The Leaf - Perspective is the Key

The Leaf - by Gavyn

I often find myself thinking about philosophical issues and wondering how to explain them. Upon walking home from town, I came across an 'epiphany' like moment, one that I pondered over for the rest of my journey.

Looking at this image, what do you see?

In my view, it is... a leaf. If I was to step up further, I would say that: It had green bits, brown bits and a stem that leads out of its bottom. However we choose to describe it, or name it, it is like this because of the angle that we are looking at it, from. I would go as far to say that it is a bold shape, uniform like the rest.

So, what about this? What do you see now?

I was hit with this view, first. and it's what caused me to think and write about it. What I see is a heart, a valentine that is close to the ground. There is a meaning to all of this...

Perspective is the key to everything. As a big lover of aviation, to admit that being up high can have its shortcomings is a hard thing to do. But in this case, the heart would only show when my point-of-view was close to the ground.

Looking at things from beneath can show how tall something is, how much effort it might take, or what it will feel like when approached. If there is something to take from this, it is that you are not always wise to be above everybody and everything, there is a time to be the under-dog, and to sit and view from beneath, can give you time to set yourself up, prepare for what is ahead.

Most of all, sometimes love and beauty are available in the 'lowest' of places.

Be happy!

- Express Your Life in Miniature -

Taking ReCreation to a New Level - The Event

It Was Wet, That Is All!

Okay, so it was wet, my feet went very cold, but it was a fantastic event with many like-minded people to converse with. The day began as a quick up-and-leave starter, getting the young ones up to help and simultaneously loading the car to arrive there by 8am. It was actually quite dry on arrival, the river was flowing fast and high to out left, and the Veolia guides were lining us up to take our pitches.

Once off-loaded, we set up the gazebo (donated, for the day, by our lovely friend, Sue), and aligned the items on our designated tables. It is a good idea to explain, now, that the aim for this event was to begin our quest to get the idea of happy-shelves out there, and to show people what our core focus was going to be.

During the first hour, it remained quiet. Few people passed and the rain started to fall. Spirits were a 'little' beaten, but the majority of the stall-holders would begin to converse with one-another. We were among people that, in most cases, understood the nature of what HappyShelfCo. was all about.

It seemed that as the rain came down, more people arrived. We had a steady footfall from 10:30 until 3:00, and we were able to meet some great people with some amazing ideas. It has shown us that there is a magnitude of shapes, sizes and patterns that can be achieved with our shelving solutions, far beyond what had been envisioned ten months ago. You can see a quick, recorded, live-feed on our Facebook page, or check out our IGTV on Instagram.

In general, the day was a great success, and it was amazing to find so much rich art and crafts in such a place of history and strength-of-mind. If you are reading this, or if you have this in your newsletter, you are a part of it all, for that, we are very HAPPY that you have taken on our message. We are holding a competition that can can be found on our Facebook page, the site will soon have access to the download, also. Simply draw and the post your ideas for your ideal Happy-Shelf items.

New designs will be developed over the next few months and ideas are set to be released in the new year. Until then, we are developing links to new entities, those that are in the same mindset of helping others and finding new solutions to bringing happiness in our lives.

So, what are your thoughts about any of this? Do you have an extra note you would like to add to HappyShelfCo's message? Until the next update, stay happy, and make a visit to the website, your support will allow HSC to extend the message and find solutions for new and glorious happy-spaces.

The '3' Stages of Happy-Shelf Creation

As the 21st fast approaches, I am gathering up ideas to express what Happy-Shelves can mean to you. To form a space that defines you can lead to it being a haven for happiness. Return and you shall feel better! At least that is what I am attempting to get across.

I decided that an info-graphic would make a great start in expressing this, a plain '3' step journey. It is, of course, more than this. The trinket culture helps to find what we love and show it. Whether you are a kin-aesthetic learner that needs to touch an item and read its texture, or maybe you enjoy the visual; is it the aesthetics that attract you? Either way, happiness is what this is aiming for. See what you think...

Tell me what you are up to? HappyShelfCo. will begin trading as of 21st September. This blog will then be transferred onto the website. Keep in contact, and if you can make it the ReCreation Day in Ironbridge on 22nd, happiness awaits you. You can find the website, here. Also, make sure you follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

A Positive Structure for a New Business

Where Is HappyShelfCo, Right Now?

After ten months of planning, HSC is almost ready for launch. On the 21st of this month (September), it will be a fully-functional business and open to people that can embrace the benefits of fitting a Happy-Shelf.

The biggest dilemma for me, has been finding the correct products. The shelves, themselves, are the trickiest. Older ones are found and cherished, almost instantly, but new ones are hard to scope on quality. Be assured that I will find the right ones and the 21st will be a successful date on HSC's calendar.

Event Number One 

On the 22nd of September, HSC will attend its first event. It will take place in Ironbridge, a very old suburb, and former independent entity, of Telford, in Shropshire. You can find the event linked here.

The day is all about the reuse of items that we see everyday, and likely throw in the bin or recycling bag. As HSC is in collaboration with Mumble-Makes, her products will be on sale, too. It is also a chance to come and see me about what HappyShelfco. does. Come and talk to me, my 7-year-old will also be there, helping me out and no-doubt offering her own random wisdom about guinea-pigs. 

The new T-shirt logo.

The design of the t-shirts, currently in production, encompass everything about HappyShelfCo, and what it is about, happiness and strength of mind. The heart, above, is a design by Mumble-Makes and digitally created by myself. I will show these off when they arrive, perhaps you could see them, for real, at the show on 22nd.

Supporting Mental Health

As a recovering sufferer of depression, I will be telling my readers and customers all about my story. For now, the use of personal space that highlights the individual is a strong thing. Holding that which is dear, or simply looking at it from across the room has more healing properties than we can imagine. It might be a small item that was once kept by your Grandmother's side, or it was perhaps a drinking mug from years gone by. Whatever it is, it means something to you, what is scrap to many, can hold your life and its meaning within its body. We are sentimental creatures, why not embrace that and build our mental strength, we can then let the term 'mental-health' mean something positive?

For the record, my name is Gavyn, I am the owner of HappyShelfCo. and would love to hear from you. Give me feedback, give me suggestions, and most of all, let me know if you would like to be in one of my video/podcasts. Until next time, be happy, and try something different.

Express Your Life in Miniature!