A year has past . . . . .

A lot has happened in a year and it’s really quite good to look back and reflect on what has been achieved. My last story I wrote ended with the exciting news I was attending the ‘ Joy of Spring ‘ which was my most successful event to date. Nicky, Joy of Interiors did an amazing job and I’m so lucky to call her a friend. She made all the stall holders feel a real part of the making of her wonderful journey and I was chuffed to be apart of it. Spring is a perfect season for my business with much excitement for new life, lambs bouncing around in the fields and pretty blooms appearing in the garden.

‘ The Beehives ‘ range was created last spring, inspired by a creative logo I designed for Honey and Horseshoe Events. I loved my illustration so much I launched my own spin off creating cards, clay shapes and little framed pieces. This range now has three A5 prints available at my first event this year which you’ll be able to purchase at the event but also on my website.

More new work was evolving and workshops being delivered at The Little Shed, Allestree. Boho Bunnies workshop ran really well with some wonderful outcomes and lots of positive responses .Alongside new work I also had thoughts and visions to take my business onto the next level. I attended a branding workshop with Lisa King consultancy, Page & Locker and Ticketyboo events which completely made me realise what I knew, what I needed to focus on and where my next step would be.

The branding workshop I attended came at a perfect time just before my family embarked on a super adventure celebrating my husbands 40th birthday coming up in September. We first flew to Vancouver, Canada and spent three days there exploring the city, great food, wonderful Granvil Market, MOA Center of culture research and Grouse Mountain to name just a few. We absolutely loved Canada and would definitely return. From here we flew down to San Francisco, hired a car and enjoyed a day touring the city and of course visited Alcatraz.

We then drove for six hours to Yosemite and boy was it worth the dive, absolutely breath taking. We stayed in a lodge for three nights, slept amongst the Milky way, saw bears in their natural habitat and road bikes with no brakes!!!! This by far was our most favourite part of the trip. I felt absolutely privileged to have had the opportunity to have visited and stayed in such a beautiful part of the world.

Our journey then took us to LA, a complete contrast to Yosemite and we met some fantastic people that we talk about today. It was very hot in Yosemite but LA was boiling. We enjoyed the array of food available, seeing the famous stars as we walked along Hollywood Boulevard and down to Santa Monica beach.

This far away from home we couldn’t not take our daughter to enjoy Disney, so we took one day at Disney Adventure and the next at Disney Land. I must say we all thoroughly enjoyed it and as our daughter was 7 at the time it was a perfect age. After all the travel we took a few days off in San Diego before returning home with lots of wonderful memories made and thoughts for the future of my little business.

I came home to a new commission and the delivery of another children’s workshop at the Buttermilk Coffee House. My daughter and I snuck in another trip away, this time camping for a few days with friends near Ashbourne which was lovely to do. And just before the end of the summer we ordered our new sofa from Cabyn!!! What a way to top off the end to a fantastic summer.

September came and work was being delivered and preparations underway for the first Interior Junction a new event at The Roundhouse, Derby for two days. It was a wonderful event and I was thrilled to be apart of it. I was in the ‘ Country & Coastal ‘ section which was beautifully put together with complimentary stands that reflected the style so well. I was honoured to have been asked and am already excited to be apart of there next event. To top off the event the stand in front of me was ‘ Flock & Hare ‘ who I designed Kate’s business logo for a few years ago. Unknown to me Kate’s banner was fantastically big at the back of her stand with my design on opposite my stand!!! it worked wonderfully.

Then came my husbands 40th birthday which as a family had some wonderful surprises organised and gifts. I think it all went down well especially the trip to London staying in the Artists Residence hotel and attending a fantastic sourdough course. Once back preparationd for my autumn/winter workshops started and Escape & Creates Autumn Retreat and Vision Board workshop in the new year.

My daughters annual school disco and dance shows were next to address whist at home we were getting some jobs done before Christmas. October was here before we new it and we attended a lovely autumn wedding which was a great excuse to go away with our wonderful friends from Scotland.

