11 weeks into lockdown! How are you all doing?
I still can't quiet believe how the world can change in such little time. For us as a family and our little business we are learning to adapt. Our gallery is temporarily closed and we are busy home schooling our twin boys. We miss our customers popping in to browse the gallery and staying for a chat, but we are glad to say we have been overwhelmed with support from our regular customers buying cards and gifts from our website. So thank you!
The lockdown has given us many positives and the main one is time. Time to clear our feet, get to the bottom of that boring admin list, research and develop our ideas. We are getting some building work done to my studio walls and roof. I've had long days in the studio painting and I've signed up for an online course to develop my digital skills in photoshop and illustration (but more on that later). Clear and quiet roads to cycle to work on and less money spent on petrol have also been a bonus. Plus lets not forget the home schooling! I never would have considered home schooling but I am wholeheartedly enjoying the experience of getting to know my children better. As you can imagine my curriculum is probably a little more art's based, but that can only be a good thing in my opinion.
I've also had time to design some new cards following the rainbow theme synonymous with the spirit of the amazing work that the NHS and key work workers are doing now. We have chosen to support a local NHS chairity by making a donation. I had so much fun making these cards the bright colours lifted my spirits, I hope they lift yours too.
Looking forward to the next few weeks we are putting things in place at the gallery so that we can safely reopen within the guidelines. We are hoping to re-engage with our stockists and agents as they begin to open their doors too.
What the future holds right now is an unknown so let's just all keep washing our hands and keeping those 2 metres apart. Stay safe. Joanne x
