins. The Roman ruins and the modern town are in the valley on the banks of the river Ouvèze which is crossed by an ancient bridge from the 1st century AD.
More info about Vaison-la-Romaine here: http://www.provenceweb.fr/e/vaucluse/vaison/vaison.htm

During my stay in Provence I met lovely and interesting people. My sweetheart's family give me a very warm welcome and made me discover great spots, such as the Groseau waterfall.
More info here: http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groseau
http://www.ledauphine.com/vaucluse/2010/08/13/la-source-du-groseau

We then headed back north to enjoy the rest of our holidays in Paris. Thanks to the gorgeous weather we enjoyed lovely walks and picnics and lots of ice creams...  
It was the week of the Paris movie festival and there were a few belgian movies on the list. We chose to watch Kid, a tough and deep movie from Fien Troch. We also went to the Cité de la Musique and view a very interesting exhibition dedicated to music and cinema (Musique et cinéma: le mariage du siècle).

I really enjoyed my time in France. I came back full of energy, with a lovely colour on my natural pale skin :-) and with more love in my heart.