My next workshop at The Makers, Ashbourne was delivered inspired by the beautiful pumpkins we can now purchase in the lovely pastel blues. I was also currently commissioned at this point to create a logo for a company called Earth Evolution, illustrating the earth with foliage in and around. Through many a conversation we came up with Kate’s creative logo which she is now using on her branding and it looks perfect for her business.

Our Cabyn sofa arrived just in time for Jemma to pop round for the day to create our vision board examples for the workshop we planned to deliver in the new year. It was a great day and set up our goals for 2020 with our word for the year.

The Autumn Retreat was a great success with an emphasis on Hugge, the Norwegian was of living and mindfulness. Eryn Barber delivered a relaxing yoga session, Jemma focused the retreat through hugge thoughts and I delivered an watercolour Autumn Hare workshop which was interpreted in each persons individual style.

In November I ran a mini workshop in my country kitchen for the first time followed by my first children’s workshop at a party in Derbyshire. It was a Peter Rabbit themed party and the lovely Klara from Birds in the Attic suggested me, which was very kind.

After reflecting on my little business once I attended the branding workshop I decided I wanted to showcase more of my skills having worked in various mediums for some years. My degree was in Contemporary Crafts, wood, metal, ceramics and textiles. So exploring other mediums to compliment my paintings and illustrations is the way I want to go.

So I booked onto a Hare sculpture workshop at The Clayrooms, Ashbourne. Sarah and Helen are so lovely and I absolutly loved my morning. It’s also really good to push yourself sometimes and to remind yourself what you can do, plus I was in my element!!!

I had a few local Christmas events and also made time to make my Christmas wreath at Chatsworth with my Mum this years. Don’t think I’ve made a wreath on a course for the front door for a few years so it was a lovely treat with my Mum, the weath looked so festive on our new door.

So December was here before we new it, our little ones birthday which she wanted to have a weekend in London, which in December was very magical as you can imagine. I had just delivered my final workshop of the year at The Little Shed, Allestree so London was a nice way to wind down.

Jemma and I had a fanatsic meeting at our new venue for the Vision Board workshop in January, At1.Space. It was lovely to meet Yasmin who’s totally on board with our journey and really enthusiastic to work together in the future.

I was now thinking ahead to 2020 and working towards my goals for my little business and my word for the new year is ‘ focus ’. I designed my new creative logo and was ready for a big break to recharge and take time out with my family.

With a well deserved festive break had, Christmas was very relaxing and lovely to meet up with family and friends before we were back to our routine. My new creative logo was launched and my new branding had just started!

I had a few meetings with the lovely Lisa King who I work with when delivering my creative logos to clients. As well as helping me with my logo Lisa is already creating me a new website that continues the new branded look. She is absolutely brilliant at listening to you and magically seeing my vision and is creating it through my new website.

With this new branding commencing, Jemma and I delivered our first Vision Board workshop with Escape and Create. It was a great success and we absolutely loved it. There was the most colourful spread of food prepared by The Sensory Kitchen followed by the workshops Jemma and I delivered. Each and every Lady booked on created a fantastic board. We were then invited to deliver the same workshop in the corporate industry at Stanton Bonna Concrete. Gosh what a challenge!! We were both super nervous but it was the absolute making of us. We were both unsure exactly how it would be responded by the colleges that were asked to attend but they were all in the workshop with an open mind.

Jemma and I were really taken a back at how well the workshop worked in the corporate industry and are very passionate to carry this on.

Since the Vison Board workshops Jemma and I are busy planning the Spring Retreats we have on offer, visit our website for more information and how to book.

I have been busily working hard to create new work with three distinct ranges. New work you haven’t seen yet and a new look to compliment my brand at my events. The lovely Klara from Birds in the Attic is kindly supporting me with this transaction and it’s all in process to come together for the end of March when I’m attending the Spring Market, The Round House and Interior Junction, Pop up event at The Mills.

My daughter and I have just enjoyed a few days away whilst I can as I know there are busy time’s ahead. Making the most of the time I have to produce new work and moments to look after me so I’m ready to deliver to you the new Sweet Pea Home & Interiors.