The Ukraine brooch is here, and this one I can safely say is by popular demand! I haven't had so many of you contact me at once wanting a design since Lady Hale's spider brooch.

The clearly planned ambush of Zelensky in the White House was horrifying. I forced myself to watch it all, and felt physically sick by the end of it but with even more respect for Zelenksy, which I didn't think was possible. What self control, what grace, when the temptation to slap them both must have been strong. In just a few weeks the entire world order has been upended. We now have the President of the United States spouting Putin propaganda and trying to rewrite history.

I got to vote in two countries this year, and the stakes couldn't have felt higher each time. Someone on Twitter said that today feels like Christmas Eve - in hell. And I couldn't agree more. The time difference has never felt so cruel. I don't want to stay up all night, but I still have PTSD from waking up in 2016 at 3am to see the news. I wish I could somehow switch off from it all, I know it would help my mental health, but I too much is resting on this election. And though I feel exhausted I still have fucks to give.

Here are just a few: (Rant incoming and if you don't like swearing stop reading.)

It’s hard to keep telling yourself that you are ‘aging beautifully’ or rightfully, or that there is any value at all in aging, when as a culture, we really don’t put much value on wisdom or lived experience.

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Before my senior year of university, I spent a summer back home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, flipping burgers in a kitchen by day and waitressing at Applebees (think TJI Fridays) by night. One evening towards the end of the summer I went over to introduce myself to a couple who just been sat in my section. 

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I hate selling.

There I’ve said it. I spend a lot of time wondering how I got into the business of selling when it’s not something I’ve ever been good at. I had a summer job in London when I was 19 – cold-calling offices to sell them double-sided typewriter ribbons (yes I’m that old). I think I lasted three days.

It’s a hard time for selling right now. A lot of us aren’t quite sure how we are going to pay our bills this winter. I usually trust my gut to read the room when I’m coming up with new designs or trying to do a bit of ‘marketing’ (another term that gives me the cold shakes), but I haven’t bought myself anything very treaty or nice in ages. So it’s not easy trying to figure out what to say. I don’t want to use payment plans like Klarna because I don’t want you to buy my designs unless you can afford them and they will brighten up your life, or if you’re buying a gift - a friend’s life in some way.