why I had a mini break down on Instagram stories

Yep, anyone that follows me on instagram will probably have seen me over sharing life frequently in my stories and I personally really love using the feature, I don't do amazing fancy well curated stories like the amazing Carrie over at WishWishWish I should probably swot up on her latest tips on how to, but anyway. I work pretty hard on the illustration side of things and yesterday morning it all came to a bit of a head, I received an email from a customer and I highly value all my customers. Bear in mind I had been trying to get into my emails for 6 days after a hacking session by some persistent peeps, anyway I manage to get in and I am confronted with this one email. It makes my heart sink because I put so much of my energy into getting all my paintings out to people as quickly as I humanly can and you know what sometimes you can't please everyone. I worked on nearly fifteen hundred portraits and painting for clients on the lead up to Christmas and nine hundred of these were wonderful pet portraits. So ideally that one email shouldn't of got to me right?! Wrong, a creative person I have found is often very sensitive and I don't consider myself someone who has a weak nature or someone that gives up easily. But this morning I did, I decided to voice how I felt on my Instagram stories in the hope it would reach people that don't read my blog or care for the captions below my Instagram photos. 

It dawned on me, I wasn't happy doing it anymore, I love my customers but I wasn't happy churning out pieces that didn't make my heart sing anymore. So I made the decision to stop taking commissions through my shop, it will be a massive cut in my wages but I was starting to lower the cost of my art. People were referring to them as prints, but they are painted by hand, often people expect them to be created and posted the next day. All the relevant information is in my terms and conditions. I think we've become so accustomed to the ASOS and Amazon prime mentality of swift next day service. It forced me to fall out of love with something I started doing only this time last year. 

Commissions for me are my bread and butter work, its that simple, and its great to be so in demand but what I failed to realise when I saw the pound signs coming in, that my mental health with suffer. Its plummeted to an all time low. I draw for 16 hours a day, I remember to eat probably once a day and I only take myself out to post my orders. I began to feel immense guilt that people were seeing how "well" I was but deep down I was so exhausted and lonely. It was becoming unhealthy and unsustainable I was snapping at my boyfriend whilst he's away and it almost got to the point I didn't want to be with him anymore because all I wanted was a hug and he couldn't. When your work starts to impact on your personal life, well there were two options facing me take my shop in a direction where I feel in control or to quit completely for six months but I know me well and I would probably just work anyway so I decided its within my power to shape the shop I want to own.

I have decided to out source all my prints, totes, cards, pins, badges and patches because off the back of the commissions I had a few pennies to be able to afford some flashy printed goodies and why not. I'm finding the process of pin making at certain manufacturers to be a struggle getting my head around. But its all learning and will be good for me in the future when it comes to ordering more. I've invested more money in my business in 2018 then in the last 4 years of having my company and I think it was because I was fearful of failure and wasting money, but I feel a lot more determined to give this a go because I have learnt from the painful mistake of over working. So I guess the the long and short of it is I have found my worth again, I will still be available for commissions but this will be via email, not via my shop there wont be any discounts and my prices will be going put my time and energy is important and no amount of money is worth losing them for again.

Sunday morning rambles my thoughts on being freelance

My brain at the moment seems to be constantly consumed by work, if I'm not drawing peoples portraits I'm planning on how to create the next image for Instagram and how to keep people interested in what I do. It's pretty tiring and does get to me the majority of the time but, its completely self inflicted. 

I am often engulfed with mix emotions on what I do for a living my dad doesn't consider it a living and highly doubt he ever will, he's one of those worriers unless you're in a 9-5 job you'll never make ends meet. So often I have his voice in the back of my head probably reinforcing my fear of failure, but nevertheless I keep doing what I do. I did considered heading back to retail for a bit for a steady income and to squash the fears of the lack of money that might suddenly dry up forcing me to feel like a failure. But I physically can't stop what I do and I have friends telling me off for evening thinking about bailing on what I do. 

Often I'm seen on Instagram stories working, and people say to me how hard I work, it makes them feel bad, that I never stop. Its an odd thing because even the drawings I do for myself I guess I could consider them work. People around me always seem a million times more impressed with what I do to earn my way then I am with myself. I feel that that might be blamed on the good old imposter syndrome I seem to have harboured the last four years I've been doing this.

 

I'm never completely satisfied with the work I create and in a way I guess thats kinda good for me as I'm always researching, drawing and trying but it does take its toll on the hands, my joints aren't what they use to be in my arms and in my hands, I'm only 29 but the stiffness and pains have settle back into my fingers joints and wrists, and something I think I need to look into in the new year, best ways to keep the arthritis that runs in my family at bay well at least long enough to give me a fair whack at my job. I find the winter months the hardest so hopefully it will soon subside. 

My work is also my crutch whilst my beloved boyfriend is deployed I find it crazy to think how far away he as I type this, the drawing keeps my brain occupied during the dark evenings and slow weekends. So I am grateful to currently be inundated with pet portraits and requests for live illustrations. I get this odd fear each and every time I draw in front of people or even drawing a pet portrait its a constant fear that washes over me, that people will discover I'm a Fraud and I can't really draw and no-one will want any work done by me again - its that pesky imposter syndrome. 

I awoke this morning after a late night drawing, I didn't crawl into bed till 3 am and I awoke at 6:46 am so really I barely slept, I've not been the best at sleeping since Mum died and for me thats one of the worst parts about losing her, its every night before I sleep and every morning just as I awake up, it comes sometimes as a fleeting memory or often before I fall asleep its pretty much a full blown flash back of the morning I found her dying. Those are the times I hate trying to sleep because I know at that point it wont come. So I seek comfort in drawing and I love the moment my brain switches off and I could genuinely lose hours in my own art therapy. 

So really my work isn't really work, it means more to me then making a few quid here and there, its part of who I am as a person. Don't get me wrong  I have client work that I have to slog through and beat myself up over time to time and I often have a good handful of clients who email me about 40 times a day but who doesn't have parts of their job they aren't overly keen on? I'm lucky my talent is being recognised and obviously I would love more publication work but that will happen in time I'm sure. 

You're probably wondering what is the point to this endless ramble, it triggered with me this morning after whilst working last night my best mate was messaging me stressed about repaying her mortgage and at times making me feel like my job wasn't a real job, it just had an air of well now I have more responsibilities then you but guess we can all count our blessing indifferent ways people probably look at my job and see it as an easy ride. It is I guess compared to a nurse, doctor, builder or fireman. But also like other jobs its a hard slog meeting deadlines, chasing work, chasing money, constantly selling myself and often the grass looks Greener on this side of the fence but it take a shit ton of self belief, hard work and stubbornness for me to not admit defeat with it on a daily basis. I myself am also saving for a house on freelancers wage is tough sometimes and disheartening when a client at times goes with someone cheaper or cancels the project, and I am learning not to get excited with things until contracts are signed. Overall I am pretty lucky I wake up everyday set my own times and work on my own projects it could be a hell of a lot worst. 

The story behind my latest tattoos

Hidden in the depths of my SD card lurch these photos snapped by the ever amazing Natasha I don't often walk around with cling film masking tapped to my arms but I'd waited a while to get another tribute tattoo for my late mum, I now have two dedicated around the time she passed away but six in total for her but these piece meant a hell of a lot more to me then the others. I asked the amazing Dirt Nap who is a long time friend of Lyzi from being little and came high recommend I just always knew it was him who I wanted to create this piece for Mum. 

I am a bit of a veteran when it comes to tattoos and I've got about 24 dotted on various parts of my body some done by ex's some done by me, and the majority done by my favourite artist but these two piece came with the most significance I'm not really one together sentimental tattoos but I wanted something that would be on me forever as a reminded of my Mum's battle those last few days to try and stay alive. I've spoken pretty candidly about my mothers death. You can read a little more here about my loss  and still at times now I feel that I never really had a mother at all as it's still pretty hard for me to comprehend that she wont be coming home. 

