Thank You

Thank You ecard-Click or tap here to download
(Image v. much sized only for ecard/screen use)

Hello there

As you can probably guess, the subject of this is a huge "Thank you"...To everyone and everything who reminded me (since my previous post-(in all its now mostly-struck-out glory...)...

♥ That the reason most people come here is to look at happy and joyful things, (yay!)...

♥ That if I really need a "niche", that's a fine one in itself, and...
♥ That it's perfect OK if I don't physically have time to post examples of every single design from and to  absolutely everywhere. I have a stockist/Linktree page which covers that.

Then, literally to cap it all... My right knee weighed in with mega-twinging. Which, for me is always a not-so-polite nudge that, "Clare, love...You've been walking in the wrong direction on this one..." 

As soon as I changed back to the central focus of whimsy and joy-those twinges were gone. (Which settled the matter once and for all, as I quite like at least being able to get from A to B :-).

Sooo

Enough from me, and huuuuge apologies for the confusion and waffle last week.

 I'm keeping some of the re-design, and still likely to change the main post sending day to earlier in the week (as with this one).

But otherwise-it's back just to a focus on whimsy and joy. Because who doesn't need a bit more of that right now, anyway?

Thank you so much for your patience, and for being here, and enjoy your week.

More soon.

___________________________

The Tale of Some Whimsical Pumpkin Art...And a Cosy Halloween Collection...

White Pumpkin Line-and-Wash Sketch

Hello there, and hope you're well, and ready for some whimsy, amidst it all.

This week's tale starts innocently enough with a white pumpkin, that I sketched last weekend (see above), before it made its journey into soup. Or so I thought.

"Pumpkin Surprise" Number One

For a start, the pumpkin, despite being round, did not "play ball," as expected. (For which read, "I was completely unable to slice through it neatly like butter-as per celebrity chef demos, etc- to make said soup". Or at all, really). The resulting roasted "pumpkin crisps/chips" that I had been able to hack desperately from its unyielding sides *were* delicious, though. They just ended up in a hastily-re-arranged veg soup, instead.

And last Monday,  that was the fun anecdote with which I thought I'd introduce this sketch this week and have a short post. But, oh, no...

"Pumpkin Surprise," Number Two

The pumpkin had other ideas. This image wiggled and jiggled in my mind until I made it into a downloadable card sheet, which has a card front that can end up like this:

Click or tap here to browse or buy the
download sheet that makes this card front...

And along with the pretty "Pumpkin Polka Dots," background, I thought *that* would be it. 

And it seemed fair, because I haven't posted much for craft-loving people recently, who I know drop in here. If that's you, you might also like the 20% off sale on many of my Halloween and autumnal designs at Craftsuprint this week. As I don't know when you'll be reading this, I don't know whether it will have ended, but it's due to run until the end of September 2025).

But, in any event, that wasn't all. Cue:

Pumpkin Surprise Number Three

The pumpkin polka dots were now dancing around in my mind. And made their way onto Spoonflower, for a fabric and wallpaper outing.

As a final twist, somehow everything for a cosy autumnal Halloween collection (for who wants an extra-scary one right now anyway? Not me. And if you like whimsy and nature, I'm guessing maybe not you either) came together.

Anyway, I digress, because the "Cosy Halloween Mini Collection" (featuring pumpkins, black cats, golden leaves and gentle "flower of life," geometrics), is *also* available now.

Cosy Halloween Collection at Spoonflower,
by Clare Walker shown
demonstrating Spoonflower's
 "12 napkins" template.

The image above was created using one of Spoonflower's template makers. In this case, how a collection of 12 napkins might look using the fabrics in the mini-collection.

Warning: Spoonflower's template design tool also includes cheater quilts, infinity scarves and other delights and is mildly addictive, even if, like me, you've never personally sewn a quilt. You can give it a go with this collection by tapping or clicking on  this link.

And now?

And now, yes, finally, those white pumpkins seem to have found all their right place, living happily ever after. Sometimes, you just have to go with what the designs seem to want, rather than logical plans.

If you've read down this far-thanks so much, and have a wonderful week.

More soon.

___________________________

New Painting: Turning the Corner

Hello there

Hope life is treating you well. But if you're in need of some peace, relaxation and whimsy, then this week's new painting may be just the thing.

"Turning the Corner"
Click or tap here
to comment or find out more...

This came about very quickly, to capture a golden September moment in the park, when vibrant flowers were still bursting through railings (all the brighter after rain)...And the sun seemed ever brighter just around the corner (hence the title: "Turning the Corner").

The links above will take you to this specific painting, within my new online shop.

That "just moving in feeling,"

 

Truthfully, I still have that "just moving in feeling," in relation to the shop.

But my aim is (finally!) to have all my designs for sale in one place (as people have asked me to do many times. This will give a lot more time for actually making art (yay!) whilst also  making life 50 times easier for you and other lovely people actually to find designs you like.

