#5 Beyond the Shop — A Gentle Reintroduction

The first days of Grandmother Cottage

Hello my lovelys 🤍

It feels like the right time for a gentle reintroduction.

It has been a while.

For those who have been here for a while, thank you for staying.
For those who are newly arriving, welcome—truly.

Behind Mammas’ Lil’ Witch and Iyanda El Designs is not simply a business, but a life being built slowly, intentionally, and with great care.

A life shaped by creativity, old places, meaningful work, and the quiet belief that beauty still matters.

Grandmother Cottage sits at the heart of that.

If you are not familiar with my little cottage (aka ‘witches hovel’), it is a precious piece of Australian archtiectural history - a tiny 1900’s traditional stone home, hand built from field stone and held together with the rich sandy-clay soil of the land it sits upon.

Stabilizing Grandmother Cottage

It is where I go to paint, draw, reflect, meditate, heal, and reconnect.

It is where I return when life feels too loud—where I remind myself that I am okay, that everything is okay, and that in time, everything will be okay.

Much of the practical work happens from my townhouse in the city—the designing, refining, packing orders, and the everyday responsibilities that come with building something meaningful.

But Grandmother Cottage is where it all begins.

It is where inspiration lives.

It is where ideas return to their roots.

There is a kind of healing energy there that is difficult to explain unless you have felt it yourself.

Even though it is not completely isolated—resting quietly on the outskirts of a small village—the peace there feels as though I am entirely alone.

As though the earth itself is wrapping its arms around me.

There is a stillness there.
A softness.
A quiet that allows me to breathe properly again.

It reminds me of what matters.

It reminds me why I create.

And it reminds me that some things are worth restoring slowly.

Grandmother Cottage

This place asks for nothing—
and somehow gives me everything.

This space—beyond the shop—is where I hope to share more of that journey with you.

Not only the products and finished pieces, but the life behind them:
the restoration, the seasons, the land, the gardens, the lessons, the beauty, the hard work, and the quiet magic found in building a slower, more intentional life.

This is a place for story, for legacy, for creativity, and for remembering that there is value in creating things that last.

So whether you are here for the art, the cottage, the journey, or simply because something about it feels familiar—welcome.

I am truly glad you are here.

With warmth and love,

Hakora 🤍
Mammas’ Lil’ Witch
Iyanda El Designs

#3 Happy 2024

Digital/Combined AI Baba Yaga Hut Concept Art

Happy New Year EVERYONE

Welcome to a brand new entry and a brand new year filled with new hopes, new dreams, new plans and new goals!

I’m a bit late with the whole ‘New Years’ thing, but there are a few reasons for this - one of them being I promised myself I’d ‘ease gently’ into this current year.

I have a few ongoing health issues I’m trying to get under control and I’m really glad I spent this time nurturing myself and healing.

Other reasons, I got caught up managing additional projects, family issues and reflective ‘moods’.

I’m particularily excited fort 2024, because I have loads of new material, stories, characters, adventures and ideas to share with you and I truly can’t wait!

LOOKING BACK

Reflectively, 2023 was very busy (believe it or not and behind the scenes in particular). I did a HUGE amount of learning/self-teaching (an endless process).

I dabbled quite a bit with new technologies and various programs, designs, products, layouts, marketing and advertising, artisic styles, creative outlets, on top of some very important ‘side-projects’ relating to the restoration of our cottage and land - a journey you can also catch-up on via my Facebook or Instagram accounts (if you’d like), and a journey I plan to share more about via here aswell.

All in all, I found the learning and experiences of 2023 hugely rewarding and I’m looking foward to expanding on my skills and knowlege throughout 2024.

2023, ‘spare time’ was spent working with graphite, digital and (the very contraversial) AI, fantasy art - mediums I enjoy immensely and will continue to employ in the future.

Cindy-Lou - Mixed-media Watercolour | Coloured Pencil Art

As a ‘mixed-media’ artist, I express myself creatively through an eclectic mix of mediums, and feel my greatest joy when I express myself that way. I don’t think this is about to change any time soon. I find skipping between mediums somehow stimulates my creativity, and always has. This is both a blessing and a curse, because it can mean I have several projects on the go, (which appear half finished - as some of them are), and to an ‘outsider’, my creative ‘flow’ can seem more like a whirlwind of chaos, than anything meaningful or productive - something I’m sure many artists and creatives can relate to.

As always, ‘fantasy art’ is my ‘go-to’ preference (when it comes to art, reading AND writing); and my photography will always be related to the magical connection with nature - most preferrably the ‘micro worlds’ and the hidden worlds of Fairies, Gnomes, Pixies, Brownies, Mermaids, Imps, Elementals, Elves, Sprites, Goblins, Witches, Wizards, Dragons, Giants and all such mystical beings.