The idea behind the tattoo is really pretty simple, when my mum's life machine was switched off and she was pretty much expected to die there and then her heart kept beating for far longer then expected she had some strength left in her as we stood for three hours around her hospital bed waiting for her heart to stop beating, I got the words by Ben Howard an amazing musician that I went to Falmouth Uni with "keep your head up, keep your heart strong" which actually had a weird link to Oli the tattooist who went to college with the singer so I took that as an amazing sign. Now we had planned to have it together on one arm but at the last minute we decided to turn it into two tattoos. 

I was so over the moon and overwhelmed by the work Oli did, on the day of getting it I had it done at Parliament tattoo I just felt this lack of stress and anyone who knows me knows my anxiety levels outside of my comfort zone are just crazy but the day of the tattoo wasn't filled with any stress or dread which made for an really nice experience if you can call getting a tattoo a nice experience. 

I know tattoos aren't for everyone and my dad hates mine, its just an extension of me, sometimes I wish they weren't there so people don't look at me weirdly or question my choices but it's part and parcel I guess of being creative with your skin and barely regret them . I love the meaning and even though these photos don't show how simple and lovely they are I have them on me forever, I know my mum would tut at me and say "Ella you're sucha tit" but that brings the biggest smile to my face and at the end of the day isn't that what life is about, isn't that just the best way to remember someone with a smile and a less heavier heart then yesterday? difference is now I can wear mine on my sleeve to tell the world its ok to miss someone special. 

What inspires me to draw?

I felt in recent months I have lost my way a tad when its come to my independent work, I've felt the weight of the internet and the endless scrolling and absorbing of everyone else successes and I've felt myself judging, second guessing and absorbing things that just aren't me. So I sat myself do whilst I was having a bit of an artist's block and really tried to figure out what keeps me drawing and inspired. 

No matter where I go in life or what I do work wise I always end up back being inspired by tattoos, probably my longest running obsession that and Beatrix potter strange combination I know, but anyway after feeling the weight of the Internet on my shoulders to create colour meaningful work I've felt a little lost. I decided to head back to what I know and love and thats tattoos, my sketchbooks have since I can remember been filled with scrolls, swallows, guitars and intricate line work, so I thought it was about time that I embraced those styles that I love and create some pretty meaningful pieces. 

I picked up this The Brothers Bray co gym style bag from a charity shop when out with Josie a few weeks ago I think for £6 and felt that it could be a little fun project to get me started. I decided to do a freehand script on the back of the bag and a free hand tiger's head I'm not 100% happy with the head but I do truly love it. I've just used standard Acrylic paint as once it's dried it's pretty stubborn to remove. 

I have some exciting plans for new products for my shop which is spurring me forward a few illustrated jackets, totes and pins and really throw myself back into creating good quality merchandise and possibly explore my love for handwriting and hand lettering, obviously it's not helped binging on 7 seasons of sons of Anarchy to inspire me to look at vintage Harley's and Triumps. It really has been nice to get back to my desk put some good music on and just create, I have a new set of prints coming out this week and a few of my old stock will be discontinued to make why for some fun new pieces. 

Baileys book prize illustrated series - The Dark Circle and The Power And Give Away

For the final instalment of my illustrated versions of the Bailey prize book covers comes my very favourite illustrations in the series The Dark Circle is written by Linda Grant, it proves to be a gripping read set in 1949 after the war and people are getting back to normality, the book starts in the East End of London following Twins, both poorly end up in a sanitarium in Kent, hence the favourite part of the illustration a big giant poster. 

I wanted to give the illustration a slight vintage feel and the chairs I illustrated in this image are based around a set my Grandma had in her front room, When ever I think of the 1940's I think of my Grandma so that was really helpful as a reference to colours that felt like I could include in this piece. 

