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Snoop Blogg

It's cool to be kind, and it's cool to be bothered. Well, it's also cool to have a blog nowadays, so it seems, so here's my delightful enthuse muses talking about what they're enthusiastic about...

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Julia Bethan - illustrator, creator, designer, and life-lover from Ink & Thimble

August 30, 2018

I'm a pretty cheerful nugget of a human - it's kind of what makes this whole Enthusiast brand so hashtag authentic - but I have never ever, no never ever, in my life been so GLEEFUL as when I was writing up this INCREDIBLE interview with Julia, the designer, illustrator and creator behind Ink & Thimble. I actually got goosebumps reading these answers back, and then I realised that I'm lucky enough to have Julia wear one of my tshirts, and the bumps got bumps. (Julia also sent me a really, indescribably wonderful close-up zoom in of her face, which was a whole different bodily reaction, but that one's just for me). Her adoration for arts and passion for people are wonderful and inspiring and evocative and truly awe-inducing; from now on, I will forever be celebrating my jumper stains. (Read below to figure out what that is, and why you will too...)

Also - SHE PAINTED THAT GIANT BEAUTEOUS OIL PAINTING BEHIND HER. JUST CASJ. LOOK AT IT. It's more beautiful than Zac Efron in High School Musical 3 (and I do not say that lightly).

OH HEY. Tell us about yourself - like a first date, but we already love you

Having a long-term love affair with art, illustration & embroidery for what feels like my whole life, I took the somewhat natural leap from dreaming to doing.

From designing wedding stationery & gifts for friends & family to setting up my own Wedding Stationery & Embroidery Service, my passion is to provide lovely human beings with bespoke creations that celebrate their own unique characters. I’m inspired by the historical & revel in reading up on romantic stories of the past, valentines & sweetheart traditions. 

The handmade, and therefore bespoke, cerebrations of love from the past fascinate me & it is my intention to replicate this in my work through hand painted designs, hand sewn embroidery & sewing seams with my 1894 Singer sewing machine (whose name is Ty).

A person-centred approach is the key to my process. 

As a former paediatric nurse, I am well versed in all things family, communication & person-centred care.


What are you enthusiastic about?

Okay, so how can one even when one simply cannot even. SO – I am beyond enthusiastic about symbolism, little traditions and personal history. I have a box somewhere full of receipts that people ditch at the self-service queue, because I like to think about what has been purchased and who that person might be and I emulate a story about them in my mind. Also, when people leave those handwritten shopping lists and leave them in the bottom of the basket? Pure. Unadulterated. Heaven. I think it’s so personal to see someone’s handwriting, their own little shopping story. I try and hone in on this when I’m creating stories for clients through my wedding stationery & embroidery – I love to know their ‘personality handwriting’ if you will. The curves, the straights, their likes and passions, what connects them and what best showcases their personalities. 

love letter hand writing.png

 

Why do you keep doing what you're doing?

I think I’m just the biggest sucker for a story. Encouraging people to tell their own stories, interpreting this into visual storytelling through my artwork & embroidery and almost immortalising it. It’s like full circle stuff to me. And there will always be lovely human beings, and there will always be stories. And that’s why I keep on keeping on. 

 

What's the impact you want to make?

I want to make people feel recognised and valued for all that they are, uniquely. Okay so – you’re walking around the shops and you’re with all your bessies and you see this insane jumper. It’s glorious, it’s all the colours you love, soft as you like, the fit was made for you, & all your bessies are saying mmmmmmhm honey this is the one. You buy it. You wear it all the time. It’s who, you, are. But then, you see someone else wearing it and you lose that feeling of ownership over it? Until you realise that their jumper doesn’t have that tiny little mark on the sleeve from that night around Christmas at your family home when some red wine (and the rest) got sloshed about. And you remember how hilarious that was & it makes you feel warm and fuzzy again because you realise the individuality of your jumper now – and that tiny stain is what makes it yours. The memory. I want to celebrate that stain. That’s the impact I want to have.

Handwritten wedding invites.png

 

Best advice you've ever been given?

Cliché – but just be yourself. I truly believe it’s the only advice you ever need. Also, eating crisps directly after eating chocolate. 

 

Who's your Enthusiastic hero?

It has GOT to be Vinny Van Gogh (or Vincent if you want to add a touch of formality – which he’d hate. He’d also hate Vinny). He is the most tragically beautiful example of someone who had no physical choice but to be himself, and create what he truly believed in – despite not getting any praise or recognition for it. The way he visualised colour, the expressive nature of his work and ultimately his never ceasing enthusiasm for painting and art - inspiring. I’ve seen his work in museums and I still go ‘Omg JB this guy actually painted this, years ago…Like this paint came from his paintbrush which he held in his hand???’ Like, I can’t get over that. He’s my hero. 

