Sharing...

I'm relishing the quiet that surrounds me right now, nothing but  birdsong...peaceful bliss!
I'm also finding it quite amusing that the first day we have had for weeks without sunshine meets the first day back to school! A gloomy day to match the kids' mood..how thoughtful of the weather :)

I thought I'd pop in and share the rest of the card designs I've created (some others can be seen here).

There have also been a couple of things that have popped into my inbox that I've thought "how great is that!"... and so wanted to share in case you may have missed them.

The first one is Andrea Schroeder's  "Lets give your dreams wings"  FREE e- course. Its a dip into the techniques and tips that she offers and is more than enough to get your dream up and on the road (and in a mere 10 minutes a day!). I've used Andrea's techniques for several years now and am a fully fledged member of her Creative Dream Circle. I love Andrea  and her work....some may find it a bit "out there", but if there is anything I have learned since starting this business journey of mine is.... growth requires doing the inner work, which for me was letting go of a crazy load of limiting beliefs and fears!

The next one on receiving, created the immediate response: "YES!.... How to write  the ultimate resume....
or ..... your "Really wild Bio"! I love the idea of a CV containing more than just the previous jobs worked/ qualifications gained... one that honours those moments and experiences in life that make you uniquely YOU, and highlight the unique and wonderful skills only YOU have! You can download a FREE copy that contains all the juicy ways to dig in and find out what your Wild Bio would contain here!
Seems so fitting at this time, when my eldest is at the stage of having to make subject choices at school , which to her feels like such a defining moment....I'm tempted to email the link to the school :)

So that's all I've got to share for now....all I have left to offer is a hug of the hairy variety...but I think that should suffice.... after all what better kind of hugs are there?! ;)x

Always learning..

I'm very much a geek. Which feels good to say as for a long time the inner geek got dialled down to make way for social approval! The things we do :)
Anyhoos I am always on the lookout for things (online/books/classes) that'll teach me something new. For better or worse I'm always working away on something in the background. Last year saw me try out repeat pattern design and hand drawn lettering (through Skillshare which is a REALLY great resource and cheap CHEAP too!). I tried out hypnotherapy (a friend was studying it and needed some case studies...I'll share more another time) and energy moving techniques to satisfy my "woowoo" side!
What else? Many books perused like this and this, interviews listened to over on "Smart Creative Women" with Monica Lee...the list goes on.
Point of mentioning this? Well my recent learning opportunity is taking the form of Lilla Rogers' Assignment Bootcamp.

If you are interested in design at all it's likely you have heard of this colourful and dynamic (and very inspiring!) lady. I figured if I want to make a great living from my art, it would be a wise move to get assignments and insights from one of the best. 

                                   The point of Lilla's Bootcamp is to become part of a creative community, and fulfill assignments which get you drawing, drawing, drawing.The end result is plenty stretching and growing, some gentle support and hopefully a few finished pieces worthy of going in a portfolio!

You may have guessed that this months assignment involved cuckoo clocks! Which I love and took as a good sign as I've been working on creating a cuckoo clock design since the summer...and kept getting stuck on! 

The end  assignment suggested using the cuckoo design as a phone cover, this is where I've got so far....yep I'm stuck again! These cuckoo clocks are driving me cuckoo ;)

I've started a repeat pattern too...still more to add but thought I'd share so far also

So what about you? I imagine I am not alone in this quest for learning and growing and geekery! I'd love to hear what you enjoy getting your teeth into x

A collection of love x

  I can't possibly start without sending out a heartfelt THANKYOU to those who left such dear comments (here and over on facebook), words of support and sweetness that celebrated my business birthday alongside me. It never fails to astound me, that a single individual has the capacity to fill another up with so much love and support...and this can be with someone we have never even met! I am so GRATEFUL. (insert very smiley face with a wee tear in the eye and holding a hankie!)
Maybe Cyril can say it better....here is a flower for you x

Love from Cyril

                

I'm not sure if you noticed, but I've turned the comment option back on too.
I had turned the comments off way back in the Summer as I was feeling bad about never replying to the lovely messages people had taken the time to leave. It was a time thing...not enough of it and having to use it wisely, which my polite upbringing struggled with. It was also to help create a bit of space for me to allow new things in , new style, new items, new approach, without outside influence.
Its a tricky thing this social media, or atleast I find anyways...that slight need for external validation..do they like this piece? Oh I've only got 1 comment this week, maybe this piece is not so good...and so on!