There'll be much more on this in the weeks and months ahead. But for now, it's all going well. And have just discovered that yes, I *can* still offer you greeting cards designed specifically for that purpose, but based on a particular painting.

The first of these is today's painting...

Tap or click here to shop for
"Turning the Corner," greeting cards

It made sense to start here, because there are so many occasions on which you might send a card to someone who's turned a corner in their life...Or just to cheer them up with some relaxing whimsy.

Maybe I've turned a corner too, and am starting to feel at home in my art's new home as well :-).

Thanks so much for being here. Please watch this space...

More soon.

___________________________

Tiny, Whimsical Sketches for World Watercolour Month 2025

Sketches for the start of "World 
Watercolour Month 2025"
in pen and Derwent Inktense
watercolours.

Hello there

Hope all's well and thriving in your corner of the world. And speaking of "world", it now being July (How? Already?!) it's World Watercolour Month, 2025.

What is "World Watercolour Month?

The idea behind World Watercolour Month is that it's a low-pressure challenge, involving optional daily prompts (usually meaning that people need to draw something random, and interestingly-outside-normal-comfort-zones).

This year, I decided at least to start off with the prompts, but to ease the pressure on myself in what is nearly-always a hyper-busy month in this house, by doing tiny two inch square sketches, and batching my uploads somewhat. This also has the happy result that innocent onlookers  don't get deluged with disparate images day after day.

But if you'd like to know more about World Watercolour Month,  as well as seeing *lots* more art from some great people, all the details are here.

That's all from here for now-and thank you, as ever, for reading down this far.

More soon.
___________________________

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A Realisation...(And Some Watercolour Bluebells)

Sometimes...The World Needs More Whimsy...

Hello there

Hope you've been well and thriving these past few...interesting...weeks. 

Here, the hiatus isn't really quite over...but I wanted pop back to assure that am still here, and on the case with Where the Blog is Going and everything.

The Why, and the How

Keeping this brief (and believe me, that's a tough one...) after letting it all be for a while, and getting back to drawing, painting and writing just for fun... The most obvious point hit me... I'd lost the sense of why I'm creating anything in the first place, never mind just the blog.

Luckily, it just took the merest peek around the world to remember why. As the bluebells at the top of post say, "Sometimes the world needs more whimsy." And that, I can share with you naturally, and as easily as breathing. (The dictionary  definition of "whimsy" is apparently, "Unusual funny and pleasant ideas or qualities", by the way, if you're into that sort of thing). Maybe even, if you're up for it, and whisper this softly...joy...

The "how" also fell into place after that. Try as I might (and gosh, did I try) everything I draw, make or design make comes back to line and wash watercolour, just like those bluebells. It's a fun, whimsical and joyful medium though, so I guess it fits in pretty well. ;-).

The What and the Where

Which just leaves the "What" and the "Where,". So, as I said, the hiatus isn't really over, and it might be a little while before I post again. 

(And if you have any ideas about the "What and the Where" of the way forward-please let me know on Instagram, where I'm planning to get back to a very gentle posting routine again).

In the meantime thanks so much for being here. Stay happy, sane, and (if you want to)...whimsical.

More (reasonably) soonish.

___________________________

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Love, Peace, Joy, Courage Potion Bottles Pattern: Free Image Download

Click, tap or double-click here to
 download and use this image if you'd like

Hello there, and more than anything, in the light of all that some are experiencing around the world  hope that wherever, whenever and however you're reading this, you're safe, happy and finding ways to thrive.

This hope made me wish that we as a species could physically bottle love, peace, joy, and courage potions and send them out at a moment's notice to wherever it's needed. 

This pattern, in all its whimsy,  was the result of that thought. And if the idea speaks to you too, please feel free to download and use this image in your projects if you'd like. (Credit is always appreciated, but never required: my full angel policy is here).

Once again, I can't vouch for the size of download you'll get, as still haven't fathomed out how the blog is processing images these days.

And...

And yes, just to be clear, the idea behind these is potion bottles and jars. So, yes again, I have been thinking about Halloween designs. This year's designs  all are cosy, warm and comforting, but all the details will keep for another post.

For now, am just going to thank you so much for being here, and let those love, joy and peace potion bottles do the talking.

More soon.

___________________________

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Bats, Hats, Cats, and A Big(ish) Announcement

Hello there, and hope you're thriving.

And just like that, we are knee-deep in the bats, cats and hats season, (a.k.a) Halloween. 

It's something with which I haven't always felt completely at home. One the one hand, I love fun, but on the other, scaring people or being scared is very much not my thing.

This year though, I decided to really go for it in my own style, and just make everything in my Halloween design as cute and whimsical as possible.

You can judge for yourself whether or not I've been successful...

