Wyndesmore . . . . .

November 25th 2022 we moved house, in fact did a house swap with a lovely couple in our village and we are now the proud owners of Wyndesmore. We have loved our new house for the past ten years walking past it on our village walks and I strongly believe in things happening for a reason, we were ment to live here.

Our plan at our old house was to renovate our garden and add a garden pod where I was going to deliver my workshops but I’m very fortunate to now have my own studio for the first time ever, attached to our new home. Having worked off the kitchen table for years and even my bed back when I lived at home this truly is a blessing to have my very own space.

Before moving to our new home I updated my website, made some tweaks and put together a program of workshops. My first was my scrapbooking workshop and then charming illustration workshop back in January. It was so lovely to host my first workshops from my own studio, all my art materials together organised and having such support from all the lovely people that have booked with me.

One of the first jobs we had to do to kick off the renovations of our new home was to install new windows and doors. Our beautiful home was built in the Arts and Craft period and the original windows were still in the building. As pretty as they were, you can imagine it was very cold with frost on the insides and temperatures of minus eight! We had quite a shock having left our very cosy little home we’d already renovated!!!

When the company came to install the new windows one of the men asked for a commission of his late dog, so that was a joy to paint in between the few weeks they were here.

The garden of our new home is quite a bit bigger than our last but the size of the garden I grew up in. So I came here with so many ideas. Above you can see I’ve used Hannah Nunn’s window film on our potting shed window, as you know I love to support other artists and love creativity throughout my interior style. I’ve also used it on our cellar window which connects our meadow and the house really well. I’m also planning to add the film to our garage window too, a pretty way to ad privacy.

Our new gardens given many surprises over the first six months we’ve lived here and continues to. Spring was glorious, so many pretty moments and snow drops that went on and on for what seemed like months. Putting my stamp on our garden has been very hard work but rewarding. I have had a little help with the really tough jobs as my back isn’t 100% yet (some of you may remember I had a disk bulged April 2022!).

So as we entered Spring and my seeds were growing, we had also been planning the start of our renovations inside our new house with the bathroom. Moving it from the existing bathroom to the back bedroom. Along with all the planning, gardening and creative time in the studio we also enjoyed a trip to Chatsworth to be inspired and to break things up a bit. I’m trying to take more trips out as they inspire me so much and it’s so good for your mental health, meet new people and make memories.

Totally inspired after our trip to Chatsworth it was Easter and my daughter and I started to construct our bug hotel. I new exactly where it was being positioned down in our meadow. I’d lots of insect loving item’s to use to build it and the sun came out just in time. It look’s fantastic and I was chuffed to bit’s with it. Think I ended up doing most but I loved it anyway!

Nature is amazing and inspires me all the time with my work and it’s such a natural healer, nothing like being outside. We also caught up with family and friend’s at Easter, enjoying a lovely walk up Chrome Hill which is also where Wheeldon Trees Cottages is located, where I was to deliver my Mothers Day workshop.

The workshop was as you can imagine a beautiful location and another group of talented Ladies. Plus in April I also delivered a Hen do Wild Flower Workshop. I always love delivering my workshops in my studio but it’s also nice to deliver them in other beautiful settings, coincidentally both workshops were in the Peak District not far from each other.

In between the two Peak District workshops I had my very first work experience student here. Mary was a delight, here for three and a half days, we spoke about my journey, I showed Mary by portfolio’s, we visited the Hepworth Gallery and Yorkshire Sculpture Park. I had a workshop from my studio that week so Mary helped to prepare for it and was able to attend too which finished off her experience really well.

At the end of a busy month I was then designing another Creative Logo. This logo was to incorporate blossom, perfect for spring and yet another workshop to deliver in my studio. I’m so in my element teaching, giving back to others and for all these workshops to take place in the comfort of my very own studio is such a pinch me moment. Moments like this are definitely one’s to cherish and a good reminder of always wanting my own space and now am so lucky to have it.

I was growing veg for the first time in my plot in our garden and our bathroom renovation was about to start! Our garden was growing like crazy at this point and so managing that too was a very large task! I had to pause work a little to manage the renovation work as you can imagine was quite busy and messy!!! Along the way I had chance to have a day out for me at the Joy Event, Middleton Hall with my bestie and it was stunning. So inspiring and I may have just bought a few items for our new home!!!!

