When Six Small Business Dreams Become One Reality!

‘I wake up with a new idea and new dreams every day, and I follow that dream, as they say’ - Dolly Parton

Well I think it is safe to say that when it comes to blogging I have every good intention in keeping on top of it, but then finding the actual time to do it becomes almost impossible as a small business owner! This is something that I am going to schedule time for in 2024 so that I can sit down at the computer and keep you updated on all things Lavender Line Photography, but until then here is a quick roundup of all things LLP in Autumn 2023…

A lovely first time trip to Rathlin Island, a fabulous 4 days (should have been 5 but that is a whole other post) in the beautiful city of Copenhagen, a new print series coming very soon, and a beautiful Pop Up Shop that myself and 5 other small business friends have created together to make for an unforgettable shopping experience this holiday season!

I will talk more about Rathlin and Copenhagen in separate blog posts, along with the new series of work, but this post is dedicated to our beautiful The Portview Pop Up!

The Portview Pop Up, a must-visit this holiday season!

When six small business dreams become one reality!

I think I can speak for most small business owners right now in saying that this year has been one of the toughest years when it comes to business and selling work.  Shopping habits and spendings have changed (my own included) and for the first time it has left me a little unsure of what the future may hold.  I am very much a ‘day by day’ kind of gal and so thinking ahead can make me feel a little uncomfortable and uneasy, but I do know that things need to change come the new year, and with that means adapting the business once again to suit current climates and situations.

It was these sorts of small business chats with my lovely Portview Crew that lead to the discussions of possibly teaming up together this Christmas to create something magical, and so during a very casual Monday morning business breakfast catch-up our Portview Pop Up was born!

The Portview Pop Up is a collaborative venture between myself and five other small business friends located in Portview Trade Centre, our mission: to offer an unforgettable shopping experience while helping to promote the importance of small business and supporting local.

From Photography to Faux Flowers, Vegan Hair Care to Watercolour Prints and Jewellery to Storytelling Gifts With Purpose…. there is a little something for everyone this Christmas!  So, if you are in the Belfast area this November and December then be sure to pop into The Portview Pop Up, we are open every Thursday - Sunday! Not only have we come together as 6 very different businesses, we have also given the opportunity to 8 other small business owners to showcase their talents with our Small Business Saturdays and Sundays, meaning The Portview Pop Up is the perfect place to browse and shop with its ever-changing format!

 

 

Be sure to pop in and say hi this holiday season, and if you can’t unfortunately make it then be sure to check out the links to each fab business below :

Innocent Chaos

Jude Fenton Art

Lavender Line Photography

Monday’s Child

Storybox

Studio A114

More photographs and videos from our lovely Pop Up to follow very soon!

A little more information from our press release :

The historic Portview Trade Centre, once a pioneering spinning mill from the early 1900s and celebrated for its progressive employment of women and blend of traditional craftsmanship with innovative technologies.

Rachel McIlgorm, founder of Storybox NI CIC said, “The collaboration aims to demonstrate the resilience and creativity of the local business community while providing a tailored shopping experience for all.  By supporting local enterprises, visitors and customers can not only find one-of-a-kind treasures but also play a vital role in bolstering their neighbourhood’s economic well-being.

Lynette Murray of Studio A114 said, “When 6 business women put their heads together they create brilliance.  A Christmas Pop Up has been put together so beautifully to showcase how you can shop small and support local businesses this Christmas.”

Goodbye July, Hello August!

‘Breathe the sweetness that hovers in August’ - Denise Laverton

Hello August, hello to another month of Summer and hello to chapter 8 of 12! I’m not quite sure how we have gotten to this point so quickly, but here we are! I’m embarrassed to say that my July to-do blog list hasn’t quite gone to plan, but maybe it’s something that is better suited to August and the phasing out of Summer instead!

Image and words by @words_by_wilde_road

Calendar 2023 - Ballycastle Beach, County Antrim

July, well what can I say about July other than it has now officially broken all records for being the wettest month in Northern Ireland since 1836! I’m not someone who usually minds bad weather, but the constant July rain has meant that I wasn’t able to get out with my camera as much as I had planned to which has been really disappointing! So, here is to the power of positive thinking and August having some perfect shooting weather to create some new coastal prints just in time for that seasonal change!

And just incase August does not want to play ball and it is another month of record breaking grey skies and rain, then August’s wallpaper will be the perfect dose of daily colour with that much needed sunset vitamin sea for your phone lock screen (now available for purchase on Etsy).

Hello August : bringing a touch of that Lavender vitamin sea to the new month ahead! Now available of purchase on Etsy

A Black & White version to match incase Lavender isn’t your thing! #TwoForThePriceOfOne

The month ahead at just the simple tap of your phone screen!

Here is to those August adventures, to the return of sunshine and making this month one to remember! Let me know if you have any exciting August plans in the comments.

Goodbye June, Hello July!

‘Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August’ - Jenny Han

It’s hard to believe that we are now into what could be known as one of the best months of the year…my birthday month! I know I say it each new month, but where exactly has the time gone?! To think that we are now more than half way through 2023 is crazy to me, but what a fab few months of adventure it has been!

I do want to give each 2023 adventure a blog post of its own (it’s on my July to-to list), but here are four sneak peek words of what’s to come : London, Stockholm, ABBA Anniversary! Until then, here is to July and the new month ahead, to another year around the sun and to chasing adventures whatever they may be!

Image and words from : @girlandhermagic

Incase you missed it, July’s wallpaper is now available for purchase with what I hope will be your Summer motto : Everything, in time. A perfect touch of sunset vitamin sea meets the new month ahead at the simple tap of your phone screen, and if the quote is not for you then don’t worry, you can have it with or without text with both phone wallpapers included! #TwoForThePriceOfOne

Hello July Wallpaper: Why not add a touch of that sunset vitamin sea meets the month ahead to your July phone lock screen!