Happy Halloween Scoop T-Shirt

But I was much encouraged when even my husband (a.k.a. The Computer Man) who had not been privy to my "make it cute and whimsical," idea for the design said, 
"You've really put the "happy" into Happy Halloween here-even the ghost is smiling."

So I figured that was a good sign of "mission accomplished", especially as the cat, bat and pumpkin are all smiling too, as you can see really well on this magnet:

Happy Halloween Fridge Magnet

So, if you're up for a really happy Halloween with the emphasis on the happy, too, then do check out everything you can use and wear to promote the *happy* Halloween vibe, 

*and*

My fun new printable witch's hat-shaped card at Craftsuprint, that's really easy to make, but has plenty of "wow" factor.

That Big(ish) Announcement

It's OK, it's a happy one too, (or at least, one that should make life considerably easier when navigating this site). You can now visit one page to a beautiful smorgasbord of my designs in one place (the "browse and buy" page), with easy links to more info depending upon the type of lovely thing you seek.

This one page gives you *lots* more images than before, and replaces both the stodgy text on the old "stockists" page, *and* the old (and often temperamental) "shop" links. 

So, after a busy (oh crumbs how busy-art is so much easier :-) ) week making this page work, it only remains for me to ask you to tap or click below to:

Try Out The New "Browse And Buy" Page Here

(and please click its links through from there to anything you fancy).

Many, many  thanks, and hope you like it.

More soon.

___________________________

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Introducing The Cornflower Collection...

Hello there, and hope all is going really well for you.

As promised in last week's post, today marks the proper unveiling of all the designs inspired by our, "cornflower encounter". For example...

This throw pillow in the 
"Completely Cornflowers" Pattern

This apron, in the "Scattered Cornflowers" design

This phone wallet from the
"Cornflower Lattice" design...

And imagine showering with these cornflower blue
polka dots all round you...

There are many more items featuring these patterns, which you can find featured here, here, here and here.

Have a browse-there's still plenty of time to make them part of your summer.

And speaking of summer...

And speaking of summer, I'm taking a break from the blog for the rest of the summer, and will be back here in or around the second week of September.

As well as taking much needed time to have a holiday and gathering all the inspiration therein, I'll also be planning,  catching up with friends, and  attending a couple of summer school courses.

So, in the meantime, thanks so much for being here, and have a happy rest-of-the-summer.

See you soon.

PS. Update: Cornflowers have now made it onto tissue paper and fabric:

Charming Blue and White Cornflower Pattern Design Fabric
by BoundingSquirrel

If You Go Down to The Bench Today (You're in For a Big Surprise)...

Hello there. Hope you're thriving. But if you're feeling in need of a pick-me-up or a bear hug, I couldn't resist sharing a photo of one of our newest local residents, who re-inspired me utterly the other day. 

Imagine my surprise the other day, when, wondering round the neighbourhood (frankly, in need of a little inspiration and hope myself, at the time) I came upon this cutie on a bench.

Who left him, and why, remains a mystery. But this huge and adorable teddy bear has also been spotted being a bench companion to people of all ages since. So however he (or she!) got here, this bear is doing a real public service, going beyond even providing much-needed whimsy and joy.

I am no stranger to teddy bears...

If you're a regular reader here, you might already know that I have a  very soft spot for bears.

For example, this little bear that I put onto Redbubble a while ago...

Buy this teddy sticker on Redbubble...

and this cute bear cub illustration...

Buy this postcard on Redbubble...

Re-inspired?

Yes, meeting the bear on the bench did re-inspire me, though in all sorts of ways, bear-related and none. A piece of work in progress is on my Instagram feed, if you'd like to see it.

But all of that's for another day. Today, it's just enough to share something that's inspired me, and hope that you've been able to have a joyful and happy surprise from it as well.

Have a lovely weekend, and more soon.

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Winter Whimsy Botanicals in Krita: AEDM 21.

It's Day 21 of Art Every Day Month.

And today, I was inspired by a brilliant winter greenery tutorial by Shayda Campbell on YouTube.

Christma has always felt a bit "blah," grey and difficult to illustrate, as everything turns so
Now, as her tutorial is for physical watercolour, I knew that some changes would be needed to pull off a similar effect in digital watercolour in Krita 4.2).

For example, graphics pens are wonderful. But colour mixing, mostly at least, has to take place with them in different strokes or layers, rather than mixing on a palette.

And once there was one change...Well, suffice to say that I seem to have ended up with mistletoe rather than cedar...no pinecones, holly with many less berries,  and very whimsical white berries, that  don't look like Shayda's snowberries at all...

In other words, the final result doesn't really resemble the actual tutorial in any way.

But I did learn a lot from the technique, and enjoyed playing with a much lighter colour palette than I normally would. Thank you Shayda for a great and inspiring tutorial. It certainly isn't your fault that I seem incapable of following anyone's tutorials without going completely into my own world instead. :-)

More tomorrow.