Pit Stop

The Margin

Before I begin, I just wanted to let you know there’s FREE UK shipping this weekend on all Papaver orders! So if you’ve been eyeing up a cosy pumpkin hoodie or a spooky tote for Samhain, this is your sign to treat yourself… Free shipping will automatically be applied at checkout until midnight on Sunday 1 October.

‘A field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.’
- Ovid

Sticking with the theme of last week’s newsletter, I’m all about reframing stuff at the moment, which makes sense at this time of year. Autumn - particularly Samhain at the end of this month - is all about reflecting on the recent past in order to move forwards with peace and clarity. It marks the end of an old cycle and the beginning of a new one, so if you’re also feeling like the princess and the pea - like there’s something niggling you and you need a little change - I invite you to join me on reflecting inwards this season. I’ve shared how I’ll be spending the next three months further below, but I’d love to know how you’re feeling as we approach this final turn in the Wheel of the Year.

This week on the Margin:

• Thoughts On: Taking a Pit Stop

• What am I working on this week?

• Let’s Try: Keeping a Garden Journal

• Reading The Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook series

Thoughts On: Checking in for a Pit Stop

I found this photo on Unsplash and it’s the perfect visual representation of how I’m approaching the next three months. I’ve been percolating last week’s theme of saying no to stuff and taking a break - although I won’t actually be taking a break, obviously. Instead, I’m pressing pause on full-on productivity mode and switching to pit stop mode for a while. Dave thought this was a good metaphor for needing rest in order to function properly. We’ve both worked too hard over the last few months and we’re teetering on the edge of burn out, so I’m putting my car/brain in for a pit stop to fix the dents, replace the tyres, get a fresh coat of paint, etc. Few of us can afford the luxury of actually stopping work because we all have those bills bills bills. But thanks to the multi-faceted income I’ve put together - including your kind paid subscriptions to my Substack! - I’m able to just step back a bit from GO GO GO mode and take some time to work on what a self-help guru might call ‘personal development’.

In practice, what this means is that I’m going to curate a little ‘personal development’ programme for myself, from now until Christmas, so I can start the new year afresh in three months time. I’m going to read books about creativity, as well as really good novels that will inspire me to write my own. I’m going to create a weekly space for me to experiment with my work, whether that’s doodling with oil pastels, making a collage or writing in a different way. I’m going to invest some time in my own skills, like learning how to use all the tools and tricks on Procreate that I’m missing out on. And I’m going to indulge in a bit of time to sift through my thoughts, work out what I want to do, how I want to pay the bills, how I can balance all the admin that comes with a self-employed lifestyle.

And I’m feeling excited! I still have these last few illustrations to finish, as well as the commission for someone else’s chapter illustrations. But my friend Dawn came for coffee this week and read my Tarot cards (very fun!), and the reading solidified the fact that I need to spend time reflecting on the emotional connection to my work. I have no idea what will emerge from the next three months but I am really looking forward to the process. And as always, I’ll be sharing it on here if you’re interested in the ebbs and flows of a creative/professional/modern life.

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What am I working on this week?

I am still finishing the Ebb and Flow illustrations one month after the official deadline passed. All I can say is: Meh. But to counteract the slog, Olive and I made spooky biscuits for her and her friends! Aren’t they gruesome? You better believe that every household item was covered in black icing by bedtime.

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Let’s Try: Keeping a Garden Journal

If you’ve been following along with me this year, you’ll know I’ve been having an absolute blast growing my own pumpkins for the first time. I’m a real amateur when it comes to gardening but I’m loving the learning process, all the trial and error, experimentation and excitement when something actually grows. So over the autumn and winter I’ve decided to start a garden journal to consolidate everything I learnt over the last year, and to document my plans for 2024. My mum bought me a beautiful notebook a few years ago with a gold bee embossed on the front, and I’ve never found the perfect use for it until now!

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Read this: The Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook series by Bloomsbury

If you’re interested in writing professionally, chances are you’ll have stumbled upon this series already. It’s generally considered to be an ‘essential’ directory for anyone looking to publish a book, and it’s updated every year with the latest information, contacts and advice, as well as essays written by successful writers. I’ve just reserved the latest Children’s edition from my local library to warm my brain up for writing my own children’s book. I’m so new to this side of the publishing industry and I’m excited to learn more about it!