The End

I'm sorry to say that, after numerous emails and a letter to Lorraine's home, I still haven't heard back from her. That means that David, Vivian and I have lost our books to Lorraine.

I would like to end the exchange on a positive note;
Lindsay's Moley is complete and back home with Lindsay. Hurray.
Brians Moley is complete and back with Brian.
Gesa has her book, and I think that only David hasn't worked on it. If I'm wrong, then hers is all complete too.

I had fantastic fun working in everyones books, and getting to see so much fantastic work.
To David & Vivian, I am so sorry that you've not had your books back. I will probably write again to Lorraine, there's no harm in trying I suppose, but otherwise I think we should draw a line under the project.

So, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very arty New Year.

Steph Smith

Missing books

Hiya all.

I've emailed Lorraine today asking if she'd send all the books to me so that I can get them distributed asap.

When I contacted her in June she said she had Brian's, Gesa's, David's and Lindsay's Moleys ready to post, and she was going to send Gesa's onto me, and that she was going to ask later who to send mine onto.

But I didn't receive Gesa's, so I mailed her again in July, but then I have been away for most of the 7 weeks over summer so I haven't chased her up again until now.

I know Brian and Lindsay got theirs back from Lorraine soon after she replied in June. So we're still missing Gesa's and David's. I also sent Vivian's to Lorraine some time back, and Lorraine said she was going to send Viv's back to me.

So, as far as I can tell;

Lorraine has mine (Steph), Gesa's, David's, and Viv's, and her own (Lorraine's)
Casey has his own.
David has his own.
Linday has his own.

That's eight in all.

If I haven't heard from her in a week I'll send her a letter. I hope she's okay in herself, but I also hope she's able to get the books sent to me, if sending them individually isn't possible.

Here's hoping.

Are the moleys on their way back yet???

Could we have an update on where our moley's are and when we will get them? were they posted? 2nd June was a long time back when Lorraine was planning to post them on and post here with an update and photos .............

I haven't had mine :>( and I emailed Steph to see if it was with her (I think she has yet to work in it) and she hasn't received any either :>(


Where is my poor moley?

Panic over

Hiya Guys. Lorraine's just sent me this message today;

Hi Stephanie

I'm really sorry I've been out of the loop for so long. I've been having real broadband issues which now appear to be resolved and not being able to send personal emails at work hasn't helped.

The exhibition was a real success, so much so that the LRC wanted to extend the exhibition. Many staff and students from different courses expressed interest and appreciation of the sketchbooks. I will post their comments on the moley blog hopefully this evening. I have parceled up Brian's, Gesa's, Davids and Lindsay's moleys to be returned to them and Vivians is ready to be sent to you.These will be posted tomorrow and I'll ask who wants your moley next on the blog.

Again, I'm really sorry that I've been hard to get hold of.

Lorraine.

So that's great to hear.

Panic

Where is everyone? Where are all the Moleys? Where's my Moley? Panic, sweating, pacing the living room floor, biting fingernails, and all that kinda stuff. Is there anyone out there? Love from Steph.

Where are we with the exchange?

Hi everyone

Did my book make it to Belfast for the exhibition? cos I haven't seen it yet and I'm looking forward to that.

If so when does the exhibition end? I've lost track, lost the plot ............

when will my moley come home?

:>)

A line back to Glasgow

Mine made it back too!

I received it a wee while back but only now managed to scan the pages and try to get it to Lorraine pronto. David added some fancy men-in-skirts pop outs to complete the Lines, Lineages and Linings. It's become such a different book to when I posted it off in May to Vivien.

Have a look at the slide show:



Lorraine, I will post this tomorrow and will post Vivien's which is still with me asap, I hope to finish it at the weekend. Looking forward to hear/see how the books look at the exhibition. Many thanks for organising this!

Sketchbook exhibition

Hello Everyone.

Sorry I've been out of the loop for a while. Between family illness, students exams and my own exams and erratic internet connections thing have been rather hectic to say the least.

Everything is now set for the display of our sketchbooks in the LRC (Learning Resource Centre) of the University of Ulster.

If you would like to send the sketchbooks in your possession to me. I will arrange the display on Sunday evening. Don't worry if they arrive later. The sketch books will be in the three display cases shown, each case will hold two sketchbooks, so I will rotate them over the next four weeks to ensure they are all on display for the same amount of time.

Also, if you could write a short biography (approx 150 words) or profile about yourself, your art work and the sketchbook exchange. these can be emailed to me at any time.

I think the sketchbooks will look great displayed together, I'll post photos here so we can see them together.

All the best

Lorraine

Lindsay's Mole Complete

This is Steph's rather elegant conclusion in my mole. I believe she used a ticket stub to bring in those orange lamp elements. Very creative use of paper.

Many thanks to everyone for making my mole a fine and beautiful book. It's been a lot of fun working on this.

What a Star!

Brian goes to the top of the class having got his moley finished first and also for this delicate set of gentle pastel flowers in Gesa's 'Lines and Lineage' book. At first I thought they must be Edelweiss in honour of Gesa's nationality, but then changed my mind to Ipheon (Liliaceae, from Mexico), but why would he do that I wondered? My final guess is Orinthogalum or the "Star of Bethlehem" since he must have one flowering right now in his NY apartment and got the time to do it over Christmas!






