by Sarah Hodgkins | Aug 3, 2020 | Decorating, Home murals, Uncategorised
The last four and a bit months have been the most unusual in any of our lifetimes. Our way of life has been restricted, our freedoms curtailed and we have been forced into a monogamous relationship with our homes and gardens in a way we could never have anticipated....
by Sarah Hodgkins | May 29, 2020 | Business murals, Decorating, Home murals, Uncategorised
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that the most viewed board on my Pinterest this week, and last week for that matter, is the murals for gardens board. We are all spending more time at home these days and due to the sunny weather we have been enjoying, are spending...
by Sarah Hodgkins | Apr 17, 2020 | Decorating, Mental health, Uncategorised
Never before has our home been so important in how we feel every day. Suddenly, we are in our homes a whole lot more than we ever planned to be and whether we are conscious of it or not, how it looks has a major impact on how we feel and therefore, how we are coping...
by Sarah Hodgkins | Jul 12, 2019 | Business murals, School murals
Summer has finally arrived, the sun is shining (most of the time!), the tennis is on and my own locality is about to be descended on by the F1 circus. The schools are breaking up, some already have and parents up and down the country will be looking for something...
by Sarah Hodgkins | May 17, 2019 | Business murals, Care home murals, Childrens murals, Home murals, Mental health
As mental health awareness week draws to a close, it has got me reflecting how my business affects mental wellbeing. There have been several studies recently highlighting what many of us always knew, that being creative helps us to feel better. Mindfulness without the...
by Sarah Hodgkins | Apr 15, 2019 | Business murals
I heard Jimmy Carr on the radio last week, he was talking about how his job is actually more fun to him, than having fun. This might seem like an odd concept to a lot of people, but I get it. A couple of weeks back, I was very, very close to not going on holiday so I...
by Sarah Hodgkins | Jan 18, 2019 | Business murals, Decorating, Home murals, restaurants
New Year often heralds a time of change new beginnings. Who doesn’t know someone who has embarked on a diet, exercise regime or pledged a new work life balance for themselves this year. However, we don’t always look to ourselves for change, many, like myself, see it...
by Sarah Hodgkins | Nov 28, 2018 | Business murals, signs
You never have a second chance to make a first impression, and for many businesses, the sign they have above the door is a big part of that first impression. Whether you like it or not, people will make judgements about your business based on your sign. So regardless...
by Sarah Hodgkins | Oct 11, 2018 | Uncategorised
Since I started Charlotte Designs in 2005, a lot has changed. I have two teenagers, a dog, murals have gone from being virtually unknown to being everywhere and Charlotte Designs itse’f has gone from strength to strength. So I have taken the decision to team up...
by Sarah Hodgkins | Sep 24, 2018 | Uncategorised
Real vs Fake! Looking around these days, there seems to be an awful lot of fake around, and most of it not great. There are times however, when fake is not only good, but preferable to the real thing. From Ancient Rome to the Palaces of the Taj Mahal and Versailles,...
by Sarah Hodgkins | Mar 5, 2018 | Business murals, School murals
There is a lot of talk about creativity at the moment, how it is taught, how it affects us and indeed a whole wave of activity around mindfulness and colouring books. Those of you that know me will know that I do get my soap box out when it comes to creativity in...
by Sarah Hodgkins | Jan 22, 2018 | Business murals, Decorating, restaurants
I was out for my usual Sunday morning run yesterday, in the snow (yes I know, I am mad, but I actually quite like running in the snow). It was so pretty with the snow floating down, that I stopped to take a couple of photos and as the huge flakes floated down, I stuck...