Anyhoos.....the reintroduction of comments for the giveaway (and then left on accidentally afterwards) has made me realise it's no fun being in a vacuum. Quite lonely in fact! Its not so much the comments that I missed but more the feeling that when I write a post someone somewhere will actually read it. Without the comment option I knew it was just for me and frankly I'm over that self indulgence! So if you ever feel like tinkling on those type keys, tinkle away....or not.  I'll feel delighted to know you are out there either way.

Side by side

So if I can draw breathe after this long ramble...I just wanted to share some of the new card designs that will be accompanying me to Pulse Trade Fair in May. These 3 are all about the love....

Beauty-FULL

Which I am sending out to you all tenfold xx

A song burst of celebration!

Its been 2 years today, two years since I left midwifery and became a self employed artist.
Just writing that feels pretty amazing.

New card design that's gone off to the printers.

                       
It's quite a feeling to remember the lead up to that date and the utter fear of failure (and being poor!) that surrounded it, and to be sitting here now knowing that everything has worked out beautifully so far.

I had a dream during the "fear" phase where I told myself to write down a list of all the miraculous things that have happened in my life ( I get the odd "prophetic" dream so am inclined to listen!) I'm grateful I did, because once I'd searched my memory for all the things that had occurred/ magically happened/ worked out in miraculous ways, I was overwhelmed with the proof that life really is set up for good things and that it conspires to have it all work out for us!
The "fear" phase left pretty swiftly after that.

There have been other phases of course...the "excited but really have no idea which direction where I'm going but I'll just keep creating and put my name down for a Trade Fair even though I don't know what I want to sell yet "phase. Surprisingly that worked out.

"Phase 1" 2012

Then there was the "blimey these stitched pieces seem to be going down well so I guess I'll sell them and go to a Trade Fair too" phase...that worked out also! 

"Phase 2" 2013

Now I find myself back at the Trade Fair scenario for year 3, but it's a new phase called the "realising winging it is maybe not the greatest business model, so having a little more purpose,clarity and direction is a good thing...and I'll launch my new work at Pulse Trade Fair 2014" phase. (or Phase 3!)
Hmmm feels like the best phase yet...and I'm kind of hoping the track record keeps its momentum ...that things works out too :)

I've never considered likening my business to the growth that we experience, but I'm realising that's precisely what my business and I have been experiencing together....birth, vulnerable and still developing, exploring/touching/tasting everything, first steps, starting to walk, learning as we go, making better decisions, maturing a little.....
I don't think we're much further than that....but not bad considering we're only 2!
And I have to say I'm so delighted and thankful to be here, because the prospect of the future and the rest of our growing together is really exciting, and so much BIGGER than what I could have imagined at the start of this journey 2 years ago.

So yes, I'm celebrating!
I also have to end by sharing the other phase I've entered , inspired by receiving not 1 but 2 of these diaries as crimbo pressies. (I did tell you I am "inclined to listen"!).....

Designed by Rachel Bright

The "becoming ruler of the universe and eating cake " phase (otherwise known as "Phase 4"). Oh yes! Consider yourselves duly warned ;)xx

2 year Biz Birthday GIVEAWAY!

Hello lovelies.
It's been almost 2 whole years since I left my job and began making my living from my creations. What a feat!
I'll save a post for sharing a little of the journey till the 31st (the official birthday)...but today I wanted to let you know about the giveaway I'm having in celebration.It has to be a foxy one of course....cos you know I'm owning that right now,albeit  in a Wayne's World kind of way! ;)

You can leave a comment below (I've opened the comment section especially!) or you can pop on over to my facebook page and leave a comment there too! You get extra entries for every social media site you comment on....ohlala!
I'll randomly pick the winner on Fri 31st Jan.

