Journaling #8: Winter Blues

Writing in a journal can help with the winter blues.

 According to the Canadian Psychological Association, approximately 15% of Canadians will report at least a mild case of SAD in their lifetime.

Taking steps to manage symptoms may help to prevent them from getting worse over time (Mayo Clinic). Journaling can be one of those steps.

 Researchers at Glasgow University have suggested that writing a letter to Winter might be a good place to start. Whether you chronicle the good, the bad or the ugly (or all the above), writing can help you to cope with your symptoms. 

Journaling is just one technique for managing SAD. If you experience the winter blues and think that you may have symptoms of SAD, seek a medical opinion about treatment options.

Did you know? Rosemary...

Wow! In one study, rosemary oil was found to be as effective as Rogaine for stimulating hair growth and preventing hair loss. Rosemary oil was also used in a study as a treatment for androgenic alopecia.

You can mix a few drops of rosemary essential oil with a carrier oil and massage it into your scalp a couple of times a week, or you can just buy some rosemary hair oil.

Always use caution when experimenting with essential oils. They are very concentrated and will irritate sensitive skin. Also, pregnant and nursing women should not use rosemary products. If you have concerns, speak to a health professional.

#didyouknow

Early Literacy #4: Once upon a time...

The National Library of Medicine reviewed seventeen studies about traditional children’s literature (fairy tales, folktales, myths and fables). The authors considered the role of culture and oral storytelling in their analysis. 

The authors concluded that children’s literature and storytelling offers young people the possibility to acquire a system of values, to be engaged in motivating learning activities, and to deal with inner conflicts and life difficulties. 

Storybooks can provide children with new information about the world, enrich vocabulary and enhance language skills.

The Cupola Corner Literacy Project promotes early literacy and helping young children learn to love reading because #readingisFUNdamental. 

The Cupola Corner Literacy Project purchases books for young children. When you buy a product that generates funds for The Cupola Corner Literacy Project you are helping to promote early literacy and helping young children learn to love reading. 

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Journaling #7: Pick Up a Pen

It turns out that writing on paper with a pencil or pen is better than using a smartphone or stylus and tablet if you need to learn or memorize information. That seems somewhat intuitive, in that writing and rewriting study notes by hand is a successful study technique used by many students.

A recent study indicated that individuals who used pen and paper had better recall and showed more brain activity in a functional MRI than the participants who used digital methods to record information. The researchers felt that these significant differences were due to the unique, complex, spatial and tactile information associated with writing by hand on physical paper.

Using pen and paper for journal writing is a tactile experience that can be motivating, inspiring and cathartic. Writing with a good pen in a nice journal can be very satisfying, but writing with a pencil on a notepad will still get those brain cells firing. So, pick up that pen and give your brain a boost.

• Cupola Corner sells a curated selection of handmade and handbound journals that would be perfect for writing and brain boosting. 

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Reference: Keita Umejima, Takuya Ibaraki, Takahiro Yamazaki, Kuniyoshi L. Sakai. Paper Notebooks vs. Mobile Devices: Brain Activation Differences During Memory Retrieval. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 2021; 15 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.634158

Natural Dyes: Acorns

I have been playing around with some new (for me) natural dyes. My grandson and I collected acorns at the neighbourhood park and I brewed up a lovely dye bath with them. 

The acorns simmered in hot water and then they sat in that water for 24 hours. The dye bath was then reheated, cooled and strained. 

Next, I added the prepared silk scarves and let them soak for about 48 hours. The scarves were hung to dry and to cure for three days. Then, a rinse and they were ready! 

I love the colour that the acorns created. Dyeing with natural dyes is a wonderful way to explore the natural environment and to create something really unique. 

You can check out my website to see some of the scarves that I have created using natural dyes.

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Journaling #6: Personal Reflection

Using a journal for personal reflection is an opportunity to explore memories, formative experiences and day-to-day events. In this safe place, writing can help you to process and understand your thoughts and feelings. 

Journaling can help you to think about how you relate to your world and the people in it. Reflective journaling differs from other types of journaling because it is a metacognitive experience, i.e. you are thinking about your thinking. 

Personal reflection does not need to be a deep, psychological experience. It can be as simple as writing about what you think or feel about a memory or experience. 

Taking something positive from your reflections is a win. Learning something about yourself is a win. Gaining a better understanding is a win. Journaling for personal reflection: Win • Win • Win

• Cupola Corner sells a curated selection of handmade and handbound journals that would be perfect for personal reflection. 

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Paper Palooza: Watercolour Paper

Watercolour paper was traditionally made from cotton. Today, you can get watercolour paper made from cellulose (plant cells) or synthetic materials, like polypropylene.
 
