CSS - Off The Hook

And.........relax

3 deadlines in 2 weeks. Now that was tough!

I must say I'm feeling good that I got everything done and had a crazy time on my birthday to celebrate!

Amsterdam tomorrow and I'm so excited for a holiday and a well earned break. Might book another one for April (after Papergirl Exhibition!)

Now then.....

Live project. Not been briefed yet but well on my way with the work for Papergirl Leeds.

Need to market market market and plan plan plan.

So.....

• Get James at SU to promote us like he does the other projects.
• Organise a Papergirl Leeds committee and first meeting.
• Second Zine
• Culture Vulture video and article - Tahra and Cathy
• Creative marketing
• Speak to Reliance about a window display.

Erin Dollar

I love these beards.

Johnny Cupcakes Interview How to start a business and more

I love the idea of the t shirt shops looking like bakeries, it's such a lovely idea. I love novelty.

Johnny Cupcakes Lecture Series

Jordanisms.

Calling all Artists!

People In Action are hoping to put on a visual art exhibition to promote the charity and its work. You may have heard of the movement Art In Unusual Spaces in Leeds. Empty shops in Leeds are turned into temporary art galleries, and artists from around the city get together to exhibit their work. If we get a significant response from people with an interest in People In Action's work, and an interest in Art we would really like to try and get an exhibition space. We would be working around a theme which would be in line with People In Action's vision. It would be a great way to promote the work of the charity, and also an opportunity for those interested to exhibit their work. We are open to any kind of art work- Sculpture, Graphic Design, Painting, Textiles, Photography, Film and the list could go on.....

So, if you are interested in getting involved just send me an email, also please pass this email on to anyone else you think would be interested.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Carla Posen
Volunteer Coordinator
People In Action

carla.posen@peopleinaction.org.uk

WEDONTWITHHOLD & PAPER SCISSOR STONE
are proud to present, our first....
LEEDS STUDENTS 'ART' COMPETITION

We are asking you to submit one piece of work (between A1 and A3 in size).
The theme is simply 'Leeds', in this one piece of work we want
 you to show us exactly what 'Leeds' means to you!
This can be photography, illustration, graphic design etc 
It’s up to you - although it must be 2D

 The competition is open to all students based in Leeds Uni's & College's. 
All work must be submitted by Thursday the 17th March

The top 30 will be exhibited at Paper Scissor Stone on Thursday the 24th March.
Each of the top 30 will have 10 pieces re-produced and sold on the evening.
The top 5 (announced on the night) will then be sold in editions 
of 25 on the PSS website. Proceeds of all sales will be split with the Artist and PSS.

To enter, simply email an image of your work to...
wedontwithhold@hotmail.com before 17/03/2011
Further info and guidelines can be found at the sites below.
All entrants work will also be posted on the 
WDWH and PSS blogs and Facebook pages.

wedontwithhold.tumblr.com 
http://paperscissorstonestore.blogspot.com/
PAPER SCISSOR STONE
38 New York Street
Leeds. LS2 7DF

Space Place for news of free/low cost space for use for pop-up shops etc.

The Holy Mountain

Not for the faint-hearted.

Skate Maintenance: Cleaning Your Wheels

Skate Maintenance: Tighten Your Wheels

Roller Derby Skates - What you need to know

Exhibition

The Papergirl Leeds Exhibition is (fingers crossed) going to be with TestSpace Leeds. I'm going to pop down and see Neil and Stu at their new digs on Melbourne Street to discuss requirements. 

Good news!

Evaluation – Visual Language

When we were given the brief for Visual Language I was stunned. The brief sounded very rigid and structured to me, which I disliked. However, after careful consideration and the knowledge that any brief can be made to suit what I want to do as a practitioner, I found it easier to write my rationale and specific brief. I felt that I got good feedback on this module, more so than on any other. I feel this is because I was prepared for critiques and tutorials (once I was on the list!) and felt enthusiastic and happy in my progress. I think that my professional practice has improved tremendously. I have no doubt in my mind that I have worked very hard and that my communication skills are better than ever.

