I have arrived home from an amazing weekend at Clunes Booktown Festival.

We were all so lucky. It rained Friday and Monday (not great for the organisers setting up the marquees, food stalls, etc) but the Saturday and Sunday had clear skies and not much breeze. Perfect weather to throw on an extra layer and wander and explore the streets full of books and listen to author talks.

My stall was in Wesley College (the Old Bluestone building), a block from town. There were seven other stallholders in this building.

I had great plans to take a lot of photos of the interior of our building, full of people, but I forgot.

Louise my good friend, was my trusty helper (table stylist, luggage hauler) for the weekend.

I did not get onto the main street very often, but when I did it had a wonderful vibe.

I had so many interesting chats with stall visitors, including some Instagram followers who came to see me!!!!

There was a steady stream of people throughout the weekend. We talked to people about books (of course), art, watercolor pencils, travel, and sandwiches to name a few topics.

There were people who returned from last year to tell me they had bought one of my books last year! The Annual Booktown Festival attracts locals, from Melbourne, and interstate. Hello to my Queensland friends for their special trip down to visit and to the Adelaide visitors I spoke to.

It was fascinating to hear why someone was purchasing a specific book. The drawing sometime had a personal memory for the person of a time or place in their life. Some were to be given as gifts, framed.

My sketching opportunities were at the opening and closing events for the Stallholders and Volunteers. It was lovely to meet other people involved in the weekend. I sketched when the speeches were on. They were unknown times, so when the speeches ended, everyone moved!

We arrived on the train (two hours from Melbourne) with four large suitcases. We departed from Clunes with three suitcases, selling a quarter of my stock. Very happy.

The plan was to leave the empty suitcase behind, but we filled it with books (for me to draw in for next year) and other purchases from the lovely shops at Clunes.

All of my drawn in books that did not sell will be gradually added to my ETSY online store

This week’s blog includes my sketches and other art projects I have been doing this week. All involve putting pencils to paper and therefore makes me happy.

Tuesday

a quick sketch of sleeping commuters on the tram

Wednesday

I met with Brisbane Urban Sketcher Pat who is visiting Melbourne. We have met and sketched at this coffee shop before. Each time we have sat at this bench overlooking the street and the historic building across the road. Lots of chatting and sketching

Thursday

a commuter on the evening tram. He was eating and had such a strong profile that I really wanted to capture the back and head. He was much more scrunched forward than this.

Friday

Sketching on location at Friday night concert by the wonderful Inventi Ensemble at the Melbourne Athenaeum Library. As I wrote in my notes – books. music and sketching on a Friday night. The perfect start to a long weekend here in Melbourne.

Saturday

My Travel Sketching with Watercolour Pencil” class on Saturday morning involves explaining watercolour colours pencils and other equipment used, and then we go out for a walk. We had lovely weather and everyone had a great time. Booking details here.

All week

It is less than TWO weeks until Clunes Booktown Festival, where I have a stall for my “drawn in” books. The 1931 Pitman’s Commercial Typewriting book is my final book. I now have over 100 to take.

They are spread out over my loungeroom floor. The books are sorted into subjects of the drawings. which is how they will be displayed on the tables. I am also taking my book themed greeting cards. There are four large suitcases to be packed. Clunes is taken over by booklovers for the whole weekend ! It is made for me !

This past Saturday was my first Travel Sketching with Watercolour Pencil class since March 2020. I was excited but nervous leading up to the event. I decided to keep the same format as I had in the past, mainly for my own comfort.

I have listed four Saturday mornings for a two-hour class. I had two people at the first session and it was really like a lovely long chat. Christine and Sandra could ask questions along the way.

We meet in a room at East Melbourne Library and I explain the equipment.

The weather was sunny. so we next go for a walk a block away and stop for 15 minutes for the first sketch. Then walk a block for another 15-minute sketch, then move on to another before heading back to the Library for a final chat.

I have another class next with six people registered. I also offer a sketch kit for purchase. It is amazing how many people already have watercolour pencils at home and want to know how to use them. Hopefully, this class motivates and inspires.

Booking and details on Eventbrite

Thanks for your patience as I learn to use Eventbrite!