77 Days
77 Days is an upcoming book inspired by my commitment to writing 1,000 words daily during a winter house sit in 2023. Although the project extended beyond 80 days, the title "77 Days" reflects my favourite number 7 and its simplicity lends itself to design appeal.
The book compiles selected gems from my free-writing sessions during this time.
Designed to be read in a non-linear fashion to reflect my circular sense of time, open the book to any page for inspiration or a message. My creative process is reflected often in how I approached the project with free from thought writing and while the original idea involved writing about three things each day, more often than not, words just spilled on to the page.
The first edition will be a limited release of 100 copies, and reflects my philosophy of slow creation with small-batch production. Future books and editions may follow, but the focus is on creating unique, intentional works without mass production. Below is Day 1 of 77. I’ve pulled out a quote from each day and each day will start with one of these. The timeline is roughly (very) last week in July to end of October 2023. I also had a birthday during this time which will feature in the words. Enjoy.
When we leave this earth, we are remembered not by things, but how we lived and what we gave to others.
Since 2005, my vision as a full-time artist has always been:
to INspire, UPlift, and Heal through Nature and Creativity.
Over the years, I’ve often asked myself if I’m truly living up to this vision in my business and my life. I’ve changed as an artist and as a person since then.
When I first started, my goal was simple: to prove that earning a living as an artist was possible. I’ve always valued independence and didn’t want to work for others. I left my only full-time job in a wood factory after two years and never looked back. For the last 20 years, I’ve been self-employed, but the world has changed since I began. Back then, there was no social media; my work was promoted face-to-face through exhibitions and workshops, I was having relationships in person, with real people. I miss that sometimes, but I’ve also grown in new ways.
Now, as I approach 50, my priorities are different. I want to live with less stress, share more of myself with others, and focus on helping people. My ultimate goal is to make enough money to give it away because I’ve realized what truly matters to me, are not the things we accumulate but the lives we touch. Time is precious, it feels like I went from five years old to fifty in a blink and I want to make the most of the days I have left.
For the next 77 days, I want to write about the things I’ve learned and share experiences that add value to others’ lives. Whether it’s about my business, my healing journey, photography, or creativity, I want to inspire and connect with people. I want to create a sustainable system that helps me balance art, business, health, and relationships. It’s about simple daily habits: eating well, exercising, nurturing relationships, healing, and creating.
At the heart of it all, my mission remains the same: to inspire, uplift, and heal through nature and creativity. I see that I’m already doing this, but I’m learning to trust myself more and share my process with others in ways that feel meaningful and true to who I am.
If you would like to be kept in touch for when the book comes out, leave a comment below and I will be in touch!