Notes From The Studio / Vol. 6
Hello. It’s been a while.
The last one of these studio updates was in September. A different season, gearing up for the Christmas rush, and wondering how long I can continue to spin as many plates as I was.
Since then, it’s quietened down in my head as I prioritise what I can control and what I can’t. So let me fill you in.
Work and all the bits in between
The last few months have been really busy, but the good kind of busy. The kind where you look back and realise just how much has been quietly building in the background and in my busy brain.
I’ve been working on new brands and websites across a real mix of clients. From Bowen therapists who are calm, considered, and very much about trust and clarity, to more green-fingered projects like Plant Up, which has been a brilliant one to get stuck into.
There’s also been a lovely run of print work. Designing florist wrapping paper, creating crafted notecards to go out with flowers, and a steady stream of personalised notecards for Text From A Friend customers, which always feels like being let in on wee moments in people’s lives, and I’m still amazed when people order my handwritten scribbles. I’ll be forever grateful.
And in amongst all of that, the usual studio life:
saving the neighbour’s plants (again)
juggling timelines
having too many tabs open (literally and mentally)
Community updates (the good kind)
In amongst everything else, there’s finally been some genuinely positive news on the community front too.
After a year of meetings, petitions, protests, surveys, conversations, flyering, door knocking and a lot of collective effort from a lot of good humans, we had a meeting regarding the community centre… and …drum roll please …we’ve saved it.
It still feels a bit weird typing that considering I started this just over a year ago and thought I still had a long way to go!
Now the real work begins. There’s a hole in the roof to deal with, surveys to carry out, paperwork, business plans, meetings and probably a hundred things we haven’t even thought of yet. But it feels a bit different now. Positive and exciting. We can finally move forward in the right direction instead of constantly fighting to get some answers.
It’s a reminder of how powerful communities can be when people actually come together and care enough to try.
Slight plot twist
I’ve also spent a good chunk of time dealing with tennis elbow, which sounds minor until you try to do anything.
It has slowed things down a bit. Made me stop and listen to what’s going on in my body, pain-wise, and forced a bit of rest (not my strong point). But also gave me space to think, reset slightly, and be more intentional about what needs to be done.
Still not fully best pals with it, but we’re getting there.
OFFF, Barcelona and a dangerous idea
April came with a very much needed change of scenery. A trip to OFFF in Barcelona with design friends, which came at exactly the right time.
A few days of talks, sunshine, good people, sangria, and creative energy that takes you out of your usual routine. The kind of trip that reminds you why you do what you do, and also makes you question everything slightly.
Including… ‘Should I just move to Barcelona?’
There’s something I love about the city. The pace. The light. The fact that you can sit outside with a coffee in the morning and it actually feels like a nice moment, the sun on your face, and it’s not a race against the weather.
It’s a different vibe and definitely elevates your mood. And that is what I am here for. If only…
Looking back / moving forward
It’s been one of those periods where a lot has happened without shouting about it. Good projects. Good people. Ongoing relationships that continue to grow. New ideas are starting to take shape.
And a reminder (again) that this kind of work, when it’s done with the right people, is actually pretty special.
On my desk / in my ears
🎧 Podcast: The Foundling - this story about being abandoned as a baby unravelled into so much more.
📖 Books: I’ve read a few since the last Studio update.
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk - Reading this at exactly the right time about how we carry stress, experiences and life around in our bodies without even realising.
Wellness by Nathan Hill - Relationships, insecurities, modern life, the weirdness of getting older and I never want his books to end.
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy - A brilliant read that’s funny, sad, uncomfortable and honest all at once.
The Names - A quietly emotional book that’s thoughtful and beautifully written without trying too hard.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold - A wee bit of escapism and an easy read. Makes you want to slow down a bit and appreciate people more.
🎶 Playlist: Illyus Barrientos - fellow Glaswegians, always a good choice
☀️ Mood booster: OFFF in Barcelona - sunshine, sangria, good chats and creative juices flowing
Til next time, Sharon.