Craft For The Soul Pip-Life Rad People

That Time I Went To Brisbane

June 16, 2015

Pip Brisbane Pip Brisbane Pip Brisbane Pip Brisbane

Hey peaches!

How are you going? I am good. I’ve been in Brisbane (for the first time!) for a few days for some book signings. I feel like I haven’t talked to you in forever, but in reality it’s just been a few days. Isn’t it funny how going away seems to stretch time in some ways (and sort of compress it in others?!)

I went to the Brisbane Square Library, Riverbend Bookshop and Avid Reader Bookstore to talk about my book, make things and chat to other nice, creative people. It was pretty great to talk to people who were interested in what I’m doing and were sharing similarly crafty/creative lives as me. Over 250 people attended my events!!!  I was kind of gobsmacked. AND I met so many great people!

I kind of forget that there are people out there buying my books (and I sometimes forget that quite a lot of people read this blog, even!) It’s part of a writer’s life, really… that distance from the people you are writing for.

It made me feel pretty special to realise that what I do makes sense to some people. Thanks people! Thanks for showing up and letting me know that!

I was lucky enough to hang out with the Brisbane Brown Owls and the BrisStyle gang on my trip – and do a cute fraggle/shaggy pompom workshop with them. Thanks HEAPS for inviting me to do that! I also caught up with a lovely friend Natala, some friends from the Big Hearted Business community and the girls from Peppermint Magazine.

Yesterday afternoon, I even popped into Brisbane’s ABC Radio and talked about creativity for their Drive program. I am not sure who was listening, but we chatted about the importance of making things and taking time for the things you love. A vital message in a busy world, I think.

I did some hotel room crochet, bought some Oliver Jeffers books as a treat and watched Orange Is The New Black Season 3 until I fell asleep most nights. I also met a lot of taxi drivers on my trip.  One of them told me that the Brisbane Library needs more books in the Sorani Kurdish language (especially a Sorani Kurdish/English dictionary.) Another taxi driver told me that he and his ex-wife did not have sex during their marriage. Except for that one time on their wedding night. Um. Yeah. Thanks for telling me that, Mr Taxi Man. Whatevs.

Now I am back home. I am very much looking forward to home-cooked meals and my own bed and hugs from my gang. There’s lots going on at my house, big transitions, so I am making sure to look after myself, get my game face on and face all the stuff that’s imminent with good humour and good health.

How about you? What have you been up to? Tell me now!

x Pip

 

more reading pink

Ourselves, Motivation and Misunderstandings 
And You Don’t Have To Win Everyone Over

Why Slowing Down Is The New Speeding Up
Have Your Pie And Eat It Too!
Watch Out For The Gems

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ALSO: Have you ever wanted to start a blog or build a simple website? Maybe you want to overhaul an existing blog, even? My eCourse Blog With Pip starts this week and there are limited spots left. Sign up, learn stuff and be in my gang. I can teach you how to make a blog, write better, wrangle social media, plan that blog to book dream and a whole heap more.

 

8 Comments

  • Reply Ashlea @ Glamour Coastal Living June 17, 2015 at 3:42 PM

    So glad you were able to come to Brissie and see the sights and meet some entertaining taxi drivers – aren’t they all though? They seem to all have a story to tell! Hope you loved QLD and the weather was warmer for you! x

  • Reply The Hipsterette June 17, 2015 at 10:24 AM

    Hello Pip
    I was one of those Brisbanites who came to see you at Avid Reader. Thanks for a wonderful and inspiring talk! Hope you liked our town.
    The Hipsterette

  • Reply fabfiona June 17, 2015 at 9:03 AM

    Hi there Pip! Over the last week I have done two excellent things. The first was doing a shibori workshop with the lovely Cath from Prints Charming which was wonderful fun. The other was to read your new book. Thanks so much for it Pip. It was just what I needed to help me break through the paralysis that comes from too many ideas plus fear of failure plus ‘I should clean the house or wash the dog instead’. Thanks for sending it out into the world for people like me!

  • Reply Isabel June 16, 2015 at 9:01 PM

    Hi Pip! I was just thinking ‘I wonder what Pip has been up to lately…’ and then this excellent Brisbane post appeared. Hilarious about the taxi men, at least they felt they could trust you with their secrets! Just so you know that people are reading and getting stuff out of your blog/book, yesterday I made some pompoms as a a reward for all the intense Chinese exam study (they turned out pretty well – I actually used the back cover of my exercise book for the template!), and then listened to that Oliver Jeffers podcast that you recommended. I like his accent! And his general attitude to creativity and life. On the weekend, after doing a blog post, I had a similar thought to you – who is actually reading what I write, and what do they think? You can see the clicks but what does that mean? Sometimes it feels a bit one sided. It’s so nice when people take the time to comment, even if it’s just a quick hey, I read your blog, it was weird/cool/horrible/etc, have a good day! But even if they don’t, there are still people out there, reading, considering, and your words and stories make up part of the fabric of their lives too. That’s amazing in my book. So have a good night, Pip, hope Melbourne welcomes you back with wide open (if a little chilly) arms 🙂

  • Reply Leslie June 16, 2015 at 6:35 PM

    I was one of the many who came to see you and hear you talk at the Brisbane Square Library on Sunday….was a great way to spend my one day off inbetween work days…thank you for coming to Brisvegas and sharing your wisdom! Felt like I was in the company of a friend. Cheers Leslie.

    • Reply Meet Me At Mikes June 16, 2015 at 6:37 PM

      I really appreciate you coming on a Sunday when you could be at home eating soup and watching something good on telly. THANK YOU! Wasn’t it a lovely afternoon?! Sorry my hair was messy, but I’m not used to the humidity… That said, who knew my hair could be so wavy?! x

      • Reply Leslie June 17, 2015 at 3:58 PM

        Coming to hear and see you tops staying at home and watching telly!……Tho it is pouring rain here in Brissie today so curling up on the sofa in front of the telly is ideal…pity I have to go to work at 5pm. Yes Sunday was a lovely afternoon…you apologise for messy hair when none of us would have thought your hair was messy…..I wouldn’t think any of your followers were there on Sunday to see your hair…we were there to hear your wisdom and be inspired by you…and inspired we were! xo

  • Reply kate June 16, 2015 at 5:16 PM

    I adore Brisbane. It helps that my sister, brother in law and my niece and nephew live there but I would like it anyway. Have you been to Sydney? I have been away so a little behind on my blog news. I love a good taxi driver chat: except for the oversharing bit. Awkward.

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