40 & fabulous!!!

A cold and frosty start to 2022 with lots of walks with Bramble, January was the month I would turn 40 and a year I decided that was for me. Covid in many ways has made us all press the re start button and having gone through quite a lot in the last five years it’s a year for me.

I’m determined this year is to embrass the new chapter of my journey, make lots of memories, travel, see new things and go for it. So to kick start my business off I decided to have a January sale and also took part in #tbchjanchallenge which went down really well over on Instagram.

The days were so cold after my morning walks with Bramble so we found our cosy spot in the lounge with the fire on to work and this is when I started to design more new wallpaper designs.

With a new set of wheels and wellies the year had started well. And no sooner was I wondering what my husband had planned for my birthday the day arrived. He pulled out all the stops and really spoilt me. I spent lots of time with family and close friends for meals out and trips away.

On my actual birthday I was surprised with a trip to @studiochocolate in Nottingham making our own truffles and chocolate bars with a glass of bubbles, it was heaven for me, as you may well know I love chocolate!!! We then enjoyed a cosy lunch @whiterabbitteahouse a lovely find and just perfect to round off the day before collecting our daughter from school. A special family meal was enjoyed and plans deliverd for a weekend in London to follow. Oh and my cake was designed by @cakeandcrumbsbylaurawebb

London, what’s not to love, every time we visit we have a different experience see different things and I love it. We stayed at the Pullman hotel, St Pancas and visited Liberty of course, another favourit of mine. My daughter and I were booked into Fornum and Masons for our first proper afternoon tea experience together which was a real treat. As a family we saw The Lion King at the theatre and in the evening a meal at Granary Square another area we love to visit.

A boat trip along the River Thames towards Greenwich was beautiful the next day, a gorgeous sunny winters Sunday and on the way home just to ground us all we had a tyre blow on the M1! Our saving grace was a box of Fornum and mason cakes to keep us going whilst waiting, huddled together for the RAC man!!! An Insta versus reality moment!!!

The run up to the following weekend included a few more wonderful meals with friends and lastly a romantic weekend away just the two of us at The Cow, Dalbury. Amazing food and gorgeous interior, not far from where we live but just perfect to unwind and re set after having been swept away on such an amazing birthday few weeks.

Febuary showed lots of promising signs of spring blooms apearing in the garden, Bramble enjoyed his first trip to the groomers, lots of beautiful walks enjoyed and tea drunk while working away. My daily routine now always starts with a good dog walk and sets me up for the day putting my wellbeing as a priority.

I had a booking for a new Creative Logo for Paula @Lily.warne who’s based in Dartmoor and they rear Greyface Dartmoor sheep, seeing the lovely Devon wool’s journey from feild to yarn. It was a pleasure working with Paula who was so supportive of my work right from the start. Working again with Lillie @lovelettersbylillie who we have now found together it just works amazingly while producing these individual bespoke logos for amazing independant businesses.

Along side this commission I was also designing more new wallpaper and had decided to create one that appealed to a wider audience too, so dinosaurs it had to be but with my take on them! And as half term aproached as a family we were also in the throws of planning the second leg to our home renovation. Collecting quotes for the garden room, rendering, cladding, dive and my tallented Mum was designing away for us too for the new garden.

As Half term came and went it was time for #marchmeetthemaker which I thoroughally enjoy each year organised by Joanne Hawker over on Instargam. I get so much joy from taking part and I feel it puts you back on track with your business as well as showcasing to your followers/buyers where your at, what you do, what your working on, opens you up to new possibilities but also can show your vunrebility sometimes which brings authenticity to the forefront of your business.

Along side ‘March Meet The Maker ‘ I was asked to design a commission for a new nursary for a Scottish customer, illustrating geese in their flying formation. I’d also started designing yet another wallpaper inspired by Bramble again for all the dog lovers out there! Which there are quite a few of now!!! My wallpaper collection was coming on and I delivered another watercolour for beginners class @squirrelatwellsbough too. Jess and Tony have always been supportive of my little business and continued to believe in me throughout Covid which has been so gratefully received and so I now can still deliver workshops with them.

It was also the time of year to start thinking about World Book Day which our little one loves. I enjoyed some days out too to Emma Bridgewater, met my parents for walks too, saw their allotment and was sewing my own seeds and successfully watching them grow!

The end of March saw Brambles first birthday, I had another Creative Logo on the go and my seeds I’d sewn were growing well. I booked my lovely Mum and I in for a belated Mothers Day/her birthday treat at Tula, Duffield for a back massage and afternoon tea at The Little Shed, Allestree. It was such a lovely treat that we said we’d keep up and then…..

Sadly a week later I got up one morning and my back went! It’s niggled over time but this was quite serious, 13 hours in A&E for an MRI scan to say I had a disk buldge and sciatica. My lovely Mum then came to help me with everything as I was out of action for three-four weeks. Since then I’ve had physio, started PT sessions again and had my emergancy appointment. The disk buldge is MASSIVE and will take up to two years to reduce is the news my surgeon derlivered. So I’ve been told to keep up with what I’m doing but am on the emergancy contact with the surgeon for six months!!!

As a conciquence work has been effected quite a bit, I could hardly walk initially but made myself even just around the block to move which I’m sure has helped. Poor Bramble wasn’t quite getting what he needed but friend’s stepped in and helped with walking him, taking our daughter to school etc. I’m the absolute worst for asking for help but always give it, so found this the hardest to do! I think when the injury isn’t visible it’s even harder but actually in some cases such as mine it’s even more serious!

