My Top 5 Moments of 2022
I don't know about you but I'm looking forward to the new year and seeing what it may bring
It's not been the easiest year for many and for my business it’s been a bit up and down, but I thought I would share with you all 5 of my top moments of 2022
1 - Getting My Operation
This may seem like a odd thing to have in my top 5 moments of 2022, but it was such a relief when after nearly 2 years of being in chronic pain to finally get my hip replacement operation done. I won't lie, the road to recovery has not been completely smooth as I’ve had some complications which means getting back to “normal” is taking longer than expected. And without a doubt it has impacted my business, not being able to do everything I want to, getting tired very easily and the need to put my health first has meant my business has suffered a little bit. But things are looking up, my recovery, though still on going, is going well, I’m managing to do more each week and spend more time on my business
The image is from a few hours after I woke up from the anaesthesia and I thought this was more preferable over the photo of my rather impressive scar
2 - My YouTube Channel
I created my YouTube channel back in 2016, but it was during the first lockdown that I really started to use it to share my Lino Printing tips and film tutorials. As I’m writing this I'm absolutely delighted and a little astounded that almost 1000 people have subscribed to my channel
And what’s even more astounding is my most popular tutorial, How to Register Linocut Prints, has been viewed over 25K times. Bonkers!
Watch How to Register Linocut Prints
3 - Began Creating Again
After spending a few months recuperating at home from my operation it was fantastic to be able to get back into my studio and start creating again. Slowly and in little chunks at first, but I'm now getting in more frequently, printed a few little Lino Prints and brand new on my desk are my Metal Sculptures made from old pennies, of sixpences and old half pennies
Watch How I Created a Sixpence Money Tree Sculpture
4 - Teaching Lino Printing
Another area of my business that was impacted by my operation being unable to teach my Lino Printing classes. So after almost nine months it was great to get back to Bristol Folk House to teach a Reduction Lino Printing Weekend Workshop. I was a bit nervous but also excited to be back and I’m looking forward to going back properly in 2023 to teach my weekly classes
Watch This Reel To See What My Lino Printing Students Got Up To On The Workshop
5 - Oh My God I’ve Joined Tiktok …… (again)
Yep you’ve read that right. Not sure if this is a sign of insanity or a top moment. I did join Tiktok sometime in 2021, got fed up with it and deleted it. But lots of creative folk have informed me it’s a great platform to showcase what you create so I thought I’d give it another crack. So err if you want to see what I do on there and want to give me a follow then hit that button below :-)
In Summary….
It’s been a unusual year for me, it’s not every year that you get a new hip. So fingers crossed I’ll continue to get stronger and to be able to do more things in my creative business
Some things I have planned and want to do is
Work on new Botanical Lino Prints
Get some new Botanical Card designs printed
Get my work in more physical shops/galleires
Teach my Lino Printing Classes and
Try some in person markets to sell my wares