May finished with my newest Creative Logo presented to my lovely client who was so pleased. I love working with Lillie from Love Letters with Lillie, she works really well digitising my designs and mostly uses every bit of the work which I produce, it’s so important to the artists.

The garden at this point was an abundance of blooms, cow parsley filled the meadow, alliums looked stunning and my lettuce was almost ready to eat (I had a lettuce spinner at the ready!!!). Bramble and I were still doing our walks and the plaster in the new bathroom was drying nicely. We had a new water cylinder fitted and it took six guy’s to carry and lift our cast iron roll top bath into place!!!

Percy Curry is the Arts and Craft architect of our home and the previous owner was an architect who arranged for a Percy Curry tour at the end of May. It was really interesting to hear lots about our new home and to also visit another property in the village build by Percy where the owners of that house also lived in ours. Quite a connection but amazing too that at University I too studied Arts and Crafts! Totally meant to be!

The bathroom transformation was almost finished and we had a ‘bee’ problem to attend to! What initially seemed like a few bees that has taken to building their home under the floor boards of our daughters bedroom, had infact been there for what looked like about three years! One of those ‘had to ‘bee’ there’ moments, with buckets of honey and a burst water pipe!!! Luckily our plumbers could fix the issue straight away! Lots of chocolate biscuits came with their cup of tea that day!!!

May half term came just before our bathroom was finished so we left the boys working away as we had a few days down in Somerset. A belated birthday treat to get away as a family visit bath, Cheddar Gorge, eat at the gorgeous Pig Hotel and visit the beautiful florist Bramble & Wild. So lovely to get away, the weather was great and we had such a wonderful time.

Back home I was able to spend some time producing some new work, prepare for my next workshop and just stand and admire our new bathroom!!!!

My first ever veg patch was flourishing thanks to all the help my Stepdad has put in this year coaching me with growing and planting out. There’s nothing like growing your own.

At this point in the year I was also getting ready for our daughter to enjoy and finish primary school. So I was also helping with the end of year 6 party, last sports day, enjoyed a day to London with our amazing friends and saw Six the musical, painting the back drop boards for the end of year production and even started to order new uniform for secondary school!

June I also delivered another Summer Blooms Watercolour Workshop with a really lovely group of Ladies and the weather couldn’t have been better. The door was open for the entire session, a lovely cool breeze was enjoyed by all, beautiful biscuits, blooms and company. The work produced was fantastic and it was a privilege to have taught them all.

Then to end June I visited Wollerton Hall Garden with my parents which I love to do each year. I’ve been visiting the garden since I was a teenager as I was just starting to appreciate gardening. I’ve always loved my Grandparents garden and the one I grew up in, learn’t a lot over the gardens I’ve owned. But now I’m in my forever home with many ideas plus a beautiful mature garden to enjoy, Wollerton always fills me with inspiration, plus the lunch is always very nice!!!

We were almost there after seven years our daughter was finishing primary school! She’s been ready for some time so it was nice to enjoy all the lovely moments and not get too upset. Our annual village carnival had also taken place, this years theme ‘Peter Pan’.

There was time to enjoy the garden before we went away for a few days, tick off a few more jobs at home and before you new it the school production was delivered, we’d clapped out the children for the last time and they were on the dance floor celebrating the end of one chapter and start of another.

We kick started the summer holidays with a trip to Bear Grylls in Birmingham having a go at archery and out for tea. It was lovely to spend the weekend together reflecting on the last seven years and also talking about the excitement that was to be enjoyed over the summer before starting the next chapter in September.

So as the summer began, looking back over the last eight months and what we’ve achieved as a family and myself with my new studio, I feel very proud. Definitely ready for a break, eat some fabulous food, visit new places and be totally inspired to re charge over the summer.

So I’ll be updating my stories at the end of the year. I already have plans booked in for the autumn, workshops too if you pop over to my website I’ll be adding new dates soon. Until then take care and I’ll speak soon x