The Seal of Curiosity

Inspired by the seals of Bardsey Island, my Seal of Curiosity is now available as a hard enamel pin badge. :-D

This litte quirky Seal was inspired by one of the seals I drew on the Bardsey Island Manuscript that I created after my stay on the island. The Lifesaving ring around the seal, for me, represent Creativity, Adventure and Nature as these are the three core elements that I consistantly return to when looking after my mental health. I see Curiosity as a part of creativity and so this particular Seal is a gentle reminder of what supports my own wellbeing.

What are your wellbeing life savers?  What three things would the life saver represent to you?

Hard Enamel Badge Product Details:

They measure 25mm, made in the UK and come with a metal backing clip. 

Each seal comes with a numbered backing card and is wrapped in hand-stamped tissue paper [colour of tissue paper may vary]. 

They are £7 each plus postage & packing 

To buy your very own Seal of Curiosity click below selecting the right postage option: 

Seal of Curiosity

Seal Badge x 1 £7.00 GBP Seal Badge x 2 £14.00 GBP

Postage costs: 
£2.95 [UK]
£3.50 [Europe]
£4.50 [Rest of World]

I can't wait to see what adventures you take your Seal on [and what you call it! Mine is called Jenny ;-P] - please do share with me on social media and use #sealofcuriosity ;-)

The Bardsey Island Manuscript

One of the seals from a first draft I created that inspired this badge

All images copyright Morwhenna Woolcock

[UK Islands Project] A Letter from the Pope

Yes, you read that correctly. I have a letter from the Pope (and a gift!)

Well, OK it wasn’t sent from him exactly but it came from the Vatican and his office!

Hang on a minute I bet you're thinking – How, why?

'zzzuuuup' rewind to December 2016 (just after Christmas and before New Year) and I’m leafing through a copy of Country Walking magazine and come across a small article about Bardsey Island. I knew that Bardsey is also known as the 'Island of 20,000 saints', but what I didn’t know was that during medieval times when pilgrimages were all the rage (have you heard – they are becoming popular again) three visits to Bardsey Island was equal to one pilgrimage to Rome and any pilgrims that went to Bardsey were blessed by the Popes of Rome!

Right then, I thought. Best write to the Pope then seeing as I’m visiting Bardsey in August.

Quick as you like I penned a letter (and added a little drawing of a wren) to His Holiness Pope Francis – and posted it off to the Vatican (before I changed my mind). 

I thought about the letter now and again wondering if it had arrived…

Then last week…

I had a reply!

Tell you what, I was so excited!

[side note: This is beside the fact that I’m not a Roman Catholic or really of any particular religious persuasion. I did note this in my letter and had checked beforehand that anyone at all can write to the Pope. I didn’t wish to cause any offence. I made sure I addressed it properly too]

What was inside? There was a lump of something!

I was flabergasted when I opened the envelope and discovered its contents...

• letter from the Pope
• photo of the Pope
• photo of a 13th century painting of the Nativity
• a rosary!! 
• and a card saying all 'blessed by His Holiness Pope Francis'

Amazing!!

I really do feel rather chuffed.

I'll take these with me to Bardsey. I’m only planning one trip though not three (don’t tell the Pope!) *big smile*

Have you ever written to someone that caused you great excitement when you received a reply? 

Or who would you write to? This could be anyone – someone who inspires you, someone you wish to thank or someone you just want to say hello to...

Receiving a real to goodness letter in the post is so lovely and can create skips of happiness!

Now I’m currently trying to think of an Island related reason to write to the Queen, as I’ve never written to her before….

Postcards from a Pilgrim

Your Postcard from a Pilgrim (me) might look something like this!

This summer, as you may know I’m going on a bit of an adventure following roughly in the footsteps of the 5th century Saint Morwenna. A journey of some 177 miles. I’ll be cycling, boating and walking aiming to arrive in Morwenstow on the 5th July. St. Morwenna’s Feast Day. You can read about the full journey HERE.

On this Creative Adventure, I will be creating a daily artwork inspired by something I see, hear or feel. I'm expecting the trip to take 21 days - so there will be 21 art postcards. Each unique and capturing a moment on that particular day. So I am the pilgrim!

Would YOU like to be one of the lucky 21 to be sent one of these special artwork postcards? 

You can by being a Postcard from a Pilgrim sponsor. These unique mini artworks which I will create each day of my journey are £10 each plus £1.50 to cover the postage and paypal fees. 

The postcards will be sent out in order of when they were 'sponsored' so the first person to sponsor one would be the first to get a card. I’m not going to share which day you've sponsored so it will be a surprise as to when you’ll receive it!

Each card will be created and posted on the same day to anywhere in the world. 
All being well! ;-)

Just like the example shown - there might be words too. Either the sounds of the place, words that come to mind as I create or snippets of conversation I over hear. I won’t know how it’s going to look until I’m creating it so each will be completely unique and will capture a moment during the trip from Brecon to Morwenstow.

If you’d like to be one of the lucky 21 people to have a special miniature artwork created and sent to you during this Creative Adventure – please sponsor one below!

You can choose to have the Artwork sent to yourself or a friend anywhere in the world – please be clear in the notes section and please make sure I have the complete address. 

£10
+ £1.50 to cover fees & postage. Thank you x

ALL SOLD! Thank you! I'll be adding photos of the Postcards from A Pilgrim to my site once I've downloaded all my photos form this epic adventure!

The postcards will be strong watercolour card and the materials used could vary from watercolour, pencil, ink to pen. Your postcard will be sent as a Postcard so it will get franked by the post office and will go on it's own journey to reach you!  The image shown is just an example and to give you an inkling of what kind of thing might end up in your letterbox!