WANDERING THROUGH BRUGES

Back in March I took a short trip to Bruges. So I thought I would share with you some photos I took. I absolutely loved my time there wandering through the cobbled streets, passed the canals and looking at the beautiful and quirky buildings and houses. There were bikes everywhere and some really cute cafes, chocolate shops & restaurants. 

HERE'S TO TAKING THINGS A BIT SLOWER

I've realised that slowing down and breathing is something I really need to make into a habit. Why am I always trying to rush things or feel I need to be doing a certain thing or a certain person to fit other peoples need? So I need to recharge and sort out my mental health which is why I've closed my Etsy shop for a while. Maybe this will just give me the chance to relax and focus on what I really want to do which is to create. I've basically taken a gap year this year and if this is the most important thing I learnt from it then I think it's a pretty good thing to learn. Not only do I want to slow down and do things at my OWN pace but I also need to start thinking about myself. Hopefully slowing down will help me to actually realise what I want to do and let me take actual care of myself. 

CHILLED WEEKEND MORNINGS & RECENT SKETCHBOOK PAGES

I found that it's good to take Sunday morning easy and have started to use the time to relax and do what I love most, draw and paint. What's great about the recent weeks is that early mornings in my home are mostly full of sun and it's so lovely to sit with a cup of coffee and paint with the warmth of the sun on my back. It's moments like these that make me feel blessed to be here. I thought I would show you some of my recent work from my sketchbook. A lot of my recent work has been inspired by botanics and plants. This is because my mum is a gardener and so there are always lots of pretty flowers in the garden and about million orchids in the living room which is where I spend some of time creating artwork.

INTERVIEW : SURFACE PATTERN DESIGNER AMY HODKIN

Welcome to the artist interview series where I interview talented designer makers, surface pattern designers, artists and illustrators. Today's artist, the fourth of the interview instalments is talented 
surface pattern designer and illustrator Amy Hodkin.

Explain a little about yourself and what you do?

My name is Amy and I'm currently in my final year studying Printed Textiles and Surface Pattern Design at Leeds. I love to draw and design patterns for a variety of things.

Do you have any favourite techniques?

Drawing will always be number one for me because I find it so fun and special to record things through my own interpretation. I also have a huge love for screen printing onto fabric because in a way it 's almost like collaging as you piece the design together. I really like the textural outcome and how the mistakes have to be embraced; it's not as easy as clicking "undo" on your computer.