A traveller’s tale

Last year when I went travelling I took along a piece of vintage table linen and some stranded black embroidery floss and recorded my adventures in stitch as I cycled through the Mekong Delta and Myanmar. If you follow me (hazel.ryder) or InStitches (InStitches2013) you’ll have seen the pictures.

It was a fun way to record my adventure. At first I was a little shy about stitching in public but soon everyone I was travelling with wanted to look and were quick to suggest what to record that day! But for this adventure (I’m cycling through Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) I didn’t want to stitch so I’m going to give a travel sketchbook a try - after all I’m often suggesting it to our students.

I don't have a great track record with travel sketchbooks it has to be said. I take the sketchbook and have high hopes, only to return home with just as many blank pages as when I went!

So instead of taking a large, bought sketchbook I thought I’d make my own tiny one! Much less daunting!

To make the concertina book I’ve used cartridge paper cut into strips (9.5cm x 53 cm) which I connected with paper hinges.

Here’s the kit I’m taking, I don't have room for more. As well as my concertina sketchbook I’ve got a couple of permanent waterproof pigment pens (0.5 & 0.2) and the new travel Derwent Inktense paint set. It comes with a synthetic brush with water reservoir but I’ve e also included my own travel brush too.

So fingers crossed I actually use it. But then, I’ve told you all now of my intention...so how can I not?!

Best wishes

Hazel