New challenges!

35 Children’s books
Both of our children are now reading, and really enjoying it. And the more time we spend with children’s books, the more I realise how much of a craft it is to put them together. So I want to read 35 new books with them, that are in some way celebrated, or experimental, or distinct in their craft.

35 Icecreams
You can see I’m trying to think of challenges I can get my family on board with… But actually, I’m really excited about this one. There are so many interesting ice cream makers doing fun stuff at the moment – from il laboratorio del gelato in NY to Palais Provisions in Cornwall. The plan is to try 35 new ones – new flavours, new types, new formats, new combinations. Whilst we’re out, or at home.

35 Bits of Experimental Type
I love typography, and quite a lot of the art I like is typographic. I’ve not got any formal training in it, and I don’t think I’ve got the patience to attempt the kind of studious work that true typographers do. But I want to experiment with it, and try out some different mediums and forms. No real rules, other than I’ll probably keep to latin alphabet, with maybe some old/middle-english letters. And there’ll probably be an ampersand in there somewhere too…

Later than usual. It’s been a busy year.
Challenges were a struggle this year; we’ve been so busy with work and life, and it’s taken a bit of a backseat.

That said – I loved listening to so many podcasts. And I heard some wonderful episodes that I wouldn’t have otherwise listened to, were it not for the challenge.
Favourites include: How to Fail with Elizabeth Day, Reply All, and How to Win an Election.

Pots didn’t end up getting logged, but I did make significantly over the 34, and had a lot of fun doing so. I worked on the form of my mugs most, but also made plates, vases, bowls, candlesticks and more. It’s something I want to keep doing. I may do another challenge soon, but just pick one single form to practice over and over again.

Here are my 34 photos from across the year: