Category Archives: Craft

The Wheel

Posted on November 20, 2018 by julianstodd

Discarded and decayed: most farms have this corner, the space where things are left. Not intentionally to rot, but a purposeless place. Things that have run their course. Mangled machinery. Broken down, perhaps with a vague notion that it will … Continue reading →

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Authenticity

Posted on April 24, 2013 by julianstodd

It was a long day yesterday: up at five thirty, then after delivering the workshop we went for a drink, and i finally got home from London about nine. I have to say that i was exhausted, which drove my … Continue reading →

Posted in Attention to Detail, Blogging, Communication, Craft, Culture, Engagement, Experience, Integrity, Learning, Mediocrity, Narrative, Personal Learning Network, Responsibility, Social Learning | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 34 Comments

Developing ‘The Knowledge’: rewiring the adaptable brain

Posted on March 14, 2013 by julianstodd

I was bouncing around London yesterday, on one leg, by taxi, i got into a conversation about ‘The Knowledge‘. To be a cabbie in London, you have to acquire The Knowledge, a notoriously difficult task, typically taking three or four … Continue reading →

Posted in Adaptability, Agile, Assessment, Bike, Complexity, Connections, Craft, Cycle, Embedding, Foundations, History, Information, Knowledge, Learning, Lost, Memory, Neurology, Study | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Hands: how learning changes us

Posted on November 7, 2012 by julianstodd

The train was unexpectedly quiet this morning, just me and another chap sat opposite at the table. Plenty of space. He wasn’t the stereotypical commuter: paint stained jeans and heavy woollen jumper, with a substantial wooden toolbox on the seat … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Craft, Craftsman, Experience, Heritage, History, Knowledge, Learning | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

The languages of learning: fragrance

Posted on October 29, 2012 by julianstodd

I’m sat drinking a Turkish coffee in the Arab quarter. I fly home tonight, but today is a chance for reflection. It’s hot and humid, as it has been everyday. There’s a faint scent of cardamon, a dusky kind of … Continue reading →

Posted in Coffee, Complexity, Concentration, Craft, Creative, Language, Learning, Memory, Science, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Choosing the right paint: the right kit for the job.

Posted on February 20, 2012 by julianstodd

I bought myself some new watercolours this weekend. Winsor and Newton artists range, a lovely enamelled steel box with thirty different half pans. It’s a larger version of the set i got when i was sixteen, which has accompanied me … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Craft, Creative, Introspection, Motivation, Painting | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Where did all the willpower go? Playing with words and hearing when things just seem right.

Posted on January 30, 2012 by julianstodd

Some things just sounds right. We probably notice this most often with songs: something just sticks in your head. Song’s don’t have to be clever, long or sophisticated to be great, they just need to make you tap your feet … Continue reading →

Posted in Craft, Creative, Language, Music, Songs, Storytelling | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Making Christmas cards. A seasonal reflection on learning.

Posted on December 14, 2011 by julianstodd

It’s that time of year when i need to make my Christmas cards. Normally i like to do something different every year, but this year might be a repeat of last. You see, last year i did some lino print … Continue reading →

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Building a boat: functional and aesthetic aspects of design.

Posted on October 18, 2011 by julianstodd

I spent time yesterday walking by the Broads, the great expanse of waterways that run through East Anglia. There are still quite a number of boatbuilders active from small yards by the side of the water, many of them working … Continue reading →

Posted in Aesthetics, Craft, Craftsman, Inspiration, Learning | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment