I've been a little quiet on the social media and website front, but as we officially enter January 2026, it felt like a good time to check in, say hi and let you know what I've been up to...aside from eating and drinking and making merry over the Christmas weeks.
This festive winter season was certainly full of firsts. My first proper market experiences. My first time taking on commissions. My first experiences packing crates, sending prints to their new homes, setting up tables in the cold, and visiting corners of South East London I'd never been before.
It was exhausting and non-stop and full of surprises, and I loved every second of it.
I took my work to a handful of markets and pop-ups, each one teaching me something new. Coulgate Street in Brockley was my gentle introduction – a reminder that every market has its own rhythm. Havelock Walk’s Winter Weekend was a real highlight, not just because it was my most successful market, but because it’s so close to my heart and home. Sharing my work in my own neighbourhood, surrounded by familiar streets and friendly faces, felt incredibly special.
West Norwood brought its own learning curves, from dealing with my first experience of making £0 from a six-hour day of selling to meeting a customer who turned out to be my first online sale. And Deptford’s Studio 101 rounded out the season with its creative, community-led energy. Some days were busy, some quieter, but every single one affirmed to me that I'm doing exactly what I should be doing.
One of the most exciting milestones that arrived at the very tail end of 2025 was seeing my work stocked in an actual bricks-and-mortar shop for the first time. Dropping off my prints and greeting cards at the Solo Craft Fair shop in Elephant Park (Elephant & Castle) at the end of December to be available in-store throughout January 2026 felt like such a strong way to kick off the new year – and another little spark of excitement that the work I do doesn’t just live on my desk or Instagram anymore.
Now, as I take a short break from markets (hello warm hands, I’ve missed you), I’m feeling energised about what’s ahead. There are collaborations in the works, new projects quietly bubbling away, and a growing focus on developing my greeting cards and getting them stocked wholesale – something I’m really excited to lean into this year.
One thing this season has taught me is that being an artist involves a lot less time actually making art than I ever imagined. There’s admin, emails, printing, pricing, packing, planning – all important, all necessary – but I’m itching to get back to the cutting table, glue stick in hand, making again.
I’ve never been one for New Year’s resolutions, but this year I’ve been trying something a little different. I did the 13 Winter Steps intention-setting ritual, and it has reframed the way I look at creativity and life. Instead of pressuring myself, I’m letting go of outcomes and nurturing the things I’ve already manifested as real. I’m focusing on careful work, enjoyment, and patience, because that’s how I create my best art, and how I want this journey to feel going forward into a bright, shiny new year full of promise and potential.
2025 taught me new skills, introduced me to incredible people and showed me what can happen when I follow a new direction with passion, energy and a curiosiy. It was a year I decided to have faith in myself and an unforgettable ride that gave me back my confidence and a sense of self-worth that had long been lacking. As we head into 2026, I'm certain that this business I’m building is worth the time, energy and heart I’m putting into it.
I’ll be back at markets in early spring, refreshed and ready. For now, I’m heading back to the studio (aka my living room), excited to see what happens next!