Hello and happy November!
​
Now the nights are drawing in to showcase the stars above, and as we look up to admire November firework displays, I think the night sky makes a lovely theme for this month's free desktop wallpaper.  

I did one of these last month for my email subscribers and it seemed to be very popular, so here's a new one for a new month.   If you'd enjoy seeing these sleepy animals under a sparkling night sky as your desktop wallpaper, here's a link to where to subscribe to get it:

JOIN MY EMAIL LIST HERE

October soon flew by here.
One of the things I can tell you a little bit about is I had a photoshoot of my workspace a couple of weeks ago -  a behind the scenes sort of thing.  

It was overdue really, as I needed to update the images I had of me in my workspace because:
A. I am five years older than the last set of images I had taken (where does the time go?!)
B. Some of these new images may be used in the near future for a local magazine feature.
C. It also means I can update the about section of my Etsy shop, which I've been wanting to do for a while.

Being an enthusiastic Etsy shopper myself, one of the things I always find reassuring when I discover a shop, is being able to see a bit of detail in their about section showing how my order has been created and will be fulfilled.  That is exactly what I wanted to offer to my customers too.

It also means, I can give you that bit of detail about how I do what I do and where I do it.
Here are some of the images from that shoot, which I hope will help show that process...

​​All the designs start as a line drawing or painting...

Once all the orders are packed and ready, I pop them in my big 'Sparrow' bag as shown in the image below (it's a sample from my Society 6 shop - which I have to say, is a very good size and extremely sturdy).  Then it's a brisk walk to the local post office to send them on their way..

That's me above, at my corner desk which is where I do most of my work.  Things like drawing and painting can sometimes be done elsewhere in the house or garden, depending on what I feel like - but all the digital stuff gets done here.

I hope you enjoyed a little peep behind the scenes and hope you have a great week.

Best wishes

Angie

Hello,
Hope you are enjoying the summer?  
​I am.  The past days with the Olympics to follow has provided plenty of reasons to feel inspired and hopeful.  

Now it has to be said, I'm not much of a sporty person. I keep active, but am usually happy to do something other than sit and watch sport.   Yet this summer has been different.  The olympics has got me, I'm hooked. 

There's something different about the olympics that captures my imagination and heart.  I think it's knowing what it must have taken for each competitor to have reached  that moment where they are there, going for gold, knowing that this may be their one hope of achieving it.  It's not so much about watching sport, but watching a life's work and goals accomplished, and for the gold medalists it's a dream fulfilled....

It's also knowing that in the four years since the last olympics, each athlete would have dedicated their life to endless hours of practice to reach the point where they are now i.e. in Rio, making the seemingly impossible look effortless.

And there it is, a little word that to me makes all the difference - practice

So strong a word that it compels me get back to my desk and put in a little extra time, because as those olympians prove, it is the only way to achieve great things...