                     
                          

THANKYOU ALL so so much for joining in my celebration with me, it would be a very empty and lonely adventure without you all by my side xx

*ADDITIONAL EDIT on Fri 31st JAN*
The winner of the giveaway is Jacqui Aldi
Yay!
THANKYOU all soo much for joining in...there were nearly 100 names to randomly pick from..my ceremonial teacup had to be replaced with a measuring jug! Amazing xx

Foxy love

I'm delighted to share with you a few new items I am unleashing to the world!
They've been a work in progress for some time, so it's a GREAT feeling to have them finally  put "out there".
I'm loving also how their release into the world coincides (kind of!) with valentines day.....so for a bit of fun I'm putting out a little "foxy lady" love with these...I mean if it's good enough for Jimi Hendrix it's good enough for me!

First thing I want to share is this cotton cushion with pom pom trim! It's a 2 sided design that's been digitally printed onto thick cotton fabric and sewn together by me.

Here is the other side of the cushion......so you can alternate between the 2 , depending on how much

fox you want in your life! You can find the cushion here in my etsy shop.

 You may remember the Fantastic Mr F I sketched a while back?...well I made a print of this sweet fellow to match the cushion..
 

..and turned the  foxy cushion design into a print too...matching set! Both are available here.


 Next comes these 2 sweet foxy prints that I originally created using acrylic paint,gouache  and pen. They come as a set of 2 small 7 x 5"  prints  with the black border or can be bought individually in regular A4 size.....love the boldness that comes from the limited colours used.

Amongst the foliage

Countryside Queen

I've been working on trying to take better photos of my items...somewhat a long way to go....! There have been so many comedic moments along the way which I'm very relieved no one else witnessed! I have to include the one below purely for that reason as I grappled with wind and wire and flying leaves. You will never know my pain ;) 

Each foxy item comes with a little foxy tag...as a special Valentines treat....everyone needs a little reminder of their true foxy-ness grrrr! :)xx

Birdie plates!

I'll quickly swing past the fact I haven't been around for a few weeks (it's been October school break) and still haven't got xmas cards to show (printers getting something fixed)... and jump straight into talking plates! I've had a growing collection of miss-matched plates for some time now, some vintage, others just in need of rescuing from the local thrift shop and given some love. The plan was to add my own designs either using decals or ceramic pen/paints. 

As with most intended projects, the plates have gathered dust  (hangs head in suitable shame!)...but I did paint some little designs over the summer hols with plates in mind ,which I thought I would share.

This has a painted background and digital coloured bird in the foreground. Experimenting again! It's called "The great escape" 

I've mocked it up roughly on a plate below........too nice to eat off of I think!

plate photo:Photo: Kristina Schuster (Flickr)

This second design is entirely paint and aimed entirely to make the eyes zing!It's called "morning glory". 

Below is another quick mock up.......

Loving the colours against the porcelain! And feeling suitable inspired to dusting off that neglected crockery! x

Behind the scenes

While I wait for the printer to send my little christmas card collection (a whole 4 designs!), I've very little to share other than snippets of what I'm working on at the mo. I'm developing a range of new items which may even include cushions (Oh my!) .So I've been sketching a lot, and developing this further on the computer. It's purely experimentation on my part, seeing what works and what doesn't. I'm having a blast!

 

Mr Owly owl got some digital colouring...I'm not not too keen on him (sorry Owly owl!) Usually if  I keep going I eventually get whats in my head to match what I see..so it's back to the drawing board for now.

Anyhoos, hope your week is wonderful. Autumn is most definitely in the air!

Hummingbirds

I would love to meet a hummingbird in it's own natural habitat...a tiny miracle of nature.

To me they appear as a "fleeting glimpse of beauty," a flash of magic, and a reminder to seek out  such magic and beauty in the tiniest of things.

I wrote a post about the various messages birds have brought me through life and it's hummingbirds that have been calling to me lately. Tricky when I live in Scotland....not too many about! So on being asked by the lovelies around me what I would like for my 40th birthday gift I pondered a while and then the answer came...a hummingbird!

Of course, not a real one! One inked onto my skin instead. A tattoo.

