Updated: Oct 11, 2024
A personal project
Two very special little people have just entered my life and I'm absolutely besotted with them. My twin sister has just given birth to the most beautiful and chunky little boy and a life-long close family friend has brought a gorgeous little girl into the world.
Before the babies arrived and when my sister and friend were planning their baby showers, they asked guests to bring books for the new arrivals to help start up a library each.
Charlotte Douglass is part of our Newport family through marriage and is also close to our family friend. When the opportunity to create a special book for these new loved ones in our lives arose, Charlotte got in touch to ask if I'd illustrate the story she'd written.
I jumped at the opportunity and we set to work together to produce something meaningful that we could add to the libraries for the babies.
The turn around for the book was quite quick so we decided to produce one illustration and give it plenty of time rather than rush out two or more.
I read through Charlotte's work and chose a scene that I thought would wrap up the whole story nicely. I drew up some thumbnails and we decided on option 'E' together.
The story itself covers a whole day in a sunny village where people are out walking dogs, gardening and someone is even playing a trombone in a brass band.
I started to look at warmer colours and think about how the end illustration would look, by which time it would be a cosy bed time scene.
For this project I chose coloured pencils, I'm much more confident at using them compared to gouache and thought that this might add to the speed of the project - as well as add textures.
Here is the final draft illustration, I found this useful to do to see how the colours would work together and to work out if there was anything else I needed to change before committing to the final image.
I find it useful to have a full plan with all of the creative decisions already made before I set to work on the final.
Ta da! The final image!
The final image was set into a 12x15cm book and finished with little thread ties on the binding.
We've now gifted the babies their books and can't wait to snuggle up and read them the story.
Tools
Pencils -these links are affiliate links*
I really enjoyed this project, narrowing down what we could make and how it would look so we wouldn't be over stretching it. We could add more to it in the future if we felt the need to. It was a pleasure to work with Charlotte and we hope the little ones will enjoy story time.
Learn more about how you can create your own little illustrated publication here
*This post includes affiliate links. Whenever you buy something through one of these, I get a small commission without any extra cost to you. This helps to support my blog, thank you.
I started to feel that longing need to explore new places.
Maybe I hadn't got the balance between work and adventure right and for a good few months, I started to feel the need to go and experience something new. The need to break routine and stop waiting around for adventures to land at my feet. Plus, I don't want to show up here tired, bedraggled and uninspired for you.
I booked some annual leave from my day job, dragged my bike out of the shed, made a vague plan and set off ready to explore.
This trip needed a goal - a meander wasn't going to cut it today. I aimed for Torr Vale Mill bar in New Mills (Derbyshire), somewhere familiar and the thought of a deliciously cold cider at the finish line was enough to get the wheels turning.
I donned my navy blue helmet and backpack full of snacks then set off. I'm a confident cyclist and I don't find road cycling in Greater Manchester very relaxing or inspiring, it can feel a bit dangerous at times. I chose the scenic canal tow path to New Mills instead.
The mostly flat journey (a couple of inclines and bumpy cobbled patches) was cool under the canopy of the trees with the promise of golden sunshine and warm hazy glow just in reach *chef's kiss*. There aren't many places to take a wrong turn on a tow path, making it quite a straight forward wander.
I came to a stop at the very impressive Marple Aqueduct for my lunch (pasta pesto salad if you're interested) and realised I hadn't packed my purse or my bike lock. Not ideal given the cider based end goal...
I tucked that problem into the back of my mind and had faith that I would come up with a solution eventually.
A few hours after setting off, I reached the bottom of the Millenium Walkway in New Mills and headed up to the bar for my sparkling reward. I found a bench, downloaded a payment system onto my phone and prayed it would work on the bar's card reader. A kind group of knitters on the next table looked after my bike as I went inside. The sweet sound of that 'successful payment' beep.
I sat in the sunshine and very smugly enjoyed my cider.
The warm evening glow and long shadows followed me all the way home as I clocked 29 miles (shall we just round it up to 30? Don't tell anyone). I felt a huge sense of achievement and was so proud of myself for just going out and spending time alone outside.