Vincent Van Gogh embroidery.png

 

If money were no object, what would you be doing?

Collecting receipts & painting & sewing. Genuinely. Just maybe on a beach in Mexico. 

 

If you were to have a baby girl what would you call it?

GENUINELY – Ellie. It’s my fave name ever. So - well done you. 

 

Check Julia out all over the double u double u double u dot:
www.inkthimble.com /@inkthimble /@juliabethan
 

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see what i’m up to on instagram:

HELLOOOO all the lovely people that have hopped on over from @ginamartinuk’s stories today - THANK YA for supporting the movement and for wanting to make a change ✊🏻 these badges are for the tube, tram, train or bus, to provide a friendly signal to those with hidden disabilities or going through hardships that you’ll vacate your seat for them, no questions asked. No need to explain themselves, prove their worth, or fit themselves into a standard of who “deserves” a seat - just a friendly face who they can trust. Thank you for wanting to be part of this, and keep your eye out on more from Gina and me on this project very soon 🚄 link to buy-o in the bio! #happytomoveforyou In the words of Nicki Minaj, pound that bloody alarm because BRAND NEW MERCH has just dropped! Buttery soft Caring is Cool tees, enthusiastic totes (due to popular demand, THANKS pals!) and badges to help people with hidden disabilities and hardships on transport. The tees include a donation to @mindcharity to support the amazing work they do, and the badges include a donation to @scopecharity to support all that they do! Shop them now in my bio and let me know what you think! 🙀☝🏼💗 I sold my last pink enthusiast tee a couple of weeks ago (RIP 😢) BUT in its place comes a super exciting, super soft, brand new pink design - dropping super soon 💗 here’s @ally.pally looking a dream in hers (p.s white slogan tees are still available!) On little to no scientific authority, I’m willing to bet most people today have just had “one of those days”. Seems to be summat in the air/water/earth wind and fire tonight - but try not to panic too much, pals. It may not feel like it right now but having deep seated feelings - both good and bad - is a sign that you’re capable of amazing things and feats. Now treat yourself to some self-love and some rest 🖤 image by @tyler_spangler via @the_rally REMEMBER THE WARMTH? Nope, neither do I (I know I’m predominantly a Yorkshire gal and therefore somewhat predisposed to not feel the cold today but it is bloody nippy today ❄️). Throwback to the wonderful @livvrh wearing the classic slogan tee in sunnier climes @urbanjunglenorfolk and looking a dream! (You should definitely check her out - she is an absolute D R E A M 💗) link to buy is in the buy-o 👆🏻 (which technically makes this an #ad...yawn.) What’s this? Beautifully designed enthusiasm help absolutely bloody f r e e ? 🤩 I’ve just uploaded my downloadable Habit Tracker onto my website - one of my biggest tips for Enthusiasm is spending serious, committed time doing something you love every damn day, and this is a super cute way of tracking it. Print it off, stick it to your wall/fridge/desk/forehead and give yourself a big ol’ tick every time you do at least 15 minutes of it 💪🏻 yes there’s a link in the bio and yes the backdrop is my Christmas troos, I’m a consummate professional k 🤷🏻‍♀️ When was the last time you looked for amazing things? And by amazing, I mean totally, utterly, almost impressively banal? The mundane. The completely natural. Things like a sunset (or sunrise, which I feel are criminally underrepresented in the whole nice sky chat) 🌞peeling an orange all in one satisfying go 🍊 or noticing the manhole covers in Hackney have pineapples on them 🍍 are all pretty incredible when you stop to notice and appreciate them. It’s only a little change to consciously look out for these things, but it’s an excellent way to start upping your levels of enthusiasm in life once you do because the world suddenly seems a little brighter 💪🏻 I wasn’t going to post this because then (unintentionally) I would have 3 of my amazing graphics lined up on my grid and I didn’t want to box myself into a pattern, but then the wonderful @stringofheartsltd who designed them posted this one and I realised that nobody cares and I should stop being a wally. ANYWAY. Sunday story time over; caring is cool and we should all do more of it. Being enthusiastic is cool. Looking out for one another is cool. Bigging up the people who give a f is cool. Being engaged with something so that it gives you purpose to get out of bed in a morning (even just for a lazy day) is FUCKING COOL. And anyone who tells you otherwise can do one 🤜🏼 oh and ALSO - this May or may not be part of our new collection, dropping v e r y soon over here on The Enthusiast 🙀🧡 eeeeeep!!

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