Now the power proved to be a really dynamic illustration and I love the giant lighting bolt lamp, The Power written by Namoi Alderman, I am in fact half way through this wonderful book, women in this novel have the power, they are capable of inflicting such strenght through their fingers tips that it really makes you look at the world differently. The front cover of the book is actually pretty striking and I wanted to get the contrast in colours and the deep meaning behind the book in this one simple illustration. 

So you can see part one of my illustrated series with the Baileys Prize on there here blog series one features stay with me and do not say we have nothing and the second installemnt features The Sport of Kings and First Love 

I wanted to take the time to wish all the female writer that have been shortlisted the best of luck, its been a wonderful challenge creating these pieces. 

Now for the fun part you can win yourself the entire short list along with a bottle of Original Baileys Irish cream then Please head over to Instagram 

How toEnter 

1. Follow @_ellamasters_ & @Baileysprize

2. Like the post 

*Illustration and post have been sponsored but all illustrations and words are my own

How to be more confident with your creativity

The last few days I have been hold up at my desk with a few ideas that I wanted to get some ideas on to paper, often I have many ideas swimming around in my head and I never get them down on paper. Most of the time I think to myself it will probably be a waste of time so I often stop myself from creating a piece of art work, because I lack the confidence in my skills. So this weekend I took the time to just create and off the back of this I often get asked how I have the confidence to create so much work. So I wanted to share a little run down how my art works and how you can implement it in your own art.

Don't compare your beginnings to someone else's ending

Lets begin with something simple, recently I have been creating a lot of work inside my sketchbook so when I share something online or on my Instagram you don't see the work in progress, they often see the final piece so to begin with people often share they're favourite pieces so bear that in mind. So my first tip to being more confident in your creativity is

Do not compare yourself to others in anyway

This is a similar point to above, if you feel that you are about to do that, Stop! walk away from your phone, internet what ever and try and get rid of that feeling, it won't help the creative part of your brain you'll instantly revert to the mind set of 'I am not good enough'

Find what work for you

I have spent many years practicing what makes me happy in my work and I am still finding what works for me, if you know what you're doing with you're material then with that comes a confidence it's as  simple as that, I know that I can work watercolours and Gouache because I have spent 21 years using it. My Dad bought me my first ever watercolour set around the age of 6 and from that point I was so determined to get them to work for me (I was obsessed with Beatrix potter).

If you have no idea what works for you keep trying, experimenting with styles is the way forward.

Draw / create everyday 

I am blessed I guess that my job means I can create everyday but it is still a job for me, I draw things for clients that aren't what my passion is but I am still drawing, now even if you wouldn't consider yourself to good at drawing and this is where you lack confidence, well get yourself a mini sketchbook a set of cheap pencils head to Wilkinsons or the works and just set aside ten minutes a day, when you're on the loo, on your commute and just draw. Doesn't matter what it is get. it. on. paper. Creating something everyday means that when it comes to ever having to share something with a client you have this arsenal of work, this doesn't just stand true for artist, it stands true for illustrators, writers, musicians anyone that creates something.

Over time it's like anything else you grow the confidence, it's not going to come over night but I assure you it will come.

Don't listen to anyone else

I was also blessed with parents and a grandparent that championed my creative side, I do not remember a time when I wasn't drawing, but this doesn't mean that they often understood my choices. my Dad still to this day doesn't understand how or why I haven't become a landscape artist, that's what he wanted for me, it wasn't my dream and I didn't want to succumb to his wishes because those are his dreams and not mine. I am very stubborn, but to me drawing and creating goes hand in hand with breathing or eating so I think the obsession has helped me immensely with my confidence as it was pretty much like this is all I want to do with my life 'I have to make it work.'

But often many parents don't see the value in their children being creative, probably thinking there's no money in it, don't get me wrong it is hard, but there are so many ways into creative careers.

