Hello! Oh goodness, I can't believe it's mid November already and spreading the word about my pop up shop as well as preparing for the workshops (as well as creating new stock!) is proving to be a real juggling act. 

It's less than two weeks to my Pop Up Shop  so I thought I'd share my current round-up from my newsletter - to give you a whistle stop break down of what's going on and when. You can sign up for my newsletters here - I like to make them fun and personal, but I am pretty terrible for not sending them out often - so I promise you won't be spammed!

From the 2nd-8th December, I'm hoping to bring the Winter Gardens Pop Up Shop to life with some creative workshop activities - a chance for everyone to get involved and get a bit festive with me! See below for details and feel free to email me if you have any questions.

I'm so happy to have teamed up with The Better Together Project - a community project that is organising a free Christmas party for people in Sheffield who are likely to be spending the festive season alone. Throughout my week at the pop up, you can drop in to make and write a card - and the lovely people at The Better Together Project will be giving them out to their guests. Click here to find out more.

Next up is Let's Draw Sheffield! Another free activity where you can come along and draw your favourite building or place in Sheffield and add it to a giant map I've been busy illustrating. The collaboration will be made into prints after, which will be sold to raise money for a local charity, to be announced very soon. To keep updated, please visit the Facebook event here.

As well as the free activities, there is also one ticketed workshop on Sunday 8th December. Create Your Own House Portrait will be collage focused, with materials I've illustrated and collected to reflect the architecture theme of my prints. You can create your own home, favourite pub or shop, as a handmade gift or to keep for yourself. Ticket price is £15 and includes a free collage pack to take home. Space is limited so please book soon if you'd like to join us! Visit the event page to find out more.

Last but not least, there are some shiny new things on the way to join my range of prints and products at the shop! Though my main hope for the pop up is for the community to get involved in the activities and to create a lovely (and little bit festive!) atmosphere, I am still very excited to share some new items I've been working on too. Please keep an eye on my Instagram or Facebook for updates! 

I'm delighted to announce this free activity that will be running throughout the duration of the Pop Up Shop. Stop off at the Winter Gardens Pop Up Shop between 2nd-8th December to make a card and send a festive wish to a friend you’ve never met. 

It warmed my heart to read about The Better Together Project - a project aiming to alleviate isolation and loneliness in Sheffield. They organise a big Christmas party for lots of elderly people who may be spending the festive season alone... and you, me and everyone who stops by can make a card and write a message for one of those people. 

‘For the last 3 years, The Better Together Project has hosted a christmas party for many elderly people in Sheffield, who may otherwise be spending the festive season alone. Each event has been incredibly successful, as a result of overwhelming support from the local community. One lady told us that we had transported her back to the best days of her life...what more could you ask for than that?’
- The Better Together Project

Whether you want to draw or make an abstract collage, no art skills are necessary - all ages and abilities welcome. Visit the Facebook event page for more info!

Hello, I have some workshop news! As part of my week in Winter Gardens Pop Up Shop, I’ll be holding a Make Your Own House Portrait workshop! 

You’ll get to use housey themed patterns and elements that I’ve drawn and prepared to make your own collage combination. You’ll come away with your unique creation, ready to frame - for yourself or as a homemade gift for someone you love. 

The workshop takes place in the Pop Up Shop, Sheffield Winter Gardens on the 8th December at 10.30am. Ticket prices are £15 and include a free gift. Read on to find out more or click here to book your place.

The workshop also times with the launch on my new House Collage Pack on the way to my shop this Christmas - a smaller version of some of the materials in the workshop. I’ve wanted to add this to my shop for ages and finally decided now was the time! I’ll let you know when it’s ready… and if you’re coming along to the workshop on the 8th, you’ll get a pack free to take home after.

It’s still in the making, so for now here are a few more examples by me and workshop participants.

As you can see, last time I decided to create my perfect fantasy cafe - the Yorkshire Pud Cafe! I also made a doughnut shop… because I clearly love all things batter based! 

I’m always drawn to the bright coloured papers - they would make lovely pieces for a child’s bedroom! But I also bring along lots of natural colours too, so people can create something cool to match their home (or someone else’s) Click here to visit the Facebook event page for the Create Your Own House Portrait workshop!

The pop up shop is now on Facebook, which has made it all seem extra real! I want to say a massive thankyou to all who liked, commented or showed otherwise their positivity for it - you’ve no idea how much it helped! 

It had been so long since booking it at the start of the year and I have to admit my positivity started to wobble as it finally got closer and I still had so much to do. Posting it on here made me feel like it was definitely happening for real so I might as well enjoy it! 

I would love it if you can continue the support by simply spreading the word - please tell a friend who might be interested and go to the event on Facebook to see updates - more info coming soon on some lovely workshop activities I have planned!