The Silver Surfer Blog No 5: Thinking Outside Of The Box!

Jenni Robson
Aug 30
2 min read

When I gave a talk about self publishing a few years ago, a lady from Irthlingborough library, took my business card. She phoned me a couple of months ago and said would I read my book 'The Chestnut Tree' and run a creative workshop for children in August. That sounded like great fun and the Silver Surfer started the preparations.

Author and artist Jenni Robson is reading her book 'The Chestnut Tree' accompanied by a freestanding, four foot Charlie Chestnut.

Story time at Irthlingborough Library with Silver Surfer, Jenni Robson and Charlie Chestnut

First I needed a freestanding Charlie Chestnut, the main character in my book. Little did I know that it was going to require many hours and that I would need to think outside of the box. I don't have a marketing budget, my business is small (at the moment) and all my funds are reinvested into creating art. Purchasing a printed, full colour, die-cut Charlie was not possible, I was going to have to make one but how?

I contacted a a cardboard manufacture in Northants (thank you D S Smith) who donated some board, a local printer printed a line drawing of Charlie. I then hand cut the tree and proceeded to colour him using coloured pencils and ink. I completely underestimated how long it would take! Several weeks later and Charlie Chestnut Tree was ready for Irthlingborough library.

A cardboard cutout was created of Charlie Chestnut and coloured in using inks and coloured pencils

Freestanding Charlie Chestnut Tree is cut out, and the colouring begins

The Charlie Chestnut Tree floor standing unit is complete ready for storytime at Irthlingborough Library. The local Mayor makes a surprise visit to the children's storytime and craft workshop to surprise author and artist Jenni Robson

Freestanding floor display - Charlie Chestnut. Plus a visit by the Mayor

We had a lovely surprise visit on the day by the Mayor who stayed for the reading and supported the children in the craft session. The children's mission was to create leaves for Charlie by rubbing wax crayons on paper over real leaves, cutting them out, and sticking them to Charlie. The children did a fabulous job, were very enthusiastic and Charlie Chestnut Tree now stands very proudly on display in Irthlingborough Library, Northants, UK.

The children are busy making leaves with wax rubbings and cutting them out ready to glue on the chestnut tree. Charlie Chestnut now has a splendid head of new leaves created by the children. — Colouring, wax rubbings, decorating and gluing and Charlie Chestnut has a new hairdo!

And did the Silver Surfer attend the Book Binding workshop?

Further to my last blog about having a go at book binding. I did join a group in Leicester and I loved it. It was a throwback to my college days when we had some lessons as part of my printing course. Because I still have a part-time job I could only attend the group for one of the three hours a week. There was a 1 1/2 hour round trip to get there as well so I decided to put it on hold until circumstances changed.