My recent projects, musings and more . . .
Proudly presenting . . .
ELISHA PICKLES PHOTOGRAPHY “. . . collect moments, not things . . .” Elisha approached me after we’d completed the Me & Orla The InstaRetreat course together. She really loved my work and after the initial Zoom call, she decided that I was the perfect designer to...
How I used to do it vs How I do it now . . .
Today, I would design these on a computer in InDesign, but when I started out in design things were very, very different. Let me explain the process . . . Before I could get started on the artwork I’d create a pencil thumbnail (also known as a scamp) with the rough...
An island staycation . . .
My lovely husband David, surprised me for my birthday last week with a couple of days away in the Tramontana Mountains of Mallorca - we stayed at the stunningly beautiful @can_beneit, near Caimari in the north of the island. As soon as we arrived, I knew I was going...
Keep cool and carry on . . .
As the mercury continues to rise here on Mallorca, I thought I would share my top five tips for keeping cool when it’s hot, hot, hot outside! 1. Wear light, loose, linen clothing - the loose weave of linen allows body heat (and sweat!) to escape from your body. Linen...
Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket . . .
I’ve been thinking a lot about what happened recently in Australia (February 2021), with Facebook banning all news content on their platform. This effectively meant that you couldn’t use Facebook to post, see or share anything which could be seen as media news! Yikes,...
Proudly presenting . . .
MALLORCA REFLECTIONS “Dare to live the life you’ve always wanted . . .” Adrian approached me after he had seen the work I did as part of the Elevate with the Brand Stylist mentoring programme on Instagram. He really loved my work and decided that I was the perfect...
Letters from a creative . . .
Wow, how can it possibly be the beginning of July already - it really has been a year like no other, hasn’t it? Looking back over the events of the past six months, I was reminded about a Vision Boarding Session I did at the end of 2019. Over the course of an...
Limited edition A4 print . . .
I received such a fabulous response after sharing my “this house runs on island time” poster on my grid a few weeks ago, that I have decided to sell it as a Limited Edition print . . . A4 Limited Edition Unframed Print. Litho printed on 225gsm Premium Matte stock to...
Are you ready for lockdown end . . .
Wow, these really are strange times, aren’t they? Here in Spain we’re now well into our second month of lockdown, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll have been on a total emotional roller coaster of feelings over the last few weeks. We’re all having to adjust to...
Elevate: Project three . . .
VILLA FLORES, TUSCANY For my third, and final ELEVATE with Fiona Humberstone project, I selected an Italian retreat, VILLA FLORES, (or VILLA FIGLINE VALDARNO as Fiona had named it!) Located high on a Tuscan hillside, this 18 roomed agroturismo, is 15 minutes from...
Elevate: Project two . . .
SAMPHIRE, CORNWALL For my second ELEVATE with Fiona Humberstone project, I selected SAMPHIRE, a restaurant with rooms located in the wilds of Cornwall. I totally fell in love with Cornwall after just one visit - I loved the romance of the wild, rugged scenery, the...
Elevate: Project one . . .
BREEN, NORWAY Recently, I took part in ELEVATE (a six week mentoring programme for brand designers committed to excellence) with Fiona Humberstone, The Brand Stylist. Every two weeks, Fiona released three very different, inspirational (but alas, sadly fictional!)...
Prepare to elevate . . .
As a creative entrepreneur, I am always working to improve my offering for my clients. So, at the end of last year, when Fiona Humberstone (aka The Brand Stylist) created Elevate - a mentoring programme for Brand Designers committed to excellence - I jumped at the...
Proudly presenting . . .
CHRIS JOHNSON ART "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." LEONARDO DA VINCI I've known Chris Johnson since I moved to the Island in 2016. Although I knew of his work before I met him - I’d seen his paintings hanging in the Cala d’Or Yacht Club. Chris produces the...
Behind the scenes on a brand photo shoot . . .
I’m naturally camera-shy! I feel really uncomfortable having photos taken and I always think that the photos always look fake and well, just not like me at all! Then I met Katie (Katie Spicer Photography) . . . We initially met at The Brand Stylist’s four day Retreat...
A new era . . .
It’s been a while now since I relaunched as Tranquilo Creative, so I thought I would share the reasons why I felt the time had come to start afresh . . . When I started Purple Creative Design back in 2007, I didn’t really have a clue what I was doing! The funding for...
Proudly presenting . . .
ROYAL OAK, CULLEN "Mighty oaks from little acorns grow." Caroline was referred to me by my lovely web designer friend, Neil Hedley. She had recently taken over the 1894 Grade C Listed building, which was the Royal Oak Hotel in Cullen. The hotel had been closed for a...