My specific brief focused mainly on audience and interaction. At that time it felt like everyone around me was going through a rough time. The general mood was very low, the weather was dull and Leeds didn’t seem to be such a good place to be. As I am and was recovering from my own bout of doom and gloom, I decided to base my project on this. In essence, I think I just wanted to cheer people up.

It became a very personal project and my blog became almost diary-like. I felt that through me helping other people, I might in fact help myself.

I found this module to be very inspirational. After researching other people with the same objectives as me (promoting positive thinking and behaviour), I felt like there was hope. Sometimes just knowing that there are people out in the world that care about others even if they don’t know them, gives me a little lift.

Half way through the module, something wonderful happened.

I made the bold move of inquiring about running an event/project called Papergirl. I honestly didn’t think I would get full responsibility for the Leeds version as a few people had spoken about possibly doing it.

That is exactly what happened.

Furthermore, the founder of the project, Aisha Ronniger, said I “sounded like the right person to do it!” I had jumped from making small interactions with local people and online networks, to running part of an international project. I felt on top of the world. I felt terrified. What if it all went wrong?  How do I have time?

I could almost say that I went into autopilot and set up a blog, a facebook group and a twitter account. Without realising I was doing it, I began marketing my ‘product’ and gathering interest. Skills I know I have but had never been put to use in such a profound way. I made mistakes, the facebook group constantly sending everyone notifications on every post being the big one, but I rectified them and learnt from them.

I took control. I enlisted the help of others; people I could trust. However, I found it harder to manage people I am friends with than people I am not. Plus, the project is voluntary. If I'm too hard on people that choose to help me then they might just not help any longer. I think in a way I wanted to do most things myself just to prove that I can. It doesn't mean that it's the right option. I do have good leadership skills but it's completely different kettle of fish when it comes to volunteers.

A few weeks after starting to organise Papergirl Leeds I felt a sudden worry about my Visual Language module. To me it felt like I had made a massive jump and that I had strayed from the brief too much. Panicked, I spoke to a tutor who explained to me how this was just the natural flow of my work. Life has unexpected events, as does art. I think I need to believe in myself a little more and not worry. Although I have always had strong opinions and beliefs, I know that I have always needed someone else to believe in me. I don’t want that to be the case. I feel like I’m getting somewhere now.

In regards to workload, I know I have done a lot of work. It is still hard for me to feel like I’ve done enough when I’m not drawing or physically making something. Marketing and interacting have taken up most of my time, to the point where I slightly neglected my finished pieces. The zine took far longer than I expected due to the fact I started doing hand-written text, but I’m glad I made that extra effort (even if the photocopier didn’t do it justice). The postcard very quick to make, but I had the chance to use my photoshop skills. I realise now that running a project it very hard work, I’ve had to pull some very late nights to make sure all deadlines were met. I think this was merely a case of not knowing what to expect before I was actually doing it. I think I’ve coped very well and set myself targets. My planner is always being followed and is far too full. I’m starting to think I need to quit my paid job to have enough time for everything.

I saw the exhibition as an opportunity to interact and gather interest about Papergirl Leeds, than to be about myself as a practitioner. I’m realising now that perhaps that is the same thing. The ethics of my work are not just about m, but about how it affects others. I am indeed trying to “create a creative community”. This is my ultimate goal. Leeds is my home and despite living here my whole life, I don’t feel the need to ever move away. I just want to improve it, for myself and like-minded others. I’m fully aware that what I want in Leeds isn’t what everyone else wants. This is the tricky part. Compromise never was one of my strong points.

In this sense, I don’t think the exhibition went very well for me. I found that when I tried talking to people, sometimes they were almost shocked that a stranger had started to speak to them. I think that in an exhibition, most people will act in a certain way. We self-regulate and speak quietly, keeping ourselves to ourselves. This so-called social space becomes tainted by our ridiculous culture of looking at art in silence. I would ideally like to break this self-regulation, even slightly, but this takes time and more planning. Even such a seemingly liberal college has a code of conduct and unwritten rules that we all know and have learnt from our culture. I need to really think about how to interact with people, when in general we are all so unbelievably scared of talking face to face.

