Reflections

Busy busy busy!!!! eeekkk!!! and the kids are off school... eekkk....lots of commissions to finish......eeekkk! ....how am I going to get everything done? Deep Breath..! another deep breath!

This time 5 months ago I was only imagining the possibility of running my own business and even then I had no clue what I would be up to. I had been working on my illustrations for my children's stories

 and after many compliments and a few encouraging suggestions from friends...I finally exposed by artistic side to the world! Well, Belfast anyway ...but it's a start!

 Everything has simply happened without me planning anything! Someone suggested I do a craft fair...I thought 'why not?'...got my work framed and ready for it's first expose....and did the craft fair.


Then at the craft fair...someone suggested ' Why not get a table at St Georges Market?' (a weekly Belfast food/craft market).... so I thought ' Why not? ',  bought more bubble wrap and a lovely gingham table cloth and camped out in the icy Belfast mornings before Christmas to experience my first  market as a trader!...

Then someone else suggested....'why not get a stall at Victoria Square (the major shopping complex in Belfast city centre)...so I thought ' why not?' and went for a showcase interview and started the next month!

And so here I am.....had no business plan, no idea what on earth I would be doing, and I suddenly have my own lovely little 'Smudge Illustration' business,

selling prints, illustrations, textile pictures, cards and even Smudge post it notes!

It's still a tiny fledgling birdie with fluffy feathers...learning a lot, very quickly about 'taking off'....but enjoying every minute and feeling very very blessed and grateful!

So a big thanks to everyone who has supported me, encouraged me, inspired me and especially everyone who has invested their hard earned money on one of my creations! That feels really good!!
Happy Easter everyone !!

Ciara