I took my morning today to stay cozy on my couch, with my little kitten and my fire place on, looking at the snow on the mountains while sipping my Earl Grey.

yes, I did NOTHING on a Monday morning, which is totally unnatural to me 😆

Why did I do that? (or should I say, why did I do nothing?)
Because last week has been incredibly draining, in a nice way. I spent the week getting ready for the annual Arrowtown exhibition, which was showcasing one of my illustration (only one, cf previous post for more), as well as prepping for our Flash day at Black Leaf tattoo, which is like a mini tattoo festival just for us.

And let me tell you that it was a lot to do. If you add to it the nervousness that comes with social events, and looking after house and kids and snow on the mountains and kitten and…. yes. morning off well needed.

Fun story: I almost didn’t make it to the exhibition, as I was planning on getting my ticket at the door like each year, but it was already almost sold out. I was the last one they did let in!
And thanks to my friend Katherine, here is a little proof of me making it in:

Other funny thing, my tiny gouache illustration made it just right next to the Bee and Bird painted by my tattoo colleague Lee, with who I spent all Sunday tattooing for our Flash day.

Flash day went well, lot of cool peeps turned up, some even for their very very first tattoo!!
I was delighted to tattoo some of my beloved flash (pics below) But a bit sad for all those which have not find their human.

So I will add those very soon to my flash book at the studio, as well as online on my website for you to browse! Stay tuned.

I hope you are all warm and cozy, Winter is definitely coming our way down here.
I might go back to my purring machine for some warm cuddling.

Thanks for being here!

Tiny adventurers. Big stories.

I had so much fun designing and tattooing these LOTR-inspired kiwi hobbits. A mix of Aotearoa wildlife and Middle-earth magic. Honestly my favourite combo.

We’ve got brave Frodo ready for the journey, loyal Sam with strong “I’ve got your back” energy, and cosy Bilbo who would probably rather stay home with tea… but still ends up on an adventure.

Storytelling, nature, a bit of nerdy love, and designs that feel personal and meaningful.

If you are into fantasy tattoos, Lord of the Rings inspired pieces, or cute native bird designs, I would LOVE to create something for you.

📍 Tattooing in Glenorchy and Queenstown, New Zealand
🌿 Custom ideas welcome + flash available to book on my website

Which one are you? Frodo, Sam or Bilbo?

A friendly reminder that if you’d like to get a cheap tiny tattoo or grab some rad flash to fill that patchwork sleeve you’ve been working on since last summer… this Sunday is the day!

Or if you’ve been dreaming of a silly matching tattoo with your BFF, your mum, or both… there will be plenty of fun and chaotic designs available.

Save the date: Sunday 19th of April 😁

First come, first served. Walk-ins only.

Yes yes… rejected 🙄😅

Here is the context.

In a few weeks, it will be the annual Arrowtown Autumn Festival. A lovely event that I enjoy going to every year. And this year is an anniversary edition, which makes it even more special. I cannot wait.

It is all about celebrating autumn. Wandering through this cute little town, full of life for the occasion. Stalls, crafts, artworks, grilled chestnuts, street shows… the whole cosy magic.

And each year, there is a beautiful art exhibition alongside it. Paintings, sculptures, all sorts of work. And each year, I submit something.

Usually, I send two pieces.
Usually, I am lucky and blessed, both get in.
My tiny artworks quietly living their best life on the walls.

But this year…

I got my very first rejection.

Honestly, no hard feelings at all! But because of the subject of the illustration I laughed a lot and thought I will share 🤣

So, what did I submit?

Both pieces were illustrations I made during Folktember last year (the online art prompt challenge, see older posts).

The first one, accepted, is called The Melon Hunter. I love this one. A little bunny hunting watermelons and selling them for a few carrots from a tiny stall on wheels. Colourful, a bit silly, painted in gouache.

And the second one… rejected…

A little elf on its throne.

No hard feelings at all really. It genuinely made me laugh.

Most likely, they ran out of space on the walls and had to make tough choices.
Even though it is a very small piece that could easily fit in a corner…

But my first thought was:
maybe the committee did not find my joke very funny.

Maybe… a little elf peacefully doing its business on a toilet is not considered appropriate for the exhibition 🤣

But then again… what about Duchamp’s Fountain? 🤣

Anyway. I had a good laugh.

And you can still come and see The Melon Hunter at the Arrowtown Autumn Festival Art Show from April 17.

See you there 😁

Hello my favourite forest people, I need to tell you about this little adventure.

We went to a kids pottery session.
The plan was simple. Let the kids play with clay.

But then… the parents got invited to have a go too!!

And you know me: give me a creative tool and a bad idea, and I will run with it.

So of course… I decided to make a quail bowl. There are a few families living in my garden, and I watch them all the time. Tiny, round, chaotic little creatures. Absolute perfection. I’m so in love with their silly military march in the lawn. Even got a couple tattooed on my arm haha.

