Happy New Year!

I hope that 2019 is a very happy, healthy and peaceful year for all.

I always seem to wish the same things each New Year -  happiness, health and peace.  
Three precious things that I believe should never be taken for granted.  

I'm not a great one for new year's resolutions, it's always an ongoing work in progress for me.  I see each day is a new gift and a new chance to learn and grow.  At this time of year there always seems to be lots of pressure to set goals and strive to be this, that or the other.  When you think about it, really it all boils down to this..

We have all collectively completed another journey around the sun, together,
​on this bit of rock floating in space - the third rock from our nearest star.
A beautiful, fascinating, awe inspiring rock, filled with stunning flora, fauna
and oceans teeming with life yet to be explored.
When viewed from space, there are no borders,
we are seen as one on our one and only life supporting planet.
What an amazing thing that truly is!

Maybe that's worth pausing to contemplate and appreciate at the start of a New Year.  
I know I feel blessed to part of this whole phenomenon.
​
The beauty of our natural world is where I will continue to find my greatest source of inspiration for my creative work and I look forward to spending the coming year drawing lots more flora and fauna...

Talking of flora and fauna, let's start the year off with a bit of nature inspired design.

I'm happy to say, all be it a bit delayed, I have set up January's free desktop calendar wallpaper for everyone on my email list, which will be going out today so please check those inboxes, as this month's email will also have a little exclusive Etsy offer code for 15% off across my entire Etsy shop.

This month's desktop wallpaper has been inspired by two things.  Firstly, the Pantone colour of the year for 2019 'Living Coral'.  This gorgeous, vivid coral reminds me of some of the hues that can be found in the stunning sunsets we get around Somerset at this time of year.  So, I've set my sunset in a scene with a hare on the Somerset Levels looking across to Glastonbury Tor (which is not far from here). 

If you would like to get the FREE desktop wallpaper and the exclusive January offer code for my Etsy shop, then here's a link to where to join my mailing list:

JOIN MY MAILING LIST HERE

Today's post is illustrated with images I created on the lead up to Christmas.
​Once again, I took part in an advent countdown challenge over on Instagram.  These are the 24 images I shared throughout the challenge....

Most importantly, I want to say some big thank you's for 2018...

To everyone who purchased items from my online shops, or bought items with my designs on in bricks and mortar shops across the UK - a massive heartfelt THANK YOU!  
I can't do this without you, each purchase you make means everything to me!  

Also THANK YOU to those of you who left fantastic reviews on my Etsy and Folksy shops after your purchase.  You have no idea how much those words mean to me, I am so grateful that you took the time and trouble.  Each good review helps lift me up and carry me forward on the not so great days!  

To all my amazing clients (you all know who you are if you are reading this):
THANK YOU so, so much!
I am very lucky to get to work with such lovely people who bring me great projects to work on.  I love how each project tests my skills and ability and helps me see things in different ways. With no two days the same, I love our collaborative work as it gives me my much needed human contact and gives my brain a good old work out!
You are all so important to me and my little business,
I'm looking forward to lots more team work this year!

To everyone who has followed and supported my social media efforts this year:
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
The struggle is REAL with social media and me at the moment.
Some days it takes so much effort for me to actually post something at all.
Every single like and comment you have given me this year has been deeply appreciated.
 In a noisy online world, it feels harder and harder to cut through and be seen, so to find that someone has seen and liked something means so much more now!

Lastly, Thank you to all everyone on my email list - especially during a year that saw GDPR thrown in the mix!  Thank you so much for sticking with me.  I hope you enjoy your free desktop wallpapers each month, I intend to continue to do these this year and look forward to sharing those with you.

I wish you all a wonderful January,
If the winter blues start to creep in, try and look for the signs of spring, 
they are never far away as our world keeps turning on our next journey around the sun together!

Best wishes

Angie

Now that December has arrived, it's important to let you know the postal deadline dates, so that it's clear when last orders before Christmas can be guaranteed from my Etsy and Folksy shops...

To make things simple, I've popped the Royal Mail deadline dates below in this blog post.

I use Royal Mail International Standard for all overseas deliveries and Royal Mail 1st and 2nd class services for all mainland UK deliveries....

Given Royal Mail's deadline dates above for overseas deliveries,
my deadlines to get orders in before Christmas on my Etsy and Folksy Shops
are as follows:

Africa, Middle East - DEADLINE HAS PASSED (30th November)

Cyprus, Malta, Asia, Far East, Eastern Europe
(except Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia) - ORDER  DEADLINE WEDS 5th DEC

Caribbean, Central and South America - ORDER  DEADLINE WEDS 5th DEC

Greece, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand - ORDER  DEADLINE FRI 7th DEC

Canada, Czech Republic, Italy, Poland and USA - ORDER  DEADLINE WEDS 12th DEC

Finland, Sweden - ORDER  DEADLINE WEDS 12th DEC

Austria, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland - ORDER  DEADLINE FRI 14th DEC

Belgium, France, Ireland and Luxembourg - ORDER  DEADLINE FRI 14th DEC

For UK orders, the deadlines are as follows:

Mailing Tube Items (A2 Wall Planners, A3 Posters)
Sent 2nd Class - ORDER  DEADLINE FRI 14th DEC

All other items (A4 wall calendars, cards, wrap, notebooks, illustration prints) 
Sent 1st Class - ORDER  DEADLINE TUES 18th DEC

That's the important information out of the way. 

In other news for December, Folksy have created a lovely little animation for the festive season to showcase products from their makers. It's part of their '12 Days of Folksy' over on their social media.  You are able to view the first scene from the film over at Folksy's Instagram. Along with the film, they are running giveaways from featured makers throughout the 12 days.

I'm so happy to say my 'But First Tea' print has been included in the film and giveaway.  To be in with a chance of winning this print, you can follow Folksy here:
​
https://folksy.com
https://www.instagram.com/folksyhq/
https://www.facebook.com/getfolksy
​https://twitter.com/folksy

I wish you all a very wonderful festive month!
Best wishes

Angie