24 Comments
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Jessica Fellowes's avatar

So much to love here! I 100% agree about being with other people to normalise what you do – it's probably the reason most of my longest lasting friends are writers or creative in some way... and I, too, adored Vanessa Beaumont's book (and her). Checking out Chris Williamson!

Laetitia Maklouf's avatar

That book! Floods of tears. The lady is a talent.

Nicki's avatar

Bamber Gascoigne always stuck me a such a lovely man and here you are confirming it. What luck to live nextdoor!

Your animal challenge sounds great, just like we used to do at art college - the more you do it the easier it becomes!

I confess I had never heard of Chris Williamson so I'm going to check out his pod ...

Laetitia Maklouf's avatar

I think he’s probably a bit marmite, but he is incredibly sharp, and I appreciate that in anyone!

Lizzie King's avatar

Normalising the bum on the seat with the other bums on their seats. Loved this. Bamber was my sister’s godfather. We spent many lovely summers with him as children. Leaves a big imprint his kind heart. Xx

Laetitia Maklouf's avatar

sorely missed! Xxx

Mark Diacono's avatar

WAIT BAMBER GASCOIGNE

Laetitia Maklouf's avatar

The weightiest name to drop…CASUALLY

Mark Diacono's avatar

We are owed a BG-discussing lunch, so we are

Laetitia Maklouf's avatar

👍👍👍👍💚

Jen's avatar

Love the sound of the embroidery challenge, thank you for telling us about it x

Laetitia Maklouf's avatar

They are so clever aren’t they… I’ll be sharing updates x

Jo's avatar

What a lovely and relevant post Laetitia, thank you. I am just beginning to learn wood engraving, no classes near me (rural Wiltshire) so I'm learning from books and YouTube. I love it, but, so many other distractions and I have to be Stern with myself to just sit down and do it. Bum on Seat!

Laetitia Maklouf's avatar

I wonder what on earth it is that prevents us from doing things we really want to do! One of life’s giant mysteries. Good luck with the engraving- sounds exciting!

Sarah's avatar

Me too! For the creativity (knitting and weaving here) for which I have lovely friends on a similar journey. But also with the fiction which I long to write but have a mental block on plotting. Bum on Seat is a great phrase. But... So. Many. Distractions.

Laetitia Maklouf's avatar

I’m with you on the plotting! Very intimidating. I’ve just started writing a short story… one agonising paragraph at a time!

Gina Ferrari's avatar

That’s exactly how I feel about writing fiction. I can write my Substack newsletter each week but getting that novel onto paper feels like a mammoth impossible task. I will remember… bum on seat and just write! What lovely memories you have of Bamber

Laetitia Maklouf's avatar

Love that we’re on the same mission! x

Gina Ferrari's avatar

Well I love your writing so I’ll look forward to your novel! x

Laetitia Maklouf's avatar

Gina, seriously, don’t hold your breath… I may be a WHILE X

Rebecca Jenkins's avatar

I feel exactly the same about writing fiction! Loved your memories of Bamber. What a lovely neighbour.

Laetitia Maklouf's avatar

He is much missed. Honestly I keep going, but I find it so hard because of the weight of how good it SHOULD be, but just ISN’T!

Alix Scribbles's avatar

This really struck a chord with me. I also really enjoyed the article in wanting you linked to. Why is it so hard to do what we want to do though? I’m also trying to write this year but getting my bum in the seat it a challenge - maybe it’s fear of trying, I’m not sure.

Having a CrossFit type group would be perfect as I never enjoyed exercise, but I’ve been going to CrossFit three times a week for over a year.

Good luck with both your writing and drawing.

Peabody Bites's avatar

Love Fabled Thread so much and how it sparks my own creativity in such a thoughtful way