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Thank-you for everything
Confession: I wasn’t going to post this sketch, because I was upset with myself that the letters in the last word “Thanks” didn’t stay on a straight line.
Then, I realized that I could be grateful for the imperfections as well. It’s easy to be grateful for all the wonderful things in our lives. But what about the things that stop to make us think, or teach us a lesson, or force us to grow and change, or make tough decisions?
Maybe we should be doubly grateful for those things, for they are a catalyst for us to grow and change.
October is a month of gratitude for us in our house. Canadian Thanksgiving falls in October, as well as my Dad’s birthday, my father-in-law’s birthday, my daughter’s birthday, and our wedding anniversary. There is so much to celebrate, but also, so much to remember.
What are you grateful for today? I’m sure there are some easy answers, but are there some not-so-obvious ones as well? You don’t have to answer below if you don’t want. But I’d be happy if you paused to think about it for a few minutes. Be thankful for that hard thing, it might be more of a blessing than you realize.
The first full week of school
Happy Monday Friends!
This is our first full week of the new school year, and I’m looking forward to having routine in my life again. Every morning my daughter walks around the block to school. She proudly showed me the yellow flower on her navy jumper, the logo of her school. She is so proud to be a big girl, going to big school.
I’m trying to honour this transition, and really enjoy the process.
What are you doing right now? I think we’re always in some state of transition, as we’re always in the process of “becoming.” Can you honour that process today?
Comment below with some ideas!
On Our Street Short-Listed for the Bolen Children's Book Prize!
I am so excited to announce that On Our Street has been short-listed for the Bolen Children’s Book Award. This is such an honour, and it reflects the wonderful team of editors, authors and publishers who worked on this book!
The results will be announced in mid-October. But, quite honestly, to have been short-listed makes me so happy and grateful already!
Painting is a diary
This is why I do daily drawings. My sketches, even if they’re rough and unfinished, are a way for me to record my thoughts and experiences from each day. And when I look back at my sketchbooks, I can remember how I felt, where I was sitting, and all the sights, smells and sounds that were around me when I first sketched it. It’s a visceral way to honour each moment.
I can’t manage a drawing every day. And that’s ok. I’d rather be gentle with myself that hold unrealistic expectations. But I try, and that’s what counts. The “almost” daily practice adds up more that you realise. Since I started shortly after my daughter was born, I’ve filled 8 sketchbooks with tiny drawings. That’s three years of memories!
What is one small thing you could do today and tomorrow? That’s my mantra: today and tomorrow... I don’t need to plan any further into the future. If I can manage something today, and then tomorrow, the rest of the tomorrows will take care of themselves.
Summer memories
Hello Friends!
I hope you’ve had a lovely summer. We have been lying on the grass in our garden, staring at the clouds, and watching the sun circle around the sky. Of course, that’s not ALL we’ve done this summer, but a good portion of our time has been spent relaxing amongst the rose and lavender beds, trying to find respite from the heat.
Now we’re slowly returning to routines. Mary switches from little-kiddies nursery to “big school” nursery, which is the year before Reception (Kindergarten). She is very excited about her uniform, and is waiting with anticipation and trepidation for the first day.
I’m easing back into my studio routines, and giving myself lots of margin to let my mind wander creatively. This is something I’ve missed a lot during the rush of deadlines earlier in the year. It is such a luxury to savour the solitude and quiet.
How was your summer? Let me know, I’d love to hear!
Remembering the wide open spaces
We’re home in London, and gradually emerging from the hazy fog of jet lag. I’ve gently returned to my studio, and I’m remembering the wide open spaces of my hometown. I love the blue skies, and the golden and green fields. It’s a colour palette I want to explore over the next few weeks.
Summer is a time for floating from one minute to the next. I still have some work to do, but there is more margin in my days. This means I’ll have time for reading on the back terrace, while the roses nod their heads in approval.
What are your plans for the summer?
Canada Day
The sun is streaming through the kitchen window, and a light breeze billows the curtains like flags. Yesterday we went to our local museum for wagon rides, face painting, and other fun, festive activities. Happy 151st Birthday Canada!
I am so fortunate to be able to call three counties home: Canada, Great Britain and South Africa. They are such great nations, so different, and also alike in amazing ways. I love having the diversity and richness of all the traditions in my life; from maple syrup, to afternoon tea, to enjoying the perfect braai (bbq). There is so much to celebrate!
