A dash of wonder
Castles, Beatrix Potter, and the last illustration challenge
This week at the kid table…
My first European adventure in England and Scotland was AMAZING! Just in case you don’t believe me, look how amazed we are…
I saw Much Ado About Nothing at the Globe Theatre, visited Sherlock Holmes at 221 Baker Street, took a 10-mile bike ride from Canterbury to Whitstable, ate oysters by the sea, toured Windsor Castle, discovered the delicious Bao bun for the first time ever (thanks to a friend’s recommendation), wandered the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, lived in the servants quarters of a moody castle for two days, gushed over the magic in The Cursed Child, indulged in afternoon tea, explored Downton Abbey (A.K.A. Highclere Castle), and…now I need a vacation from my vacation.
I won’t overload you with photos of everything, but here is a tiny me at the giant castle we stayed in for a few days. Just to give you a laugh, I’ve circled the window to our room.
Creative nugget
In London, I visited the V&A museum which had a special exhibit going on about Beatrix Potter. I couldn’t believe my lucky timing! As someone obsessed with all things children’s book, I drank it in and left the exhibit feeling rejuvenated and inspired. So I thought I’d share a few bits of that creative inspiration with you.
Nugget #1: Cultivate a sense of wonder.
As a child, Beatrix Potter was curious about everything. She observed, experimented, drew, and painted in order to understand her world. As an adult, she never stopped being curious which led her to offer major contributions to science (she was known for fungi), conservation (she saved the Lake District), and children’s books.
Isn’t this photo amazing?! It perfectly captures her sense of wonder.
Nugget #2: Don’t forget about the business.
Beatrix not only wrote and illustrated books, she also came up with innovative ways to build a business around her work. She created stuffed animals of her characters to sell as well as other merchandise (which was quite revolutionary at the time). Her business mindset ended up being an essential part of her success.
Nugget #3: Give your pets their own chair.
The following photo says it all.
How do you keep your sense of wonder alive?
Bring your own juice box
B.Y.O.J.B. is that special kid table moment when you trade your dad’s famous chocolate chip cookies for your favorite fruit snacks.
This week I’m trading a book called The Great Work of Your Life: A Guide for the Journey to Your True Calling by Stephen Cope. For a long time I wandered around feeling interested in everything but confused about what to do with my life. This book showed me new ways to think about life and myself which led me to finally find a fulfilling path.
Wanna trade? Share something you love!
Brownie points
This will be the last week of my illustration challenge on Instagram and Twitter! I’ve had so much fun playing with shapes. Thank you to everyone who has participated. I’ve loved seeing your creations.
Here is a doodle I made with this week’s triangle:
I hope you have a wonderful day. I’ll save you a spot next week AT THE KID TABLE!
Happy creating,
Rachel