Learning to take criticism is my main weakness. Sometimes it isn’t ever criticism, just not understanding or feeling my enthusiasm. At times I have just wondered what the point is in carrying on with the project. When I sent out a questionnaire about Gift a Stranger, the responses were not what I had expected nor wanted. We live in a very cynical and judgemental world, I doubt it will ever change. Maybe I just need to become a better visual communicator in order for my projects to work. I am improving every day, becoming braver and

If I had to do anything differently, I think I would have enquired about running Papergirl Leeds sooner. Although I know deep down this would never of been the case. That bold step then, although maybe easy for me now, would have been too great a move in my previous mood. This module has been a valuable learning curve and a personal journey. I can remember saying in a tutorial how I wanted a job that seemed to not exist; it had no name or specialism. I was struggling to contemplate my place in the world. It seemed that there wasn’t one out there. I was told to just find out a way to be able to do it. I didn’t realise it at the time but I think what they were trying to say was to create my own place.

“I think I felt really isolated and poor. I didn’t have much of a place in the world yet…I was sort of inventing a place for me to be and for women to be.” Miranda July

I saw this quote about a month ago in a book by Summer Pierre called Great Gals: Inspired Ideas For Living A Kick-ass Life. The penny dropped.

Maybe I don't know what I want to be because it doesn't exist yet? 

To be perfectly honest, I’m glad broke down, it make me stop and take stock of my life. I had to make decisions about my lifestyle and my goals. Now I’m more determined than ever to succeed. However, I’m no longer a busy fool, perhaps a brave fool who is busy. I know I’m going in the right direction even if I don’t know exactly what it is I do and I’m getting better at explaining that to people.


Roll on the Live Project!

Exhibition

I decide to use the front of the zine for my postcard. I was really pleased with my illustration (although I'm constantly saying how I never draw anymore). 

This was pretty simple to do. I scanned the zine front, dragged it into photoshop and cropped it. I adjusted the size so that it would be 'postcard size' and added a photocopier layer, just tweaking the settings so that it was darker.

I was going to just leave it at that, but I thought I'd add a little colour. So I roughly coloured in the hearts and Papergirl Leeds in red magenta with a dry brush. I wanted it to look quite lofi and I think I succeeded.

For my other piece I think I'm just going to walk around with the zines and talk to people about Papergirl Leeds. No gimmicks, just a nice little chat. I mean that is the best way to show my visual language of late.

Papergirl Leeds zine - Finished finally!!!

The final zine has less content than I initially planned. This was for three reasons.

1. It was the first zine (of a few I hope) and was more like an introduction
2. I was short of time in the end and underestimated the time it took to have handwritten text.
3. The last few weeks of this project I have had migraine after migraine after migraine. Full days in bed followed by insomnia. As much as I work hard, it's pretty difficult to do quality work when in pain or sleep deprived. I'm hoping it's just a little stress and will go away once everything is handed in.

I used my bike illustration for the front cover. I'm very pleased with it! Went a bit mad with the hearts so possibly might scare off some boys (that exclaim they don't like all that icky girly hearty stuff - when I really think about it, why is a heart a girly thing, do boys not love?) 

Hearts are a symbol of love and i feel this project is about love. End of.

American typewriter regular as a typeface. Keeping the handmade feel of everything. If only I had thought ahead and got an actual typewriter (what am I saying?? I'd still be typing right now!)

Basically this is a copy of what's on the facebook group and the blog. Most of the content is what I've already worked on weeks ago. Although I added the bit about 'most impulse and extraordinary ways for you to get your work into the world'. The Header of each page became questions, as if I was answering them in each topic.

