Well, the Travelling Sketchbook has arrived safely at its first stop, with Kate in Northern Queensland.

As I was making it, I was thinking of the people who would add to it and then send it further on the journey.
Our final Sisterhood is
- Kate from Tall Tales from Chiconia
- Sandra aka Lady Red Specs from Please Pass the Recipe
- Chas Spain She lives in Victoria
- Sandi who lives in Victoria too
- EllaDee from EllaDee Words
- Sue from the Magpie Nest
- Alys from Gardening Nirvana
- Ushasree from Creative Crafts DIY
- Viv from Viv in France
- Constanze who lives in Munich
- Lyn from Tialys
- LucyAnn from LucyAnn and Luna Craft
- Margaret from the Crafty Creek
- and me
The Sketchbook will be going around the world ~ Australia, the United States, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. Then back to me. [I told my Mum about it the other day. She thought it was a wonderful idea, so I will have to keep her up-to-date on the Sketchbook’s adventures!]
Making the Sketchbook



Let me show you what the Sketchbook looks like. Again, I included some paper that I had drawn and practised on at other times. The front cover is a little garlic, that always looks to me like it is flying, quite appropriate for our journeying journal! The back cover has a couple of lilies. There is another sketch of mine inside.
I included different types of paper and different colours, because our Sisterhood will do all sorts of contributions ~ drawing, writing, sewing, collaging, whatever takes their fancy. The paper needed to be as flexible as the Sisterhood.
I’ve also included a world map, to record its travels.

