Inni boutique Apartments, Hveragerði 810, Iceland

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Inni Boutique Apartments, drawing by Sonia Nicolson

The owners of the Inni Boutique Apartments in Hveragerði were looking to add the floor plans of their apartments to their website to help guests best understand which rooms to book.

After a visit to these gorgeous apartments, we took some pictures and got some basic drawings down before getting back into the studio to create the hand-drawn floor plans and front elevation. The interiors are a sophisticated pallet of warm tones with natural materials mixed in. The finish is high quality and we wanted to best communicate this in our drawings.

Working on the iPad in procreate, we created a floor plan for each type of apartment complete with rendered furniture and fittings and a front elevation which in turn works with for marketing and communicate the style and vibe of these boutique apartments.

The drawings are now on the client’s website here.

Fairmilehead Parish Church, Edinburgh, Scotland

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Fairmilehead Parish Church Edinburgh

The Minister of Fairmilehead Parish Church contacted us looking for an idea on how to better use the foyer space outside their church halls. This space is where parents often wait when coming to pick up their child from Scouts, Guides, etc and she felt that it could be used better to provide a more welcoming, community space.

We discussed how to achieve a more welcoming space on a very tight budget and what we felt this space could be used for:

  1. Parents waiting area

  2. Community area for coffee, chat, book swap, notice boards, etc

  3. Pastoral care, informal meetings, and congregation space outside of the church itself

We draw up this design which offers an area for waiting, meeting, and congregating, and leaves plenty of room for movement and walkways. The area would be partitioned with a natural ‘fence’ concept integrating plants which would work to soften the space. Inside this space would be flexible seating so users can create cozy seating areas, a drinks station with a place for home baking and an ‘honesty box’ to encourage people to use the area, and open shelving on the wall to encourage book swaps and display notices, leaflets and so on.

The church would be able to then display a cross, wall hanging, and other items to create the right vibe for the area. Hanging plants can be added and cushions, etc to help create a comfortable area for members of the congregation and others to feel welcome here.

Fairmilehead Parish Church Edinburgh Scotland

Gufunes, 112 Reykjavik, Iceland

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Gufunes floor plan

The local council of Reykjavíkurborg contacted us to help with an ongoing project at Gufunes, Reykjavik. They were working with existing buildings which we visited and surveyed to drew up basic zonal plans for Reykjavíkurborg to plan out the use of each space for its new occupants and end-users.

These drawings are being used for the cities records and to help with a funding application. We created zonal diagrams with keys. The plans were drawn by hand, rendered digitally, and used in a report which was present to the Mayor.

5 Tips to Boost Creativity and Stay Productive

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As a designer or creative professional, finding the perfect balance between staying productive and boosting creativity can sometimes feel overwhelming. Whether you are managing multiple projects or seeking fresh inspiration, maintaining a steady flow of creative energy is crucial.

In this post, I’ll share my top strategies for unlocking creativity and improving productivity, with simple changes you can make today.

Looking for a deeper dive into creative growth? Join the waitlist for my Creative Roots Retreat.

5 Tips to Boost Creativity and Stay Productive

1. Create a Daily Routine with Time Blocks

You’ve probably heard me talk about time blocking before. Time blocks are incredibly effective for organising your day and getting more done. Just like batching similar tasks, structuring your day into time blocks allows you to focus fully on one type of activity whether that is brainstorming, designing, or admin.

By dedicating specific blocks of time to different activities, you reduce distractions and boost productivity.

Be sure to schedule tasks based on when you are most creative. For example, I’m more creative in the mornings, so I reserve that time for design work (Canva, sketching, commissions, copy). Later in the day, I focus on tasks like emails and meetings.

Identify your peak creative hours and block them off for your most important creative tasks

2. Embrace “Creative Breaks”

Taking breaks is just as important as working, especially if you want to maintain long-term creativity.

“Creative breaks” are short, intentional pauses from your work that give your brain a chance to recharge. Take a walk or grab a coffee to reset your mindset and help you approach your work with fresh eyes.

When you step away, your subconscious continues to process ideas, often leading to creative breakthroughs once you return to your work

3. Keep a Sketchbook or Creative Journal

One of the best habits you can develop is keeping a sketchbook or creative journal. Documenting your thoughts, sketches, and ideas regularly is a fantastic way to nurture creativity. Even if an idea feels rough, having it written down provides a bank of inspiration you can revisit whenever you’re feeling stuck.

You might forget those Ideas that come to you in a flash - a sketchbook gives them a permanent home

4. Set Small, Achievable Goals

Big projects can be intimidating and overwhelming, especially when juggling multiple tasks. To prevent this, break larger projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. Setting small goals keeps your momentum going, gives you a sense of accomplishment, and reduces the risk of burnout.

Start your day by listing three small goals you can realistically achieve - These wins will keep you motivated throughout the day

5. Surround Yourself with Inspiration

Creativity thrives on inspiration.

To keep your ideas flowing, regularly expose yourself to new sources of inspiration. This could mean visiting an art gallery, exploring new places, or even following creative accounts on Instagram (hint hint).

A change in perspective can work wonders for your creative mindset, sparking fresh ideas you can bring into your own projects.

Surrounding yourself with creativity in different forms helps broaden your approach to design and keeps you motivated to try new things

8 Things To Do When You’re Overwhelmed & Stressed Out

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We can all agree that it’s a tough time for everyone right now. We don’t need to list out what’s going on but we do need to look after ourselves and that probably includes turning the news off and putting social media down for a little bit. 8 Things To Do When You’re Overwhelmed & Stressed Out.

