Catching up with creativity

I’ve written this post about a hundred times but wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to say until I started typing…

Since we finished our Creative Cocoon I’ve felt a real need to give workshops and tutorials a bit of space. I absolutely love sharing and teaching but needed to take a breather. It’s allowed me to give the physical space I teach in a refresh but also to give my creativity space too. Spring is a busy time when you grow flowers, plans get put into action, seeds must be sown in order to have a succession of flowers for the year and after winter dormancy the garden springs back into life. As soon as the first tulips pop, it’s all systems go to get the flowers out there and people buying once again. On top of this I’ve spent the last month recovering from surgery on my ear to fix my hearing  which has taken a lot more energy and time than I was expecting. Sitting alongside all of this is keeping up with daily life…what day, what club, what PE kit?! GAH!

Many years ago when I first begun writing a blog it was very DIY focused. I began sharing my (then) newly discovered love of jewellery making and as my life moved forward it reflected my wedding, home renovations and little children. A constant through all of this was my love of flowers, I used them as props when I photographed DIY projects, to finish a room I had just decorated and when I had tiny babies, time in the garden became a tonic to everyday stresses.

Throughout everything flowers have been a constant source of inspiration, when I realised I could turn my love of growing flowers into a serious business the DIY side of my life took a bit of a back seat. I’m missing the freedom of creativity at the moment and have been questioning lately how I can combine my love of growing flowers and keeping potential customers informed as to what I sell with writing about my other interests whilst keeping them balanced and connected. Are you interested in DIY projects with a floral twist? Would sharing recipes be something that makes you stop and read? I feel that there is more I can do in this online space other than just sell flowers and want to go back to my roots a little bit…

As for these tiny cards, I made them back in March (I’m a terrible card sender btw) using tiny scraps of my floral dyed silks and other fabric scraps, stitched onto handmade paper. I find this type of sewing so calming and am curious to explore how I use my petals to inspire creativity this summer. Once I’ve dug a bit deeper, I hope that I’ll be able to create new exciting workshops and continue to develop the connection between what I am experiencing outside and  what I can create inside.

I’d love to know your thoughts how you you balance your business and your passions when they are closely linked.