My creative journey

Etsy is a treasure trove of goodies and browsing the site for new sellers and products is my favourite way to whittle away 30 minutes. One of the Etsy features I love and use frequently is the favourites features as this allows me to save those products that I may not want to buy immediately but I know will perfect for a future occasion. As someone with quite a few favourites (read that as over 4,000 items) I think that it is fabulous that you can organise your favourites further into lists. At the moment I have 12 lists such as  Modern Jewellery   which contains items like these gorgeous  Eighties Squiggle perspex Earrings from OttoLangs.  I already have one pair but they will remain in my favourites until I have another pair. I have my  Embroidery Kits  list that contains kits I want to try, or try again, such as these from Wildfloss Embroidery and Dropcloth  Samplers I also have a Fun Homewares list that contains gems like these Oven Mitts...

Maya Angelou famously said “You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” but I am sure I am not alone in not struggling with the concept, especially at the moment. Anyone who knows me personally will know that I have battled with my mental health for over half my life and despite an amazing support circle, the right medication and a whole toolbox of tools, sometimes my mood just dips that little bit lower than normal and despite a real urge to create (something, anything !!!) nothing appears.  I am by no means an expert and I sat here writing this rather than creating, so read into that as you may, but there are a few things I have been doing recently to try a keep my creative spark alive until something clicks and I can spend a few hours creating for me again. 1. Keeping up with my favourite creators on Social Media Dina Wakley is a huge inspiration of mine after first seeing her  on YT a few years ago, and she has been so generous wi...

I have always been one for shopping small where I can but like many others this year I will making more of an effort as for many small businesses their futures really do hang in the balance. With their usual sources of income around this time of year being canceled, online market places like Etsy , really are important for small businesses in securing those all-important sales. I have been using Etsy for many years.  My first purchase was in May 2009, and in that time I have collated a HUGE list of favorite sellers and items, most of which would be perfect for Christmas, and it is some of these that I will be sharing with you today. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn an affiliate commission. I would never share an item that I would not purchase with my own money. Learn more  here . Let's start with a few stocking fillers...    Tinsel Tits and Cracking Nuts  soaps from Go La La £5.95 each  Chilli Oil and Spice Rub Cookin...

Sharpened with plenty of vinegar One fat dumpy lady Grossly intimate most definitely not puritan Awkward Guilt A failed chapter The phrases for this poem came from  Christie Malry's Own Double-Entry by B S Johnson. A birthday present from my husband in 2018 that has to be one of my favourite books ever despite me needing to read it with a dictionary beside me. Perhaps it spoke to me only because of my day job but nonetheless speak to me it did and the language inspired a series of found poems. This is the first and my favourite as it is a self-portrait in poetry form. 12 October 2018

If, like me, you are finding you have more free time (if only because you no longer have to commute to your job) but you are both struggling to get inspired to create with your existing supplies and watching the pennies perhaps now is the ideal time to consider supporting smaller businesses on Etsy. My favourites list is a never-ending supply of inspiring items from small sellers who like all of us are trying to adapt to these strange times, so if any of these items take your fancy I would love to know, and I would love you to share your favourite inspiring sellers too.  This post contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn an affiliate commission. I would never share an item that I would not purchase with my own money. Learn more  here . 9 Well Watercolour Palette   £25.00 6 Well Ceramic Watercolour   £22.50 If you like to watercolour then these ceramic palettes from The Minty Mountain would make you smile every time ...

[affiliate links] Everyone who knows me knows how much I love Etsy but at this time of the year, it really does come into its own. It's the only place you can shop small and find something for absolutely everyone (and even get it personalised if you like). In the past my Etsy gift guides have centred around a theme - last years was traditions so included some exquisite looking hot chocolate, but this year I have so many things to share that we are going for an A to Z !! A ceramic palette or brush rest for your  A rtistic friend from  TramaiCeramics Some metal dice for the B oardgame lover from  DiceDungeonUK Oven gloves for the keen C ook from  Softerandwild A dream catcher for the day D reamer  from  Bloomette Sauvage An egg cup for the E arly riser from  HannahTurnerShop   For that someone who would be F estive all year from  LizHarry A new type of G nome for the avid collector from  ThePrincessPump...

[affiliate links] One thing that hasn't changed during my recent hiatus is my love of Etsy - It is still my first port of call for unique gifts (for others and myself) and I can happily while away the hours browsing for future purchases. I used to share my recent favourite items on a semi-regular basis so thought I would start doing so again, especially in the lead up to Christmas.  Though rest assured my normal  Etsy  Christmas gift guides will be posted in due course. Bright Embroidery Hoop art  £25.00 RubyCherryHoops This hoop is exactly what it says it is- a work of art. I loved this the minute I saw it - it's reminiscent of the abstract art I am loving at the moment that is colour blocking with pops of texture but taken to a completely new level.  Articulated Paper Doll Four Pack  £9.55 benconservato  I don't know how I stumbled upon Emma's shop but I am so glad I did. Her loose watercolour style is the perfect ma...