Strawberry moon
Another full moon; another epic storm. This can’t be a coincidence can it? I resolved to paint all the full moons of 2018 and so far we’ve had snow storms, dust storms, rain storms… almost without fail.
Last night rain lashed the window panes and blew in sheets across the road. Wind twisted the tree-tops. Thunder clapped above our roof, and it was so resonant that the house shook. It was a classic prairie thunder storm, and I’m so glad I got to experience one on this trip home. —
Acclimatizing
We are coming out of the heavy fog of jet lag and emerging into the sunshine of the Manitoba summer, pushing our toes through the long green grass and running our fingers along the petunia flower heads waving in the breeze in the flower pots.
Flying To Canada
One of my goals for this trip to my hometown in Canada is to record as many moments from each day in drawings and journal entries. (Swipe left to see the pages so far) .
I want my sketchbook to be like a visual diary, or graphic novel, of our time in Manitoba. I want to record the wide open sky, and the adventures my daughter experiences under it. I will post flip-throughs in my instagram story daily, as well as photos of each page here on my feed.
I hope you enjoy coming along on this adventure with us!
It’s ok to go slow
Take a deep breath. Wherever you are is where you’re meant to be. It’s the perfect starting place for the journey ahead.
Where do you want to go? All it takes is small, slow steps and you’ll get there.
It’s ok to go slow.
I’m slowly working towards my illustration deadlines. Work is going well, but I’m choosing not to be overwhelmed by complications or setbacks. Slow work is better work, because I can focus on excellence (but not perfection, of course! )
Small things
On busy days, instead of letting myself feel overwhelmed by all that needs to be accomplished, i try to focus on small things that give me joy. The fragrant cup of coffee, the perfect pen for the project gliding across the paper in my hands, the soft grey cloud in the sky after a hot, bright weekend. As I move from moment to moment, striking items off my list, those little meditations keep me sane and grounded.
What are some things that are giving you joy today? Let me know below!
Flower moon
I resolved to paint every full moon of 2018, and most of the nights have been cloudy, or stormy, or both. Last night thunder raged through the sky, and I had to cuddle my little three-year-old and sing “I hear thunder” over and over to help her understand that it wasn’t anything to be scared of.
The full moon in May is called the “flower Moon” for obvious reasons. Right now the climbing roses are in full foison, and the lavender is about to bust into purple, heady scent. The garden is reaching for it’s peak, and I’m trying to savour the moment every day. Literally, stop to smell the roses.
Can you stop for a minute today to savour the wonders of the season? We’re doing it by cutting flowers to bring inside, jumping in post-storm rain puddles, and running through the sprinkler when it’s sunny and hot.
Be great in little things
Be great in little things. After a week off to tend to a convalescing daughter, I am ready to jump back into my regular routines. But, I’m realizing that I need to focus on little things: small steps. If I think about everything that needs to be done, I freeze like a statue. However, I know that I can be great in the little things. I don’t need to paint a whole picture, I just need to make one brush stroke: and that brush stroke can be great (but of course, never perfect… let’s not fool ourselves).
—
Rain is sluicing down the window pain, and thunder is rumbling on the horizon. There is something about rain that immediately gives me perspective. The world shrinks down to what I can see outside my window: water droplets and low clouds. All the extraneous distractions on the horizon are obliterated, and the important things stand out in bright focus.
—
Are there a few small things you can do wonderfully well today? Just focus on those, and you’ll go to bed satisfied this evening.
One of the things I look forward every afternoon is my daily FaceTime call with my Mom. We might live3912 miles apart, but we’re connected in spirit all the time. She is my best friend. She is the person I call when I have a random thought, and I need to tell someone. She is the person who understands when days are hard, and laughs when days are good.
I love that we can use our phones, and other digital devices to keep in touch. All those pixels, whooshing through space, transferring energy and love from Canada to England give me so much joy. And the fact that I can connect with all of you friends via a social media app, and share our daily adventures in creativity, gives me such a boost of inspiration every day.
So thank-you, Mom, for always being on the other side of the screen. And thank-you friends, for liking and commenting on my posts, and sharing your wonderful journeys on the internet. It makes the world feel so small and friendly!
Two Cup Morning
This was a two cup of coffee morning.
