Do What You Love

I am absoutely thrilled to share the news that American painter Flora Bowley will be teaching a three-day workshop at the Do What You Love art and creative enterprise retreat in Yorkshire, England next May! (Image: Tyson Robichaud) Flora’s painting style is gorgeously unique, bursting with colour and beauty, and she is an incredibly giftedread more >>

I am absoutely thrilled to share the news that American painter Flora Bowley will be teaching a three-day workshop at the Do What You Love art and creative enterprise retreat in Yorkshire, England next May! (Image: Tyson Robichaud) Flora’s painting style is gorgeously unique, bursting with colour and beauty, and she is an incredibly giftedread more >>

We haven’t had snow like this in England in November as long as I can remember.  Down to minus 20 in some places and eight inches of snow expected in the next 24 hours.  I know it is nothing like you get in other parts of the world, but somehow snow seems to always take us by surprise here. read more >>

I love baubles.  When I was little my dad would get down the boxes of christmas decorations and we would throw everything on the tree – the paper chains we made in school, the balding angel we called ‘Arthur Scargill’, the baby’s first Christmas bauble my little brother (now in his 20s) had when heread more >>

Finally, it’s time to share the new venture I have been secretly working on all these months, and I am so excited I might just burst. But first the story of how it came about…Nearly a year ago, I jumped on a plane and travelled over 5000 miles to California, on my own, to join anread more >>

Finally, it’s time to share the new venture I have been secretly working on all these months, and I am so excited I might just burst. But first the story of how it came about…Nearly a year ago, I jumped on a plane and travelled over 5000 miles to California, on my own, to join anread more >>

This lovely quirky postcard from my Great Big Stitched Postcard Swap partner Wendy of Inner Grafitti arrived from the USA yesterday.  The theme of this swap was ‘home’ and Wendy interpreted this in a very original way, and created this card using ribbon, stitch, vellum, stamping, ephemera and ink, with vintage American stamps on the back. read more >>

I need to breathe.  To take a moment to stop, and just be. To listen and reflect a bit before leaping ahead. There are some huge things happening in my life in the next few weeks, not least the culmination of a project I have been working on for over a year, the launch ofread more >>

Christmas is going to be very special this year, as our first one in our new house.  As part of Louise’s ornament swap, I thought I would make some vintage-style hanging tree decorations to share.  Here’s what I made and how I made them, inspired by an idea in Ideal Home.  They are easy (and cheap) toread more >>

I am delighted to bring you this Do What You Love interview with mixed media artist Juliette Crane.  “autumn wind” Exactly one year ago tomorrow Juliette had her first showing at a local library. One year on and she has fans all over the world, and is about to be published in Somerset Studio. Ifread more >>

Steaming cappucinos, yards of bunting, warm welcomes, gorgeous art by emerging artists and the chance to poke around people’s houses – what’s not to love about a local arts trail?  I discovered some gems on the inaugural Headingley Arts Trail this week, not least the vibrant paintings of Julia Keates, inspired by her travels acrossread more >>

Tell me, why did you give your blog the name that you did? I am often fascinated by blog names, and wonder whether there is a story behind them, or whether they just popped into the writer’s head when they were creating their new space. Here are a few names I love: Pilgrim of theread more >>

It’s blowing a gale over here.  Winds of 90 mph in places, our bay tree was sent flying last night.   As the wind whips through the eaves and round the house, I am holed up in my attic office working away on my new creative business venture which I will share with you here veryread more >>

The lucky winners of the  Great Big Stitched Postcard Swap giveaway are… Catalina Catherine (Sailor Girl Jewelry) Deb Elizabeth Irina Jenny (Love and Peas) Kate (Trestle and Bunting) Kylie (One Red Fox) Tiffin (Linwood Avenue) TJ (Studio Mailbox) Congratulations ladies, your set of three postcards, handmade with love by me using Jessica Swift‘s gorgeous new fabric, areread more >>

My first dart! Why does it matter what other people think of what we create?  We must care, because we post it on our blogs, show it in exhibitions, publish it in books.  I’m not talking about when something is intended for selling, but rather when we make something for ourselves, because we feel likeread more >>

Have you made any progress?  Have you sent your postcard off already?  Here is a sneak peak at mine, which I finished yesterday: It’s going to be winging its way to the USA shortly – will it land on your doorstep I wonder? Everyone who signed up to participate should have received an email fromread more >>

Having fun with my photos from Chicago, the last stop on my recent US adventure.  They aren’t my normal style. What do you think? The top two are of Anish Kapoor’s amazing sculpture ‘Cloud Gate’ in Millennium Park. The third is of a smaller sculpture in the same park (‘Sacred Rock’, part of a specialread more >>

I was doing some sorting in my studio today and was shocked by the number of spools of ribbon I found tucked away.    Baby blues and scarlet reds, French beauties and English lace.    I must have sneaked them in when I wasn’t looking.  What’s in your secret stash? *** PS I also love paper. Do you?

In this penultimate post about my recent trip to the US, I want to share some images of this captivating city.  There is an incredible air of possibility about this place, and so much to feast your eyes on… If you are a fan of NYC, what is it that draws you to it? Moreread more >>

I have a confession to make.  I absolutely love Christmas.  This is our first Christmas in our new home, so I want to make it really special.  There is so much to soak up and enjoy that I have to start preparing in November(!), so for the next eight weeks I will share some of those moments with youread more >>