Day Out: Santa Express

It's no secret that I love anything Christmas related, from tree decorations to watching Home Alone for the millionth time, everything about this time of year feels so magical. So when my sister asked whether I'd like to join her taking my nephew on the Severn Valley Railway's Santa Express, my answer was definitely a yes!

Missing out on the chance to go last year, I was probably a little bit more excited to go than my nephew but the experience lived up to my expectations and was probably more enjoyable now as it was when I myself was taken over 15 years ago.

New in Portfolio: Hummingbird Original

This year I have been in the early stages of working on a very exciting project. Hummingbird Original is a new enterprise taking a step into the world of children's publishing, from short stories to colouring books and more. Each product has a story and a unique illustrative feel, thanks to a couple of contributors who have helped Hummingbird Original get to a point where it can really get it's feet off the ground.

With the visionary behind the company being my very own sister, I have been able to have more involvement with this project than I probably would normally get and although it has been exciting to see everything come together, I would be lying if I said it hasn't been challenging.

I came up with a few rough sketches for the logo, yet we came to a decision that it had to be playful, colourful and reflect the type of products being created and market that we were targeting. This is where the illustrative element came in. With a strong idea that the logo needed to include a hummingbird, calla lilies and preferably sit in a circular format, the original sketches I had produced soon turned into what the final logo looks like now.

In terms of the overall design, I am really pleased with how it has come together and I love the contrast of the pastel petals and leaves against the tone of the Hummingbird. There's still a lot more to do before the real work starts, but I couldn't wait to share the logo with you. I'm really proud of my sister for finally being able to do something she's always had a passion for and I can't wait to help her grow with the business and I will be sure to keep you update along the way!

Monkeying Around

Last weekend Dan and I took a trip North to Stoke-on-Trent to visit MONKEY FOREST, part of Trentham Estate & Gardens. Full of the Barbary Macaques species of monkey that typically originate from the mountainous parts of Morocco and Algeria, Monkey Forest holds around 140 of the adorable creatures where you can observe them their habitat. If you're lucky too, you may be able to see some of the newborns climbing, jumping and interacting with you. They were possibly my favourite and I loved that at only a couple of months old they were speedier than any human at that age would be, although leading by example of some of their elders you can see why.

New in Portfolio: A Little Opulent

I am privileged to have been given the opportunity to work with the girls over at A LITTLE OPULENT, an online magazine for embracing creativity, passions and creative interests. It's a great outlet for my creativity as not only do I get to contribute features on a fortnightly basis but occasionally I also produce illustrations to sit alongside other features.

Drawing was something that I had somewhat put on the back-burner during university and for some time afterwards, but being asked to be a part of such an amazing experience and team was hard to turn down. Although I don't feel like I am quite up to the level that I used to be at, it's great to be given the opportunity to produce some work and to also keep practicing in the meantime. It's also given me the confidence to say 'yes' when asked to draw people, which I would have otherwise avoided. 

You can find a few of my other illustrations for the magazine on my PORTFOLIO which has been updated today, or if you have a bit of free time have a look at A LITTLE OPULENT for yourself. Jam-packed with content and a host of incredible writers, illustrators and photographers, you're bound to find something that takes your fancy.

Last of the Summer Bloom

With September well underway Summer in Britain is winding down – the sunny days are turning cool and the nights are drawing in. Although I love the crisp Autumn tones and the excuse to add another jumper to my wardrobe, I'm a Summer baby through and through. I am the person who secretly wishes the weather reports for an October heatwave to be true but it's not all doom and gloom in the coming months. There's still something to be said about the joy of the run up to the festive season and I can't be the only one to have a soft spot for being able to curl up by the fire with a good book or film on a cold night, right?

For me, the word Summer has always been associated with taking a holiday. Even when it was only a couple of hours away, being away from home, somewhere new to explore was what the Summer months were all about. And this Summer I made sure I did just that. I've always had itchy feet but the last 18 months has been the first time in my life where my travels have been dictated by myself (and my fella), meaning I have already widened my eyes to places I never thought I'd visit.

I feel really lucky to have had the chance to to go abroad so much this last year and I put that down to the wake-up call I experienced before Christmas. It really hit me how important our life is and this year I took ownership of it, making changes where I wasn't happy and taking a moment to appreciate all of the things we take for granted. Even though I still have one more holiday planned and my Summer still won't be over for another month yet, I'm hoping you'll be able to join me along the way, by following my TRAVELOGUE and inspire you to do the things you've always dreamed of doing. Life is hard work but if we really want something, then we'll work ourselves tirelessly to get there or at least know we've tried our best.

Peony HERE | Strawberry HERE

Lake Bled, Slovenia

One of Eastern Europe's best-kept secrets is finally getting the recognition it deserves and is no doubt one of the most spectacular lakes I have ever seen. Just half an hour outside of Slovenia's capital city, Ljubljana, you'll find this stunning destination hidden within the Julian Alps and within easy reach of mine and Dan's Summer holiday destination, Croatia, we had the perfect opportunity to hop across the border for the day to see the beauty of the lake for ourselves. 

Despite a six-hour round trip to Lake Bled, nothing could really put a downer on the day (other than wishing we could have stayed longer). Fortunately the tour we were on made sure we all crammed in as much as possible in the short time that we were there, starting with Blejski grad or Bled Castle. The castle sits atop a precipice overlooking the city of Bled and has been documented to have been around as early as the 11th Century, making its claim to be the oldest castle in Slovenia.

The castle now comprises of exhibition rooms, a restaurant, a working forge, castle cellar and the original Gothic chapel which is beautifully decorated. But for me, the castle was all about the view. It was purely breathtaking and I must have taken an average of 7 photos for each angle the castle overlooked as I just couldn't tear myself away. 

Recipe: Crème Brûlée

"Crème brûlée is the ultimate 'guy' dessert. Make it and he'll follow you anywhere." 

- Ina Garten.

With Valentine's Day just a sleep away, I have come over all domesticated and spent the morning in the kitchen preparing for the three-course meal I have promised to cook my other half. Whether you believe in the cynicism or romanticism of this day, you can't disagree that going out is cheap (although I admit I have seen a fair few good deals on at some of my favourite restaurants).

This year I have made the executive decision that we will be staying in for our celebration - affordable, comfortable surroundings and more importantly, you can hear what each other are saying! To give myself a bit of a head start I have got the meat marinating in the fridge for the next 24 hours and have made one of my guy's favourite desserts, Crème Brûlée.

[44] The Pattern Library

(The Pattern Library)

Recently I have become fascinated with patterns, whether that be those designed for use on stationery, the clothes we wear or the wallpaper we spend hours choosing for our homes.

The Pattern Library is an ongoing online project which collates and shares patterns with those wishing to use freely in their own designs. Designers of all abilities can share their original patterns with project pioneers Tim Holman and Claudio Guglieri, before they are released to the world wide web.

This easy-to-scroll-through site is great for small bursts of inspiration and the perfect go-to place for a contemporary, unique and playful pattern to use in your own designs!