“You can learn new things at any time in your life if you’re willing to be a beginner. If you actually learn to like being a beginner, the whole world opens up for you.” ― Barbara Sher When I was in my 20s, I decided I was going to learn to play the violin.  I bought a cheap student violin with a warped bow off of and a beginner’s book with a CD to get started.  As I waited for my order to arrive, I had visions of being able to play beautifully from the first stroke.  It would be an intuitive talent that was built into my DNA.  Well, I pulled my violin out of the case and, just as you would expect, I needed to learn everything.  It was disappointingly unfamiliar.  I had to learn to set up the bridge, rosin the bow, and the finger placements.  I had

In my last box of goodies that came from across the pond from Julia of , I received several vintage and antique sketchbooks and drawing/oil papers.  She’s been on the hunt for those for me, so I could recreate some of the Kitchin sketches on old paper.  And I love old art supplies and she loves a challenging shopping list!  This particular sketchbook had amazing paper in it – thick with a good texture and slightly off-white with age.  It even had slightly uneven edges that added to the charm.  The only problem is the book wouldn’t stay open!  I mean, there was no way you could actually sketch in it, which is probably why it hadn’t been used.  It would just flip shut the moment you weren’t holding both sides open.  So, I decided to try my hand at bookbinding to make it useable. I meant to take a