If people around you doubt your abilities you don't have to listen, if you're happy creating work for yourself fuck them, straight up. If we listened to every negative word that left peoples mouths, god this world would be a dull place.

Also part of me doesn't care or give a shit too much about what others think of my work If I don't create this someone else might and then I can't complain because I didn't even try.

What you should do with those negative words let them be your building block to confidence, stand on them and proclaim to the world I will prove to myself (important) that who I am and what I do for me is more important then a few hurtful words and then flourish.

Learn about people who have gone before you.

I grew up in a pretty poor working class London family, but my parent's always made a point of  telling us we could do anything, ambitious I know, but fuelled my imagination for most of my childhood I wanted to be a Giraffe, completely unrealistic but what it did was it meant I become bloody brilliant at drawing Giraffes. Then with the realisation that wasn't happening anytime soon, I wanted to be an archaeologist finding lost cities, digging up bones, hunting out buried treasure I was pretty obsessed. I then wanted to be a war artist, yep someone who's not a fan of violence, but it was the wonderful sketchbooks I saw that inspired me, But what I didn't realised at the time was my childhood brain pretty quickly became a sponge to my surroundings.

My Dad would take us every weekend to somewhere fun and educational  (he would save his wages) he would take all 5 of us kids ranging from 6 to 6 months old on the underground to the National Gallery, imperial war museum, the tower of London, Museum of London, The Tate, London Zoo the list is endless and because I spent those hours immersing myself with Van Gogh, Monet's, Roman artefacts, Giraffes, Tanks and trench experiences, it set my imagination off. Now I know many people don't have those chances but there are libraries filled with free books that will teach you to look at how others work, what hardships other overcame.

Also the internet now is a fab places for ambitious creative, read more, I can't recommend enough Patti Smith ' just kids' book she's up there with Vivienne Westwood and Van Gogh as my idols.

Don't think for one second what you have created is original, it's influenced by so many factors and remember to embrace that and other people who have gone before you may give the confidence you need to create.

Understand yourself

Some days I have that damn creative block and god do I hate myself for it, You question your ability you put yourself down the list of negative thoughts are endless, but what I have learn't around these creative blocks amazing things can happen. This is often when I walk away from my desk and go in search of museums, scrap book, journal, blog, walk, gym and read. What's important is having the confidence to say to yourself, ok my brain isn't letting me work now, it will come back and I will be just as successful next time, I just need to have faith in myself.

surround yourself with good people

Sounds pretty simple right? It's often tough to find your right people, when you are pursing something that is for you, for your happiness often people can get jealous, bitch and totally zap and suck the positivity out of you. Just stop hanging out with them, I have three very distinct times this has happened to me that I can recall. and if any of these ring true with you walk away be polite protect your magic.

Example 1 - Best friend pretty much through the whole of secondary school, now I wouldn't say I was more ambitious, but I wanted more then to moan about things I didn't have, so I worked got into art Uni and often she would tell me she was jealous she hadn't, I was a better artist she would moan at me, when I got a new boyfriend she would often remark 'How did you manage to get someone so good looking' I never pulled her up on the fact she would make me feel shit like she was wearing down my confidence. Fast forward a few years, I was in a really bad place and she lorded it over me that she was now the more successful one and she joked about my depression. I stopped talking to her until I felt in a better place, I lost 4 stone and my blog and work were succeeding she didn't like this and proclaim she didn't feel like we could be friends anymore because I was prettier and more successful. This my friends is bullshit, those were her insecurities and I deserve better friends

Now I could share the other examples of insecure people with you but it sounds pretty similar to the above. My favourite part of using social media is the fact I have been able create true friendships, with guys like, Christina over at Olly and the bee, Natasha Nuttall, Emma Jane Palin, Ree Ree, and my good friend Nichola whoe doesn't blog but should!

There are people out there that will champion you,

Be Braver with your choices.

