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The Stories We Tell Ourselves
For some time now, I’ve been finding dimes. It’s been often enough that I finally got curious and looked it up. What I found immediately made me think of my dad. I discovered that finding a dime can be a message from someone who has passed on, letting you know you’re on the right path, encouraging you to keep going, or simply reminding you of someone you love. Either that, or it’s my dad from beyond trying to help me build a retirement fund, one dime at a time. 😳 Whatever th
Brendalee Astells
6 hours ago1 min read


Apparently I have a Bee Problem
This morning I opened a cupboard and burst out laughing. I had absolutely no idea how many bee mugs I owned. This made me look around the studio. Bee magnets, bee tea towels, bee ornaments, bee ribbon, bee mugs, bees everywhere. Somewhere along the way, my friends and family apparently decided that if something had a bee on it, it belonged to me. I have to say, they’ve done an excellent job. Nicknames are funny things. Some disappear, some last a lifetime. Mine is Bee and it
Brendalee Astells
4 days ago2 min read


The unexpected side effects of doing markets
When I signed up for my first Gabriola Market back in 2015, I thought I knew exactly what I was getting into. Selling jewellery? Yep. Early mornings? Sure. Rain? Occasionally. Meeting people I’d still look forward to seeing twelve summers later? Nope, didn’t see that one coming. It’s funny the things you remember. I couldn’t tell you what was on my table back in 2015, but I can still picture so many of the people I’ve met along the way. It’s funny how they stay with you. One
Brendalee Astells
4 days ago2 min read


Permanent audition
So this is a little embarrassing. I design stickers. I sell stickers. People happily buy my stickers. You’d think I’d be happily sticking them on everything I own. Nope. In my world, putting a sticker on something is a commitment. Once you peel off the backing, there’s no going back. I know this because one of my stickers has been on my water bottle for three years and still looks brand new, which unfortunately proves my point. So here’s what I do instead. When I find a stick
Brendalee Astells
Jul 111 min read


All the colours of the rainbow.
I’d like to introduce you to my friend Maxx. We’ve known each other for years, and I love Maxx’s artwork. If you met them and tried to imagine what their artwork looked like, I suspect you’d be in for a surprise. Their work is filled with every colour of the rainbow, along with curiosity, delight and joy. Some pieces make me stop and smile, while others make me stop and spend a little bit more time with them. One of the things I’ve always enjoyed about Maxx is the delight the
Brendalee Astells
Jul 101 min read


Why do the best ideas arrive after midnight?
Every night I have the same plan. Tonight I’ll go to bed early. It’s a lovely plan. I’ve had it many, many times. Somewhere between turning off the lights and actually getting into bed, something curious happens. A question I’ve been meaning to look up all day suddenly feels urgent, a project I’ve barely thought about since breakfast absolutely can’t wait until tomorrow, and one idea somehow turns into twelve. Bedtime just seems to convince our brains they all need attention
Brendalee Astells
Jul 101 min read


Going with her heart.
A few weeks ago, at the market, a young girl picked out one of my stickers. When she brought it over to pay, she spotted one of my hand-painted hearts. Without hesitation, she picked it up and asked, “Can I have this instead?” The sticker was $5, the heart was $20, her spending money for the day. Being the practical adult in the situation, I pointed that out. She looked at the heart again and said, “I want this.” That was it. No deliberation or comparison. No worrying about
Brendalee Astells
Jul 101 min read


Welcome
The place where newsletters, observations, studio moments, and the occasional rabbit hole come together. I'm glad you're here.
Brendalee Astells
Jul 101 min read
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