It's good to see you got the blue and the orange out of your Christmas box of Unison, Brian! :o)

As far as I can make out here's where we stand with each of the other moleskines, as amended today by Brian:

1. Brian's Stretch is finished and is back home with him. Yippee!
2. Lorraine's Close is unaccounted for but Vivien has yet to create her masterpiece in it.
3. Gesa's Lines book is with me. Everyone else has done their thang so I will be posting it home to Gesa when I am finished (soon-ish).
4. Vivien's Landscapes is with Gesa. Lorraine has still to work in it, then it will be finished.
5. Lindsay's Maps is now finished and has been returned home to her.
6. Casey's Freedom sent on but not received by Steph yet - worrying as sent ages ago really quickly after Gesa sent it on - her work in it was gorgeous as well.
7. Steph's Genesis has the most outstanding with LorLor, Gesa, Vivien, and lil' ole me yet to start in it (pun intended). I think it is with Lorraine.
8. And last but not least my Dance is, I believe, presently is also with Lorraine and therefore soon to be completed and returned to me for framing. Isn't that right Lor?

With the exception of the Freedom and Genesis books all the rest are almost complete, so if this exhibition is still on (perhaps Lorraine can confirm please?) then it just means a couple of them will not be entirely complete [philosophy and mathematics were always my strongest points, as well as stating the obvious].

Anything to add?

No 6 amended by Gesa.

The locality gallery

It has been with me for a week or so, but with frantic work schedules and nasty bugs abound, it is only now that I'm getting round to posting this.

It's the local landscapes sketchbook of Vivien that is with me now. What a glorious series of snapshots it provides from the different places where we live. It is fairly complete now with Lindsay's entry being the most recent one.

She, again to great effect, has used the sketchbook as a virtual gallery to display beautifully some winter ink and wash scenes of one of her favourite local spots: Thatcher Pond.

Lindsay's addition to Vivien's Sketchbook
Thatcher Pond,
Ink, wash and paper
14x36cm

I had an idea since early on for this: A rolling clouds and rain sketch over Inveraray which I sketched in June. But, so much time has passed and I think I pass on some of my recent pond in winter time explorations.

I will then send it on to Lorraine who is the only one who hasn't worked in this.


Where are we with all other Moleys?


I know that I still need to work in Steph's - David, do you still have it? I would need it very soon since my work schedule is gathering far too much speed again from about 10 Feb onwards.


Maybe everyone can leave a comment as to which Moleys still need work by whom?

Stretch Sketchbook Complete

As requested, I've put together a slideshow of the completed Stretch sketchbook after photographing everyone's additions this morning. The sketchbook in its entirety is excitingly diverse and vibrant - hopefully you enjoy this slideshow view of it. Thanks very much for all of your wonderful contributions!

Also, with a few blank pages left in it that seemed a shame to leave unworked, I've done an additonal set of small drawings for the book and have posted this above. It seemed fitting to close out my own book in this way and it gives me an opportunity to see if and how I might have "stretched" over the past months.

At last, after months of nothing, I've put my piece in Lindsay's Maps & Destinations Moley. I knew what I wanted to do do as soon as I saw the other work in the book, concentrating on the 'destination' idea, with the road outside my house which links me to the rest of the world, and the bus stop I often draw figures at. There are no figures in this piece though.
As I'm the last one on the list to work in it, and as there's 4 blank pages left at the end, Lindsay can round it off. But she may have to wait as Lorraine may want it immediately for the exhibition she's arranged. Let me know where to post it & I'll get it sent straight away.

Lindsay's Work in Gesa 's Book

Here's a delightful contribution to Gesa's book by Lindsay. A repeated pen in silhouette dances over a flow of words about art and drawing that form lines - in keeping with the theme of Gesa's book. In a lovely splash of color, a red star makes an appearance on each page providing a decorative grace note to the composition. Wonderful work, Lindsay!

Gesa's book is the only one I haven't yet worked in so I'm looking forward to getting started. There are some remarkably creative entries in this book and it's a lot of fun to look at. Once I'm through, it looks like I'll be sending it off to David - all of the other members of our team have worked in Gesa's book already. David, I'll try to have it on it's way later this week.

Happy New Year to Team Moleskine!

Just thought I would wish each of you on the Team a very good New Year full of more creativity and fabulous sketches to complete the last lap and drag ourselves over the finishing line!

If the Belfast gig is still on (23rd Feb) that gives us just seven weeks to pass around the remaining sketchbooks still out there and get them back to Lorraine in time for the Grand Opening and Party Nite at the University of Ulster at which I intend to put in a Guest Appearance. I might even wear the kilt and give you all a thrill! (Do you think I could sell tickets for the event? :o)

I know I still have incredible things yet to do in Steph's Genesis book (like sit on a cloud and declare "Let There Be Light Moleskines Cheaper For Posting!") and Gesa's Lines and Lineage (I've got a lot of ancesters asking to be included) but I don't know who else has to work in them also. Perhaps you could all chip in with a note of what each of you have still to do and perhaps we could organise ourselves and make sure everyone gets sufficient time, allowing for postage as well, to create their masterpieces.