Magicians, alphabets and perfectionism

January was a month of education and firsts. Almost like September, but with less back-to-school outfits and Lunchables.

Two months into my internship with Lethbridge living and I continue to be taught. I'm like a kindergarten child learning the ABC's of the magazine industry, except this alphabet is exponentially more entertaining and quicker to absorb. I won't deny that on occasion I still confuse a "b" with a "d".

Since writing my last blog, I have completed my first article for Lethbridge living. Surprisingly it was more difficult than I had anticipated. Although the final product is one I am proud of, the process of its completion is quite frankly, sad. As an acknowledged perfectionist, writing can sometimes be a long process when feeling nervous. I am meticulous when it comes to word selection, which resulted in wasted minutes pacing the hallway or staring at a popcorn ceiling, oftentimes due to a single syllable.

Despite my borderline-psychotic behaviour, the article's topic was wonderful and I really enjoyed the interviewing process. I was even able to get creative with an aspect of the article and it got me super excited to tackle future projects. One of the things I'm enjoying most about my internship is the discovery of infinite possibilities; it's such an inventive industry.

This month I attended my first magazine photo shoot for the cover of our March/April issue. Despite the fact that as a six-year-old diva with model aspirations I always believed I'd be the one in front of the camera, it was a really awesome experience. Witnessing behind the scenes action and the work that goes into a magazine's production was like uncovering a magician's secret, but without the bitter disenchantment.

When writing my first story I quickly took note of the differences between writing for a newspaper and a magazine. Currently working on a couple of stories for the awards issue of Lethbridge Home Trends, I feel I've made the transition much smoother this time and surprisingly the art of interviewing, which initially evoked a feeling of anxiety, was an entirely positive experience. I look forward to conquering my next assignment adventure.

Until then, I'll stick to differentiating those tricky letters.

Read Page's article in our March/April issue of Lethbridge living. But for a sneak peek, here's what she's working on:

DIY Bulletin Board–Sewing

Supplies & Tools:

• Cardboard
• Thick fabric (flannel)
• Thread to match fabric
• Ribbon
• Sewing pins
• Scissors
• A sewing needle
• A hot glue gun

Instructions:

1. Cut cardboard into the desired size and shape for your bulletin board. Make sure the chosen shape is fairly simple.

2. Measure the length and width of your cardboard piece. Add an inch to each of those measurements; this will be the size of your fabric pieces.

3. Take the fabric and cut out two pieces.

4. Place both panels of fabric on top on one another, with the front facing inwards. Using the cardboard as a guide, pin the fabric so that the pinned shape is tight to the cardboard's edge.

5. With your needle and thread, sew both panels together using the pins as a guide. Only sew three sides of the fabric. (photo bulletin board sewing)

6. Once all three sides have been sewn, turn the fabric inside out so the pattern is now on the outside. Then, slide the cardboard into the fabric. It should now resemble a pillow case.

7. Trim excess fabric off the open end, fold the fabric so there is a clean edge, and sew the end shut.

8. Create a criss-cross pattern of ribbon on the board and use a hot glue gun to secure it in place. They will be used to hold papers once the board is in use. Use another ribbon to create a loop at the top of the board and hot glue gun it in place so you can hang it on the wall.

Now you have a fun, quick, and personalized way to get organized.

Approximate cost of supplies=$8.00

The opinions expressed in these blogs are those of the authors, and do not necessarily state or reflect the views of Lethbridge living.