Focussing on the Positives

And I don't just mean a sunny Bank Holiday weekend!

It’s true! We British do love to talk about the weather!!

You have to understand, for those of you in sunnier climes, that British Bank Holiday weekends, (public holiday) usually consist of rain, rain and even more rain. So to have a BH with no rain and mostly blue skies and sunshine - well, here in Lincolnshire at least - is definitely something to shout about!! To go for a walk without taking waterproofs or wearing boots, is a bonus. Warm sunshine, the bluest of skies, birdsong floating on the breeze, blossom scattered like confetti…cow parsley swaying…is all much-needed food for the soul.

Oh, what is so rare as a day in May,
When the great sun shines like this!
When the soft winds woo, all tender and true,
And breathe on one's cheek like a kiss!
When the sky is so blue—ah—heaven's own blue!
And the birds in the greening trees
Are bursting their throats with rapturous notes...
~Jean Wright, "A-Maying"

Things haven’t been flowing as well as I would like, creatively speaking, which is mainly down to the pressure I put on myself!! So here’s what I did instead…

I feel so much better now, when I walk in the studio; binning a lot of work proved very cathartic. It’s all about making space for new ideas, new opportunities, new directions…

I mentioned:

• Janette Phillips course.

• Anna MacDonald - Declutter queen extraordinaire!

Experiments with the Wallace Seymour Kendal Green ink…

I’ve also been checking in with my goals - you can read more about them in this post:

…they were split into three main areas: art, financial and Substack.

How am I doing?

Fair to say that the art is a work in progress - when isn’t it? I’m looking on this period as a time of experimentation, finding my way forwards which, as I said in the video, can be a little frustrating. Just a case of persevering and finding my rhythm.

As for my financial goals? Well, looking at my spreadsheet (yes, got to love an Excel spreadsheet!!), it’s apparent that meeting the monthly targets is hit and miss; one month, over and above the target, the next, nowhere near. Although I realise it isn’t over until the end of the year, checking in on the numbers does provide food for thought - and sales is definitely an area that requires a little TLC…

And what about Substack?

• I now have 1317 subscribers - up from 1302 at the beginning of the year. Not a massive jump, but still a positive, especially whilst I’m still finding my feet here with how the platform operates etc.

• I have 7 paid subscribers, which I’m incredibly happy about and extremely grateful! Having a ‘side hustle’ providing an income that partly covers the monthly outgoings is a real bonus, removing some of the pressure and giving me space to experiment.

• Feedback and comments on my posts is steadily increasing, which all helps to foster that sense of community I was hoping to build.

• I still haven’t found my way with Notes or Threads, or really got to grips with Recommendations, or the finer points of the platform - but as these things are constantly changing, I think it’s more a case of finding what works for me…

As in life, it’s a matter of ups and downs. Things to work on, positives to take away…

Other things that have caught my eye this week;

• “Your Biz, Your Way: Learning to Trust Yourself” - Judith Morgan Not a ‘how to’ book, rather a book that gets you to question the barriers and ‘bonkersness’ you put in your own way, and to create a business that works for you. (I haven’t added a link as you may want to support a small, local bookshop, rather than the giant that is Amazon…)

• If you want a daily dose of beautiful floral images, then soulbygabriel Instagram feed is one you won’t to miss…

• If black and white is your ‘passion’, then Helen Ward Artist is one to check out! Her work, including charcoal and print is fabulous!!

• I’ve probably recommended Jonna Jinton before, but I never fail to be inspired by her videos, encompassing the beautiful Swedish countryside, her daily life and her art business…

• Oh, and can someone tell me why sometimes, the splodges on the scrap paper are more interesting than something I’ve slaved over…?

  

Until next time,