I’m currently in London for a very exciting Artist’s Date… and tomorrow I’ll be filming from the beautiful Victoria and Albert Museum (the V&A!) I honestly cannot wait to take you with me. 🥳🎨🎨 There’s something about stepping into a museum with intention. Not rushing. Not ticking boxes. Just wandering, noticing, absorbing. I’ll be sharing what an Artist’s Date can look like inside a space like this the details, the textures, the quiet inspiration hiding in corners. This evening, Holly and I went for a little wander through London. A gentle mooch. A bit of shopping. Time together. And of course… I absolutely could not walk past Liberty London without popping in 🙈 You all know me. I went in “just to look” 🙈… and came out with beautiful paper. Because truly, is there anything more hopeful than fresh paper? The promise of it. The weight of it. The quiet possibility. Moments like this remind me why I love creative living so much. It’s not always the grand gestures sometimes it’s paper in a bag, a daughter by your side, and the buzz of London in the air.❤️ I’ll be filming tomorrow and sharing it with you soon. If there’s anything you’d love me to notice or look out for while I’m at the V&A, tell me below. London is calling… and I’m listening. 🖤

Lately I’ve been revisiting my old printing plates etching plates, lino cuts, collographs and it’s reminded me why I never throw a single one away. 🙈🥰 Each plate holds decisions. Hesitations. Happy accidents. Moments where I learned something by doing. Even when a print doesn’t turn out how I imagined, the plate itself becomes a piece of artwork a record of the process, not just the outcome. I love that about printmaking. It asks you to slow down, to respond, to work with the material rather than against it. I’m currently deep in the middle of writing and building a printmaking course, and this reflective rummage through my plates has been part of that process. I’ll be diving a little deeper than “how to make a print” into why certain marks work, how different plates behave, and how to read what a plate is telling you when something doesn’t go to plan. Printmaking rewards curiosity. And patience. And a willingness to learn as you go. If you’ve ever looked at a print and wondered how on earth did they do that? or felt the pull of ink, pressure, and texture I think you’ll really enjoy what’s coming. More soon 🐝✨

I’m feeling incredibly grateful today. We’ve just reached 50 members here in Smidgen of Calm, and honestly… thank you doesn’t quite feel big enough. Welcome @Julie Burns !!! 🙌🏻💜 This little corner of the internet was created to be gentle, encouraging and creatively nourishing a place where showing up as you are is enough. Seeing it grow into a warm, supportive community means more to me than I can put into words. Thank you for: - being kind - sharing your creativity - taking part (in big ways and quiet ones) - supporting not just this space, but each other Smidgen of Calm really does feel like a little pocket of safety on the internet and that’s because of you. Here’s to slow creativity, shared moments, and whatever unfolds next 🤍 I’m so glad you’re here.

@Kate Bullock - WOW you're exhale moment of where to start, just pick up a pencil, and start to draw a line, add some colour. Stop when you feel your shoulders drop. Oh my Goodness. Just beautiful. Hi, I'm Julie and I'm so excited to be here with you all. I mentioned to Kate when I saw her post in another community that I don't consider my self an artist. As in I really cannot draw a straight line without a ruler (even then, it's questionable 🤣). But I have a great imagination and an eye for creating characters in digital form that I use for my business. I'm excited to watch, learn and exhale here with you all

Today I’m inviting you to come with me on an artist’s date to Kent’s Cavern 🪨 A place shaped slowly by time, water, and quiet patience. This isn’t about drawing perfectly or knowing what to make it’s about noticing. The textures of the rock, the way light pools in dark corners, the feeling of being somewhere ancient and held. Bring your curiosity, your sketchbook (or just your senses), and let’s wander gently together observing, breathing, and allowing inspiration to surface in its own time. I really enjoyed my time in the Caverns it’s a really special experience 💜