Tuning in and living creatively with slow-lived entrepreneur, Claire Venus.
#01 ATELIER, a new collaborative interview series exploring our creative spaces, processes and rituals.
I’m Lyndsay, mother, creative and storyteller with a background in interiors PR. Story & Thread. is a weekly letter exploring the intersection of creativity, mothering and the living world, with a home and a garden at the heart...
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Hello lovely readers
I am so happy to be here writing to you again and seem to be settling into some kind of rhythm with my words reaching you on a Thursday (for now…always slightly subject to change…!)
We are becoming very much nestled in the darker half of the year, with the scattered light that dances across our living room walls visibly diminishing as we make the descent towards the shortest day in December. This year, as well as feeling the usual pull of homebody solitude and cosiness of the season, I feel drawn to quietly gathering in softly-lit togetherness, perhaps as the world feels so darkly and densely layered right now…
Talking of togetherness, I am excited to introduce ATELIER, a new collaborative interview series about our creative spaces, processes and rituals. More about the inspiration for this series and the first interview with the magical below…
Envisioning my creative space.
Recently, my thoughts have turned to carving out an intentional creative space at home. As I gradually gain some regular time to myself which has in turn has inspired a commitment to writing and creativity, I am craving a space away from our living room that is inevitably strewn with toys and is located just off the kitchen, in full view of the piles of dishes that need attending to.
The place I have bookmarked in my mind is a room that, since we moved in to our house two years ago, has become a forgotten holding space in the back of my mind for boxes, piles of paperwork, a clothes horse for drying laundry, and a place to store clothes that my children have either grown out of or are yet to grow into.
Despite this, the space has good bones — beyond the cracks in the walls and the floorboards that are in desperate need of sanding, it faces south so is one of the warmest places in the house, it has old doors that lead out onto a balcony that overlooks the garden and becomes wildly woven with wisteria in the spring.
Whilst I gather inspiration and create a moodboard for a space that I hope will one day soon house books and magazines, long-forgotten paints, a trestle table desk, space for a yoga mat, a comfortable place to sit, artwork on the wall and a seasonal altar — I am collating insights into how and where others create, and the rituals they intentionally adopt to elevate the space for creativity. This gathering of inspiration led to the idea for the ATELIER series…
ATELIER, noun, [French atuh-lyey].
a workshop or studio, especially of an artist, artisan, or designer.
Meet , grateful creative & slow lived entrepreneur. Claire lives by the Northumberland coast under dark skies with her husband, two children and six pet chickens. She loves to write and in winter can be found cosying by her log burning fire journal and pen in hand in. She’s passionate about our lived experiences and the environment and its influence on our work. Claire shares all of her embodied wisdom generously through her publications , and (with ).
I loved speaking to Claire about her creative spaces at home and how she tunes in to the natural rhythms around her as she works from her old miner’s cottage overlooking the sea.
How do you like to start a day of creative work?
I am always awake first in our house each morning. I listen to the birdsong for a few moments in the warmth of our bed.
I head downstairs, switch on my fairy lights that live behind the comfiest of the two sofas, make a coffee in my V60 dripper and grab some water.
I then get either my notebook or my laptop and I’m all set for at least 30 minutes undisturbed writing. I prefer quiet for all types of work, but I like company too. My husband also works from home so he’s here a lot too.
We live in an old miner’s cottage — it’s cosy with sea views and it holds us. I adore it and working here with him.
Once the children are awake, I put everything down and make breakfast, get their things ready for school or set them up some things to play with.
Do you have one place at home dedicated to your work or do you move around?
I often sit and work on the sofa to write on my laptop with a cushion on my lap; I know it’s not great for my posture.
I do move around too. I do my Zoom calls and record my podcasts upstairs in our yoga room. This is a really light and airy space with a view of the ocean and our allotment garden. We’ve just created a (new) lovely adjustable desk set up with soundproof boards – I’m really happy with it.
I love to learn via podcasts as I’m driving. I don’t have long drives to do so, often it takes me four or more shorter drives to finish a podcast.
Sometimes my ‘to do list’ greets me outdoors or in my mind as I’m drifting off to sleep. This is always a reminder to journal more!
I journal my week away and celebrate my wins at our local spa every Friday. Once that’s done, I head for a swim and sauna.
What would your dream creative studio space look like?
I love this question…
I’m holding the vision of huge glass windows and a mountainscape. Space to watch the sky change through the seasons. Sunrise and sunset and everything in between.
Perhaps space enough for other creatives to come and go and with a creche for our kids? I should get this on my vision board!
Do you have any rituals around your creative work for staying calm, inspired and productive?
Yes I work in tune with the seasons and my rhythm each month. The moon phases hugely affect our family too. My daughter sleeps very poorly in the lead up to every full moon so I’m often grouchy and tired then. Once the moon arrives in all her luminous beauty I write my ‘letting go’ list and snuggle into the next phase, and into sleep!
My work and writing adjusts to my energy levels through the month and through each year. I don’t expect year-long productivity but I do ride the wave when I’m feeling inspired and productive.
I’ve not suffered with burnout for a long long time. I know it’s because I live and work on my terms. Often people will say “I don’t know how you do it?” — I think it’s a compliment…?
I’m a huge fan of creativity’s impact on our wellbeing and I try to instil balance and kindness for the business I continue to grow and adore. I work part time (three days a week) but write every day.
Writing is my soul work, my medicine and it helps me craft and hold a better business, and to process the magic and the chaos!
You can read more about Claire’s creative process and rituals here,
Claire is a multi-passionate Engagement Consultant and Mentor who helps creatives and small businesses go from confused, overwhelmed and indecisive to strategic and free feeling. Her programmes focus on holistic person-centred creativity and mindfulness techniques.
Her group business programme and collective is now enrolling: Your Self Seeded Business - mastermind for creative business owners
You can explore more of Claire’s work via her publications , , , on Instagram, @creatively.conscious and on her website.
I’d love to hear where you feel most inspired at home. Do you have a dedicated space for your work or do you create amidst the chaos?
Thank you for being here and I really look forward to your thoughts, hope we can chat more in the comments.
Gorgeous interview, you’ve created such a welcoming vibe, I absolutely love it. And there is nothing nicer than having your own space to work in - like Claire I share my home working with my other half, and carving out space for me was essential. Sometimes though we still share the dining table and chitchat - depending on the work! For writing I must be alone!
I adored this interview. After reading I was reminded that I too would love to move away from my living room desk into a space of my own. Dreaming up a vintage desk, an industrial looking lamp, forest outside my window. Thanks for sharing!