Lucia, you are a lovely writer, as well as a beautiful artist! I totally enjoyed your box journal workshop and may continue doing these in my scrapbook/journal! I will most definitely look at your new workshops on offer! I have also collected all kinds of paraphernalia to use in my journals and book making!
Your book pile has me wanting to see if I can find them in my library here in Canada!
What a job you had as a student! As for a terrible job when I was young: It wasn't terrible it was just an odd job. I worked for a telephone answering service, the kind that has about 10 to 15 switchboards! As a student I worked weekends (alone until noon) starting at 7 a.m. in a seedy part of town! There were often homeless men sleeping in the entrance to the stairwell that I had to climb. There were about a half dozen locks on the big wooden door on the third floor. I had to handle all the calls from all the switchboards alone until my colleague arrived. It really was crazy! I would remove all the chairs from each switchboard, and then just have one on wheels that I put at the end of the row. I also then had one receiver plugged into a few boards along the row, so when a call would come in I would roll myself to that switchboard and grab the receiver and connect the call. Sometimes I had many calls at once! It was dizzying at times! Thanks for jogging that memory!
At the Hall of Residence where I lived for my first year at Uni we were all offered volunteer tasks to do to reduce costs - at one stage I did find myself cleaning the male toilets and shower room (!!!) which being uni, and the interesting times people kept, involved knocking loudly on the door as I stood outside brandishing my mop and bucket and announcing my intention to enter. There were some interesting events - including the day one poor chap had a somewhat elongated shower time as he was wont to head in without towel or clothing (I didn't realise - thank goodness, the shower stalls had doors - I just thought he was particularly fastidious)! Better than running the dishwashers in the kitchen, though! Now that was a disgusting job!
Feeling very stuck at the moment so your lovely post is very welcome, and now some cutting a sticking beckons. Thank you 🙏
On the subject of ghastly jobs, when I was a student I had a job at Memory Lane Cakes. I turned out to be a complete dunce there - the worst job being when they put me on packing TARTS ( to be said with a Warrington accent). The tarts arrived on a conveyor belt and every single one I picked up crumbled before I could get it into the tray. I think I lasted five minutes in that part of the job before they put me on assembling cardboard boxes and peeling off wrappers from cakes that were damaged 🙄.
Hooray Kathryn! Yes, just get a nice pile of magazines, pop the kettle on and get snipping all the things that take your fancy! I LOVED reading about your tart packing!! Hilarious! What happened to all the faulty/crumbled tarts? xxx
Love the scrapbook idea. I had a job at a factory that made plastic wallets and ring binders in my school holidays in the 70's. One of the things I had to do was cut the little half moons from the top of a clear folder so you can get the paper out. The only way to make it interesting was to try and do as many as possible in an hour. Another job there was to put together ring binders with cardboard sealed into the front & back. My friends and I would write messages on the cardboard before sealing them up I wonder if anyone ever found the messages!
Ahhh, the most terrible job I had was working in a hand bag shop. It must have been in the early 90s. Selling bags wasn’t that bad. However on quiet days the shop owner would make me dust of al the bags that were on display. And then she would repeat that task. Once I said to her that I had already done that. She gave me a mean face and said: well then you do it again.😤
I collect the Miss Read books! I love the simple stories (with not so simple life lessons). And I now keep a scrapbook too! I loved the workshop. I look forward to more lovely workshops!
All the toppings! OMG. I would die, keel over, have a catastrophic allergic reaction not to mention a gain of15 lbs. :)))))))))))) I am SO very happy you can eat all of that for though! I laughed out loud at your lack of natural piety yet loving the buildings too...I totally relate. I enjoy your charming and also very thoughtful newsletters every time one appears. Thank you.
Just thought I’d add that I don’t usually go for ALL 5 at once…I just like the choice and family members get a bit funny if they are without a favourite! I like to think of the desert as ‘HEALTHY’ because it is homemade and contains apples!!:-DD
Well, I imagined you sitting down to 5 smallish bowls of crumble and carefully or perhaps with abandon ( for a couple of them ) piling the next topping sequentially upon each one...savoring it with tea or even wine. 😋🥰😁
My worst job: working in a hot dog stand at Circus World.
