The year of change, hello 2024!

Hi there, this is my first blog post, so it should probably be a bit about who I am, what I'm doing, and why I've decided to write a blog and have a website... Here we go!!

Quick intro:

Hello!!! I'm Kerry, a mum of a 5-year-old daughter and a 2-year-old boy. They keep me on my toes and there isn't a dull moment!! I was once a secondary school art & design teacher, which I loved!!! After having my Little R in 2021 I didn't go back to teaching (that's a whole other story!!)  As the teaching door closed a new venture started, and I began to work for our family event hire business. Something different from teaching, still being creative in a different way and flexible around the school run!!

Being Creative:

I doubt I'm alone with this, but since having children my identity has completely changed. Being creative like once before isn't the same, and it's something I have massively struggled with since becoming a mum. So a change was needed. I took a seven-year break from making any art to sell / for exhibitions and my creative outlet was sewing textile-based items for my children, our nieces, nephews and GodChildren. Never in a million years did I think I could sew a quilt! I loved making all the keepsakes for them.

Waking up the spark:

So being completely unsure of what I was doing creatively, in simple terms I was lost....Then along came an evening printing workshop...I saw on Facebook that Windsor Great Park Environment Centre was advertising a printing workshop run by a local artist Stefanie Smith, I booked on with my Mum. Well, that evening changed everything!!

First I learnt a new skill of gel printing, it is  addictive and quick (I do not have much time these days).

Second I met Stef who is an inspiring human being 💗

Third the workshop, learning a new skill and being in the woods, surrounded by nature ignited a spark within me!!

Along came confidence:

I started to surround myself with nature,  trying to get out a sketchbook, and attempting to be creative. Three months later I started art lessons on a Saturday morning with Stef, my weekly classes become a time to close off from the world, to sit in Stef’s beautiful studio, drink tea, and create. I instantly became alive again. I can’t explain the energy and feeling I felt after the first class, I started to feel like me again- whoever that maybe!

Almost six months later, I have found my confidence to create again, making time for it, prioritising my creative needs.  At home I have been making time to be creative around the children, and I think they have loved this- this is definitely a topic for another blog post!!

There are also some other special people and new rituals I have been surrounding myself with- that's for another post

Inspiration:

Spending time in nature is a must, it’s my inspiration, where my ideas flow in and where I feel refreshed. Each week I go on a little adventure walk with my toddler, he is now excellent at spotting mushrooms, I take lots of photos to use as my reference and forage for fallen foliage to print with.

After being outside I feel so much more alive and feel energised for the rest of the day. Along with nature, I love the sun, moon & stars, our UK seasons, and the ever-growing changing environment around me.

So now what…:

I have signed up for this summer’s Surrey Open Artist’s Studios, opening up my home to showcase my work- slightly terrified but also excited.

The making of this website & blog will continue to grow with the more art and other ideas popping up in the pipeline.

And lastly making art, learning new skills, and making time for creativity to nourish my soul.

Thank you for reading this, and I hope you come back to read the next post!

Love

Kerry xxx