Leonard F Attwell

Let us begin our journey

YOUR FIRST STEP

Supposing you are a gardener with a flair for garden design and you had often thought that if circumstances had been different for you, you may have achieved a higher status in that subject. Perhaps you had been looking after elderly parents. Maybe finances were a problem or just that you could not receive the training that you would have liked. Perhaps there were no colleges in your vicinity, or they were full or you had too far to travel. All of these things applied to me.

I wanted to create a work of a high standard for the Royal Family. That was my ultimate goal but I knew nothing about the subject of paper-sculpture, the medium I wanted to use.

I purchased some cartridge paper and set about making a figure 12 inches high. I made several experimenting with various ways of doing it, until I found a method which suited me. I then made a figure of an angel 40 inches high. I was on my way.

I hope to show you at every stage how I achieved my success and guide you by example so that you may achieve yours. I do not propose to teach you my method of paper-sculpture, but using my methods apply your own subject to it.

Firstly, design your own garden with an eye-catching design, then offer to do a neighbours garden but state that you will not charge for your services. If you can afford to carry the cost of equipment that may be necessary to complete the garden, that would be very good. If you need to ask your neighbour if they would be prepared to make a contribution towards equipment and they do, make a better job of it than you did for yourself. If however, the neighbour cannot afford a contribution and you cannot cover it, then do your best with materials available.

But I repeat do not charge for your work. Ask another neighbour if you can do their garden and that you will not charge them either.
If you charge a fee for your services you will become just another tradesman and there are billions in the world that will never be known because they do not stand out from the crowd.

Each time you offer to do a garden aim a little higher, choose a Community Centre, a church or village hall, a place where people gather. Soon people will start talking, and someone will contact the local newspaper stating they have a wonderful neighbour in their midst. The newspaper always looking for a good story, will write an article about you.

You are on your way.