Sunday 29th June at 9pm - 'Buy now' Market Event!

Tonight sees the first ever event we've held on our Facebook page! For some time we've been working away creating new designs to showcase at 9pm tonight, Sunday 29th June :-) We usually operate a waiting-list type order system which at the moment is up to 4 weeks long. The benefit of buying from us on this event is that everything is already made and ready to be posted :-)

It's been great to create new designs - we've worked so hard on these new pieces. So much of the time we seem to be working on orders (which we are always thankful to have) - whether commissioned or working from our designs - that the fresh, creative aspect gets lost. We're currently reassessing how best to deal with commissioned work and hope to have a clearer plan in place soon.

We've focused on a broad range of items for the event including bunting, jars, signs & blocks. But have also introduced a few new designs such as large hanging beach huts, mini beach huts (great for twiggy trees) & original mixed media pictures. These have been something we've wanted to work on for a long time and inspiration seems to have found it's way to us ♡

We've created an album on Facebook which will contain images of everything for sale from 9pm. The fairest way we can do it is to release a password at 9pm which will you will need to make a purchase. Just comment on the item(s) you want, with the password, to secure the sale :-)

Click here to view album

We'd love you to join us ♡ This evening - Sunday 29th June at 9pm.

Happy Sunday to you!

Gemma x

Being fully present

It seems when I write blog posts, they're a bit like buses........you wait for ages then two or more come along at once!  Still it's good to be in the flow for now - which really links to the theme of this post.  Being present.

I've realised that I can accomplish so much more if I am fully present to what I'm doing. I notice this more and more particularly when I feel overwhelmed by my 'To do' list. Over the last few days I've tried an experiment to see what happens if I push all the 'To do' thoughts out of my mind while I focus on doing one thing at a time.

An interesting outcome is that I'm getting things finished (instead of procrastinating because I don't know which thing to start/do/finish first!) and this is having a positive effect on my self esteem and confidence - because things are getting done with relative ease.

Don't for one minute think this is easy (sounds a lot easier than it really is) as my mind is constantly trying to draw my attention to all those other things that also need doing and 'right now'! But by bringing myself back to the present and giving my full attention to the task in hand I find I enjoy it more and have a wonderful sense of achievement when it is done.

For example, right now, I am working on hanging beach huts for our market night coming up next week (yes it is only a week away......!) while at the same time my mind is drawing my attention to preparing for an interview, starting a painting, mowing the lawn,  choosing the paint colour for my kitchen, washing the car and other assorted tasks that really needed doing yesterday.  There's quite a battle going on!

But by being fully present I'm loving the creating and stitching process far more, by giving it my full attention, than when I'm feeling distracted by thinking about what happened yesterday or what might or might not happen tomorrow - both of which are a waste of my energy and detract from the pleasure I would otherwise get from the creation I am working on right now.  

I'm guessing this will be a lifelong journey..................

Shirley x

When inspiration strikes......

Why is it that inspiration strikes often at the most inconvenient times?!

I'm always getting ideas as I'm driving and there's no where to stop to write then down. By the time I can pull in somewhere the thought has passed and I'm left wondering where that idea has wandered off to - maybe to a host who has a pen and paper at the ready to catch it, note it down and create it!

Inspiration also strikes me late at night (it's 12.24 am as I write!) and sometimes wakes me up at 3 am so I always have notepad and pen by the side of my bed!

I believe inspiration is there all the time, waiting for us to tap into it and what prevents us is our busy scattered minds, leaving it impossible for inspiration to come through - which is why we suddenly get glimpses when we are not expecting it. It's as though the universe is whispering to us - 'finally,  I get your attention' !

Here are my night time meanderings from yesterday.............

Shirley x

Living!

You know that burning moment of excitement you feel in your tummy? When you literally could internally explode! I feel like this right now! It really should be bedtime and will be in a moment but inspiration always seems to strike late at night! Mum is exactly the same - like Mother like Daughter!

Tonight I created a picture which I am totally in love with. I don't know if I'll be able to sell it! I have connected with it so much, it's just 'me'. I feel like it's quite significant - a real moment that will define my future style. It's everything I love - rustic / modern / colourful / feminine...it has made me feel happy :-)

Here's a tiny peek ♥

Nighty night x

Gemma

A day out :-)

I am always warmed at the heart by the kindness and innocence of these little people :-)

 

I love our Tuesdays and Thursdays - they are the days we have completely free - no preschool and time to be as spontaneous as we like :-)  Today when we woke up the sun was shining and I just had this urge to go to the beach <3 

 

 

We're fortunate to leave near the coast and there are some lovely little spots not too far at all.  Now that my youngest is walking it's so much easier to be able to pop down to the beach and let the 2 of them be free - let them explore <3  But as it does sometime, a better idea came to me - and that was to go down to Maldon. 

We had a few hours down there - it's a lovely waterside town in Essex which is quaint and arty in its own way <3 The kids played and Mum and I chatted about The Seashack and everyday life.  The weather was lovely and we've come back fully inspired again.  I have been feeling a bit creatively blocked as you do now and again but hopefully I am moving in the right direction...

While we had stopped for an ice cream the kids enjoyed watching the lovely old sail barges go up and down the river, taking people on trips.  And as I turned to watch them something occurred to me.

Both the kids were waving enthusiastically at the boat - calling to the people on it!  It was so sweet, but none of them waved back :-(  I noticed that the boat consisted of adults and it got me thinking about how kids are naturally full of joy - they see other people and they want to make a connection with them.  They don't care if they are loud or people are looking or they are behaving differently to others.  They have no yet been socially conditioned.  It made me feel sad that they will lose this at some point :-(  Right now they want to smile and talk and be friendly but as we get older we become hardened to this - to opening up to strangers.  Our kids have no inhibitions - they are trusting and open and feel pure happiness at making that connection <3  I loved watching them and I hope they continue to stay open for as long as possible.

Gemma x

Keeping things simple

I've been trying to simplify my life for quite a while now to minimise the effect of the chaos I see around me.

Chaos from the stuff I have, chaos in my thoughts and chaos I see in other people and the world around me.

Chaos is addictive, fuelled by adrenaline and we get stuck in a cycle of habitual thinking and behaviour patterns.  It's familiar and comforting.

Life is so chaotic sometimes I find it quite overwhelming - and that's not a good way to feel.  It's hard to settle on anything.  There are so many things I want to do, so little time (it seems)...I start this.....I pick up that......there's an incompleteness to the projects I've started - only finishing that which has to be done, and usually under pressure.  More chaos.  Are you seeing where I'm coming from?!

Time for a new mantra - keep things simple.

Out with the constant overthinking, making mountains out of molehills, analysing the 'what ifs' and 'whys' and making things so much more difficult than they need to be. 

Sometimes I think the more choices we have in life the harder life gets.  Keep things simple.

Over the last 4 years there've been some changes in my life.  I've simplified my diet, changed my work and I'm following my heart The Seashack and my holistic therapy practice) - I organise what I do and how I do it.

As well as having some control over my work/life balance I'm finding the key to simplifying my life is to live in the now, to be mindful, consciously aware of how I'm living.  It's not easy to break lifelong habits but little by little I am spending more time in the now and it's a great place to be.  This is a work in progress!

Shirley x

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