January 2022

Hello readers and a Happy New Year to you all! I hope you all had a restful Christmas with your family and friends- wishing you all a prosperous start to the year.

I’m not one for the New Year, New Me rubbish. Personally, I’ve always started off with New Years resolutions and they teeter off my the end of the January ??? So this year there’ll be no New Years resolutions for me but instead just take each day as it goes by and show gratitude as much as possible.

Anyway, enjoy the rest of the rainy weekend!

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Uncategorized

Hi folks,

Hope you’re having a lovely weekend wherever you are in the world. This weekend has been none productive and tbf I’m absolutely not complaining, I’ve been enjoying these times where it’s nice just to hanging out at home (I mean, not like there’s anywhere to go rn). It snowed quite heavily this afternoon and our street was just this perfect picture; all still, soft and light fluffy snow sitting quietly over the trees and flowers. I say this like it’s picturesque and the reality of it is that the snow has now turned to a slushy sleet ???.

I made this piece of artwork last night and I’m really happy with the way it’s turned out. It started out as a thumbnail as it was initially a response to the UK government giving the heads up for EU-banned pesticides to be used. I decided to use the thumbnail and make a bigger piece with it and the meaning of it has slightly changed. It’s a timely reminder of the current situation the world is in at the moment- how everything is transient and nothing stays the same. Just like the seasons, time moves on and we grow, learn and adapt to changes. We’re also in danger of destroying and crushing the natural environment too,  we should really be using our knowledge and the technology that exists to protect the environment. It’s easier said that done and I know that I’m saying it in simplistic terms, but we all have some responsibility of ensuring that the world we live in today is protected and preserved for future generations. I’m also ready for spring and summer to come as I’m missing the warmer weather!

‘The Circle of Life’ is available as an A4 and A3 print. I’m currently not despatching any A3 prints for the time being as our local post offices are closed for the rest of the month. Plus it’s easier to post smaller items via the postbox (which has been an absolute gem throughout this pandemic). I’m also not sending anything out internationally due to good old Brexit. I’ll see how things turn out in the next couple of weeks as I’m hearing news about items being stuck in customs and then being returned to the sender (I just don’t have the time and effort for this).

Anyway, enjoy the rest of your Sunday and take care.

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Art, Etsy, Products, Shop

 

Happy 2021 everyone! Hope you all had a festive and exciting New Year’s Eve and New Years Day (I’ve still got a splitting headache and feeling slightly gippy due to too many glasses of champagne…) After doing a bit of research about the new conditions for importing to non-EU and EU countries, I have decided not to post internationally now that we’ve left the EU ??. The main reason why is that, economically and logistically, it makes no sense for me to spend loads of admin time and costs to sending things abroad especially when things are still up in the air. I am happy to be filling out the CN22 form but I’ve come to the conclusion that I’d rather spend my energy making more of a mark here in the UK and to focus on growth here. I do feel like I’m shooting myself in the foot here by alienating the international market (I’ve had loads of US orders via Etsy all through their algorithms); most of the traffic has been through people searching via Etsy and I’ve had to do little promotion outside of Etsy.

I’ll continue to grow my products and make more beautiful artwork this year. My main goal for the year is to expand my product line and potentially take part in markets (if it’s possible). It just makes me a little bit sad having to say goodbye to potential customers.??? I don’t think it’s worth the risk right now and I’m sure there are a lot of small business owners who are also in similar position like myself.

I would like to hear from you in the comments below if you’re an indie business owner. Are you continuing to ship abroad? If not, what are your reasons?

Enjoy the rest of your day and wishing you a wonderful weekend!

By
Art

Happy Chinese New Year everyone! So today it’s Chinese New Year or otherwise known as the Lunar New Year. What we usually do when it comes to celebrate this rather important date in the Chinese calendar is that we eat traditional Chinese food with friends and families, exchange and open lei sees (otherwise known as red envelopes) and there are dancing Chinese dragons/lions too. I remember when I was younger we’d used to eat Chinese sweets which came in a rather beautiful containers with divided segments for the individual sweets. We used to spend Chinese New Year in Hong Kong when were we younger, which was all the more a special occasion as we’d only see our families maybe once a year. I remember we would open up or lei sees and light up paper lanterns in the evening, followed by loads of delicious food of course! There’s really no getting away with food.

This year it’s the Year of the Rat so to celebrate this rather special little creature I have made a print which is now available in my Etsy, Folksy and Urban Makers shop.

Well, I’m going to end it here. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend and take care.

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Art

Hello everyone! How’s your week been so far? I’ve added a new piece of work to my Etsy shop titled: ‘What a Time to be Alive’ available in two sizes: A4 and A3 size.

My most recent work has been the influence of self-care, mindfulness and positivity. I’m hoping that my art will spread some joy in these dark times we’re currently living in right now. The world can seem like a very bleak place especially when you’re reading the news and you’re constantly bombarded with sad and awful news.

I’m going to end it here as I’m going to go back to my sketchbook and do some drawings for the rest of the afternoon. Look after yourselves and enjoy the rest of your Sunday.

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Art, Etsy

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