I had problems printing some of the pages as the quality of the type was almost illegible in anything smaller than 10pt and I had lots of info. I chose to had write this page because. I felt that most people with initial interest would check out the facebook group further for more info. We are in the middle of an internet revolution.

I tried out different layouts for each page. I don't think that it worked everytime, but I was short on space and in all fairness it's a zine, there are no rules. I just had fun with it.

I should not draw bikes freehand when sleep deprived.

I tried to use elements of typography throughout the zine, differing sizes and boldness. 

Leeds needs Papergirl.

The only map I have is a globe so there was no way I could trace it. I found an image of a world map and drew it freehand. Not too shabby really. I felt that it didn't stand out much on white paper so I cut it out and stuck it on black paper. Much better?

When it came to drawing the linking lines I had to use white lines over black and vice versa. I think this is still clear, I asked a few people and they understood too so that's good.

I was unsure of whether to keep this in the zine or not. Mainly because it's very dry reading material. 

However, cycling through a major city is something I think a lot of people would be scared of and so I wanted to put their mind at rest just like I have on the facebook group.

Not sure whether to reference where the info came from.......

........it's a zine, who cares!

Not the most elaborate page but necessary. 

I decided to keep the idea of the printables as I like the idea of people interacting and getting involved. I think I should make these downloadable from the blog too.

Does the f and the t mean facebook and twitter to you? I guess only if you use a computer.......hmmm

Now to print...............lots!

Blast from the past

I found my old sketchbook about zines, made me consider other formats.

Considering the no staples approach with a poster on the other side. 

Summer School Trailer from Incontext Productions on Vimeo.

via we make zines - Alex Wrekk

via we makes zines - calendar girl

Twitter

Papergirl is now on Twitter!

As if I didn't social network enough already!

We are all Jim!

I emailed Culture Vulture about getting involved with Papergirl Leeds and they told me about this project i could use to network and use my creative ideas for. I think I'm going to have a go at writing an article about Papergirl Leeds too, once I have dates confirmed and venues.

I think I could have a lot of fun with this:

Start your own Dr. Sketchy

An Ever Changing World

The Girl Effect: The Clock is Ticking

Grassroots Grants - cdf.org.uk

Grassroots Grants - cdf.org.uk

My letter for the Valentines Hijack

My Love,

How beautiful you are to me.

It could be so very, very different……

They were walking to school in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, a group of teenage girls discussing a test they had coming up, when two men on a motorcycle sprayed them with a strange liquid. Within seconds a painful tingling began, and there was an unusual smell as the skin of the 16-year-old began to burn.

Her friend rushed over to help her, struggling to wipe the liquid away, when she too was showered with acid. She covered her face, crying out for help as they sprayed her again, trying to aim the acid into her face. The weapon was a water bottle containing battery acid; the result was at least one girl blinded and two others permanently disfigured. Their only crime was attending school.

It was not an isolated incident. For women and girls across Afghanistan, conditions are worsening - and those women who dare to publicly oppose the traditional order now live in fear for their lives.

The Afghan MP Shukria Barakzai receives regular death threats for speaking out on women's issues. Talking at her home in central Kabul, she closed the living room door as her three young daughters played in the hall. "You can't imagine what it feels like as a mother to leave the house each day and not know if you will come back again," she said, her eyes welling up as she spoke.

"But there is no choice. I would rather die for the dignity of women than die for nothing. Should I stop my work because there is a chance I might be killed? I must go on, and if it happens it happens."

Be thankful you can choose your Valentine (and your own future).

With Love

Your Valentine x x x


via buzzle article

Need to get my photos developed...........and start using my Diana F+ more.

First Papergirl World Blog Post

I'm now an author on the Papergirl World Blog

Aisha also sent me a link to a private blog (the DIY Papergirl) with information and help to set up my own Papergirl. It would have been useful sooner but from looking at the advice it seems I've been doing everything possible on the list.

Aisha seems to be very busy and hard to get hold of sometimes. If I want to run projects like this I need to be prepared to be busy.