Watercolour paper is heavier than regular papers.  It is made in four weights: 90 lb, 140 lb, 200 lb and 300 lb. The heavier the paper, the thicker it is. You choose the weight based on the amount of water that you will apply with your paint. The more water that you use, the heavier you will want your paper. 
 
Sizing is added to the paper fibres to make the watercolour paper stronger and to help it to keep its shape. The fibres are then beaten to help them interlock. Next, the pulp is pressed and then dried.
 
Pressing is usually done by a machine. A cold press means that the sheets of pulp are pressed between rollers that are covered with felt and it is done at a cold temperature. The felt gives the paper a texture. Hot press paper has been rolled between smooth heated rollers; hence, it has little or no texture.
 
For cardmaking techniques, 140 lb cold pressed watercolour paper is great, especially if you like that awesome texture. You can use a paper trimmer to cut it and it won’t get stuck in a decorative punch. It will also handle moderate amounts of water without buckling or stretching. If you need more time to play with the paint, use hot pressed watercolour paper. Either way, watercolour paper will create new and interesting possibilities for your cardmaking. Give it a try!

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Reference: https://jenniferbranch.com/PaintingWatercolor/Art-Supplies/Art-Paper-Basics.html

Early Literacy #3: Literacy Opens Doors

Literacy is more than just reading and writing. It’s the foundation upon which we learn and grow.

Building literacy skills in children is one of the most effective ways to ensure they can achieve their full potential in school and throughout life.

Literacy opens doors to understanding, empathy, critical thinking, and the capacity for lifelong learning. (Canadian Children's Literacy Foundation)

The Cupola Corner Literacy Project promotes early literacy and helping young children learn to love reading because #readingisFUNdamental. 

The Cupola Corner Literacy Project purchases books for young children. When you buy a product that generates funds for The Cupola Corner Literacy Project you are helping to promote early literacy and helping young children learn to love reading. 

🔍To return to the main page, please click on the banner at the top of this page or click on this link: Cupola Corner Blog 

Journaling #5: Keeping a Gratitude Journal

 A gratitude journal is where you write down and possibly reflect upon the things for which you are grateful. It has sometimes been called “three good things”, but how many things that you write about and how often you write are completely up to you. 

I am currently reading Anne Voskamp’s “One Thousand Gifts.” Anne was challenged by a friend to write down one thousand gifts or blessings. Her list included things like the iridescence of bubbles. Everyday things for which to be grateful. 

The book is not a gratitude journal. It’s about her journey and what she learned by keeping a gratitude journal. There are lots of fascinating things on her list and I’m thinking that we’d all have lots of interesting things upon which to reflect if we considered the things for which we are grateful. Do you have a gratitude journal?

• Cupola Corner sells a curated selection of handmade and handbound journals that would be perfect for a gratitude journal. 

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Paper Palooza: Mulberry Paper

Mulberry paper is a type of handmade paper made from mulberry trees. I had never seen a mulberry tree until a couple of weeks ago. It was covered in small blue-y purple-ish berries that looked a lot like blackberries. You can eat mulberries and apparently you can use them in recipes just like any other berry. I’m thinking mulberry jam. Yum!

Mulberry paper is made from the inner bark of the paper mulberry tree. The long fibres of the paper mulberry make it ideal for paper making. The bark is boiled to soften it, soaked and then beaten to a pulp. The pulp is spread out onto screens and allowed to dry. Mulberry paper can also be machine made in a paper mill.

Mulberry paper was first made in China about 2000 years ago. It was the beginning of paper as we know it today. Up until this point, people wrote on hides, papyrus or clay tablets.

Almost all mulberry papers are made in the far east where the paper mulberry tree is native and grows abundantly. The paper mulberry tree does grow in North America and mulberry paper is made in Canada and the U.S. as an art or craft.

Sheets of mulberry paper have a deckled edge which can be used as is. You can cut mulberry paper with scissors or a paper trimmer. You can easily tear mulberry paper to get a lovely, feathered edge. If you wet the paper where you want it to tear, you can create lots of different shapes.

Mulberry paper comes in lots of different colours and designs. Some of it is so pretty that you could frame it! You buy mulberry paper in sheets, but you can also buy flowers that have been made from mulberry paper. These little gems are a great for cardmaking.

You can stamp on mulberry paper. You can use if for printmaking. It can be used for decoupage and origami. Calligraphy looks amazing on mulberry paper. Need a unique gift-wrapping paper? Mulberry paper might just be what you are looking for. You can even use mulberry paper in your Sizzix or Cuttlebug embossing folders.

Mulberry paper is as beautiful as it is versatile. If you’ve never used mulberry paper, it’s time for an experience that will leave you wanting more. Mulberry paper is a little bit of luxury that leaves a lasting impression.