Emotional overwhelm doesn’t always look dramatic. Often it looks like coping well on the outside — while quietly feeling stretched and emotionally drained on the inside. Why do we feel emotionally overwhelmed when nothing is actually wrong? Because coping uses energy. Holding ourselves together, staying steady for others and managing our reactions takes emotional effort. … Read more
A Birthday Rule and a Day of Art February half term coincided with my birthday this year. I don’t think I’m alone in finding it hard to tempt my children away from screens. But on my birthday there’s one small rule — they aren’t allowed to complain too loudly. So I squeezed in not one, … Read more
A gentle reflection on self-worth, gratitude, and being present — especially in a world that tells us we need fixing. For the first 30+ years of my life, I believed I was both too much and not enough. I carried around a constant inner conflict — too loud and too quiet, too confident and too … Read more
Gratitude Isn’t About Pretending Everything Is Fine For a long time, I thought gratitude was simply about being polite, saying thank you, or reminding myself to “look on the bright side.” But real gratitude — the kind that actually changes how you feel — is much quieter and much more powerful than that. It’s not … Read more
This is a tribute to the Somerset summers that shaped me. Sunny days filled with wildflowers, bees, and the quiet magic of my grandparents’ home. Some of my happiest childhood memories come from the summer holidays my sister and I spent with our grandparents in Somerset. They lived in a little haven with a cider … Read more
As a child, the clatter of the letterbox was pure magic—full of possibility. I’d race to the door, heart fluttering, hoping this time there might be something just for me. Usually, it was bills or dull-looking work journals for my parents. I’d groan, disappointed (unless it was my birthday). I remember complaining that I never … Read more
Let’s Demystify It ✨ If you’ve seen the term giclée when browsing art prints and wondered what it actually means, you’re not alone! It might sound fancy, but it’s really just a beautiful and reliable way to produce high-quality prints that last. What Is Giclée Printing? The word giclée (pronounced zhee-clay, where “zhee” rhymes with … Read more
A New Chapter Sometimes in life and creativity, what we really need is someone who truly sees us. Someone who understands our ideas, encourages us to keep going, and cheers us on when the path feels unclear. Recently, I found that person in the creative genius Mandy Nicholson—and as a result, my business has stepped … Read more