As you can see above I treated myself to a new/old vintage stool to help with my cups of tea whilst I was unwell, little things!!! I slowly over time managed to walk more each day, our little one helped in the garden for me as the Easter holidays were just approaching. I couldn’t drive far and so at Easter family came to visit and friends helped with day trips so I could at least get out a little.

Progress was slow but I had to focus on the possitives and for the last year or two my besties and I had planned a trip to Chealse Flower Show in May. So I hung my dress up infront of my wardrobe to see each day so I could work towards getting stronger to walk around the show.

The bluebells were out and my Mum had delivered our garden design to us, lots to enjoy and look forward to. She had put so much time and thought into the design which we were chuffed to bits with. If your thinking of re designing your garden get intouch with my tallented Mum Maggie @mhsmiler She’s particularly good at visually bringing your ideas to life and has a vast array of knowledge of plants, light and shady areas, plants for all garden types throughout the seasons.

New marketing material had been designed, trying to think of what to do whilst not as active and also designing new cards. Sitting is difficult for too long so lots of breaks walking about but I did managed to deliver my first workshop at Riverside, Duffield. A full house of beginner watercolour students, a lovely calm, relaxed afternoon which gave me a little more confidence since being off ill for some time.

The spring bulbers were in full bloom in the garden, the weather now in mid May was lovely and I was getting my thoughts around reels. Now they are not for everyone and I felt at the time I should try which I think I did ok. But going forward I’m not fully on board with doing them as they take up quite a bit of time and I’m not 100% if they benefit my business, so I’m still playing with the idea, so we’ll see.

Towards the end of May the garden was flurishing, I was picking little posys for inside the house and I had a lovely visit to see Gemma from @thelittlewildflower in Chesterfield. We are teaming up next year to deliver workshops from my new studio. Gemmas got such beautiful taste and she grows her own stunning blooms on her allotment close to where she lives. So once creating a beautiful arrangement with Gemma you’ll then be able to paint it with me! I’m really looking forward to this collaberation.

So after being filled with inspiration from Gemmas allotment our trip to Chelsea was finally here. Having never been it was a definate on the cards for my 40th year and I LOVED it.

Chelsea, what can I say. We’d been planning it since Covid arrived! If I’m completely honest my best friend pictured on the right who lives in Scotland sadly was diagnosed with brest cancer. So as much as it was a trip for me I thought it would be something for her to look forward to too. We all met within minutes of each other, couldn’t have timed it better, my friend flew down and got a train and still beat us all to the car park!!!

The day was excellent, being with such a wonderful group of humans, feeling so blessed, drinking pimms (well one as it was £9 for a cup!!!), seeing the beautiful stalls, show gardens, lunch was lovely and the treat in the afternoon! But as we went on the last day all the plants are sold off. We’d heard this but it wasnt untill 4pm when over the tannoy there was an announcement and count down!!! It was truely hilarious and one of the weirdest things I’ve experienced but sooo funny. So we did managed to come home with bags of plants!!!

Back home thoughts about my garden and future workshops were in the plans. Had a few days trips one being Chatsworth to see the current sculpture exhibition, very interesting. And then a magical workshop with my Mum which was my birthday gift to @hopeandelvis Worksop with the textiles artists Jessie Chorley. A workshop all about stitch and mend items or even just pieces of vintage fabric that you love or have a story to tell.

Plus a cheeky spa day another wonderful friend had bought for my birthday. That was particulary good timing to stop and catch up, re charge a little and enjoy the all over body exfoliation treatment!!! I have been so spoilt by all my family and friends.

As the weather picked up meadow walks were had with my dog walking friends which filled me with joy ambling throught the grasses and wild daisies. This gave me lots of inspirationg again for another wallpaper. I also had the pleasure of meeting Katie @preservedbykatie who asked for some of the blooms from our garden to be in an exhibition in October, so Keep a look out for Kates announcment through her instagram you know I love to support independant artists as much as I can.

Then Scotland was calling as my dear friend Lesley-Ann had to re organise her 40th birthday party due to Covid from January to June. So we went and had a fab time, emotional as she’s been so ill but so proud of how strong she is and what she’s doing for others too @meandthelittlec

My next wallpaper is now designed and ready soon to be added to my collection and in June I was designing a Creative Logo for a new little garden design company in Nantwich. Illustrating a willow tree to be incorporated in the design which looks brilliant with the added touches from Lillie.

Wimbledon stole the show in July, another treat for my 40th Year thanks to my husband. I love that my treats are spread throughout the year and theres lots to look forward to, very lucky I know. It was truely a fabulous day.

I was designing another partential Creative Logo, painting the back drop boards for our daughters year six school production of Matilda which felt great to help the school out. Feeling more comfortable to start my PT sessions again to get stronger for my back which has helped and in the garden my seeds I’d grown were now in full bloom. So pleased this year they’ve actually grown and flurrished!!!!

And as the end of the school summer term came to a close we were all truely ready for a good break. We’d planned to go back to Vilamoura, Portugal with our daughter as this was our honeymoon destination and what a wonderful ten days we’ve had. Been inspired by the beauty of Portugals architecture, pretty tiles, eaten the most amazing food, seen wild dolphins in the sea, relaxed by the pool, visited pretty Loule, Faro and Seville.