December

Now that it’s mid way through December, I declare it officially okay to have a mug of warmed mulled wine (or cider..or anything you fancy mulling) at any point in the day. It’s certainly helping keep me warm and feeling festive whilst painting in the arctic studio! I have a slight addiction to mulling everything and anything at this time of the year (think coffee..porridge..gin) and nearly ruined the Christmas starter a few years ago experimenting with mulling syrup and Camembert (Side note, it was DELICIOUS but ruined the oven).

I love December, with the twinkling lights and the social acceptance to cover everything in tinsel (I may lose some subscribers here!). It’s a really busy and sometimes overwhelming time for me, with multiple markets back to back, and orders to pack and deliver, but the joy of Christmas keeps me afloat.

A great big thankyou to everyone who has ordered this November and December and for all my followers- You are keeping my little dream (and business) afloat and I’m ever so grateful. Particularly during a time when finances are already stretched multiple ways to cover the cost of the festive season. Some may see art as a luxury, but I truly believe its ability to spread joy and spark a feeling or connection makes it a pretty important thing in our lives, and your orders validate that you agree too.

Thankyou also for ‘shopping small’ and for choosing to support and spend your money on an independent, ‘one man band’. The UK has sadly seen a significant rise in the closure of small independent business, driven by a combination of factors such as declining sales, high operational costs and competition from larger corporations. Christmas sales really do make or break tiny companies.

I was really happy to be asked to design some bespoke Christmas cards for a customer at the beginning of the month, using a watercolour pet portrait I’d painted for her a few months ago. We are both really pleased how they’ve turned out. This will be a new offering for 2025, with a digital scan taken for all watercolour pet portraits so that greeting cards can be made up if required by the customer.

I still have a few Christmas card packs left, so check out the website if you still need to grab some whilst stocks last. The last date for postage for orders through the website is Wednesday 18th December 2024.

I’ve been inspired by the gorgeous wintery light we’ve had recently in Cirencester- Don’t you just love those bright crisp, cold mornings? I feel very lucky to live in Cirencester, and to start every morning with a walk through town with the dog. The Church is always the first to be hit by the morning sun and oh how it’s glorious when I’m there at just the right time to capture it. This photo is on my list as a future painting and I’m itching to get started.

It’s my last market of the year on Friday- I’ll be at the dreamy Retreat & Rewild studios at their ‘Market and Mulled Wine’ evening (6pm-9pm). It’s set to be a gorgeous festive evening of shopping small, connecting with community, and being merry! It’s completely free to attend, so if you live locally, do pop along (make sue you rsvp on their website).

And finally, here’s to wishing you all a safe, warm and happy Christmas and a fabulous New Year. Thank you for all your support this year.

I’m excited for 2025 and all that it may bring.

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