Welcome to Wattle and Wags!
I’m so glad you’re here. I have always had a creative itch to make beautiful things and share them with as many people as I can. Even though I’ve only started to think of myself as an artist very recently, I have always felt compelled to write, draw and make things - anything from crafts, elaborate birthday cakes, even a cardboard castle for my kids to play in when they were little. I’m so excited to have built this tiny little business and to be sharing it with you here. Hopefully, you will find something here that makes you laugh or smile and makes you want to spread that joy far and wide.
Why I started Wattle and Wags Art
Wattle and Wags began as one of those crazy ideas that just wouldn’t go away. It started as a hobby, which became a special interest (aka obsession - hello, Autism), and I eventually started to wonder if I could turn it into a little side hustle for myself.
Like I said, I haven’t been an ‘artist’ for long. But, during some challenging times personally over the last few years, I found myself needing a creative outlet more and more. Eventually, after buying a lot of materials for various arts and crafts projects that remain unfinished to this day (thank you, ADHD), I found my way into digital art and haven’t looked back. Digital art is the perfect medium for me, thanks to that magical ‘undo’ button! It absolutely released me from my fear of failure, because I was able to start letting go of my perfectionism and just play with new techniques, without worrying about the final product. My art is not perfect, but I have learned to love it becaues of its flaws, not despite of them.
People say be careful of turning something you love into your ‘job’. But they also say, find a job you love, and you will never work a day in your life. My ‘real job’ is in education. I still love working with children, but over the last few years, I’ve realised how important creativity is for my own wellbeing. My hope is that, over time, Wattle and Wags might grow enough to let me spend more of my working week making art and writing picture books. That’s a dream for another day, but every business starts somewhere. I’m so excited to see where this could lead!
Why the ‘Wattle’ and the ‘Wags’?
Part of my burnout recovery has been to spend time in nature, every week, without fail. Some days, I have needed to stop and look at the beautiful things around me, to be excited about what might be around the next corner, just to put one foot in front of the other and keep going. The things I see around me are our gorgeous Australian native plants - wattle, bottlebrush, banksia, grevillea, lilly pilly and eucalyptus, just to name a few. I also see the wonderful array of cheeky and cheerful birds, who always make me feel better with their amusing antics. My particular favourites are regular visitors to my backyard, inlcuding willie wagtails, superb fairywrens, welcome swallows, magpies, kookaburras, butcher birds, and ALL the parrots!
Another integral part of my recovery is the time I spend with my furry BFFs, my dogs - Monty (the Miniature Schnauzer) and Buddy (the Havanese). Every day, they make me smile and warm my heart with their uncomplicated love and affection. They love me for exactly who I am. I think our pets are precious and the love and companionship they offer is extraordinary. They encourage us to exercise, help us regulate our nervous system and, sometimes, give us a reason to get out of bed in the morning. When I’m out walking, I’m not only looking for beautiful plants and birds, I’m also looking for the great big cheesy grin of a dog out on an adventure with their human, just loving life. Who can help but smile and chuckle at that?
What you’ll find here
I hope to post here regularly about all things ‘Wattle and Wags’. Maybe it will be glimpses of my process, behind the scenes. Maybe it will be a particular walk or view, somewhere in the Illawarra, that has inspired me to make a piece of art. Sometimes I might write about new collections I am making to put on products for sale, or I might write about the challenges and wins I’m experiencing while building this tiny art business.
My very first collection celebrates some of my favourite Australian birds, and I already have plenty more waiting in the wings. I hope, over time, to grow the collection to include even more of Australia’s incredible wildlife, as well as the native plants and faithful pooches that inspired the name Wattle and Wags in the first place.
Thank you for being here!
Whether you’ve come here to buy a card, browse some artwork, or simply to follow along, thank you for being here right at the very beginning of this adventure. I appreciate you, and I hope Wattle and Wags becomes a place that makes you smile, helps you notice the beauty of the natural world and perhaps even inspires you to slow down for a moment. I can’t wait to share it all with you.
If you’d like to stay connected as Wattle and Wags grows, you can join my newsletter here. I’ll share occasional updates, new artwork and little glimpses into the process of building this creative venture.
