Key & Compass

14/10/2025

One lesson it took me many years to learn is how important it is to honour our emotions. This doesn't mean behaving immediately in response to them, or using them as excuses for poor behaviour or choices - self management and regulation are important too.

But it does mean that it's ok to feel whatever you feel, and important for to find someone able to sit with us as we do, to not try and pack it away, or pretend it's not real and, when we are ready, help us work it through.

12/07/2025

Focus your energy on building the new way rather than fighting the old way

Image: https://www.instagram.com/projecthappiness_org

02/06/2025

I'm looking at building an offer for small, crafty business. I'm making my own list of businesses I've bought from and follow. It would be great to find more and build a better picture of who's out there!

I've been one of these business owners, and I found it really lonely. Finding a tribe of other business owners who had first hand experience of running this kind of business, and could offer support and advice from a place of real understanding was tricky. Getting support and advice that was relevant to this kind of business even more so. I'm hoping I'll be able to offer something really affordable and helpful 😊

Comment below with a tag to your favourite small, craft businesses and let me know what makes them stand out for you? I'll add a couple to kick things off.

01/06/2025

Gratitude: Your Secret Weapon! ✨

Practicing gratitude can be a game-changer! 🙏

The idea that "we see what we look for" is a fundamental concept in psychology, describing our innate tendency to selectively seek, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms or supports our existing beliefs, values, or hypotheses, while downplaying or ignoring contradictory evidence.

Taking a minute to appreciate the good - big or small, - can shift your perspective and boost your mood. Whether you're grappling with really difficult stuff, facing a challenge, celebrating a win, or just navigating daily life, watching out for those moments that evoke feelings of safety, joy, peace and calm, or connection can remind you that there is always a glimmer of light to be found even in the darkest places.

This idea of 'glimmers' has appeared in social media and elsewhere recently to describe the small, everyday things that shift us into a more positive space, and serve as a counterpoint to 'triggers' - the things that can cause us distress. I've been consciously trying to 'catch glimmers' over the last couple of weeks, and posted one yesterday with the intention of making this a habit, and maybe sharing a little of that positivity with you.

Serendipitously, Action for Happiness have just released their June calendar and the theme is 'Joyful June - look for what's good' 😍 - it gives prompts on things to look for each day. You can download a copy, or even add it to your digital calendar https://actionforhappiness.org/calendar-monthly/2025-06 👌

Would you join me in spotting some glimmers? Start today - What glimmers can you spot? What are you grateful for?

26/05/2025

🙌 New blog post, reflecting on the brilliant 'Sit Down' by James.

Find a moment to "sit down" and be heard. Coaching provides a space to untangle challenges without judgment, offering clarity and confidence. It's about having an ally to listen and help you discover your own solutions. Where do you need a "sit down" moment?

You can read the full blog post here https://buff.ly/8VhZC5S

Reflecting on 'Sit Down' by James, one of the inspirational songs on the 'Key and Compass' playlist.

25/05/2025

We're not lost, we're just buried. This quote beautifully articulates how our true self is right there, beneath layers of conditioning and old beliefs. It's not finding, it's remembering.

What resonates most with you in this perspective?

20/04/2025

Between 2011 and 2024 I established, led, and then wound down a small creative business. For much of that time, Patchwork Castle was the market leading provider of bespoke baby clothes patchwork memory quilts, keepsake quilts from adult clothes and a tutorial for those who wanted to make their own.

In this strand on the blog I’m going to walk you through that journey. It’s not often people take the lid off their experiences warts and all, and I hope doing so might offer some solace to fellow micro business owners, especially in the crafty or creative space that you are not alone! I also hope that it might provide some tips, tricks, things to avoid etc that might help others in their business journey, or in avoiding some pitfalls.

Come and join me.....

https://keyandcompass.co.uk/my-creative-business-journey-introducing-patchwork-castle/