I am so pleased to finally be writing you from here, my new blog platform. This has been a looooong time coming. And to be honest, it's been kind of a transition for me. Entering into a new blog space can be kind of scary when change is something you fear. I've grown quite attached to Tales from Bottomley Cottage. It's been with me since the beginning of my artistic journey. But I've been needing to make the transition to everything being in one place for a while, so it means leaving the old platform behind. And to be honest, not much will be changing, but you will see some design changes and a more simplified layout. Oh, and please be patient with me as I get everything updated and tweaked. There's still a lot of figuring out to do as I'm transitioning space. But please, feel free to have a look around and explore! I'm excited to hear your feedback.

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And since we're talking about new things...a new illustration! I'm actually kind of in love with this one. It's the beginning of a few like it and inspired by the small sea towns and coastal fisherman from around the world. There's a line from a poem I came across that I think fits it quite perfectly: "each [fisher]man is a master of his craft, its gleaming sails out-blown. and far behind him on the shore a home he calls his own..." I'm still trying to decide what format this will take in the end, but it'll be coming soon to a shop near you ;)

This print tended to be quite popular, so I decided to go ahead and make a few greeting cards out of it! Sail into the season and send a couple of spring-y greetings. Your friends will thank you for it :) These are available for $4.50 each or you can order 4 of any card for $16. Head over to the shop to purchase. 

Also added are the original watercolor paintings of a few of my prints and cards. I won't be re-printing most of the originals added so this is your last chance to get them :) See them in the widget below or in my shop

in the fields, she stopped and took a deep breath of the flower-scented air. it was dearer to her than her kin, better than a lover, wiser than a book. and for a moment she rediscovered the purpose of her life. she was here on earth to absorb its wild enchantment.

~ boris pasternak

painting doesn't always come easy for me. in fact, this painting took a lot of effort and toil to push past the doubts and dislikes in my mind. but sometimes, in those rare moments, once you reach the top of mountain, all it takes is a little push over the top and something beautiful starts to form, quickly and suddenly. this is what came of my afternoon the other day and i ended up working an hour later than I was supposed to just to reach the finish line. i have to say, i am quite pleased. though, i have yet to decide what to use it for. ideas are gratefully accepted.