I soaked up the slow pace of narrowboat living, the odd scratch from an overgrown bramble and nettle (and peddle -oops), took time to draw and just enjoy a few minutes watching herons, Canada geese and fish moving under the water.
I'm already looking forward to the next adventure.
Things that helped on my adventure:
Packed lunch- Can't adventure on an empty stomach!
Battery pack - I didn't know how much I would need to rely on maps so having the option to charge my phone on the go took some pressure off.
Wireless headphones - Handy to have guidance from Maps
Bike lock - (comes in handy when you actually take it with you.)
Mobile payment option - Always good to have as a back up
A bell - not everyone can hear you coming and you might frighten some people
Travel sketchbook kit - colours you think you might need, mechanical pencil, rubber etc.
(I love Faber-Castell Olive green yellowish 173 pencil for lovely summery warm green tones*)
Tell me all about your last adventure in the comments and I'd love to hear about any routes that you'd recommend for a bike ride - or a walk! Or tell me about how you drag back your creative inspiration when you're feeling overworked or in the wrong mindset.
Find more inspiration with photography on the go with Elle Brotherhood and enjoying inspiration at a slower pace.
Even more!
I've not read it for a while, Barbara Jones writes stories of roses and castles on canalboats in her book 'The Unsophisticated Arts'
A really interesting podcast by Outside/In about the use of GPS for navigation and how it might be changing our brains.
*This post includes affiliate links. Whenever you buy something through one of these, I get a small commission without any extra cost to you. This helps to support my blog, thank you.
Creativity can be found in all sorts of places.
Food is fuel. We need it to function, to concentrate, to get us through the day. I understand there is a privilege that comes with this post, not everyone has the ability to afford, access or enjoy food.
I want to talk about cooking as a daily creative opportunity, in the hope that you can find kitchen confidence and eating inspiration.
Creativity as a muscle
I'm a huge believer that we are all creative people. Comments from others in the past or lack of self belief might have squashed that light over the years - maybe even just feeling like you're sinking in a sea of perfectionism online or from the telly.
What if we were to reframe 'being a creative person' - a phrase where somehow you might feel like you either fit into that camp or not. Let's look at it as a 'creative muscle' instead. Something that can be stretched when we use it and that will harness even more creative ideas over time.
Cooking as self care
Whilst we are being told that self-care isn't just running a bubble bath, it now includes setting boundaries and looking after your energy- BUT what if food can squeeze in there too. Taking time to have a think about your favourite flavours, maybe you're thinking about a seafood paella or a pesto panini? What lights you up and makes you want to engage with food?
Go even further and set the scene, use your favourite plate, create a cosy corner and get your favourite music on!
A considered meal can make anyone feel better and even more so if you can connect with someone else whilst you enjoy it.
Connecting with others via food
I'm happy to announce that I'm that irritating person in the workshop who likes to ask what every one has packed for their lunch - I'll often ask what everyone is planning for tea too.
It starts conversation and opens up more information about that person - plus I'm nosey and hope to be inspired.
Nothing turns heads more quickly in our workspace than someone walking into the room and announcing 'I've made a cake!'. That wonderful opportunity to sit and enjoy our food together or a simple fika break.
Sharing food and eating together goes back squillions of years and there's probably an inbuilt reason why we enjoy meal times together as a way to connect- there's something quite tribal about it.
No pressure.
You don't need to mill your own flour, grow your own tomatoes or complete a butchery course to produce tasty food. Like with anything, use the resources around you, your budget and your tastes to produce something that you will enjoy.
The second best bit is that if you didn't enjoy what you cooked. You don't need to eat it, move on, it was one meal you didn't particularly enjoy. In a couple of hours, you'll get the opportunity to try something else.
Sometimes after a long day, there is no energy or enthusiasm left to cook anything and food as fuel is needed to fulfil that role. Maybe take a moment to have a think about what you would like to cook if you had more energy- write it down for a time when you do have a bit more headspace to create.
Feel free to link your favourite recipes in the comments below
Occasionally I send out tried and tested recipes in my fortnightly emails, sign up in the box below x
