Studio Notes: The rain has returned and the garden is thankful

It's been a quiet few weeks from me! Truthfully, a whole month since I last wrote. If you’ve been navigating the UK school holidays, you’ll already know the gentle chaos of August; full-time parenting with full-time work and everything else, all under one roof!

When family takes priority, things shift. Order processing comes next, followed by sketching and carving. A lot of my creative work over the past month happened in those quiet, late-night studio hours after the house went still. And some work simply had to wait.

BUT I am back. As I write, the rain is finally falling, and the garden is steadily returning to its lush green rather than the drought-brown summer standard I'd come accustomed to. It feels like a breath of fresh air for the garden, the studio, and the soul.

A Little Thought for 2027: The Pansy Calendar

With the rain returning and autumn creeping in, I'm excited to share my brand-new 2027 Pansy Desk Calendar.

In the traditional language of flowers, the humble pansy derives its name from the French word pensée, meaning thought. Pansies have always made me think of gentle friendships, quiet moments, and treasured memories made with others.

Originating from an original, hand carved linocut, this piece is digitally coloured and printed onto rich, tactile 300gsm cotton cardstock; the exact same I use for my fine art prints.

Designed as a complete, post-able gift set. Each calendar includes:

• An A5 cotton pansy print featuring an attached 2027 monthly tear-off calendar block
• A recyclable cardboard display easel stand, perfect for displaying your calendar on a desk or shelf
• A C5 Kraft envelope, making it wonderfully easy to pop in the post to a friend or family member.

The 2027 Pansy Calendar is available to buy now on my website, over in my Etsy Shop, and on the Country Living Artisan Marketplace!

Summer Highlights: Fleeting Moments & A Rare Visitor

Despite the heat and the busyness, there were some truly magic summer highlights. One of my absolute favourites was a trip out to a Norfolk Broads nature reserve, where we spotted a Swallowtail butterfly flitting through the reeds. If you live nearby, you’ll know just how rare and extraordinary they are to see in person!

I’ve had a deep fondness for butterflies ever since a primary school trip, where a Painted Lady landed gently on my arm. That quiet moment stayed with me forever. To me, butterflies have always symbolised freedom, quiet transformation, and the potential to chance upon bigger, wonderful things. They're a gentle reminder that some of the most important moments in life are fleeting, so we ought to pause and savour them while they're here.

What’s Coming Next in the Studio

Now that the weather has cooled, the studio wheel is turning again!

• Finishing a new Peony Flower design, final colour palette is being decided then it'll be time to print.
• New garland Poinsettia Christmas Cards. I’m currently putting the finishing touches on brand-new Poinsettia concertina cards ready for the Christmas season.
• Boxed Notecard Sets. I’ve also been working on beautiful new boxed packaging for my popular notecard sets, giving them an even cosier, gift-ready feel.

This Week's Inspiration

💬 "Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time." John Lubbock

🎧 As the Season Turns Podcast, "August" episode. A quiet, atmospheric podcast celebrating the subtle shifts in British wildlife, flora, and nature. Quite often the perfect companion for quiet evening studio sessions, bringing the soothing rhythms of the countryside indoors while I carve.