A metal shack in Central Florida, summertime, 90 degrees F and 100% humidity, augmented by the steam coming off the water baths where the hot dogs sweltered, awaiting their fate. No air conditioning. Lots of New Yorkers complaining because, "It's hot here." No kidding??? Fortunately it was only for one summer. "Builds character!," my father said.
I always love reading your newsletters and working alongside you in your videos, Lucia. ❤️
Hi Lucia, thanks to you and your very inspiring ‘Art Inspired Sketchooks’ class, which I have watched several times, I now have two scrapbooks on the go. One is a Christmas/ Winter scrapbook the other is a general art scrapbook. I have a lovely time glueing in bits and pieces of art related ephemera and I also stick in my own little drawings inspired by the art or photos. I would also like to thank you for the idea ( from your travel journal class, I think) that it is much less scary and demanding to make smaller drawings to stick in to the journal/ scrapbook rather than going straight in and risking ruining it with a very shonky scribble. Best Wishes, Fiona
Hi Fiona, that’s so nice to hear! It really is a forgotten but simple past time. When I began, I felt myself transported back to a classroom in 1982 and the feeling of deep happiness. And yes, small cutting books, all the way!! ANYTHING to trick the brain! xx
Oh I wish I could take all of your courses! Have signed up for houses and am saving up for books (retired librarian just beginning to try to draw!). Your art is just beautiful! I am also a Miss Read fan and have most of her collection. Have you tried Angela Thirkell?
Over the past few months I’ve found so much joy in simply saving or cutting out things for future projects. Free magazines from the library, junk mail, empty food boxes…my family has started putting paper and cardboard things of my desk before throwing them away lol don’t know what I’ll use them for yet but they are ready when I need them!
Also, I added most of those books to my TBR list! Thank you!!! The Miss Reads ones are especially up my alley!
They are a perfect read for this time of year! How lovely to have a pile of things to sort through and there is a very nice regressive feeling to a bit of simple cutting and sticking I think, it takes us all back to when we were little and life was less complicated!xxx
Dear Lucia. I am quite new to your canal, workshops and newsletters, but have an urgent need to express a feeling that I have while quietly working on my winter box card. Gifted myself a bunch of your workshops before Christmas (because all was so beautifully, my eyes got caught by your art) when unboxing the content I had a wholesome curated content before me. All is so well explained in written way, and during your class. Kind of meditation to listen to you while explaining. I adore the way you teach. I always loved my art class in school but not my teacher. You create a safe space and I love that feeling.
Reading your newsletter was a delight, too you’re as well amazing with written words. The paragraph about the physical form of winter is pure joy- and in my head I saw all of it. ❤️
I just cleaned out old post card and all kind of paper laying around, but your section about keeping them in a scrapbook to revisit them as a kind of Pinterest - what a clever idea. Guess what I did immediately, got myself your recommended cours to save these cards and snippets in a scrapbook …. My year 2026 will be a “getting back to art” and your courses and workshops will be a huge part of it.
What a lovely and generous message to read this morning, Karo! Thank you so much xx I’m delighted to read that that you resonated with the classes and that you found them genuine and honest…they really are! I can’t make a class unless I feel something personal about what I am teaching and glad this comes through. I’m always aware that my art has become a business for for but it’s important that I’m not a content creator just churning out ‘stuff’ Happy scribbling! XXXXX
I have started rebuilding my creative path too. Current events close to home, and even closer to extended family, has left me drained, frustrated, and angry. But my sanity requires me to create.
Lucia, Miss Reads books are the only books I’ve reread dozens of times, I love the simpler way of life, and I absolutely love the illustrations. I ordered second hand copies of another couple on your bedside table❤️
Great recommendation, the books were the ones that as a teenager when I first found them, stirred in me a love of a simple life. Looking forward to enjoying them again. Blessings from Australia
Miss Read! I’ve read them all and what a delightful time that was.
Me, too! The best.
Lucia, you are a lovely writer, as well as a beautiful artist! I totally enjoyed your box journal workshop and may continue doing these in my scrapbook/journal! I will most definitely look at your new workshops on offer! I have also collected all kinds of paraphernalia to use in my journals and book making!
Your book pile has me wanting to see if I can find them in my library here in Canada!
