I took a really big step back in July and entered Lilla Rogers Global Talent Search.  Lilla represents numerous talented designers and artists, I have often drooled over her course Make Art That Sells (one day soon).  I decided to test myself.

We got the brief early August and with just 2 weeks to complete we had to create Wall Art for any age market, in any medium, and upload it to the website on August 18th. The subject topic was "Little Terrariums".

Yesterday we got to hear about the 50 semi finalists.

I wasn't one of them.

But I'm not sad.

I'm happy that I entered my design.

As I scroll through the 50 entrants, I can see why I haven't been chosen - my style is nowhere near their style and quality.   You can see them all here.

I have recognised for a while that I don't have skills in Illustrator, In Design or Photoshop - this means I struggle when it comes to surface pattern design and creating industry professional pitches.

So much so that I realised that I had designed my work too big for the actual submission which had to be 9 x 7 inches, so in effect, I lost the top of my design.

However, I'm chuffed that I submitted.

Working with the idea of Little Terrariums, I wanted to create something that I would have on my wall - a piece that would inspire me to 'Go Within'. 

So I drew a female muse, within a little terrarium, on a beaded mala and she was wearing a little terrarium of planet earth, nurtured within the soil. 

I decided for you to use this muse as your inspiration today, so I'm letting her go play in the colouring-in pages on my website....click here to scoot over there, download her, print her, grab some pencils and let your mind calm and your soul soothe by the meditative colouring.   Hashtag on Instagram, Twitter so I can see what you did #colouringinmuse @julesdolly  (make sure you let the print dry completely before adding colour otherwise you may find it smudges).

You can download the template here on my Colouring-In Muse page on my website, go and have some fun. 

I love this woman - Sharon Tessandori, I did a commission for her last year for her family, at that time she confided that baby, Everly Jo was in her tummy, so creating a family portrait, filled with Reiki was just what they needed to move through the next few months.  They had their own share of heartache during the previous year, this really would be a healing portrait.

Then 10 months ago along came Everly Jo and Sharon asked me to create a healing portrait of the two of them, which I lovingly did. 

Posting these babies in the mailis a delicate business and I make sure that they're safe and comfortable.   Sharon asked to see a photo first as she couldn't wait :-

"oh my gosh Julia, I am laughing and crying at the same time over here. it's perfect in every way. way more perfect than I could have hoped for. sigh. you are such a gift. and you've made my day my friend. endless x's and o's.

my scarf. her yoga baby shirt! and those string of hearts.

I can't stop looking at it!"

And then when she got in the mail!

"Oh Julia, I got the portrait and it's even more magnificent in person!!! E and I are going to shop for the perfect frame in the next day. I feel so grateful and thank you from the bottom of my heart. xoxo happy sigh."

* * *
It truly makes my heart SMILE big time to be doing this and to send out healing portraits across the world.  I would love to do this for you too.... if you're interested do get in touch : )

For your business, for your family, for yourself.

Till next time, Love, Jules xx

Keep updated with all the goings on in my studio by signing up for my Museletter.  I write to you twice a month.

Last week my Manager asked me if I could add to the living exhibition on the wall at Hobbycraft because the CEO and the Head of Retail and Buying were visiting our brand new Aintree store. 

OK..... no pressure!!

If you cast your mind back, in April when the store opened, I wrote this blog post.   I created illustrations of all the new members of staff, plus the north west area manager - that's 25 people.  All were mounted and framed up the stairs to the first floor Art store and Haberdashery.

Usually I am given 4 or 5 photographs of people I'm drawing.  I'm not a realist artist, my illustrations are your inner muse, they are an essence of who you are - I don't draw crows feet, wrinkles, or bags under eyes - my portraits capture a feeling, a happy feeling for people who see themselves.

They resonate. 

So I just have three images to work from - mmmm not alot.

Happiness is sitting at a large table, with a drawing board, surrounded by all my markers, pens, wax pencils and the peace to be able to channel Reiki into the images. 

This I didn't have : /

I didn't have all my artkit on me as I was in store, so I used what we had within our own store supplies. Thankfully I was in Hobbycraft and was able to use what I needed.

It was totally fab though and I loved adding to the exhibition space.  They are such a great talking point for the customer - as I also created badges for all our colleagues - the customers love trying to find out who's who!!

If you're in Liverpool and fancy a little shopping trip plus visiting Hobbycraft so you can walk up the stairs, why not pop in and say Hello!!! 

If you're secretly wishing I could do this for your own work space, *that's my dream too* why not get in touch, let's chat! Wherever you are, let's do this. 

If you'd like to have your own Dollystration done, you can order one here from my Etsy Shop.

I'm nearly finished with my Muse Mantra Deck - my very first deck of 60 Mantra Cards which have taken me 6 months to create.  You can preorder your set in my Etsy Shop too - pre-ordering helps me get a good first print run (dribs and drab printing is waaaaay tooo expensive). They're £14.50 plus p+p and I ship everywhere in the world.

If you just want to be kept updated, you can sign up here and I'll write to you twice a month. It's free : )

That's a bit of a long heading isn't it? 

But what do we do when what we're doing goes pear shaped?

You're wondering what I'm on about.....

So I'm starting my day by drawing a Muse Mantra - inspired by words that are coming out of my vision pages. I start drawing this muse here and decide to write in the words

"I feel truly calm and comfortable" with my new sharpie.

I tend to only use Uniball black graphic liners because they don't leak or spread, this morning, I picked up Mr Sharpie.  I'm not liking him. 

I then move into filling with colour - and this is when I feel it all goes pear shaped.  Mr Sharpie and Mrs Letraset don't go very well together.  I am kinda feeling that this is ruined.

Ruined, I hear you gasp.

NO WAY!

Well after a made a cup of Harmonise Pukka tea, I just thought I would cut out my lovely Muse and recreate my image.  Which is entirely what I did. 

Now I'm a big fan of digital art, I love playing with filters and words, yet I just have to begin with the original illustration, using pens, pencils, markers, magic and more pens.

But here she is.  I'm loving her - hope you to do too.

When things go pear-shaped, it is often a sign to step away, taking 10 minutes and returning with a fresh approach, despite any tears or angst. 

Have you done anything today that has gone pear-shaped and you've done an about-turn?

Let me know.
Love Jules xx

We're getting closer to the getting my Muse Mantra Deck printed - if you'd like to support me by pre-ordering a set, I would do a happy dance - please visit my Etsy Shop here where you can do just that - they're retailing at £14.50 plus p+p. I'm hoping to have them all printed by September.

If you'd like to just be kept updated about them, then why not sign up to get my Museletter, which I send out twice a month.  It's free.