Badges, mirrors and mugs!

I am really delighted that I have my cards in some new shops!

Space is a gorgeous contemporary shop that stocks local makers as well as big brands like Cath Kidston and Orla Kiely. The owner Ian is very friendly and there is always some good music playing which makes browsing a fun experience!

10 Market Jew Street Penzance

http://www.shopatspace.com/

Morva in Marazion is run by Tamsin and hosts a whole range of local goods. It's a great place for tourists as well as locals, looking for interesting and unusual items.

2 Market Place Marazion

https://www.facebook.com/morvamarazion.co.uk/

The Magick Mermaid in St Ives stocks unicorn, fairy and beach items, with a little fantasy thrown in for good measure. Make sure you pop in and say hi to Natasha.

4 Chapel ST, St Ives

https://www.facebook.com/themagickmermaidstives/

As a creative person my biggest problem tends towards knowing what to say yes to! I am easily led from one creative project to another. I'd love to say yes to everything- there are so many beautiful things to draw and things to learn. There are fabulous opportunities to market your work in all sorts of areas including home decor, editorial and children's books.


It's like trying to choose where to go on holiday - so many options.

This year I have been taking a lot of online courses, with the beginning of the year starting with illustrating children's books and then I took Lilla Rogers, Make art That Sells, Bootcamp.


It's been great to be guided and taught so many things and now the course has finished and I am free again!

Developing my own products for my stall at Sennen Market and fairs this summer is a lot of fun. It's been really interesting to get my work in front of people and to see their reaction to it. Having my work displayed in one place is useful too as it gives me a clearer idea of what I am creating and what direction to go in.

So, what's next?


I have some things that I want to work on. I haven't done much architectural or perspective work and this is something I would like to practice. I find it fascinating how some lines can create the illusion of space!


My little girl is also a big inspiration to me and her imaginary world often sparks ideas. It's time to develop some of them and build my children's illustrations portfolio!

I just have to get this exposed onto my screen and then I can start making some t-shirts! Yay! I can't wait! 💕✨😀

I love to get outside, breathe in the fresh air and shake off the cobwebs. I am really lucky to have the Cot Valley as part of my route and I get to watch out for rare Cornish Choughs which I sometimes startle as I run by. They rise in a pair, cawing at me disapprovingly, but I move on quickly not wanting to disturb them further.

Morning is definitely the best time for me as I love the atmosphere and the way that flowers are extra fragrant at this time. It's almost like a flying dream where you feel free and alone.

I get to run past a stream surrounded by sub tropical plants and then down a path that leads to the sea. The beach at Nanven is a really special one as it has perfectly oval rocks that look as though they are dragons eggs. The craggy outcrop looks like a giants throne and the view is breathtaking. I take a moment to stop and stretch here and drink it in.

Running has been a great way for me to improve my fitness after having Tabitha. I used to go for long walks with my dogs and surf regularly, but my 12 year old ridgeback doesn't like to go far now and timing waves with a little one is tricky.

I can fit running into under one hour and my absence is not felt too strongly. For me though I am free to release any frustrations and work through my thoughts.

At home I can be constantly asked questions and demanded to role play, but I find it quite draining after a while and running gives me the 'me time' I crave.

Being in this space makes me really happy. I find running challenging and I often feel pretty floored afterwards, but it's a good tired and I feel as though I have achieved something.

When I get home I am more ready to play. I have a clear head and feel as though I have found myself again.

I have always loved surfing for the space that it gives me. Waiting for waves allows the mind time to wander and I find myself being able to finally breathe and feel free.


Yesterday was one of those days. The weather has been exceptional, forcing everyone to adopt a new slowness and the ocean offered a cool and welcome embrace.


On days, such as this, Sennen looks as though it could be a long lost sister of the Maldives, with its clear sapphire waters and white sand.


It was a small wave yesterday and that was fine with me. There was plenty of space too so I didn't have to hustle for waves and this gave me time to assess my surfing and also my life.


I like to pay attention to waves because the universe is made up of them. I think that the things I learn from catching them and my attempts to catch them can be applied to other things that I want in my life.


There are times when you can be entirely in flow with the ocean and that is amazing. It's like your body and mind and the universe are singing the same song. Instinct takes over and you glide into waves almost effortlessly. It is absolute bliss.


It's not always like that though. My absence from the waves means that I lack a certain amount of paddle power and when the waves are small you need extra energy and muscle to get you in.


I didn't have any revelations as such - please don't hold your breath for the meaning of life or the secret to everything. I did however, stay aware and mindful. Watching the waves, watching my mind and being aware of my own limitations.


So I started to adapt. To read the waves better. I started committing earlier to the wave - paddling faster, watching where it had the most power, keeping note of my position.
I learned. It felt good. My body was done.


I tore myself from the ocean, it's cool kiss goodbye sweet and soulful and walked onto dry land to play with daughter and my husband. A beautiful day. Perfect.


And so I try think how to apply that to my life. To be aware that conditions change, that timing is important. That there are moments when you need to put the effort in and times when you need to recharge.


Above all I saw how mindfulness and being able to adapt are key - especially in terms of work within the creative industry. There are waves there too. Trends. Seasons. Big swells and small swells.


It's a new ocean for me and I'm playing and enjoying my creativity. I'm watching and waiting. Learning where to place myself. Trying to accept things when things don't seem so easy. Perhaps I'm building creative muscles too. I have faith in this. That I will find a creative wave that propels me forwards and will lead to more creative stoke and opportunities.

It has been a fun day today! I really enjoyed arranging the window for St Just gallery 'Windswept Gallery'. I had been trying to visualise what my props would like with my work for weeks and so it was great to see it all come together. My work will be there for the whole of June. 💕✨😀

All of a sudden it feels as though life is flowing back to Cornwall and things are getting busier. I had been lulled into a false sense of security over the previous month as nothing seemed to be happening and I was reluctant to create more products before I'd sold a bit more. Then boom! I sell a load of stuff and realise that my window takeover at Windswept and Interesting is around the corner (next week!) and some major craft fairs are on the horizon.

So I've been busy creating my wooden postcards......

I've ordered 100 more notebooks with some new designs on. 💕✨😀

And I've been cracking on with the screen-printing......

I really love having such a varied selection of art activities. Some things needs to dry and so it's useful having multiple projects on the go while I'm waiting to carry on with something else. I've been hand sewing in the labels to my t-shirts and next I need to stick some rhinestones on.

It's an exciting time as this is my first year of getting things into the 'real world' and it's a really educational process. I definitely get those moments where I question what I'm doing and wonder why I don't just get a job with a guaranteed income, but that simply would be no fun at all. In my more aspirational moments I dream of being a magical Cath Kidston or Orla Kiely and I like how that makes me feel!

In the meantime I shall keep learning and discovering what what works and what doesn't!
Wish me luck! 💕✨😀

I have had the pleasure of some fun projects recently that I'd like to share with you.

This is one of a series of flyers for herbalist, Ruthie Weaver I use the same format each time, but make slight colour and flower variations.
You can read more about Ruthie - http://www.cornwallherbalist.co.uk/

The next image was for life coach, Hazel Fernandez. She wanted a notebook for her clients that represented her positive outlook.
You can find out more about Hazel at http://www.positivechick.com

I also had the recent pleasure of designing a book cover for Debbie Stokoe.
This is the link to her book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Awakened-Depression-Recovery-Breaking-Free-ebook

I've rediscovered how much fun Redbubble is! Ive started to upload some of my recent work and I love seeing what it looks like on different products. I have to say that I'm tempted to buy a load for myself! If you want to have a look then this is my URL: http://www.redbubble.com/people/glitterandearth