HannahBluish

I have always felt a strong pull to the wild. Nothing makes me happier then trekking through pine forests or flailing wildly into icy breakers during summer holidays on Cornish beaches. All fullness and joy and freedom and peace is found for me in those wild places.

Then I had children. Whilst pregnant I imagined the earth mother that I was about to become, barefoot and bra less allowing my babies to run freely, climb bravely and jump boldly. However the moment my eldest little life changer was placed in my arms I felt the fear. I wanted to hold him close or place him in a protective fort and never take my eyes of him for a second, all my dreams of raising a wild child felt lost... and the wild child within me began to fall asleep.

Then child number two arrived... and a wild child was born that I had no hope of containing. With a head full of untameable curls and a scream that would raise the dead, my second born came forcefully and loudly into my safe and sturdy world and shook everything up. I no longer had the capacity to hold them both at once, I had to allow them both to be apart from me and my mental health took a battering as a sought to fight an impossible battle with chaos.

After the initial storms of night feeds, two year old tantrums and potty training (and with the edition of medication for my mind) I began to feel at ease with this new chaotic normal. As my second born (suitably named River) grew and became more and more independent he led our family back to the wild places, with wolf like howls and screams of triumph he would march us back to the paths we craved. Hidden woods, and fields for running, dens, puddle diving and tree climbing. However the wilderness didn’t stay outdoors, every room, every nook, cupboard and store is full of wild chaos... There is no pretence or appearance of calm. And now I say screw it! Let chaos reign.

It is in the context of this chaotic and beautiful wilderness that I create, scribble and daydream products for you... fellow wild one. I am just at the beginning but hope to create prints, badges, cards and more that reflect the chaos of parenthood, the joy of childhood and the wilderness in all of us.