Jane’s Journal
Artist Dates as Resistance: Why Random Matters More Than Ever
Artist dates aren't just self-care anymore. In a world of algorithms that show us more of the same, random analog experiences become quiet resistance.
1 week ago
Why There’s a Photograph of My 20-Year-Old Self in My Journal
Everyone says look back to age seven. But I found something more useful in a photograph of my 20-year-old self, before life dulled the fire down.
1 week ago
The Problem with “Play” in Creativity (And What It Actually Means)
When perfectionism stops you making, everyone says 'just play.' But what does that actually mean? A different take on creative play from The Studio community.
2 weeks ago
You Are Creative (Even If You Think You Can’t Draw)
Why that voice saying "I'm not creative" might be wrong. Looking at how historical embroiderers actually worked—copying, tracing, making wonky versions.
1 month ago
Time for a Reset? Question the Labels You’ve Given Yourself
Have you put yourself in a box without realizing it? The winter solstice teaches us when to question what seems fixed—including who we think we are.
1 month ago
A Year of Simplifying My Life (And Why I Didn’t Start With My Wardrobe)
I spent a year simplifying my life. Everyone expected me to start with my wardrobe, but that came last. Here's what I learned about where to actually begin.
2 months ago
December Walk
Photos from a December walk in Stirlingshire - frost, mist, lichen, winter light inspiring printings
2 months ago
Why Winter Rituals Matter (and what they do to your nervous system)
When everything feels uncertain, our brains crave predictable patterns. Why winter rituals calm your nervous system and how to find your own.
2 months ago
You’re Not Lazy: Why Restarting Is Harder Than You Think
Why can't you restart something you've stopped? It's not laziness - it's shame. Here's what's actually happening in your brain, and four practical steps to break the loop.
2 months ago
Two rooms for winter
I've set up these rooms to be the bookends of my day.
2 months ago
Light in November
November light doesn't rush, it lingers, slants, catches on fur and frost.
3 months ago
Why We Reach for Ritual When the World Shifts
Why We Reach for Ritual When the World Shifts: Understanding Samhain Beyond Folklore
3 months ago
The Neuroscience of Making: Why Your Hands Matter More Than You Think
cognitive benefits of making
4 months ago
Why We Gather: On Pockets Full of Treasures and Ancient Skills
The Ancient Art of Finding Beauty in Small Things
4 months ago
Why I’m Loving Midlife More Than I Ever Loved Youth
Why I'm Loving Midlife More Than I Ever Loved Youth
4 months ago
Why You Should Stop Feeling Guilty About Your Unfinished Craft Projects
Struggling with creative guilt over unfinished craft projects? Discover why these works-in-progress are actually signs of curiosity, courage, and creativity—and how to let go of guilt and shame in your artistic life.
7 months ago
Why We Buy the Craft Kits But Never Open Them
Turning 56 changed the way I see creativity, time, and self-worth. This post explores the quiet longings women carry — and what it means to finally put yourself back on your own list.
9 months ago
Life as an Experiment: How I Reclaimed My Brain, Body, and Joy With Two Simple Daily Habits
The results of my latest life experiments
9 months ago
My Simplicity Experiment Month One
Tackling my dependence on my phone and regaining focus
1 year ago
The Health Benefits of my Trip to Naples
1 year ago
How I worked from Naples for a month
how I work while travelling digital nomad
1 year ago
How to know when you need to begin living more intentionally
how to know when you need to start living more intentionally slow living
1 year ago
Travelling solo in my Fifties
travelling solo to Naples, Italy in my fifties
1 year ago
How to pick sprays of autumn leaves for decoration
how to make autumn leaves last in an arrangement.
2 years ago
How to transform the way you plan out your time
free four part planning course to plan your year 2023
3 years ago
Make a fuss free table setting
making a sustainable seasonal festive table setting for Christmas
3 years ago
Collecting acorns at Loch Lomond
a walk to Loch Lomond to collect acorns for natural dyeing
3 years ago
Visible mending on a knitted jumper
creative visible mending of jumper, wool darning, sustainable fashion
3 years ago
The joy of a sitooterie
Making an outdoor space for working during the winter sitooterie
3 years ago
A revolt against capitalism
Running an anti capitalist business in a period of degrowth
3 years ago
Can a sense of belonging save the world?
