Notelets on Nurture #01

Sharing my creature comforts in this new Sunday series

Welcome to my Sunday series, Notelets on Nurture. I was inspired to publish these simple notelets because it feels like a gentle way for me to connect with you between my long-form pieces.

The world of Substack appears to be moving at a pace, which led to a creeping sense of overwhelm each time I logged on to edit a draft. I had every intention of scheduling or publishing. But one month passed, then two, and now three.

When I started Brand Seasons, I planned to approach things in a sustainable way, posting once a month while on maternity leave. But it’s only now - as I near the end of the fourth trimester - that I feel I can weave more than a few sentences together.

As I think about this post in the wee small hours, my son propped up on my knees with a muslin blanket secured around him like a baby burrito, my soft summer playlist hums in the background. It’s 5am, and I’m nestled into my trusty pregnancy pillow. The one that saw me through months of pelvic girdle pain before his arrival.

We sway from side to side to the sounds of Sufjan Stevens’ Mystery of Love as he slowly but surely falls into slumber, and my mind wanders to the things that feel like a warm hug. I reach for my phone. I don’t think my notes app has seen more action lately. There, I tap my thoughts about creature comforts and how they can be defined as the basics: food, shelter and warmth. But I believe they’re so much more. They’re in the small things that soothe us, that bring a sense of order or ritual to our days.

My original intention was to keep this space solely dedicated to Brand Seasons. However, I’m now leaning towards sharing glimpses into my life as well as my work. This way, it feels more like home, so ‘creature comforts’ seems like a natural place to start.

Claire Holden

captures my intentions beautifully in her most recent Substack:

“Note to self: always share what you care about, your enthusiasm will carry the reader wherever you want to take them.”

While I care about making this a corner of Substack where you can safely hatch dreams and plans and build a meaningful brand, I also care about embracing what nurtures our curiosity and creativity.

My creature comforts

Today, I’d like to share three small things that bring me warmth, and offer you a tiny window into how I nurture myself.

1. Candlelit days
   Our rough and rainy week has me drifting into autumn and reaching for my candles. At this time of year, I favour outdoor scents like my Kavalier wild + refined candle by Keynvor, gifted to me by the lovely

   Anna Dunleavy
   . Described as a “modern day wanderer bearing a wild soul”, its woody aroma of cedar, bergamot and amber has been filling my home, taking me to an imaginary cabin deep in the forest with log fire burning. There’s something about scent that seems to deepen my sense of connection. When I light a candle, it kind of feels like I'm romancing myself. And why not?

2. Cocoa dreams
   Drinking cocoa always transports me back to my childhood. Granted, it was Ovaltine or Horlicks that Granda served up, and the memory of curling up on the sofa with Granny, sipping on a soothing drink, is clear in my mind. Sometimes, I like to treat myself to Harth. Their flavours, like cinnamon or ginger, are drawn from cosy rituals, and making a warming mug of their thick hot chocolate feels like a tiny luxury I can afford myself. (I’ve offered an expansion on these words to a beautiful Scottish publication, which I’ll share with you soon.)

3. Creative dates
   One of my biggest takeaways from The Artist’s Way has been a commitment to having weekly ‘artist dates’. When I was feeling more ambitious, I might visit a museum or make a vision board. I even tried my hand at experimenting with watercolours and improving my calligraphy skills. But at the moment, I’m leaning into simple walks in nature with a playlist or a podcast, where I notice the trees, the leaves, the breeze. We're spoilt here in the Scottish Borders, and carving out space for that one small thing each day has made all the difference to how I feel when I return home. It brings me comfort like nothing else.

Since collaboration plays a big part in my work, I’d like to invite guests to contribute to Notelets on Nurture once a month. Do reach out if you’re interested!

Meanwhile, I’d love to know what small item or detail brings you home to yourself? Tell me about one of your creature comforts.

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If you’re ready to craft a brand that feels like home and access exclusive insights and resources, consider upgrading to join my Brand Seasons paid community. Here, I support you with a gentle, nurturing, and playful approach to brand strategy, styling, and storytelling. I’d love to welcome you!