It’s funny how best-laid plans often get changed at the last minute, isn’t it? I had my whole day organized: from what I was going to draw, to what I was going to buy at the green grocer. Then Mary woke up with a fever, and all those plans flew out the window on the spring breeze.
At first I was panicked. Oh no! So much to do! But that same spring breeze pushed the scent of deep purple lilacs into the house and reminded me to stop and enjoy the moment. The morning was cool and washed-clean after a midnight rain storm. The day might not go as planned, but maybe it would actually be better than I visualized!
I put a load of laundry in the washing machine, which I would hang out to dry later in the lilac scented sunshine. I popped a Care Bears movie in my laptop for Mary to watch while I worked, with her curled on the cushions beside me in my studio. Do you know what? I got more done than I expected! Then we wandered to town to buy more watercolours, have a coffee, and stop by the greengrocer to fetch veggies that aren’t wrapped in plastic.
It was a good day after all! And those two cups of fragrant coffee were the perfect pairing for my revised expectations.
What are you up to today? Is it going as planned?
Dancing with Kuretake
“Mommy, I’m a real ballerina!” Mary delights in her ballet classes, and tippy-toes and twirls around with joy and abandon. I love being able to record these moments of her life in my sketchbook.
I started sharing my sketches on Instagram shortly after she was born. I felt very isolated, as many new moms do, and I needed a way to connect with the outside world and to re-connect with my creative calling. I challenged myself to do a drawing a day, taking no longer than 15-20 minutes. Of course, I couldn’t manage every day when I started, nor can I manage sketching every day now. At the beginning motherhood was very challenging and often absorbed every minute of the day. Now I’m busy with both motherhood and an illustration career. But I still relish my time sketching in my tiny notebooks.
When I started I never imagined that anyone would follow me, and I’m grateful for every one of you and all the fantastic friendships I’ve made through this journey. I also never imagined that any brands might reach out to me; that was something that only happened to “real” bloggers.
Last week my absolutely favourite pen company, Kuretake, contacted me and asked if they could send me some pens. I was delighted and honoured. I love their brush pens. Their nibs keep their flexible shape after extended usage. I use these pens all the time. Absolutely the best brush pens for illustration, in my experience (and I’ve tried them all). I thought Kuretake would send one or two pens, but they sent me a whole envelope full! I can’t wait to experiment with them and show my drawings to you in the next few days and weeks.
Thank-you again for being there for me every day, and following along on this journey of artistic discovery and motherhood. It means more to me than you know.
May goals
How is it already almost May? I thought it was February yesterday? Haha! Approaching the beginning of a new month and finishing a big project means I’m realigning my goals and priorities.
This morning, over a frothy decaf latte, I made my list of goals and intentions for May in my Powersheets Goal Book. Then, to make sure I wasn’t overwhelmed by it all, I drew a little mini-me in the margins giving me encouragement in a speech bubble. So, that’s my daily drawing today. A little boost of encouragement for myself, and for you as well. We’ve got this! We can do it, whatever “it” is.
What are your goals for the merry month of May? Tell me in the comments! I’d love to know!
Pink moon
The Pink Moon: the full moon in April. Today is a bright, sunny, crisp day: the calm after yesterday’s storm. Yesterday, by contrast, was a deluge. I got drenched when I ran outside for the school run and errands. Pink cherry blossom petals roiled in the overfilled street gutters, rushing down the street and into the drains. By the evening the sky had cleared and it was cold — winter cold.I could see the glowing sky above our house, and just glimpse the moon over our eaves. I intended to sneak out to look at it, but the warmth of bed beckoned after a long day. So this scene is something I imagined. The cherry tree stands at the gate to Richmond Park in London. I see it almost daily… but I have never seen by the glowing light of the full moon. Maybe someday I will.
One of the reasons why I’m painting full moons this year is because I want to connect to the natural world in a regular way. Our ancestors relied on the moon and the stars for so many things. Even my Canadian grandmother lived by the rule that one should never plant your veggie patch until after the full moon in June. In our modern life do we think about the moon at all? Or the stars? We mostly rely on the glowing screens of our phones and computers instead of the glowing moon and stars.
The one thing I’ve learned from observing the moon is that the seasons change. I’ve been through lots of seasons of growth, from feeling stuck, to grief, to excitement and rest. They never last forever, and there’s beauty in that.
What kind of season are you walking through right now? Tell me below, and I’ll pop over to your feed to continue the discussion!