Baking a new pie
Notice a difference?!
This month has been exceptionally busy for a number of reasons; so why have I found time to bake many more loaves of bread than usual? This is what I love about cooking. Under times of stress, it’s a creative outlet with a purpose i.e. someone can eat it. This is not only therapeutic and relaxing but practical; believe me, I have folders full of watercolour paintings and some rather large canvases that need a home.
Writing and designing this blog is my other outlet. I use the Vigilance theme on WordPress.com which gives the options to change the header (the big picture at the top), the background colour and link colours. There is a frankly worrying amount of gorgeous free stuff available legally online (worrying because I think people don’t expect to pay for creative services anymore but that’s another soapbox). I Googled ‘free headers’ (try it and see) and eventually found this quirky hand-drawn one which has served me well for two years. The ‘My Custard Pie’ text (again using a font downloaded for free) was added using nothing more sophisticated than Microsoft Paint.
In the meantime I’ve had ideas swirling around in my brain. If you are not familiar with Pinterest, it’s an online pin-board where you can organise images and videos. Illustration and hand-drawn lettering has always appealed to me. I adored the Down with skool! books as a child and relished the anarchic script and ink-blotted pictures drawn by Ronald Searle whose work I continued to admire; ironically the school was called St Custards. I started a few boards on Pinterest for inspiration including ‘drawing and writing‘ and ‘impeccable illustrations‘.
It was time to put thoughts into action; so last week I sat with Dunk a designer at ATOM and talked over my ideas. Then I sat down at my desk for the first time in ages with watercolours, pencils and pens. The first designs from Dunk were good but there was something missing; it needed hand-lettering and my pencil pies lacked ‘umph’, so it was literally back to the drawing board – me for the lettering and ATOM for the illustration. I was thrilled with the final logo and header results – it’s hard to explain, but for something as personal as a blog, it feels like me. Maybe it’s my imagination but I think ‘my Custard Pie’ logo even has an unexpected ‘Searlishness’ about it.
I hope you like my new look as much as I do. Do leave a comment (although I won’t be able to reply until next week as I’m off to Kathmandu for the weekend). What’s your favourite stress-busting creative activity?
My Custard Pie 
Beautiful Sally! I absolutely love the swirls and curves of my custard pie.
Beautiful logo… Very creative Sally.I see a slice of life there! that makes me happy 🙂 Have a wonderful Holiday in Nepal. It is a beautiful country. Take your cereal along.
I do! I love the new header! Have a great time in Kathmandu! 🙂
Lovely header Sally, and specifically like the new tagline, very clever 😉
I love the custard pie logo…the ‘artisanal’ quality of the drawing is perfect for your blog 🙂 I must admit that I’m so used to your previous jug logo that this will take some getting used to, but I do like the fresh look that’s far more representative of your blog than the previous one. I especially like the lettering inside the pie, didn’t realize that this was another talent of yours!
Congrats on the new logo and look, we need you to bake us a real custard pie now to celebrate the change 😀
Oh Sally I love it! The drawing is great and your lettering is awesome. You should do more of that. I really like the photo of your desk too.
The new design is so you!
It looks great!
Ok so you have got calligraphy down! Check! Great use of your gifts. Well done! Love the new look!
Very nice Sally! Really like the colours and the slogan. Have fun in Kathamandu! the city quite something i think…
Love the new header and yes I do find your pie has the delightful touch of ‘Searlishness’ about it!!
Had a giggle too at the wonderful throwaway line… ‘I’m off to Kathmandu for the weekend’…you lucky thing-do enjoy!
I love your new pie! Especially the handwriting. Recently I was terrified to find that I’m so used to my computer that I feel it unnaturally to write by hand, this is why I started to write the things that impress me in a notebook, just to keep me in practice.
And to answer your question – aside from baking and working with chocolate, the thing that busts the stress the most for me is weeding out the garden, oh, and soapmaking too.
Lurrrve the pie 🙂 Redesigns are fun xx
Finally a pie in the header! Yeay! I really like it. Used to sew, knit, paint and draw, but haven’t done so in years. I recently started finding some time each day to start being creative again. Perhaps you will see some changes in my blog sometime too:)
Great new look – love that it’s your own. I have wanted to change my look for the longest time but alas just don’t seem to have it as a top priority.
Enjoy your weekend.
🙂 Mandy
Mabrouk – lovely and fresh and very you! Mind you, I will miss your cute custard jug 🙂 I am a big fan of calligraphy especially Iranian artists – this may sound odd but the pen I use daily is a cheap calligraphy marker – can’t seem to write with anything else. I studied art and fashion design but sadly have not kept it up. Good for you. Enjoy Kathmandu, make sure to visit Baktapur as well. x
That jug has served me well but alas I must retire it. Have to leave Baktapur for next time as ran out of time. I also like writing with a calligraphy pen.