What a job you had as a student! As for a terrible job when I was young: It wasn't terrible it was just an odd job. I worked for a telephone answering service, the kind that has about 10 to 15 switchboards! As a student I worked weekends (alone until noon) starting at 7 a.m. in a seedy part of town! There were often homeless men sleeping in the entrance to the stairwell that I had to climb. There were about a half dozen locks on the big wooden door on the third floor. I had to handle all the calls from all the switchboards alone until my colleague arrived. It really was crazy! I would remove all the chairs from each switchboard, and then just have one on wheels that I put at the end of the row. I also then had one receiver plugged into a few boards along the row, so when a call would come in I would roll myself to that switchboard and grab the receiver and connect the call. Sometimes I had many calls at once! It was dizzying at times! Thanks for jogging that memory!
Thanks so much for your sweet words, Jeannine xx That job of yours really was dizzying!!!
At the Hall of Residence where I lived for my first year at Uni we were all offered volunteer tasks to do to reduce costs - at one stage I did find myself cleaning the male toilets and shower room (!!!) which being uni, and the interesting times people kept, involved knocking loudly on the door as I stood outside brandishing my mop and bucket and announcing my intention to enter. There were some interesting events - including the day one poor chap had a somewhat elongated shower time as he was wont to head in without towel or clothing (I didn't realise - thank goodness, the shower stalls had doors - I just thought he was particularly fastidious)! Better than running the dishwashers in the kitchen, though! Now that was a disgusting job!
I’m giggling as I read this, Cate! Thank you, that’s hilarious!! So glad I was working in the female changing rooms! xx
Feeling very stuck at the moment so your lovely post is very welcome, and now some cutting a sticking beckons. Thank you 🙏
On the subject of ghastly jobs, when I was a student I had a job at Memory Lane Cakes. I turned out to be a complete dunce there - the worst job being when they put me on packing TARTS ( to be said with a Warrington accent). The tarts arrived on a conveyor belt and every single one I picked up crumbled before I could get it into the tray. I think I lasted five minutes in that part of the job before they put me on assembling cardboard boxes and peeling off wrappers from cakes that were damaged 🙄.
Hooray Kathryn! Yes, just get a nice pile of magazines, pop the kettle on and get snipping all the things that take your fancy! I LOVED reading about your tart packing!! Hilarious! What happened to all the faulty/crumbled tarts? xxx
Love the scrapbook idea. I had a job at a factory that made plastic wallets and ring binders in my school holidays in the 70's. One of the things I had to do was cut the little half moons from the top of a clear folder so you can get the paper out. The only way to make it interesting was to try and do as many as possible in an hour. Another job there was to put together ring binders with cardboard sealed into the front & back. My friends and I would write messages on the cardboard before sealing them up I wonder if anyone ever found the messages!
I LOVE that you wrote on them!! Thank you so much for sharing this BRILLIANT story, Catherine, made me chuckle xxx
Ahhh, the most terrible job I had was working in a hand bag shop. It must have been in the early 90s. Selling bags wasn’t that bad. However on quiet days the shop owner would make me dust of al the bags that were on display. And then she would repeat that task. Once I said to her that I had already done that. She gave me a mean face and said: well then you do it again.😤
Oh no Charlotte!! 😆😆
I collect the Miss Read books! I love the simple stories (with not so simple life lessons). And I now keep a scrapbook too! I loved the workshop. I look forward to more lovely workshops!
All the toppings! OMG. I would die, keel over, have a catastrophic allergic reaction not to mention a gain of15 lbs. :)))))))))))) I am SO very happy you can eat all of that for though! I laughed out loud at your lack of natural piety yet loving the buildings too...I totally relate. I enjoy your charming and also very thoughtful newsletters every time one appears. Thank you.
Just thought I’d add that I don’t usually go for ALL 5 at once…I just like the choice and family members get a bit funny if they are without a favourite! I like to think of the desert as ‘HEALTHY’ because it is homemade and contains apples!!:-DD
Well, I imagined you sitting down to 5 smallish bowls of crumble and carefully or perhaps with abandon ( for a couple of them ) piling the next topping sequentially upon each one...savoring it with tea or even wine. 😋🥰😁
My worst job: working in a hot dog stand at Circus World.
