Hi there,

Thanks for popping in. Sunday morning feels like a good time for stories….

There are certain places in the world that leave a mark on your soul.

For me, New Mexico and Arizona have always been amongst those places.

Dave and I were fortunate enough to spend some time there again this April during a wonderful 3,000-mile road trip through the American Southwest and California. It was one of those journeys that stays with you long after you’ve unpacked your suitcase.

I love California too, of course, for its immense natural beauty. In fact, the magnificent Pacific Coast Highway No. 1 had finally reopened, so on the final leg of our trip we were able to drive that breathtaking coastal route once again. We joined it just north of Santa Monica and followed it all the way up to Monterey — a place very close to my heart, because I lived there for several years.

But it was Arizona and neighbouring New Mexico that stirred something deeper in me.

Once you leave the lush agricultural belt behind and begin driving inland, it almost feels as though you are crossing into another world entirely. The landscape changes. The light changes. Even the air feels different somehow.

You find yourself surrounded by vast skies, endless wilderness and a kind of natural beauty that is very hard to describe unless you’ve experienced it for yourself. The colours alone are extraordinary — soft desert sands, terracotta earth, turquoise skies and dramatic sunsets that seem to go on forever.

But beyond the scenery, there is also a powerful spiritual feeling there. A deep connection to the land itself.

What has always fascinated me most is the way many Native American communities seem to live with nature rather than simply within it. There is a respect for the Earth, for animals, for water, for the skies above and for the wisdom of elders that feels quietly grounding in today’s fast-moving world.

Last year, on a previous trip to the same region with dear friend Sam Crowe, we quite by chance stumbled across a traditional dance celebration in Gallup. It was one of those magical, unexpected moments that stays with you forever.

What struck me most was seeing young people so deeply invested in their traditions and culture. There was such pride, dignity and beauty in the dancing, the costumes, the storytelling and the sense of community. It felt like discovering a world within a world.

I came home from that trip inspired and full of sketches and ideas.

And now, finally, many of those drawings have found their way into our latest collection of Clarity Character stamps.

We’ve called them our Storytellers.

The collection is made up of nine stamp sets, divided into three trilogies:
Earth, Water and Air.

Each trilogy tells its own story, inspired by the natural elements and our connection to the world around us.

Some carry birds.
Some carry baskets.
Some dance with feathers and flowing garments.

They are simple, peaceful, soulful images, and honestly, an absolute joy to work with. The smaller symbols, sentiments and borders in each set are the connection between the characters; very useful indeed – and packed with symbolic relevance.

I have been creating art with them using our lovely Integrated Bow-Wob Papers.

The characters are also the perfect size for colouring, which makes them wonderfully relaxing to craft with. There’s something very calming about sitting quietly and bringing these gentle characters to life with colour. Perhaps it is the story behind them, where they were born.

I demonstrated these cards live on Clarity Social TV on Friday, so if you’d like to see the stamps and papers in action, do hop over and watch the 10am recording.

The collection is available HERE. There is also an excellent introductory offer available until midnight on Monday 18th May.

Sometimes designs are invented. And sometimes they are remembered. These Storytellers definitely belong in the second category.

Tomorrow afternoon at 2pm, I’ll also be back on Clarity Social TV for Mini Makes Monday, where we’ll be spending a little more time with these Storytellers.

The theme rather beautifully became:
Big Skies, Small Art.

Tiny pieces of artwork inspired by vast landscapes and wonderful memories.

If you fancy a quiet couple of creative hours, do come and join me.

Love always,
Barb x