Now. Important detail.
I have almost no experience with pottery.

And I had a very specific vision.
I wanted the bowl shape… but with the quail’s head popping out of it. Including the tiny feather on top. At this point, it already felt like a questionable life choice.

I was not sure it would hold.
I was not sure it would survive.
I was not sure it would not just collapse into a sad clay pancake.

When the kiln time arrived, my potter friend warned me: things can crack, things can fall… Things can betray you.

So when she put it in for the first firing… I was slightly stressed! but somehow it survived. 😆

Then came the painting stage.

We had these special ceramic paints, and I had so much fun bringing it to life. Colours, patterns, tiny details…

And then… the varnish. If you have never used ceramic glaze before, let me tell you: it is terrifying. You carefully paint your piece. You love it. You are proud.
And then you cover it entirely with this thick, milky, slightly fluo-looking varnish that hides EVERYTHING!!!!!! 😬😬😬

Hours of work gone invisible: I had a small internal panic. But we trusted the process (or at least tried not to show the panic)

And after the final firing… magic! The colours came back! And my little quail bowl turned out so, so good.

I am honestly so happy with it.

Also, my son made an incredible lion bowl. Truly iconic. (Already eating his autumn soup in it. look at this tiny lion’s tail going out of it!)
And all the kids’ pieces were absolutely stunning. So much creativity 😍

I already cannot wait for the next session.

Let me know what you think of this little quail 🐦✨

April is here 🍂

We are properly stepping into autumn now. Cooler mornings. Softer light. That quiet seasonal shift I love so much.

I just turned the page of my calendar, said goodbye to my naughty little caterpillar… and said hello to Toadstool Boy.

He feels right at home this time of year.

To celebrate, I made you a little something.
A fresh autumn wallpaper for your phone, ready to download.

Tiny seasonal magic, right in your pocket.

Hope it brings you a bit of cosy forest energy every time you unlock your screen.

🍄✨

Click here to download!

Lately, I have been drawing and tattooing quite a few seals.

And honestly… I think I know why.

Seal watching is one of the most calming things.
Just the sound of the waves.
A quiet moment.

They are such funny creatures.
The way they wiggle on land like little blobs… and then glide so effortlessly in the water. It feels almost magical. Two completely different animals in one body.

Their fur shines in the sun like they know they are cute.

I think all of that slowly made its way into my drawings.

I have been mixing them with plants and seaweed patterns, playing with negative space and soft stippling shading. I really love that balance between texture and light. It gives the tattoos a gentle, flowing feel, like underwater movement.

I recently tattooed a matching set for sisters, a seal and a turtle, and it made my heart very happy. There is something really special about sharing a piece of art like that. I am very soft for sibling tattoos.

Maybe because I still do not have one with my own sibling…

One day.

Anyway. I am enjoying this sea creature tattoo era.

Tell me… what ocean animal should come next? 🌊✨

You might have seen this little video I shared recently (yes… I followed a trend, it happens once in a blue moon).

It features a skull I worked on a while ago, and I thought I would tell you a bit more about it.

This is a foraged skull of a wild mountain goat.
My son actually found it during one of our hikes a few years ago, which already makes it very special to me.

It spent quite some time in a bleach bath (a glamorous spa moment), and then I started transforming it.

I spray painted the whole skull white to avoid that yellowy ageing tone, and gave the horns a warm golden autumn colour. Very seasonal. Very dramatic.

Then came the fun part.

I sculpted little mushrooms with clay, growing around the skull. Of course. You know me. If I can add fungi, I will.
And I painted delicate herbs across the surface to keep that soft, autumn forest feeling.

A mix of wild, decay, and new life. I love that balance.

At the time, I simply varnished it and called it done.

But since then… something has been growing in my brain.

I visited an artist friend in France who works with transparent resin, and her pieces had this incredible glossy, almost magical finish. It made everything feel more alive. More precious.

And now I cannot stop thinking about it.

So yesterday, I finally ordered the tools to try adding a resin layer to my skulls.

Yes… skulls, plural. I do have a few more hiding around the studio.

I am very excited about this next step. Slightly nervous. But mostly excited.

Let me know if you would like to see the other skulls… and follow along for the resin experiments.

Have a cosy autumn day my friend 🍂

PS: my friend wonderfull work on instagram @givre.ttt

A little autumn update for you.

I will be part of the Bayleys Arrowtown Autumn Festival Art Exhibition this year again, and I am very excited about it.

The opening night is on Friday April 17, from 6pm to 9pm at the Lakes District Museum & Gallery. There will be awards, beautiful local artworks, and everything will be available for sale.

The exhibition then runs daily from April 18 to May 24, 9am to 5pm.

It is one of those very special local events. Art, community, autumn colours, cosy vibes.

If you are around, I would love for you to come say hi and see my work in real life.

Tickets are available via Humanitix.

🍁✨