The first and only tattoo I have, I got on my travels when I was 21...it was a swirly sun that I had designed, inked around my belly button by a buddhist monk who tattooed as a hobby! (I know ,you couldn't make it up!) 

It was really meaningful to me and symbolised the growth and journey of  me moving away from things I'd known (family, university, teenage years) to growing and stepping into the person I wanted to be. 

My sun tattoo has stretched and grown twice with the swelling of my pregnancies...both my girls loving the fact they grew from the sunshine!

So it feels right  that this new chapter of my life is honoured too. Not just turning 40, but the changes that been brought about with my youngest starting school. The mum ties loosening a little, the greater time to focus on me and my creative business.

I'm still working on the design I would like, but thought I'd share some of the hummingbird designs I have created....from paint and stitch to digital. Next stop...tattoo!

I want to dedicate the last painting to my dear Granny who recently left us. I hope the sun is shining where you soar xx

Hello again!

So did you?....Let the sunshine in? :) 

Its been a Scottish summer revelation..that we can have summer WITH  sun! Who'd a thought?!

I certainly didn't need to be told twice....soaked it ALL up, well and truly, and had a real treat of a summer,

chock full of adventures and sweet times with my family.

The recent break from blogging has been a blessing, as I now return to get on the ol' bloggy horse with a revived and refreshed bounce. There's been changes going on here.... in home, heart and art...and it's my goal to get this here space reflecting that too. I do hope you continue to enjoy visiting and come back often.

And here is my youngest cheeky cherub that started school last week.....

*sigh* how time flies when you're having fun x

Confessions of a creative!

When it comes to creativity, over the years I have probably immersed myself in every type of craft there is..from quilling to mosaic making, crocheting to candle making...the list goes on. It was always with joyful abandon ,excitement to learn and explore, that I would begin each project ....creativity = JOY!

 Having a mum that was the uber queen of creative nurturing as well as owning a craft shop as I grew up, really could not have been more perfect ..I mean how lucky?!

So with this in mind,  you can imagine the chats I have had to myself  when reading business advice which stipulates the need to create a brand, being focused , choosing your audience...key ingredients to making it as an artist. Blardy blar. I read these things alot! And I take on board what other people's knowledge and experience has been. I mean I'm grateful that they are even willing to share this...
     

But as soon as I read things like this my heart immediately crumples....because the truth is, if I can't fly with a whim to where creativity is urging me today , if I don't have room to learn  and grow, then I would be as well back working a 9 to 5 job where I felt restrained and unhappy. Really.

So I am here to say that I am creating my own recipe from now on!Working out my own ingredients that work best for me, where "happy" is the north point on my directional compass!

Why am I telling you all this? I guess to tell myself more than anything!
 Also because part of me feels I need to justify the things I keep sharing with you..the pencil sketches, the clay brooches, the fabric books, the paintings the stitches.....ALL the creativity that comes from me....and now my most recent experiment and learning...digital patterns and designs! :)
Last week I was chastising myself saying I really need to just choose ONE thing and STICK TO IT!..Oh my..who's voice does that one belong to?! Some draconian teacher from my yesteryears.
Today I am standing up and saying this is who I am, and this is all I will ever want to be....multi faceted and multi talented :) ......er well perhaps a little more practice on the pattern making first :)
It's very humbling sharing the beginnings but maybe it just may inspire you to experiment and follow your creative rumblings.... xx

2013...lets fill it with flights of fancy! (and a free printable! yay!)

To download ...right click on image then click on "save image as"  in the box that appears. Use your download to print away merrily!

Fill the feathers with all the flights of fancy you dream of inviting into your life :)

"Flights of fancy" definition reads; "an idea which shows a lot of imagination but which is not practical or useful in real situations".

Oh yes..I'm going to fill the brand new spanking year of 2013 with PLENTY of those, thankyou very much :) ...because where would we be if we played it small, and lived by what other people thought possible or practical.....

I have so much to be thankful for...and  YOU (yes YOU reading this right now!) are included....I want to send a huge beam of love and gratitude straight to your heart. 

Let this year be the beginning of something beautiful...

HUGE hugs to you xxxx