A Seasonal Way course How a sense of belonging and empowerment can connect people to the natural world
3 years ago
Blackcurrant and miso ice cream
blackcurrant and miso ice cream recipe
3 years ago
On being social - Instagram changes and virtual coffee breaks
Instagram changes 2022 and the way that social media has shaped my life
3 years ago
Making time (or swapping it)
time management and creating a slower life
3 years ago
Pickled garlic scape recipe
recipe for pickled garlic scape
3 years ago
Late bloomers: lessons from nature
being a late bloomer in life
3 years ago
Bracken folklore and history
History and folklore of bracken
3 years ago
Buttercups as cut flowers
Using buttercups as cut flowers
3 years ago
A new definition of wealth
a new definition of wealth Charles Eisenstein
3 years ago
House Martins
nature notes on house martins
3 years ago
The Hawthorn Tree - Magic and Ritual
hawthorn tree celebrations Neo paganism Beltane
3 years ago
Getting back to making clothes
starting to making your own clothes, freehand machine embroidery
3 years ago
The joy of snail mail and how to send more letters
sending proper letters slow mail
4 years ago
Rainy days in December
4 years ago
Alignment and making things easy
how to create aligned brand values for a small business
4 years ago
What is your idea of a simple Christmas?
4 years ago
Gaps and Fire Breaks - simple tips for when life is too busy
how to reduce overwhelm
4 years ago
Five good things I've learned from having a chronic auto immune disease
living with a chronic illness Addisons disease
4 years ago
Baby chicks
baby chicks in Snapdragon's garden
4 years ago
Forcing spring branches
How to force spring branches
4 years ago
How shrinking my business increased my income.
The minimal viable number of customers, slow business
5 years ago
Bowl of Paperwhite Narcissi
planting up a bowl of bulbs
5 years ago
How to practice gratitude
simple ways to practice gratitude
5 years ago
Introducing a pay what you can option for Studio Club membership
disruptive business models
5 years ago
Visible mending with Flora Collingwood-Norris
visible mending with Flora Collingwood Norris, decorative Manding
5 years ago
Interview: The Bright Blooms
Interview with The Bright Blooms sustainable making
5 years ago
A note on wild swimming
Kat Goldin on wild swimming in Scotland
5 years ago
The history of Scotland's kelp industry
5 years ago
Where selkies swim: meet Alison Moore
Alison Moore on sea swimming in Orkney
5 years ago
How to make cut flowers last
how to make garden flowers last in the vase. Get longer vase life from flowers
5 years ago
Ideas for greening when you need to stay indoors
how does being in nature help with chronic illness. Tips for chronic health problems Addisons disease
5 years ago
It's not about the bread
slow down simple living and making sourdough bread
6 years ago
Seeing yourself
seeing yourself through other eyes and friendship
6 years ago
Create your magical life a little bit at a time
How to plan your year and find time for the things you love.
6 years ago
Natural gift wrap - autumn leaves
6 years ago
Five ways to step back from overwhelm
5 ways to get over overwhelm
6 years ago
Perfectionism and making do
how to get over perfectionism
6 years ago
In search of the simple life
looking for the simple life
6 years ago
How to force small spring bulbs indoors
growing flowering bulbs indoors spring snowdrops crocus
7 years ago
Indoor bulbs - the cheats version
growing hyacinth bulbs inside
7 years ago
Overwhelm and the fruit harvest
how to deal with overwhelm in your business - my 3 techniques for helping with small business overwhelm
7 years ago
Foraging for flowers
foraging for wild flowers and making arrangements from grass
7 years ago
The windowsill flower arrangement - white
tips for arranging flowers in bottles
7 years ago
A walk by Loch Lomond
walking loch lomond national park, Scotland
7 years ago
How to keep a tidy house (sort of)
how to have a calm house when you are a messy person
7 years ago
Just a little posy of flowers . .
making tiny flower arrangements for bedside tables, weddings and guest bedrooms.
7 years ago
The accidental foraging expert (my tv appearance)
recipe for foraged nettle risotto
7 years ago
Peak Yellow - seasonal musings
yellow is the colour of spring.
7 years ago
3 ideas for getting into the flow
3 ways to increase the flow in your life
7 years ago
Seasonal living - why I left my great job because I didn't see Spring.
why Snapdragon is all about seasonal living
7 years ago
Aiming for analogue - switching off my phone
phone addiction and how to stop it.
7 years ago
Where we are - Loch Lomond National Park
Have you ever wondered where Snapdragon is based? Read my blog post . . .
8 years ago
Romantic table flowers
flower arranement for wedding tables
11 years ago
The nature table windowsill.
nature tables, flower arranging on a budget, arranging garden flowers
11 years ago
My top 5 spring flowers for cutting
spring flowers cut flower tips
12 years ago