W hat a lovely new header! It is awesome.
Cheers,
Rosa
Praise indeed Rosa – much appreciated.
Sally, I love it! I love the ‘final’ pie and the writing is brilliant. You have limitless talent, my friend! I love that the header embraces the custard in the way that you embrace food and life. Have a wonderful weekend away! x
You are very kind Ren – thank you so much my friend.
The new header is perfect! It shows says exactly what you do and you really get a sense of who you are. Colours say so much but a word and a drawing put it all together so nicely! Well done. Very inspirational. I feel the need to get my paints out now!
EmmaMT X
I’m so pleased you think that – I do too. Get those paints out – you won’t regret it.
Well done, Sally! absolutely love your new header. Have fun in Kathmandu!
Thanks Nadia – will write about it soon.
The new look was the first thing I noticed, and I love it 🙂
So glad Tandy.
I love it!!!
Thanks
The new design is absolutely gorgeous! Love the custard pie, and the fact that it’s all hand drawn illustration. Now I want one for myself!
Oooh yes – little loaf has a lot of potential….you’ve got me thinking now 🙂
It looks fantastic Sally!
Thanks Redawna – praise coming from such a creative person.
It’s great! What a fun creative talent. A friend of mine recently taught me how to crochet. It’s become one of those wonderful mindless activities where time seems to fly by 🙂 I’d love to see more of you art in your posts!
Crafty projects are not my thing at all and I’m in awe of people like you who can crochet and knit etc. My daughter is great at it – I don’t have the patience (although can take forever over a piece of writing or painting).
I love your beautiful new header! It’s a little whimsical but classy.
That’s a real compliment – just what I wanted to achieve.
It looks fantastic Sally. I love the fact that the Custard pie also looks like a giant sun amidst a sky full of foodie objects. Congratulations on the new look. I had got used to your previous logo so probably it will take some time to sink in. I wish my study table had such a beautiful view. But then I guess I wouldn’t be concentrating on my work!
Cheers to the new look, a new beginning, a new Custard pie!
Thanks Ishita – I do most of my work staring at the wall. Maybe I should change that!
Shall we swap places??? Went into your twitter page – looks so so bright!
Glad you like it 🙂
I love the new look! Hope you have an amazing time in Kathmandu.
It was. Amazing.
Beautiful header! I love the colors! Congrats on the new look!
Thank you – I still get a lift when I see them
Beautiful calligraphy work. Love the new logo and header. Best of Luck!
So nice to hear from you. Hope all as well as it can be in Libya. Glad you like the new look.
I love the new look, Sally!! It’s beautiful! We all need a change from now and then right?
I changed my header about a week ago too and I feel invigorated 🙂
Really like your new look too. 🙂
Love the new look – its bright and warm. And oh stress….I know ALL about it. My last post (Le Beurre Fait Maison) was on the very topic. Busting it? Food – cooking, making, baking, trying to find peace and quiet and calm in the troubles restless waters of life. Have fun away X X X
As always you’ve summed it up perfectly Ozoz.
I love it Sally. Love the thought that goes behind people’s blogs. xx
Glad you like it. It’s a very personal space isn’t it.
Beautifully done, Sally. Congratulations. You inspire.
Thank you 🙂
Love it! You’ve put together a lovely banner. I for one would like to stop cooking for a bit or at least not be in the crazy rush to get lunch on the table every afternoon.
Certainly in this heat my passion to be in the kitchen wanes a bit too.
I’m loving the lavenderish-blue. So serene.
Have a fab trip to Nepal. Eat a LOT of momos and try and get some of that fantastic chutney back!
It’s a colour a feel good about – agree with serenity (need some in my life!) Chutney? Where was the chutney?!
Hey Sally, are you back? How was ur trip?
Well want to let you know that I have nominated you for “Excellence in Story Telling Award” visit my blog and check it out. Follow the link there for instructions 🙂 Good luck xx
Kathmandu was incredible – will write about it soon….it included a lot of momos! Thanks so much for the award….very touched.
Hello!
Hi there, lovely new header Sally!
So glad the comment worked in the end – thanks for persevering.
I LOVE this new look, Sally. I love the looseness, and the coziness that eminates from just the script and the pie sketch/watercolor/logo. Fantastic job! Must be something in the air because I have a “bee in my bonnet” for a new header, and have been stewing on it. Hoping June is my month! As for stress-busting? Well, the whole blogging process is truly satisfying… Cooking, styling and shooting, and then writing. Oh?! Did I forget to mention: eating? And, then my art work whenever (and if ever) I make time for it.