The Curious Cave

Updated 2nd March

The Curious Cave….where I head on in with a cuppa, find a cosy corner and switch off from everyday life.

I’m inspired daily by these creative geniuses already out in the world – I hope they inspire you too.

This will be an ever-evolving list (newest updates listed first) and as I get through this collection of books (that I got for Christmas), and discover more and more people through social media and podcasts, I’ll be posting reviews too, so keep popping in now and again.

And if you’ve found other great reads or listens out there, please do share either on @curiouscreativeclub Instagram page or email me via the contact form below – sharing is caring after all and the beauty of this page is for us all to learn together and discover the magic makers out there that can help or inspire us further.

So lets begin in the library…In no particular order, the following books are well-worth your time J

Hashtag Authetic – Sarah Tasker (Of @me_and_orla on Instagram)

This is a brilliant much-needed book in the crazy creative world of Instagram. It draws on Sarah’s experience of creating a huge account that has to date 213k followers and breaks it all down into the four simple sections of: Storytelling, Making Pictures, Archiving Your Life and Sharing Your World. A must for anyone who is captivated by creating those little squares.

Big Magic – Creative Living Beyond Fear – Elizabeth Gilbert

This book is an absolute must for all creatives! I absolutely love it so far. You’ll find yourself nodding a lot as Elizabeth almost takes us on a spiritual journey to discover the myths, process and absolutely necessity of creativity in human’s lives – if we want to live a great one that is.

Write Yourself Happy – The art of Positive Journaling – Megan C Hayes PhD

This is looking at journaling not just as a cathartic way to download a bad week or experience but to actually help shift your mindset too to one of seeking out the positive moments, no matter how big or small, that do happen in every day life, even on a really crap day.

Conscious Creativity, Look, Connect, Create – Phillipa Stanton (of 5ftinf on Instagram)

This is such a beautiful book and will appeal to literally everyone, bursting with colour and inspirational prompts to encourage you to go and tap into that curiosity and create in a way you may have never thought of before. It’s been flying off the shelves and for good reason

The Joy of Watercolour – 40 happy lessons for Painting the World Around You – Emma Block

For those at the start of their painting with watercolour journey, this is such a simple, modern, step by step book that’s really easy to follow. This is what I used to create my cactus picture!

The Wild Remedy – How Nature Mends Us – A diary – Emma Mitchell

I’ve come across Emma in various magazines admiring her beautiful sketches capturing the seasons for Country Living and Breathe Magazine, among others. Here she delves deep into the seasons, explaining how nature can heal us and help our mental wellbeing – a woman after my own heart as that’s what I champion via my insta account @soothedbynature. Plus, as you’d expect, it is beautifully illustrated.

The Self-Care Revolution – Suzy Reading

This is more of a self-care book but important none the less for the likes of us creatives who work from home and often get so engrossed we forget that occasionally we need to look after ourselves! It’s a brilliantly written book, split into really good sections, using the vitality wheel as a focus so you can work out where your attention needs to be. It’s easy to get through and just makes total sense!

Now on to Magazines:

Writers News – a bible for all wannabe writers, so many good articles, tips, stories and competitions – they also provide the Writers Online website that gives you regular prompts and news about competitions etc

Breathe Magazine – a relative newbie but looks at all areas of well-being, often including creative sections

Simple Things Magazine – similar to above but works with the seasons

Psychologies – again more Well-being but often has interesting articles around creativity

Country Living – often showcases crafters, artists and people who work from home on country makes.

Podcasts – This is a really great time-saving way to learn whilst doing other things such as cleaning or walking the dog! Best of all, they are free! Just use your podcast provide on your phone, such as Apple podcast or download a free Ap such as Stitcher, Spotify etc.

There are lots of podcasts out there for creatives, I’ve yet to find them all but here are the ones I’ve been enjoying so far:

Ctrl Alt Delete – Emma Gannon (Writer of the Multi-Hyphen Method)

Exciting Emails – Vix Meldrew

Conversations of Inspiration – Holly Tucker (co-founder of Not on the Highstreet)

Adulting with Ebonie – Ebonie Allard

The One Girl Band Podcast – Lola Hoad

Creatively Human – Ruth Poundwhite

Dreaming and Doing – Nicky Raby

Grow with Soul – Kayte Ferris

The Creative Introvert – Cat Rose

Hashtag Authentic – Sarah Tasker

Magic Lessons – Elizabeth Gilbert

Make it happen – Jen Carrington

Letters from a hopeful creative – Jen Carrington and Sarah Tasker

On the Make – Josephine Brooks

The Creative Leap – Cat Byrne

What she said – Lucy Lucraft

And the more well-being or entertaining ones:

Pressing Pause – Gabrielle Treanor

Happy Place – Fearne Cotton

Psychologies Podcast Channel

Table Manners – Jessie Ware

The Great Indoors – Sophie Robinson and Mad about the House

The High Low

Happier – Gretchin Rubin

And finally….on to Social Media! There are so many creatives and interesting people I follow it’s ridiculous so it’s impossible to list them all, so here are a few of my favourites:

Creative Instagram accounts:

My own accounts of course:

@thecuriouscreativeclub 

@soothedbynature

@oodlesofhappy

me_and_orla; hollytucker; justacard; thestepupclub; lolahoad_ ; thesimplicitystrategist

asocialnature; adelewatercolours; read.holmfirth; arnoldandbird; nickyraby;

creativeintro; onegirlband_; happinessauthor; simpleandseason

graceandflora ; lucyludreams; seaside_kate; covingtoncollections

kentandwillow; holmemadewithlove; littlebirdyhere: lucylucraft

karen.j.tickner; emilybrooksuk; k.louiseart; herinternest

hillandhedgerows; makewalkread; hbontoftart; connectedcreativity

sam.jackman.textiles; kirstiemallsopp; 5ftinf; silverpebble2; simpleandseason

ciderwithrosie; laurenastondesigns; snapdragonstudiouk; jennifercockcroft

Author Accounts: There are my top 3 fiction writers that I love so depends if you like that kind of thing!

lucyclarke_author; claremackwrites; lisajeweluk

Plus the wellbeing authors I like too:

gabrielletreanor; elizabeth_gilbert_writer; megan.c.hayes; fearncotton: drchatterjee

Women Power accounts (as I like to call them)

womenreadyblog; therebelwomansclub; allison_sadler_

a_yorkshire_girl; davinagetsmindful; sheflourished_; bryonygordon; suzyreading

onegirlband_ ; nickyraby; thesimplicitystrategist; lizwinden

Interiors:

myhousecandy; mad_about_the_house; sophierobinsoninteriors

sophie_allport; countrylivinguk

Useful Facebook Groups

Exciting Emails

Simple and Joyful Business – Ruth Poundwhite

Worry Less and Enjoy Life More – Gabrielle Treanor

Psychologies Life Labs

Shelley Art Group

Finally, if you’re a creative and want to expand your Social Media presence but are not sure how, I have a friend who may be able to help, her business is called A Social Nature and you can find her at www.asocialnature.co.uk