To me, home is somewhere I feel at peace. I make my bed every morning — and actually enjoy doing it. Then I boil the jug to make a pour-over filter coffee; there’s a slowness to the pour-over that makes you appreciate the process.
There’s a massive tree growing outside my bedroom window and I love the dappled light it casts, the sounds it makes in the wind, and watching it sway in a storm. It’s like living in a treehouse and has made me commit to bringing more plants inside.
Although when I’m not on photoshoots I work from home anyway, this year has made me truly grateful for my neighbourhood — the friendly faces we see on our walks, the daily joke left on a gate for everyone to enjoy and the neighbour we hear singing to Elton John on repeat.
When lockdown 1.0 began, I was low on work, so I knew I needed a project to keep my hands and mind busy. There’s something so therapeutic about the rhythm of stitching and I’ve always loved the idea of creating art with embroidery, so I started making needlepoint weavings. I start the warp and weft simply, alternating three or four colours and varying the strands of thread. It’s not until I add details with another couple of colours that it really begins to take shape. I guess it’s about finding a balance between light and dark, tonal and contrast.
@samlillianvankan