8 Things To Do When You’re Overwhelmed & Stressed Out

Today I felt very overwhelmed and anxious. I don’t often feel like this but I gave myself 30 mins to just be me and do a little self-care. These are the 8 things I did and I feel a lot calmer now. They’re all easy steps and I hope they help you.

  1. Breathe and Listen

    I stepped out onto our balcony and just breathed in the windy day for a second or two. Then I came in and put ‘The Most Beautiful Songs in the World’ playlist on Spotify.


  2. Pop the oven on (and the kettle) and bake

    I made some quick and easy cookies which I will link here (I just halved the recipe and there were more than enough cookies)


  3. Light a candle

    I got these deliciously calming candles from a local company, ILM, and lit one in my bedroom. It not only smells amazing but the light is lovely and it’s calming me just having it near me.


  4. Get in your comfiest, best-feeling outfit

    I put on some good undies (lol), a nice t-shirt, and some tight but comfy PJ bottoms. Don’t just stay in your clothes or get back into your worn PJs but look out for a nice fresh outfit that will make you feel comfortably good.


  5. Makeup, hair, perfume

    these all lift my mood and help me feel like me again. Try it, keep it simple and treat yourself to a little spray of your fave scent.


  6. Message a friend, if you haven’t already, or call

    it’s not only good to talk but a little rant or moan is fine, sometimes needed.


  7. Nurture something

    spend time with a pet or water your plants and care for them, talk to them, potter, and re-pot them if needed. This always helps my mindset calm a little.


  8. Speed clean/tidy your space

    set a timer for 10 minutes and blast your space, it’s amazing what you can freshen up and tidy in a short amount of time.

I hope you feel a little better, calmer, and ready to be you again, and take on the rest of the day. If you are still feeling off then pick up your phone and download the app TappingSolutions - give it a go, I really like it.

Sending love

Happy 2nd Birthday, Mia

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Dear Mia, you’ve turned 2, two, wow!! Happy birthday.

we have a 2-year-old!!

What a fabulous few weeks we’ve had leading up to your 2nd birthday. Those two years have flown by, Pabbi and I can hardly believe we have a two-year-old. You’re just wonderful and we cannot wait to see how this year grows, and the challenges and lessons it will bring with it.

Peppa Pig theme

Much like many toddlers, you love Peppa Pig and so, of course, this became the theme of the celebrations and I had to make you (not one but two) Peppa Pig cakes. This was so much fun and I love making you things that you can enjoy and keep looking back on. The 17th of June is the Icelandic National Day, a day where children get balloons and so your Auntie got us to take her to two stores to hunt down a Peppa Pig balloon for you.

sunshine

Born on the summer solstice (just like your older cousin, Nori), Iceland didn’t fail us with a beautifully sunny day on the 21st of June. We took full advantage of this and went on a road trip to Hrunalaug, a fabulous natural pool and Mummy vlogged the trip.

Watch the video

Road trip

We headed out for the day to Hrunalaug Natural pool, a hot spring on farmland just outside Flúðir. It’s an easy drive around an hour away from Reykjavik. The pool is a little hard to find if following google maps but drive through Flúðir, take the left turn off, keep driving onto the gravel road for 10mins or so and then you will see a small village with a very cute church. Pass by the village and take the farm road on the right, there is a small car park on the left after a few minutes - you will see the car where you pass to go to the pool. This donation helps with the upkeep of the site.

The change hut is basic but authentic. There is a bench and bin, don’t leave anything behind. This is where they used to bathe the sheep so it’s a basic structure and small pool but is fabulous. There’s a chest-deep pool at the end of the turn house and then a larger pool to the side, this is where they use to wash the sheep. The water is a lovely temperature - we got very lucky with the weather.

OOTD

Mia loves a good tutu so naturally, Mummy dressed her in a pink tutu for our road trip and then a light green tutu for her birthday party. She rocked both but look at her in her pink trainers, far too cute.

the Cake

The theme was Peppa Pig and so I got to work making a cake decoration. As fondant icing is hard to come by here in Iceland, I made Peppa out of clay and painted her, this way Mia can keep her and we could use her on both cakes. Yes, I made one for her birthday and then another the following week for her party.

the Decorations

We made it as easy as we could and reused decorations from previous celebrations. The hearts were from a friend’s Hen Party which I held in our home just before lockdown and the paper tassel string was leftover from our wedding. We got the 2 ballon in a local shop and that was the only new item we bought. We tried to be as green as we could and so we used our own plates and reusable straws and used up the paper cups we had.

mia’s Presents

A very lucky girl, Mia got some fabulous gifts and we are so grateful. Due to the fact that there is a pandemic going on, we live on a tiny island with few shopping options and well, it’s only sensible to socially distance from Malls right now - we went down the second-hand route for gifts and actually got some fab things via the local charity shop and Facebook pages. We gifted Mia a trike which she is jet to use. One of those Wheelybug ride-on-toy cows (second hand) which she wasn’t fussed about, toy cars (second hand) which she loves, and a chair for her little table (which I up-cycled both the table and chair to suit our living room and be used as a blackboard - she loves it.

I went to IKEA to get the popup tent and tunnel they have but due to the current situation, pretty much everything was sold out and new stock was somewhere in a shipping container so I turned to Facebook and got a nearly new one from someone downtown.

She also got a lot of great gifts from family and friends including some very thoughtful books, a cute rucsack, and some bubbles.

Happy 2nd Birthday, darling Mia (our little monkey mouse) xx