iPhone photography: Christmas Rose

2011

As the old year fades out and the champagne is on the cooler getting ready to welcome the new year, I find myself looking back and looking forward. Here are my favourite highlights from 2011:

In 2011 my digital life was simplified and made easier through the use of Buffer (a tool that helps you optimize your social media updates by cutting down the noise and sharing more consistently), Evernote (a digital scrapbook) and Dropbox (a storage utility that allows you to access your files from anywhere).

Creatively, this was the year that I resumed my life drawing and figure studies while my iPhone photography took took a bit of a dip, but gained momentum towards the second half of the year.

2011 was the year of the Life Compass. A tool to help people easily make a deep change to their lives by going with the flow of the seasons.

I would like to acknowledge two amazing and talented women, who were very helpful and supportive. My brilliant mother, who brought me up to seize the day, to live with the seasons, to find joy in the small things and beauty everywhere. The Life Compass is inspired by her! I’m also deeply grateful to my wonderful friend Wini who was an excellent help throughout the whole process, with her great expertise and kindness. Thank you, ladies!

2012

In 2012, you’ll find more tips and apps for iPhone photography at Marmalade Moon. Ideas for how you can simplify your digital life and how to get going with life drawing if you don’t have access to models. I’m going to develop a daily propellor, to accompany the Life Compass series and help you gain momentum on a daily basis. And of course there will be more free desktop goodies, both wallpapers and more folder icons. But first I’m going to take my own advice and burrow into my inner landscape with the Winter Shift, to find illuminating light in the darkness of long winter’s nights.

Many thanks to you who visit Marmalade Moon! Thank you for your continued support of Marmalade Moon and everything I do. Happy New Year! 

iPhoneography: The Moon

Emerging from the deep waters of illumination and creativity to trip head over heels into a heap of laundry, a pile of receipts that need to be filed and a dozen and one other day-to-day tasks that I need to catch up with.

It’s the ebb and flow of creativity. It’s creating from the heart. It’s passion. It’s believing in what you do. Because there’s nothing routine about passion. There are no limits to illumination. There is nothing calculated about intuition. There’s nothing moderate about zeal, and desire is not halfhearted.

If you want passion in your life, you have to let the idea of balance take on a different, more long term role. It’s not the same sort of balance as the kind you can get in times when your days can be measured and divided up into sensible amounts of time spent in a variety reasonable areas. In times of passion, it’s ebb and flow. It’s a leap of faith. A deep sense of purpose.

iPhone photography: rose hips

Isn’t completion a wonderful feeling!? Especially since there’s so much in life that really can’t be completed. Perpetual tasks like doing laundry or checking your budget.

Today I feel so happy and I’m celebrating the launch of my new Goal Kits! It’s such a joy to have a moment of inspiration, an idea you really believe in and want to share with others. Clarity. To be carried on a wave of creativity, (even through a maze of technical challenges), and complete something you truly think can help both others and yourself!

Actually, that’s how my passion for desktop art happened too. A lot of people think I’m frightfully organised, and believe that’s the reason for my collections of productive desktop icons. But it’s quite the opposite. I’m a bohemian who appreciates beauty and who struggles with getting organised, and I thought others might have the same need. Or already be awfully organised, but still be guided by icons that support their ability to be productive.

Tonight I’m celebrating September equinox and the launch of my new Goal Kits with Antonio’s Bolognese and a glass of red wine. Here’s to all of you!

A special thank you to Wini, Tracy, Henrik, Dave, you who visit Marmalade Moon, you who get in touch with feedback, and all the members of Club Marmalade Moon! You all played an important part in the process, and I’m very grateful to each and everyone! 

iPhone photography: Daffodils

I was almost swept off my feet by the wild wind on my way home from the shops with freshly ground espresso and a bottle of red wine. And a pot of daffodils, sort of like a prop, to make it feel more like spring. Treats for a Friday celebration.

This spring I’ve been busy both here and elsewhere. I’ve pre-released a new set of Luminous Greyscale Icons to members of Club Marmalade Moon. You can still get them if you’re impatient, if you join now. Eventually I’ll release these new icons on the blog too. On popular demand, I’m designing a new wallpaper, Luminous Grey, to go with the new collection of icons.

Elsewhere:

A Change of Pace & Place

Here’s a guest post about small shifts and big changes that I wrote for the wishstudio: resetting your inner compass :: setting sail for summer.

Kate England finds her global niche

I’m honored to have been interviewed by Tara Agacayak of Turquoise Poppy at expat+HAREM, the global niche. Examining the transformational circumstances, tools and vision that can enable us to ‘bloom where we’re planted’. Check out the interview here: Kate England finds her global niche.

iPhone photography: Heather covered in snow

I was going to write about how spring had been in the air, and how remarkable the quality of light is this time of year, when a blizzard transformed the landscape into a cotton wool dreamscape.

Then history was made. Egyptian Dictator Mubarak resigned. The bravery of the Egyptian people transformed Egypt, with a velvet revolution. Bringing a bright light into our world. I cried for joy, watching images of the Egyptians celebrating. People dancing in the streets in Egypt… So moved, so happy…

Today is a day to celebrate a new dawn for Egypt and for human rights.

iPhone photography: Park and star reflection

Valentine's Day mini cards

Here’s a batch of free mini cards or gift tags for Valentine’s Day.

Time to celebrate love! Send a Valentine to your sweetheart or to a friend or make Valentine’s day a special day for yourself. Tickets for two? A night out? A romantic gift? How about treating your friend to lunch out? A visit to a museum? A scenic drive? A cup of tea, a movie or dinner with someone you love?

I’m sharing the mini cards or gift tags with you in a printable PDF-file for you to print out, cut up and enjoy! I’ve also included the design as a set of small digital cards, just the right size to pop in an e-mail. I hope you have fun using and sharing these Valentine designs!

Save these Valentine’s mini cards/gift tags to your computer.

Gift certificates are now available for the series of Productive Desktop Icons. Problem solved.