Blog Archives

THRIVE!

2/26/2026

& give thanks!

First things first - The Elephant Rooms in Draycott is an absolute vibe and if you haven't been:
Go.
They offer so much and such a variety of things to get involved with, benefit from and be inspired by it astounds me.

I first popped in when I moved back to Derby and immediately was like - this is my vibe.

So when Sukhi spoke about hosting a sharing night I was a big YES!
This is me getting home afterwards - that suitcase and holder are full of my works having just been shown to everyone who attended.

But the biggest smile is about all the amazing people I met whilst there.
I did some doodles during - it absolutely beat trying to doodle people on the bus.

Elephant Rooms

In answer to the question posed by the opening image:

Why does being seen matter?

Because it lights the fire in you to keep going. That people do want to hear and see and share and support - despite what your 4am thoughts would have you believe.
Importantly- The right people and the right crowd can do 1000% for your confidence. When the week spent alone or online feels like shouting into the void - you literally cannot beat meeting with other people and sharing and giving support. It can feel like a big step in a journey of your soul.

Snuggled into the scenery

We set up 8 paintings on show:

The Forest Collection:

- 'Bury a Friend'
- 'Pushing up Daisies' &
- 'Forget me Not'

Two from The Archway Series:

- 'Creation' &
- 'Morgaith'

The first I ever did:
- 'You'

- 'Dead Deer on the A45.'

and

-'Blinded by Love.'

Mostly because that is what I could carry - but also, because I felt those held a more spiritual energy that would fit in with the vibe of The Elephant Rooms.

As I mentioned during the evening - my Originals For Sale Page is in the works.
It will be open in March.
Thank you for your patience.
To gain early access feel free to join my mailing list too!

Join the Snail Mail Crew

check your junk mail for the confirmation.

Pictured: Bury a Friend and Pushing up Daisies.

Pictured: Dead Deer, Morgaith and You.

Being invited to speak about the paintings was very nerve wracking! Probably because I didn't script myself for once - and I have branded myself as a rambler. Perhaps it is endearing. (Perhaps people were wondering if I would get to the point.) But regardless - you get what I am - unedited and pure vibes!

I often let the paintings speak for themselves - offering a little guidance here and there about their inspiration or background. Sometimes a poem.
So going more into depth about a few felt raw but also exciting.

The conversations with people following this whose genuine intrigue flowed were wonderful. I'm so glad I got to meet so many likeminded and encouraging individuals.

I met some wonderful talented people too - who have a better way with words than I - either through song or poetry - or even no words at all - just music speaking.
I look forward to seeing you again immensely.

Art Prints

Sukhi's work:

Sukhi's Page

I have to mention Sukhi - in charge of bringing the creatives we met together.
Her art is pictured just above and a very poignant poem from her book below.
Thank you Sukhi!

Voice of an angel &

Fawn_Music · 9. Purpose (Recorded Live in a Chapel)

And a truly lovely rendition of Little Star
- as the audience sang along.

"Little star, little star - it's a wonder you are what you are".

The lights are dimmed.
A halo of light around the mic.
Bex is at her guitar and we are welcomed to Fawn Music.
Everyone's conversations trickle out as the softest but most powerful voice rings out.

Look I'm not going to do her justice - just have a listen - it'll make your day better...

I know I wasn't the only one who shed a tear and we travelled through her collection of songs.

I must also mention how truly lovely it was to hear the notes of the gentle hand pan played in combo.

Accompanied later by Lucas's beats in that cosy loft space.

It was a feast for the senses with food available for us all too by Rachael.

Fawn Music

... the words of an angel.

I wanted to share some phrases from Tanvir's poems that stuck with me and I'd doodled them down as he delivered his poems. I invite you to check out more of his work. It is so deeply moving.

"...free from the grammar of flesh"

"...we are like sandcastles waiting to be washed away"

Silent One's Page

Thank you to the Elephant Rooms social media team who's photos I have borrowed for here - I forgot to take many!

It was a transformative evening,
I always look forward to my return.

3 Comments

Trying to 'get more analogue'

2/12/2026

0 Comments

when you're building a business online...

I wrote the title.
I wrote the tag line.
I got the pictures from Pinterest.
And I wrote them on my pc.
Whilst a YouTube video was playing into my ears.
And some Instagram notifications were popping on my work phone.

I lied about the last one.
Engagement is hit and miss and mostly miss at the moment haha.

Some ways I forced myself to log off.

I did it.

I broke up with the owl in our year of the analogue lord 2026.

A rare, beautiful day.
A lovely evening - quite screen free - my brain sighing in relaxation.
I'd make it to bed.

And the cry of the owl would come for me.