I am hoping that each person will blog about what she is putting in, and I will link to the posts here. I can’t wait!
57 replies on “The Sisterhood of the Travelling Sketchbook #4”
You won’t have too long to wait. I have a Cunning Plan… Can’t do much on it tomorrow, we have to drive over 300km to Rockhampton and back again tomorrow, and then take the Dowager out for early Mother’s Day dinner, and I have a Time for Teal quilt ‘cake’ block to finish, but after that, work commences. There will be stitchery, a short poem and some calligraphy, just to kick us off. I have tucked the envelope you supplied with the list of participants and their addresses safely away, and shall buy another A5 Tough Bag mailing envelope to send everything on to Sandra. And there’ll be a post, of course, to let The Sisterhood know that the Travelling Sketchbook’s on its way again!
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Hi Kate, nice to meet you, I’m excited about being next in line. We’ll have to come up with a plan to see the book completed, esp as we’re at the beginning of it’s journey..
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Yes, I have been wondering about that one too. Maybe when it is finished it will need to be sent around again so that we can all look at it finished? Then we need to decide what happens to it.
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How about a photo album, to ensure its safety? Having achieved the finished thing, what a disaster if it got lost on its lap of honour! And with the photos, we could all have copies to keep…? We could upload to a free file transfer site like WeTransfer, which lets you upload up to 3Gb, sends all participants an email to let them know it’s ready for download, and there you go, job done. I’d like an album to look at, and say “I was a part of that!”
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That’s a really interesting idea, Kate. it is not an area that I know anything about, but it sounds like it would work well. Do we have to do anything as we go along?
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I don’t think we have to do anything more than save the edited photos we’ve taken of our contribution. I learned about file transfers when I wanted to send family and friends our wedding ‘album’, a composite of photos, video and music. WeTransfer was the quickest and easiest way to do it. They don’t hang onto the files forever, so whoever is the curator (you, I suggest?) needs to download them when you’re notified. I have Cloud access, but I don’t like or trust it (residual Luddite attitudes, I’m sure…), and I prefer this process. It’s quick, easy, and free.
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Likewise! If everyone who blogs posts about their contribution, there will at least be a visual record of its journey. I’m pretty sure whatever Anne feels to be the best way of displaying the finished Sketchbook is going to beat any ideas I may have hands down – I’m going to leave it to her!
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I love your optimism in my abilities, Kate!
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Well, we can brainstorm it if you like, but who else amongst us regularly exhibits (and sells!) their work…?
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Or what about a dedicated blog for the sketchbook? If everyone has the ability to take and email digital photo files we could keep the pictures and stories all in one place. Like Miss Kate has done with our F2F block swap.
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What a good idea. Maybe it could be part of Anne’s blog.
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That is also an excellent plan, and even better, gives us the scope for future Travelling Sketchbooks. Good suggestion!
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I like the idea of a separate blog for the project. Most of us are bloggers, so we have the skills to be able to do it. How do we make sure that we can all access it to contribute? Are we all administrators when we set up the blog?
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A 600km round trip — just a little jaunt!!!! I have seen your sketchbook work in the earlier one you sent to me, and it is delightful. I know your contribution to this one will be the same. Xxx
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Back now, hot and weary. A small snooze, a little work, take the Dowager out, and then tomorrow I’m free to starting drafting, cutting and sketching!
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This is fantastic Anne.
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You will see it in all its original glory soon, Sandi! I wonder what you will do?
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Haiku. Plain and simple on the page. I decorate the mind with images 🙂
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What a beautiful concept — decorating the mind with images!
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Or a haiga? (haiku superimposed on a photograph/sketch)?
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A truly lovely idea, Anne!
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I am pleased that so many wanted to play along, and that the Sketchbook will be travelling around the world. So many different influences.
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This could be the start of something big. 🙂
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Especially if this comments section is anything to go by!
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😀
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A world Tour for The Sisterhood of the Travelling Sketchbook, when completed!
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Perhaps we should have got the Sketchbook a frequent flier card!!
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Many a true word spoken in jest… I can see this project really taking off. (I landed here via Kate)
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This is going to be so much fun!
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It certainly will be! And a lovely way to get to know more people around the world.
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Yes! Exactly.
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Can’t wait to receive the book, can you tell me what size the actual book is so I can do my embroidery in advance, I’ve been thinking up ideas already 🙂
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H21cm x W15cm or H8.25″ x W6″ – I have it in my hand and a handy ruler, so I thought I’d respond for everyone who wants to know.
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I have so many ideas….Just wish I was last so I could see everyone else’s creative input
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Perhaps it could become the Perpetually Travelling Sletchbook!
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Perhaps if it takes off, we could do multiple, themed ones? I worry that the participants down the line will have an increasingly heavy tome to send out if we keep adding and adding! The size it is now feels comfortable and right to me, as I hold it in my hands… What do others think?
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I don’t see an easy solution for the Sketchbook increasing in weight as it goes, and I do feel for the UK/European members of the Sisterhood. Does anyone have ideas?
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I would be happy to contribute to a Travelling Fund once the Sketchbook gets past a certain postage milestone. Say the equivalent of AU$10, or 5 pounds sterling or 6.50 euros
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That’s a good idea from Kate. If we could find a way where we could average out the total postage cost and then all pay the same it would be fairest but I don’t know how it could be organised. Otherwise, if we do it again next year, we could reverse the order.
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Send the book overseas first before it does the rounds in Australia, keeping it light, at least to begin with. It’s the final person who has to return the book to Australia who will have the most expense, do you think?
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Don’t worry, I’m last, posting from UK back to Australia, I see it as a bonus as I’ll be able to see the finished book 🙂
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Interesting idea Kate. Perhaps we need to hear from the non-Australian members, to see what they are thinking.
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Can we add to the covers?
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Sure! A title of some sort would be nice. The Sketchbook now part of all of us, I just sent it on its way.
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I’m looking forward to see its virtual progress 😊
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I’m curious as to the size of the sketchbook too. This is so exciting!
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See the reply to craftycreeky 🙂
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I have to remember to check the box to follow comments! Maybe, if we do a second Sketchbook, the pages could be sent out separately (to maybe two people each) and then sent back to Anne to assemble the book. That would reduce postage expenses but maybe not be quite as much fun. The idea to start the sketchbook in Europe and have it end in Australia is a good one too. It would be the reverse of this first Sketchbook’s travels. 🙂
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Hi Annie and Kate and every one on the sketchbook’s journey. I’m full of anticipation and a little daunted to receive the precious article on its journey – looks like the sketchbook will take flight and have a wonderful life of its own.
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This is going to be so much fun!
Very nice idea anne. Can’t wait for my turn 🙂
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I think it is time to put all of these points into another email so that everyone can keep up with the ideas. I will do that this weekend.
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I know you can have multiple participants/contributors/administrators on Blogspot blogs. They’re also free (unless things have changed since I set my blog up years ago).
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