A July wallpaper perfect for that Summer motto : everything, in time!

Now to make a start into that July to-do list!

That Emerald Isle Magic!

Happy St Patrick’s Day Weekend! ☘️

It’s that time of year when all focus is back on the beautiful Emerald Isle and the stunning sites and locations it has to offer!

I may be a little biased, but it makes me so happy and proud to hear just how many people have fallen in love with our wee country, the special memories made with loved ones and how they can’t wait to come back and explore more of the island, recreating the magic!

It’s one of the most rewarding parts of my job, to see my photography prints make their way to new homes around the world and knowing that they are that special keepsake gift to mark an unforgettable trip. It’s a feeling that will never grow old!

Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge : have you crossed it yet?

Reflection : Dublin’s famous Ha’Penny Bridge

The North Coast : it doesn’t get much better than a north coast sunset!

To Moher : the famous Cliffs of Moher, County Clare

From Belfast to Dublin, the Giant’s Causeway to the Cliffs of Moher, Five Finger Strand to Whitepark Bay and the Cavehill to the Mourne Mountains…just to name a few! There is a little something for everyone to celebrate their love for the Emerald Isle!

So, why not treat yourself or a loved one to a favourite Lavender Line Photography print this St Patrick’s Day Weekend with some Northern Ireland and Ireland best sellers!

The Gift Of Sunset Vitamin Sea

With International Women’s Day fast approaching and Mother’s Day just two weeks away, I wanted to have a special print ready for both occasions! It can sometimes be difficult knowing what to surprise the important women in our lives with, so this year I thought a sunset typography print would make the perfect gift and addition to any home!

Inspired by the beautiful words of Beau Taplin and the rolling sunset waves of Carnlough Beach, I have created two typography prints; one a limited edition print playing with lens flare to give that special touch of golden hour, and the other focusing on that sense of calmness.

Which one would you pick?

‘Unstoppable’ - A Limited Edition print with just 5 available to purchase

‘She Was Unstoppable’ - A sense of calming waves available in 3 different print sizes

‘And she continued’ - a successful woman

P O R T V I E W O P E N D A Y

In honour of International Women's Day this coming week, the lovely Rachel from Storybox will be officially opening her beautiful new studio on Saturday 11th march 10am - 2pm! To celebrate this exciting new Storybox chapter and women in business, Innocent Chaos, Lynette Murray Hair and myself will be opening up our studio doors too!

If you are in the Belfast area, or fancy a trip to the city then why not come along and see where that small business magic happens at the stunning Portview Trade Centre!

‘And she continued’ - a successful woman

Image by @storybox

Share Your Magic!

If you follow me on Instagram then you may have seen yesterday’s post about an exciting new stockist for Lavender Line Photography, a post that I should have shared back in October but it somehow slipped my mind!

Where you can keep up-to-date with all things Lavender Line Photography!

Back in October the lovely Vicki from @2020Art contacted me about stocking some of my North Coast print favourites as greetings cards in GIFTED, the sister store of the fab 2020 Art. I’m not one who finds it easy to put myself out there (something that I am slowly overcoming), so to have a third stockist of my work is a very surreal feeling! I find it hard to push myself out of that comfort zone at times, that fear of comparison and rejection sometimes taking over and making it difficult to reach out to other businesses. That’s why I am incredibly grateful to have businesses such as @Storybox, @2020Gifted and @VisitCausewayCoastAndGlens who have gotten in touch with me and now stock Lavender Line Photography.

Those North Coast photography print favourites now available as Greetings Cards!

A touch of North Coast vitamin sea to send to that someone special to let them know that you are thinking of them!

It’s somewhat comforting to know that I am not the only small business owner to feel this way, that we all suffer from imposter syndrome from time to time, but know that in order to succeed we have to push those boundaries and step out of those comfort zones.

So, here is to stepping into the unknown, to believing in yourself and your work, and knowing that you bring something exciting to the world with your craft!

Share Your Magic!

Puttin' On The Glitz

‘What did you do all day? Dream’ - Seeker

Goodbye February, Hello March! So, after two weeks of unexpected downtime thanks to catching that little known virus that has been doing the rounds since March 2020, I am finally getting myself back on track and in the planning stages of a new photography series. Although it has been around ten days since testing negative, I have found that I am still struggling at times with my energy levels, bouts of tiredness and concentration. I guess it’s true what they say about that brain fog!

As it had left me feeling quite low and uninspired I decided to enroll in the lovely Jenny’s @Nordic_Stories online community where she shares a behind the scenes look at how she creates her beautiful images. I have been following Jenny for awhile now and always find her work so refreshing.  I don’t know what it is about that Nordic style, but I find myself being more and more drawn to it, a moment of calm in an ever-changing, fast paced world.

Be sure to follow Jenny’s beautiful storytelling : @nordic_stories

I think it’s important as a creative to look for new sources of inspiration, to being open to learning new skills and to approach projects with a new way of thinking. It’s then that you find the ideas and creativeness begin to flow again freely… which leads me to my new project!

New Project Vision Board : Inspired by @HorizonFound’s teachings at The Photographers Path, Created on Canva, Images sourced from Pinterest

I want to create a photography series that combines my love of vintage with my love of beaches (my take on calm versus fast-pace). I can picture it in my head, the shots that I want to capture but I’m not completely sure how it will turn out. That’s what makes photography so exciting, not knowing if and how certain elements will come together, but finding a way to make it work to get that all important shot!

From Pinterest to Pinboard

Some Lavender Line Photography Ocean favourites!

So stick around and let’s see how it all comes together!