March meet the maker challenge.
20 word prompts that mean you get to know more about Finches lane and the people behind the Art.
I entered this challenge on social media in March 2024 - for those of you who didn't see it or for those who would like to read it again please enjoy the stories below that relate to the week day prompts
1 STORYTIME
This year I thought I’d join in with the #marchmeetthemaker2024 so you could get to know more about me and also to meet so many other inspiring and creative people.
Hi I’m Tori and the first photo is of me as a little girl on holiday reading in my bedroom. It was decorated by some exquisite chinoiserie wallpaper and I used to fall asleep totally fascinated by the detail and the repeats in pattern.
The next photo is of me today at 52 years old holding two wallpaper samples of designs I have created.
My dream is that one day my wallpaper will fascinate the next generation of little artists that will continue the legacy of making and creating.
2. THE HUMAN TOUCH
I love linocut patterns and designs and my little logo bird is a finch that I created using this fabulous method.
I don’t do as much as I used to as a lot of my artwork is hand drawn with digital paints but there is nothing like producing patterns with ink and a roller.
If you can, I highly recommend having a go.
3. EVOLUTION
This is a creeping buttercup pattern that has been developing for years and will probably evolve one more time.
It started out as a sketch and painting probably 15 years ago. Then I created a simple linocut.
The design then got more complicated and was painted on a metal jug which was gifted to my mum.
Next it made a big jump to a digitalised design and given 4 different colours to shine in.
It’s latest level up is on fabric which my mum wants to make into curtains and cushions to go alongside her jug. It also has become a wallpaper design.
Lastly it will have a collection of complementary patterns and creep a little further in design (tee hee)
4. TASKS
How do you explain the tasks you do to someone else without it sounding like an overwhelming and slightly boring list of to do’s - or as my friend says Ta Da’s!
I thought I’d take a photo of my desk and let the picture do the talking!
Top of the photo - computer with Adobe Illustrator open and 20 buttercup pattern swatches ready to put into a portfolio.
Bottom - me and dogs although only Margaux is interested.
Middle right - water for hydration (yes it is a task to remember), mouse and pens for writing and drawing.
Middle middle - iPad with idea of business card design and shells to try and inspire a new pattern competition. I'm wondering whether to enter about the beach (also see bad bonus photos).
Middle left - cute finches lane notebooks to write tasks. There are 3 there as one isn’t enough. Also 2 tape measures as I can never visualise how big my patterns need to be!
Yes it’s cluttered and yes the dogs are kind enough to keep my feet warm.
5. COMBINATION
My default colours are a pink and blue combination. It is a happiness for me when I get to put these colours in artwork.
I’ve picked out my favourite illustrations and designs with a pink and blue colour palette to bring you happiness too 😄
6. YOUR BRAND
Why the name @fincheslanedesign?
As a little girl I used to walk to school along a village road called Finches Lane. Ambling along a country path every weekday for 10 years is one of the foundations of my childhood alongside the memories of my family’s love of gardening and bird watching.
So began the idea of Finches Lane design, which now brings joy and beauty into the lives of others too. A little bit of what is beautiful in the countryside, here in the south of England, inspires the illustrations and patterns. Everything you find here should leave you uplifted and encouraged and hopefully bring you a little bit more happiness and of course be done in a sustainable way so we can give back to people and the planet.
7 TODAY I’M MAKING
…my way through the path and streets of the estate I love on and next to. I am taking time to notice things as I walk like bird songs and spring growth and am happily making a wildflower list of those I’ve spotted for each season. Click the link below to see what I have discovered so far.
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Also if you are interested, the rules for wildflower spotting are:
Flowers that have grown themselves are classed as wildflowers - native or not.
The plant has to have a flower.
Photos, however bad, need to be taken.
Identify the plant as best as possible and change the name if you don’t like it or can't remember/pronounce it.
Award yourself points for rarity - in your opinion!.
Are you making anything today?
8. FOCUS AND PRIORITIES
Today I’m super happy as I actually focused on one thing and made these Mock ups - whoop 🙌
I’m not a very focused maker and I find prioritising things difficult. I tend to flit like a happy butterfly (probably more like a noisy bumble bee) from one project to another to keep up my interest. One good piece of advice my friend gave me was to stick at something for 90 days! So I took her advice and then changed it 😂 to 60 days or two months.
So since I started last September I spent 2 months on the website and a monthly newsletter - do take a look at the website by clicking below.
9. SIGNATURE STYLE
Hmm - good prompt. I guess if my style was a cake recipe and ingredients/method would be:
Start with a bowlful of fresh flowers and breath in the scent as you slowly mix them up. There needs to be lots of them, and I mean a lot, as we need a maximalist feel to this creation.
Add a spoonful of pink or blue, sometimes green - then other pretty colours to compliment the flavour. Add a handful of green leaves and maybe a couple of polka dots depending what today’s fancy is.
Melt a large spoonful of Art and Craft influence and a little sprinkle Art Deco for flavour.
The finished delicious delight needs to be decorated with watercolour or oils,
often with a modern, digital edge.
And obviously, add complimentary designs to the plate to enhance the flavour and consume it slowly; alfresco with friends is best.
