Inspired by family, wild nature & simplicity.
To some my life may not seem glamorous or exciting, but for me, I am living my dream of slow living with an outdoor lifestyle and invite you to read all about our everyday life from our woodland home.
Hi, I'm Jessica and this is my story.
As a child, I always dreamed that I would marry a practical, outdoor man and that I would be surrounded by animals, children and land.
Fast forward to present day; I am married to an Oak Framer, we live in the middle of the woods with our two daughters, our two dogs and four hens.
After leaving art school in 2001, I worked as a graphic designer for advertising agencies and small design studios. In late 2012 and due to poor health, I decided to take the plunge into self employment as a graphic designer working for small brands and businesses up until the birth of our first daughter in 2013. After her birth, I made the choice to devote myself to our family, our small business and our home here in the woods.
In 2014 while doing some design work for a client and sharing my photography with them, they suggested I share more of our “aspirational woodland life” on a ‘new app’ called Instagram, it was then that I started to pick up a following and brands requested to work with me. I started to take on more work in this little space on the web and social media platforms. After becoming disillusioned with the ‘other side’ of social media, I have been helping brands offline, as well as online with my design services and brand photography, working around our family and oak framing business.
I love nothing more than going for long walks in our woods and surrounding fields with our dogs and daughters, cooking, taking photos, watching my husband build beautiful oak framed buildings and growing our own food in our vegetable garden.
After 10+ years of debilitating symptoms, in late 2015, I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis, which allowed me to reconnect with the practice of mindfulness and focus more on my own general wellbeing. Living with Ankylosing Spondylitis has been a journey and whilst it will never define me, I occasionally like to use this space to share with those who know little about the condition, raising awareness of chronic invisible illness, as well as creating a space for discussion and support for others living with AS, as well as other conditions I have been diagnosed with Combined ADHD and Autism.
With an honest, practical and ethical focus on slow living, an outdoor lifestyle, family, eco Parenting and wellness, I love working with brands and individuals who share the same ethics either on my blog and Instagram, and/or working alongside brands with my design services and brand photography.
I have had a few mentions in a few publications since launching the blog and Instagram in 2015 which has been really lovely. A wonderful driving force behind growing and continuing to share our woodland life and the importance of not only looking after the enviornment around us that we are fortunate to be current custodians of, but living a more mindful and sustainable way of life which is heavily influenced by the place we call home.
I thoroughly enjoy being creative both online and offline, however I see my primary role as ‘mummy’, ‘wife’ and ‘home-maker’ – it has been a lifestyle choice resulting in many sacrifices, but nothing makes me happier than our family and our home and it is the most rewarding work I have ever done.
To some my life may not seem glamorous or exciting, but for me, I am living my dream of slow living with an outdoor lifestyle and invite you to read all about our everyday life from our woodland home.
Jessica x
(See our Woodland wedding on The Natural Wedding Company Blog)
I would love to hear from you if you'd like to talk.
With an honest, practical and ethical focus on slow living, an outdoor lifestyle, family, eco parenting and wellness, I love working with brands and individuals who share the same ethics.