Mapology Guides

A Sunday full of inspiration.

I visited the newly opened It’s incredible to think this is the only centre of illustration worldwide. Thank you Quentin Blake 💙

The former waterworks has been transformed into three galleries, public gardens, an illustration library (hello 🗺️), a café and a shop. Lucky for me, it’s close to where I live.

Next up:

Many people pivoted during the pandemic.
I remember discovering Rachel’s work then.
From painting large murals in private homes, she started miniature paintings on Farrow Ball paint charts. Genius.
The rest is history.

It was a pleasure to visit during Open Studios, see her art up close & personal and come home with a print.

S I D E H U S T L E S

A side hustle is a secondary job or activity you do alongside your main job to earn extra money, often pursuing something you enjoy or want to explore. It can range from selling items online to freelancing or offering services like pet care or tutoring.

Often it is something you might want to turn into your full-time job. Other times it’s something people do to keep them sane from working in a field that does not resonate with them, that isn’t their passion or that doesn’t align with their values.

There is no right or wrong. There is just an awareness that doing something that feels like us, feels natural and fulfills part of our soul is worth doing, for financial gain or not. Simply engaging with it could have many benefits - one of them being physical/mental wellbeing.

Mapology Guides started as a side hustle.

The weekend is near.
Which one resonates with you? Maybe all do 🤍

From this (swipe left) to this Pic 1.
It took 1 year and now I was ready to go to shops offering them a set of 3 Mapology Guides.

As Seth Godin says: “first ship then evaluate”.

I met up with my former art teacher and friend John Allen, one of the most sought-after designers in the textile industry, renowned for his colourful hand-woven carpets.

We hadn’t seen each other for a while. Now 92, he is as spirited and young at heart as ever. Always dressed immaculately, we met for tea in Soho.

“I went to Morocco 🇲🇦 last month and booked to go to Egypt soon”. “I’ve started thinking about my next exhibition”. “I’m still driving, although I’ve prepared myself in case they are not renewing my driving licence.”

Listening to John makes you feel alive, full of hope and wonder. He survived cancer three times. I’ll never forget visiting him at the Royal Marsden where he was on his deathbed. We went to pay our respects and say goodbye. He pulled through.

Talking to his oncologist, he said: “John has a fantastic attitude to life. This helped him recover.”

I think we need to all be more John.

“Everyone has design talents and, although these are of different levels, they can be developed and refined provided the student has enthusiasm and an open mind.”
- John Allen

HELLO JUNE!
I wonder what you have in store for us 🤔

Whatever it is, there are some things we can do to ground ourselves, live in the present and have some control over our lives.

1. Walk barefoot on grass for a few minutes each day.
2. Breathe deeply.
3. Get sunlight in the first 30 minutes of waking.
4. Draw something. Doodling will do.
5. Spend time in nature. Healing at its best.
6. Sit in silence. Hear your thoughts.
7. Swap coffee for a herbal tea.
8. Move. Any movement will do.
9. Rest, rest, rest.
10. Add your own here…

I like reflecting on the start of Mapology Guides and remind myself of the WHY and HOW. It’s easy to forget in this fast paced life. Looking back at achievements gives us the confidence and strength to move forward.

I’m also implementing joy, fun and rest.
What will your June look like?

Design ideas for the covers of our very first Mapology Guides. You have to start somewhere, right? 😊

Part of our very first map. PETS.
I still think fondly about it and how sure we were it would fly off the shelves. WRONG!

It completely flopped. That’s the thing about starting a business. You know very little and are learning as you go along. Harsh but valuable lessons 🤍

Hello New Week.
33 degrees in London.
Feels like summer.

What is a modern antidote to hustle culture and self-criticism? KINDNESS, especially toward yourself in these times of division and hatred. It can be a powerful and transformative way to live.

Mapology Guides are visual tools for individuals and teams. Colourful, playful, empowering and thought-provoking, their main purpose is to help people gain self-awareness and build an emotional toolkit.

33 degrees today and tomorrow in London 🔥

Many people live in the past. Others live for the future. But the true beauty of life can only be found in the present moment.

Make today count whatever you are up to 🤍