Making personal projects work for you

It’s fun and incredibly valuable!

Happy New Year and Welcome to 2025!

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season! I spent it with family and friends, enjoying some much-needed relaxation and a many amazing beach days. I also had the pleasure of catching up with my friend Jen Jamieson from the Illoguild (we met through a Make Art that Sells course)- we got to ring in the new year together.

This year, I’m kicking things off with a new goal: completing one small personal project each month. When book deadlines pile up, they often take over my creative energy, leaving little room for personal projects. But in 2025, I’m making time—even if it’s just a few sketches or exploring an idea.

I love working on personal projects because they remind me of the pure joy of creating. There are no deadlines, no rules, and no pressure to tick off a list of ‘must-haves.’

Why Personal Projects Matter to Me:

1. Play: They allow me to remember the fun of creating without deadlines or rules.

2. Skill-building: Exploring new ideas helps me learn and refine techniques.

3. Creative freedom: It’s my chance to let my imagination run wild and create entirely on my terms.

4. Inspiration: These projects often spark ideas that feed into my professional work.

5. Growth: They challenge me to step out of my comfort zone and explore new possibilities.

2025 is shaping up to be a big year for me, with three books and one anthology set to be released. I’m excited for what’s ahead and can’t wait to share updates with you along the way. You can see more of my work on my website and also stay connected on instagram.

And I can’t wait to see your personal projects!

Wishing you a creative and fulfilling year in 2025!

I can’t wait to see what personal projects you are working on in 2025!

Thanks for reading!

Xoxo

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My Books

• ‘Boldilocks’ (out 2025). “Boldilocks is a boy with hair so spectacular and shimmering that everyone looks at him, embarrassing him wherever he goes. But when Pa takes him to the hairdresser to do something about it, something unexpected happens. With a little salon magic and a whole lot of love, much more than hair is transformed. Boldilocks celebrates the power of community and being confident in your skin (and hair), and will resonate with anyone who’s ever felt a little bit embarrassed about how they look.”

• ‘Our Australian Heart’ is an anthology celebrating Australia, featuring my illustration “New Life at The Great Barrier Reef”. Sale proceeds are to be donated to The Indigenous Literary Foundation.

• Mia’s grandma is no ordinary grandmother. She is a very busy grandmother who is curious, fashionable and adventurous. Glamma always has time to share her love of the world with her granddaughter Mia, so is she just like any other grandmother?

• Little Shark Lulu is Sleeping Little Shark Lulu is trying very hard to go to sleeeep…

  But, all around her, lots of sea life are wide awake and busily hunting, eating or playing. How can Lulu nod off with all that underwater fun and games?