Now I have run a business for a goo few years and it's only really dawning on me that I don't have all that much confidence in myself as a business owner I don't push what I do because I am afraid of failing, I am as open as a business woman as I can be it's been a tough 18 months and so many doubts about myself to succeed have creep in without my mothers constant kind words. But the other day I realised that it's often my defence mechanism to not try or to procrastinate because I am fearful. But I have made a brave choice to reach out to a friend to help me create a new kick as portfolio that will hopefully represent me as an artist and a business woman. So when you sit down to think about what choices to take do it with confidence, it's ok to be apprehensive you're human, just don't let it stop you.

Create a Dream client / stockist list

Yep, I finally bit the bullet and decided to be accountable for my dreams, often I say to myself I want to desperately work with a brand but I never follow through with actually perusing it. So on the way into town the other day I got my notebook and I wrote all of the clients I wanted to illustrate for & blog for, I see both of my jobs as often separate which is probably odd but I find it hard to merge the two.

So I got this list, I've worked with some of them before like Anthropologie both as an illustrator and a blogger but this time I wanted to add them to my stockist list, so there is me openly admitting I would be beyond chuffed if I had my worked stocked in Anthropologie.

You could do this for any creative pursuit, write a realistic (Important but please be ambitious) list and how in manageable chunks you could achieve this.

I also wrote that I wanted to have my work published in two different magazines which probably isn't too ambitious but for me it is, Make it personal to you and do not fear failure. Break it down and you'll be ok.  

Stop with the number game

We all want to be up there in the hundreds of thousands of followers right? wrong looks great but engagement will be low and as much as it would look nice imagine all that money and all those deals? meh money's great but selling my soul isn't so enjoy the following you have because if you're always complaining about the things you don't have, you wont appreciate the thing you do. Simply be happy and ambitious.

Most importantly enjoy what you do

When your creativity and work becomes a chore stop, take that time to reassess why the hell you're doing what you do, is it you're not happy with the direction your work is taking, feeling sad about things going on in your personal life, bored of the work, lacking inspiration? If you have to keep going with a certain project because it's for a client, it won't be forever and maybe take some time to create something for you.

But at the end of the day remember to enjoy your me time, fill those sketchbooks up with things that make you happy and share whatever inspires you, because at the end of the day no one is you, you bring something special to the world so protect that magic. 

So to sum up my thoughts, confidence in your work and creativity is nurtured and at times its hard to see your worth, hard to push past insecurities and a struggle to not compare yourself. But everyone struggles with confidence in all walks of life and imagine if people like Picasso, Orwell or anyone you look upto didn't just throw caution to the wind and get that shit created then we would be living in a pretty dull world, so keep that work to yourself if that's your thing, or share it openly but just know that we are all on a path that's important to us so enjoy it and be a little bit more ambitious.

Talk you through the inspiration for my new collection

Well the last few weeks have been pretty hectic, a lot of procrastination and painting and a lot of my time with my head in my sketchbook which is obviously my happy place. You have probably seen my new ceramic collection on my instagram and throughout my twitter, it's a big old jump from the tattooed men and pieces of work that I had previously created, but I feel like this work is a lot more me. 

I decided to just throw myself into the work, taking my inspiration from my childhood love of nature and just set to work painting, it has been a really fun collection to work on, I am still creating piece as we speak and it a rolling collection, there will be more pieces coming out in the next few days and if I am honest I am completely terrified the pieces wont fully sell as I have upped my prices this is due to the fact i am finally valuing more what I do for a living which sounds insanely silly but each pot is hand painted and finished and this is reflected in the price. I suppose it's not to bad to live with 40 painted vases hey!? You can find them over in my shop Ella Masters Studio

 The collection itself is dedicated to my late mother who was a florist and I know deep down she would of loved every single one and would of been rooting for this creative outburst that came over me. So it feels pretty perfect to dedicate the "Forget me not" collection to her. You can sign up to my mailing list for discounts here.