Baba Yaga Graphite Concept Art

I think my family and beyond, have often viewed my creative oddities as a form of ‘escapism’, but this is far from the reality. The truth of the matter is, I have always had some kind of connection with the magical, the mysterious and the unexplained…and for some, that’s a little too hard to accept or understand (for whatever reason).

Over the years, I’ve learned that’s ‘ok’, because it’s like trying to explain to someone (who’s never seen the ocean) that’s it’s real and it exists - and now I share my experiences and my ‘oddiities’ with those who CAN understand and appreciate that there’s a lot more beyond the ‘veil’, than our tiny human minds can ever comprehend.

Magic is and always will be, a part of my life and creative expression!

2023 Highs & Lows

The entire duration of 2022-2023 was probably one of the hardest periods of my life, both physically and emotionally.

Every aspect of my life felt like it was out of control or in ‘overload’.

I guess it makes sense for imbalance to manifest in such a way, especially if ones ‘physical body’ is out of whack/balance, (I’m sure many of you understand exactly what I mean), but I truly wasn’t prepared for any of it.

There seemed to be a ‘butterfly’ effect for every issue, and I felt like I was drowning…alone in an inky-black ocean of saddness, fear, self-loathing, insecurities and goodness knows what else.

The Journey

Speaking of ‘alone’, one of the biggest experiences I’ve had since beginning this journey, IS loneliness - something I literally didn’t expect (given my large and loving family).

I simply wasn’t prepared for the roller-coaster of emotions that go with the various experiences as a wife, aunt, sister, mother, grandmother, artist, writer, photographer AND someone solo-building their own business, all while unknowingly entering the unspoken realm of Menopause.

I was not prepared for the heart-wrenching sense of isolation AT ALL.

For all the love and words (expressed as family ‘support’), I felt incredibly alone with the work-load, ideas and dreams - issues many will argue that only I could resolve (which is true…these projects were/ARE mine), but as a primary carer, giver nurturer, matriach…it just would have been nice to have had some help from time to time with things like SEOs, marketing, uploads…A HUG! Someone to say .. you’ve got this….you’re doing amazing….keep up the good work, but there was nothing - just a wall of silence.

The exceptional hard work and burden of living life and bringing everything to life on my own, was certainly almost too much.

~

In closing

Despite the overwhelming tears, doubts and fears, there was a comforting and gentle presence, guiding me, teaching me - giving me strength and understanding ‘This IS ‘my’ journey after all’. No one else can see the the creative images in my mind, nor the visions I have for future projects and so on. No one else can bring them to life…like I can; and at the end of the day I alone can claim ownership to all that hard work and take pride in it all.

…and so, with this ‘unseen’ and invisible force bestowing strength and determination at the times I felt at my weakest, saddest and most helples, my Angels, Fairies and other magical beings, lifted me up, encouraged me, inspired me…and gave me hope.

Dare To Dream

Josephine Digital AI Concept Art

As we venture into 2024, my plans?

Well, I’m dedicating a large amount of my energy to holistic healing practices and self-care, with an absolute focus on emotional, physical and spiritual balance - all while juggling a small business, art, family, physical challenges, new projects and many other amazing adventures.

I realise this is ‘easier said, than done’, and I have quite a bit of work to do in all three areas, because I think somehow ‘lost myself’ over the years (anyone older and who has children and grandchildren will esecially understand what I mean), but self-care, is in crisis globally, and it’s important for each of us to realise (or remember), that we can’t give to anyone (aka help anyone)…from an empty cup.

Sad Immortal Fairy - Graphite work in progress.

At some point in our lives, we need to realise ‘Hang on….I don’t feel like the ‘me’ I would like to be!’. We need to realise we’ve filled so many ‘roles’ and ‘people-pleased’ away who we ‘really’ are, that we no longer actually even ‘know’ WHO we are any more - and that’s when the real adventure begins….when we truly begin to live life on our terms. We need to revert to that carefree, child-like mentality of yester-year, in the quest for a deeper understanding and acceptance of ourselves.

2024 is a year of manifesting EVERYTHING my minds-eye can envision and I dare to dream. It’s a year of mindfulness, healing, self awareness and grace.

…and so, to end

I wish each and every one of you, a safe, blessed and peaceful New Year - one filled with magic, wonder and enchantment.

Flee the mundane and embrace your inner-child - find your inner-Fairy and let the magic begin!

Until next time…

Sisters - Digital AI Concept Art

#2 Today, It’s All About The Fairies

Moon Fairies

Hello again Everyone!

I hope you are doing great!

One of the most beautiful aspects of my creative journey, is the magical and immersive energy which surrounds and inspires me every day!

This amazing energy brings me endless joy and drives my creativity.

Today, I am excited to begin cataloging and sharing the back-stories for the character-art displayed on the gifts in my webshop.

I truly hope I can relay each narrative in an interesting and immersive way, so that you too can feel the magic of each tiny character and its origins.

Once complete, you will find links to each magical being here.

Rose