Vote: 1 or 2?

My bookish dream has to start somewhere and I need you help to get me started with a simple vote...

I'd love to write and publish a book one day about creative mindfulness—being present through creative activities.

My own journey to creative mindfulness began during a challenging time as a young mum in a difficult first marriage. Feeling overwhelmed and seeking solace, I turned to my creative practice in a makeshift studio, a lean-to at the back of our semi-detached 1930s house in a town on the South Coast of the UK.

The quiet refuge of sea and sketchbooks

We lived a short drive from the beach, so early mornings became a ritual. I would drive to the coast, seeking the quiet refuge of pebbles and sea. As I ran along the seafront or practised yoga on the sand when the tide was out, the horizon revealed an expanse that offered me a sense of perspective and a moment of calm amid the chaos.

When I returned home from these early morning visits, faced with another long, monotonous day stretching out before me, I would seize moments between nappies, chores, and work, for my sketchbook or canvas.

My creative practice became a sanctuary, a way to process and release the negative thoughts that threatened to overwhelm me. I would channel the peace I found during those moments, listening to the soothing rhythms of the sea or experiencing the calming presence of the wooded areas on the South Downs into my sketchbook, which helped me reconnect with a more profound sense of peace.

Today, I continue to find balance in the solace of my studio.

I have a bookish dream

I'm sharing this story because I dream of creating a book—a beautiful blend of essays and a workbook—that showcases the transformative power of creative practice paired with simple, practical exercises.

This book would be illustrated and adorned with gold-foiled highlights reminiscent of the enchanting works of Meredith Gaston Masnata, particularly her book Be Here Now. It would be the kind of book you can pick up, flip to any page, and discover a snippet of wisdom.

That's the bookish dream, and it's one of the reasons I started writing on Substack. I'm trying to figure out how to combine my love expression of curiosity through writing and drawing into a cohesive project, even though it all feels a bit messy at the moment!

The drawings on this post are my first experiments for the illustrations I envision in that beautiful book.

I need your help, though.

Which one stands out to you, Design 1 or 2?

Design 1

Design 2

Let me know in the comments :)

Have an inspired and creative day.

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