 

my studio space

 

So guess what I did with my last day of 2016? Washing all my bed sheets, packing away old clothes and sorting my desk, crazy right? But I wanted to start my 2017 on a good note, I decided to do a few simple things that when I wake up in 2017 will put a little smile on my face, I work from home, I have for the whole of my freelance career it's a sort of love hate relationship with the space I have nestled between my desk and window sits my bed which is often a struggle to avoid, unless its super cold and dark outside working from my desk is one of my favourite things. I decided at the start of the year to fill my room with as many plants as I could as they often remind me of my mum who was a florist and they just lift a room and fill it with so much life (obviously) just adds a little bit extra to a room.

Now it's 2017 (scary I turn 29 this year eek) I brought myself a cheap wall calendar just so I can be way more organised with my little freelance life, this year I'm really wanting to expand my brand so being on top of everything is vital. The one on my wall is a cheap mid year planner from Wilkinsons at the moment you can pick a lot up half price as its the start of the year so hunt one out.

The walls of my room/studio are covered, a little bit like a teenagers room but mine is filled with art work, artists, records, quotes, crosses and so many collections of things I have gathered over the years, for me I find filling my space with inspiring images, I also collect a lot of crap, I just fill my life with it  maybe I need to spend my 2017 de cluttering my life!? In my space I have a wall 12 Ikea box shelves filled with inspiring books that I have kept since University, books are my hidden addiction. I read a book a week if I can I am currently in Love with "In the company of women" by Grace Bonney I snapped mine up a few weeks ago from Amazon, it's filled with really wonderful artists, bloggers and designers. The images and the writing is perfect for dipping in and out of. It's been a great read for me before I snuggle up in bed.

Currently at the moment my work is highly inspired by Mexican art, tattoos, skulls and flowers so I think my studio space is a refection of where my mind is at, at the moment so here is hoping that 2017 is a year of contentment, creativity and art for me. I want to spend the year chasing my artistic dreams and hopefully finding my place amongst things. I am also hoping to finally set up my Youube channel and get creating and sharing my life on there so fingers crossed I can finally get something together for that.

home comforts

Whilst I am currently slowly dying from a chest infection I know right sexy! I have taken to my bed feeling rather sorry for myself unable to do much other then drink tea, cough and write in my journal. Slowly throughout the day and whilst the new Autumnal air blows through my net curtains I wanted to freshen up my space. I love the fact my space is so very me, a tad cluttered, filled with a lot of love and random things. As the dark nights draw in I love to melt as many candles as possible so being given this Diptyque candle that reminds me of my mum as my interior inspiration, at the moment I am obssessed with all things black and white, the contrast against all my colourful work in my space makes me super happy. 

Also as the nights draw in I want to spend my evenings, blogging reading and using my brain a little so I fell in love with this wonderful Shell Jigsaw puzzle from Cloudberries  It looks so intricate and will definitely keep me busy during the lonely dark nights, plus its covered in shells and it was only the other day I was going on about how much I loved shells as a child! I have always surrounded myself with things I have collected, nailed to the walls, pinned up in places and draped across things, I'm a bit of a hoarder but I would happily let things go if I needed to. One thing I love when rearranging my wall space is popping up photos of fun times with friends and family. My favorites are my old school photobooth snaps with friends taken while I was in Paris and my afternoons in East London. 

One thing my room is never without is plants, my Mother was a florist so flowers have places a major roll in my up bringing she would constantly rescue plants and bring them home, so often when I am out and I see a cheap plant I pick it up, my favorite places to snap up a lovely pot plant has to be Wilkinsons, they do a wonderful variety, Urban Outfitters do a fab range ( a little pricey) Ikea also do a wonderful array, only in store though. I am on the hunt for the perfect pots though so if you know any let me know?! I love using old broken cups for my pot plants and some of my favorites are from Anthropologie. How do you like to put your stamp on your space?