10. COLLECTION
Have a gander at the hero pattern that the Japanese Anemone print inspired.
She is called Musical Melodies as I feel it sings to you.
Created in 5 different juicy colours and has wonderful complimentary patterns to add harmony.
11. CHALLENGES
So. Many. Challenges in this Making Business but don’t we all have hard stuff in what we do?!
I am so blessed to have people around me in person and on social media who cheer me on and encouragement me to keep going dispute all the challenges.
12. PROCESS
Honestly I still feel like I’m in the amateur phase of all of this Maker business and don’t really have an organised process. Those of you know me will eye roll as I’m not sure I will ever be organised! Tee hee
From beginning to end the process can sometimes take me years like the Buttercup pattern I wrote about the other day.
This pattern is another one that has taken its time to mature!
Many years ago I painted this Roses and Forget me not flower watercolour pattern and a dear friend has it framed on her wall.
I didn’t think about the pattern again until I was helping my mum with some wedding flowers and the wholesalers had sent her a bunch of a rose called Miss Piggy.
I couldn’t believe the rose I had imagined all those years ago I was now holding in my hand.
It was so much fun to paint it again in digital watercolours and create this happy piece of art.
Margaux is modelling it as a iPad wallpaper and a cushion cover to match.
13. GIFTING IDEAS
Gifts are great aren’t they!
What would be gifts that would make you smile?
Me? Oh now that you ask I love flowers if hadn’t guessed 🤣
or obviously cake or chocolate and once I even got a puppy (see Marg above) - technically the dog is my daughter’s dog; paid for with my long suffering, darling man’s birthday money but we got her on my birthday so I’m claiming her!
14 DAY IN THE LIFE
Today my day in the life was an out of the ordinary one.
Oldest dog has had an operation so he has to stay calm which if you know him is slightly tricky.
A lovely friend took the youngest pup out for a run and middle dog ate some grass and had the different kind of runs!
So not much making being done but all is good as slow progress is often good progress.
My main win is I heard from a UK company that prints bespoke FSC wallpaper!
The dream is getting closer. 😊😊
15. DETAILS
Today’s prompt is Positive.
Happy Friday to you! The word positive brings so many thoughts.
What does it make you think of?
I try and make a practice of being thankful for the little things everyday. Focusing on the happiness of simple things keeps me balanced and grateful.
One of the things I really appreciate is the sound of bird song and water. Today I got to be near both.
This particular part of the river has been part of my life for a very long time; it has inspired so much of my artwork. I know it’s a privilege to watch the seasons pass here.
16. PRODUCT STORY
Last week I made my first Look Book; a little magazine of the Buttercup collection of patterns, and what they could look like on products. It’s still going through edits but if you fancy a look do let me know.
The next step is to have courage and send it to companies that might want to use the patterns on their products!!
17 CALL TO ACTION
Wow is it really nearly the end of the Challenge!
Can I say a big, heartfelt thank you to all of you who have followed along with this month’s Meet the Maker. I really appreciated the likes and comments. (Also want to thank the dog for photobombing this particular shot 🤣📸)
‘Meet the Maker’ finishes Friday so let me tell you a couple of other ways to keep in touch - if it’s something you’d like to do!
Number 1 - I’m in the middle of writing this month’s Finches Lane newsletter. It mostly goes out at the beginning of every month to those that have signed up to it on the website - it is a happy diary type letter which lets you know about all the plans and developments that are happening here at Finches lane.
If you want to join us - head over to the website and sign up in the pop up box.
Number 2 - Another call to action and top tip for those of you who like to stick to social media is to make sure you like and comment on accounts you enjoy - especially local businesses because every time you show your interest it boosts their/our exposure and best of all it’s free to do!
If you want to go the extra mile to help out save their/our posts and videos or share them.
Those extra few moments mean so much to the creative community.
18. MOMENT OF CALM
They are precious times - moments of calm! Often for me they are surprise gifts and other times I seek them out. I would love to bottle each one of them and have them as memories on a shelf to savour when I need them.
This week I have had surprising gifts of calm. I have been meditating on Easter and all that happened in Holy Week and my soul has been transported back to the old Hymns my grandparents would sing in their choirs. Childhood memories have flooded in giving me smiles of joy and hugs of encouragement as old lyrics and tunes circulate in my mind.
Have you had any surprising moments of calm this week or have you sought them out?
Do you have any old songs or hymns that give your soul a hug?
19. PACKAGED
It’s fabulous to find companies that can send samples of my on screen patterns and turn them into actual products - it really feels like it is Christmases and birthdays rolled into one when a box comes to the door with them in.
Next month I’m doing a talk to a group of lovely people about the progress I’ve been making and I’ve got lots of samples of fabric that I need to re package them and make them pretty.
20 VISION
Vision the last prompt of the series and a important and poignant word for the day because as I write it is Good Friday.
A few years ago I created this Lino print with a hidden message for a dear friend. It takes a small part of a quote from - Julian of Norwich, an inspiring woman of faith who lived her life with this hope.
"All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well."
May your weekend be filled with many blessings of hope and again thank you for staying with me through #marchmeetthemaker
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