A metal shack in Central Florida, summertime, 90 degrees F and 100% humidity, augmented by the steam coming off the water baths where the hot dogs sweltered, awaiting their fate. No air conditioning. Lots of New Yorkers complaining because, "It's hot here." No kidding??? Fortunately it was only for one summer. "Builds character!," my father said.
I always love reading your newsletters and working alongside you in your videos, Lucia. ❤️
Wonky Rules!
Oh my goodness, Jill!! That’s got to be a human rights violation!!!! Your were actually working in an oven!!!
Worst job - school summer holiday spent mucking out cowsheds for a local dairy farmer and occasionally helping with milking. 🙈
Now that definitely is sh*t, Tracy!! :-D
Hi Lucia, thanks to you and your very inspiring ‘Art Inspired Sketchooks’ class, which I have watched several times, I now have two scrapbooks on the go. One is a Christmas/ Winter scrapbook the other is a general art scrapbook. I have a lovely time glueing in bits and pieces of art related ephemera and I also stick in my own little drawings inspired by the art or photos. I would also like to thank you for the idea ( from your travel journal class, I think) that it is much less scary and demanding to make smaller drawings to stick in to the journal/ scrapbook rather than going straight in and risking ruining it with a very shonky scribble. Best Wishes, Fiona
Hi Fiona, that’s so nice to hear! It really is a forgotten but simple past time. When I began, I felt myself transported back to a classroom in 1982 and the feeling of deep happiness. And yes, small cutting books, all the way!! ANYTHING to trick the brain! xx
Oh I wish I could take all of your courses! Have signed up for houses and am saving up for books (retired librarian just beginning to try to draw!). Your art is just beautiful! I am also a Miss Read fan and have most of her collection. Have you tried Angela Thirkell?
Hi Elizabeth, I haven’t tried Angela Thirkell but definitely will!
Over the past few months I’ve found so much joy in simply saving or cutting out things for future projects. Free magazines from the library, junk mail, empty food boxes…my family has started putting paper and cardboard things of my desk before throwing them away lol don’t know what I’ll use them for yet but they are ready when I need them!
Also, I added most of those books to my TBR list! Thank you!!! The Miss Reads ones are especially up my alley!
They are a perfect read for this time of year! How lovely to have a pile of things to sort through and there is a very nice regressive feeling to a bit of simple cutting and sticking I think, it takes us all back to when we were little and life was less complicated!xxx
Dear Lucia. I am quite new to your canal, workshops and newsletters, but have an urgent need to express a feeling that I have while quietly working on my winter box card. Gifted myself a bunch of your workshops before Christmas (because all was so beautifully, my eyes got caught by your art) when unboxing the content I had a wholesome curated content before me. All is so well explained in written way, and during your class. Kind of meditation to listen to you while explaining. I adore the way you teach. I always loved my art class in school but not my teacher. You create a safe space and I love that feeling.
Reading your newsletter was a delight, too you’re as well amazing with written words. The paragraph about the physical form of winter is pure joy- and in my head I saw all of it. ❤️
I just cleaned out old post card and all kind of paper laying around, but your section about keeping them in a scrapbook to revisit them as a kind of Pinterest - what a clever idea. Guess what I did immediately, got myself your recommended cours to save these cards and snippets in a scrapbook …. My year 2026 will be a “getting back to art” and your courses and workshops will be a huge part of it.
Lovely greetings from Quebec, Canada.
What a lovely and generous message to read this morning, Karo! Thank you so much xx I’m delighted to read that that you resonated with the classes and that you found them genuine and honest…they really are! I can’t make a class unless I feel something personal about what I am teaching and glad this comes through. I’m always aware that my art has become a business for for but it’s important that I’m not a content creator just churning out ‘stuff’ Happy scribbling! XXXXX
I have started rebuilding my creative path too. Current events close to home, and even closer to extended family, has left me drained, frustrated, and angry. But my sanity requires me to create.
Art is your sanctuary, Andrew. So glad to hear you hold it close during this difficult time xxx
Lucia, Miss Reads books are the only books I’ve reread dozens of times, I love the simpler way of life, and I absolutely love the illustrations. I ordered second hand copies of another couple on your bedside table❤️
Oh enjoy, Michelle! Christmas in Fairacre is my absolute fav xx
Great recommendation, the books were the ones that as a teenager when I first found them, stirred in me a love of a simple life. Looking forward to enjoying them again. Blessings from Australia