owls // decorative cushions

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve found myself carving + printing up owls. With a window of time to fill, as I do get scared that if I don’t carry on this creative outlet of mine it will dry up. I could fill it with time-wasting. But I am aware creativity is The best distraction. So, with my free time I decided to work on a new owl design from an old owl drawing I found amongst a pile of papers I’ve kept of my designs + sketches. A drawing for my daughter Isla as she absolutely loves all owls + has had a fascination with them since she was a tot. I think the original owl drawing was meant to be made into a screen one day for me to print with but I decided to work on the design some more + use a sheet of Japanese vinyl as that’s what I have avaible to hand at the moment. They are pretty big sheets of vinyl too so I could carve them big - a4 sized. I’d really like to print them onto paper eventually but for now I turned them into decorative cotton cushions.

I have several brain-tabs open with regards to designing. Designs I would like to re-visit; enlarge, reproduce along with new avenues I’d like to explore. Every month my spider diagram of ‘work ideas’ grows more legs! The major thing is, everything has slowed up. I have days where I look back on my business timeline + remember the good times + moments. The jump from making small items to then being able to afford to launch new products. These were The highs. So to feel the momentum on my work rapidly slow, to almost a stand still is a blow to the soul. Then I might get lucky with a wonderful enquiry that drops into my email + I immediately feel a lift. I took for granted what working for myself meant back then. Tricky thing is, I feel I need to stop reflecting on those good times quite so much as it does feel like self-harm. I need to simply enjoy the designing process without thinking too much about the outcome. I just need to immerse myself in the making. The feeling of enjoyment. I love to draw, carve + print. So, with that + the materials I have in stock, that’s what I have to work with for now. Grow slow again.

The funny thing was when I placed the first finished Snowy owl on the mantle piece in our lounge, I thought it needs a friend - One to sit on the other side of the mantle piece. So, the next owl I designed + made is for for my youngest; my boy Ethan.

They both sit together on our mantlepiece. Actually, that’s a fib. Isla has pinched one + is now lying on her bed.

These two owls were born from + inspired by my family; my cheerleaders.

Please meet Snowy Owl + Barn Owl xx

If you too are fond of owls or knows someone that does, more have hatched over on my website.

I’m now thinking of making a smaller one just to pop in between these two…

And the beat goes on…