And I would go and pick up my phone.
And the light would blind and wake up my brain.
And I would misspell desayuno for the millioneth time.
I had to break up.
Because let's be honest - learning 'music' because you cannot do this right now is not learning Spanish.

If I serious about learning Spanish again I will make myself get a book from the library.

❤️ The Library ❤️

a sanctuary.
Visit often.
Borrow lots.
Take them back.
Get more.
Literally what is not to love.

Keep my work phone ugly.

Make it ugly.

Make it not pretty.

Turn it off at 5pm or 6pm or when the 'work' day ends.

Ugly work phone has the addictive apps on it.

Ugly work phone has grey everywhere.

Ugly work phone lives on my desk and occasionally my sofa when I am working from the sofa on slow days.

We are doing much better with screen time with this compromise.

It's a bit like quitting smoking and vaping - but for now it is much better than the hell hole I was in last year.

Thank you Rhianna for Ugly Work Phone donation.

Ways I'd love to be able to log off.

A Woman Reading by Claude Monet 1872

Alternative world where I don't need money from making my art or interaction that it organised online.
Wow it's great we skip everywhere in the eternal flowers of spring.
My sleep is impeccable.
My attention span is healed.

But in all seriousness:

- find a permanent base to host my art so I don't always have to attempt to advertise it myself.
- outsource the really time consuming/not good at parts of my job to people who are good at it

are probably more attainable goals to reach for that should lessen my screen use.

Why it feels anxiety inducing to want to log off.

It feels like your life is on your phone because we innovated everything to be on there.
Breaking up with duolingo felt huge because that's how they wanted it to feel.
Not being constantly reachable feels rude because that's how they want you to feel.
Not carrying your phone room to room feels wrong

because that's how they want you to feel.

Analogue Swaps without breaking the bank or my sanity.

Using some things I already have.
Listing them and therefore forcing myself into making it... reality?

Taking the leap to somehow reintroduce one of these badboys on the left to my bedroom.
Because morning Zoe is a bargainer.
And she bargains with the Devil of scrolling.
And she falls asleep with her thumb out and blocks newly made friends' wives on Facebook forcing their husband to message them seperately with
'Has Natalie done anything to offend you?'
Adam. Natalie. No. God no.
I am sorry.
And also howling with laughter at this always.

My Cookbook Shelf Gains Autonomy and Speaks:

"Zoe.
Look.
I know if something is aesthetic it blends into the scenery after 11 minutes in your brain.
But the next time you Google something to cook.
I am begging you.
Reach up.
Read us.
Cook with us, we are so pretty."

Make myself book out an 'analogue day'.
Where my goal is to be as screenless as possible.
Take it seriously.

When I first moved in to this place we had no internet for a while and I was forced to do this - because I had no data for a while too.
And it was insane how much stuff is connected to the internet.
But it was fascincating to find ways around it.
And to

get
bored.

The last time it truly felt like I logged off.

Probably here in this photo. Idk.
Social media - never heard of her babe.
Laura if you see this I am not sorry - this photo is fuckin quality.

Shameless Mailing List Plug with a point

I'm trying to inchworm my way out of a social media reliance to run this business.
But I need some of you to come with me.
And I got some great human already who get updates via a mailing list email - 1 or 2 a month.
Read at your own place.
First to all my giveaways.
Lil perks here and there.

Lets
Gooooooo!

ZDAAP Mailing List Link

Check your junk mail.
Idk why it goes there at first.
But you gotta click accept.

Also a great video that came out since me writing this:
Big fan of the Norms.

0 Comments

Blog

THRIVE!

& give thanks!

Snuggled into the scenery

Sukhi's work:

Voice of an angel &

... the words of an angel.

Trying to 'get more analogue'

Some ways I forced myself to log off.

❤️ The Library ❤️

Ways I'd love to be able to log off.

Why it feels anxiety inducing to want to log off.

Analogue Swaps without breaking the bank or my sanity.

The last time it truly felt like I logged off.

Shameless Mailing List Plug with a point

Check your junk mail.
Idk why it goes there at first.
But you gotta click accept.

Categories

Author

Archives

Blog

THRIVE!

& give thanks!

Snuggled into the scenery

Sukhi's work:

Voice of an angel &

... the words of an angel.

Trying to 'get more analogue'

Some ways I forced myself to log off.

❤️ The Library ​❤️

Ways I'd love to be able to log off.

Why it feels anxiety inducing to want to log off.

Analogue Swaps without breaking the bank or my sanity.

The last time it truly felt like I logged off.

Shameless Mailing List Plug with a point

Check your junk mail. Idk why it goes there at first. But you gotta click accept.

Categories

Author

Join my mailing list

Thank you!

Archives

❤️ The Library ❤️

Check your junk mail.
Idk why it goes there at first.
But you gotta click accept.