Latest on the Blog

Squarespace

Where I tackle Squarespace related FAQ's, SEO, Squarespace hacks and more. 

Portfolio

A behind-the-scenes look at the Squarespace sites I've launched or am currently working on.

Digital DIY

I like to share what I'm learning when it comes to building a website, DIY design, and social media.

Creativity

I've been interviewing a bunch of photographers, painters, print-makers, illustrators, writers and musicians about what goes into completing a creative challenge. It's been an incredible process!

Instagram

Instagram is by far my favourite place to hang out online. It's also an incredible tool for marketing your business. Here you'll find interviews, inspiration, and tutorials.

Photography

Follow my photographic adventures (and mishaps). 

Handmade

Things I'm making. Hint: There's a lot of indigo!

Hello! I'm Claire. I get really excited about making stuff, and helping other people make stuff. Its all here in this blog. More about me over here. 

Newsletters

Interviews

ebooks

Instagram

Is there anything more exciting that good friends getting hitched? 😍 How wonderful to be able to design a wedding site for these two wonderful people. 💛 The bride is one of my long time besties, we’ve shared houses, overseas trips, half-marathons, many giggles, tears and many many many cups of tea together. I am so thrilled for them both! 🥂
Hello from what seems to be the holiday that doesn’t want to end! It’s been a time of Christmas meals, family, beach swims, LOADS of reading, and long runs in preparation for a race in March. Now that it is so far into January I really can’t ignore 2019 I’m revisiting the things I planned at the end of last year and seeing what stays and what goes. • What stays in 2019?
🔸 Squarespace website design 🔸 Resource development 🔸 Template sites - more coming soon 🔸 Squarespace from Scratch online course 🔸 More learning in the fields of design and creativity 🔸 Some personal creative projects 🔸 Travel! • And what goes in 2019? 🔸 Some of my blog - its going to be archived! 🔸 Some projects I started and never finished - I might as well axe them now 🔸 Me second guessing my fee structure - time to refocus and stay serious!
Ever heard of a Shepherd’s Hut? I hadn’t either until I worked on on a site for Franschhoek based company ‘The Shepherd Hut Co.’ 🏠 The shepherd’s hut dates back to 16th century England and was a very simple dwelling made out of whatever materials were available - usually wood and metal. It was a kitchen, dining room, bedroom and storeroom all rolled into one all set on a strong metal axle so that the hut could be carted from field to field wherever the sheep were grazing. 🐑 The modern version is really quite luxurious, and can be used for extra accommodation, as a home office, or for your mobile business. (Swipe left to see one in the wild). 🎉 Keep an eye out for their site coming soon on www.theshepherdhutco.co.za
Wrapping up the last few projects for 2018 and getting ready for…. a holiday! 🎉Whoop! Part of what is helpful at this time of year is to look back on the year and ask myself some of some questions about the work I’ve done, what I enjoyed, didn’t enjoy, what I want to do more and less of. There are some other questions though that would also be good to ask, which I recently wrote down in my notebook. (Some of these are probably from Andy J. Pizza’s ‘Creative Pep Talk’ podcast, which I listen to a lot!)… • 🔸 Is how I’m working, working for me? 🔸 What work do I wish I’d be commissioned to do? 🔸 Can I commission myself to do that work? 🔸 Am I happy with the direct my work is taking me? 🔸 How can I bring more meaning to the world through my work? 🔸 What is my gift, and am I refining it, and using it as best as I can? • Will you be taking some time to reflect on your 2018? And if so, what questions do you ask yourself?
➕Squarespace from Scratch➕ is a guide to building your own Squarespace website from start to finish. In this online course I'll help you through the process of preparing all your content for your website build, putting together a style guide, choosing a Squarespace template, structuring your site, and launching something super professional that you can be really proud of and that will take your business, project or NGO to the next level. If you're interested in hearing more about pricing, launch dates and course content, please sign up by following the ‘Squarespace from Scratch’ link in my bio above and I'll keep you in the loop.
One of my lates sites to go live. This was a site redesign for a luxury travel company who wanted everything about this site to be absolutely sumptuous and elegant, from the images, to the colours choices, fonts, galleries - the works! www.oryxandorca.com
One of my lates sites to go live. This was a site redesign for a luxury travel company who wanted everything about this site to be absolutely sumptuous and elegant, from the images, to the colours choices, fonts, galleries - the works! www.oryxandorca.com
Happy weekend everyone! 🌸
Thoughts on Creativity| I’ve been challenged to write down some thoughts on creativity lately in a short blog form. • The first topic I wrote on was ‘Make it Well, Then Let it Go’ - some reflections on how to let go of the things we make once they’re done. The next post which is now up on my blog is called ‘True Creativity Looks a Lot Like Hard Work.’ • Again, its a reflective post on coming to terms with the reality of all the hard work involved in creativity. How our ideas of creativity and the actual thing can be quite different. I think this is well summed up in this quote by Ursula LeGuin “…you find that it is hard going and it just doesn’t flow, well, what did you expect? It is work; art is work.” • You can find the post on my blog through the link in my bio above.
Hey Squarespace users! Did you know Squarespace has just released a brand new new app? The idea is that you can take control of your website on the go. • I downloaded it this morning and had a look at some of the features. With the app you can… ✏️ Update and edit site settings ✏️ Create content on the go (blog posts, pages etc) ✏️ Work on your site offline ✏️ Access Squarespace’s help line • You can check it out for iOS, with Android and iPad coming soon. Also have a look at my stories for some screenshots and a squizz at the features. [📷 Paul Honoaka]

archives

Is there anything more exciting that good friends getting hitched? 😍 How wonderful to be able to design a wedding site for these two wonderful people. 💛 The bride is one of my long time besties, we’ve shared houses, overseas trips, half-marathons, many giggles, tears and many many many cups of tea together. I am so thrilled for them both! 🥂
Hello from what seems to be the holiday that doesn’t want to end! It’s been a time of Christmas meals, family, beach swims, LOADS of reading, and long runs in preparation for a race in March. Now that it is so far into January I really can’t ignore 2019 I’m revisiting the things I planned at the end of last year and seeing what stays and what goes. • What stays in 2019?
🔸 Squarespace website design 🔸 Resource development 🔸 Template sites - more coming soon 🔸 Squarespace from Scratch online course 🔸 More learning in the fields of design and creativity 🔸 Some personal creative projects 🔸 Travel! • And what goes in 2019? 🔸 Some of my blog - its going to be archived! 🔸 Some projects I started and never finished - I might as well axe them now 🔸 Me second guessing my fee structure - time to refocus and stay serious!
Ever heard of a Shepherd’s Hut? I hadn’t either until I worked on on a site for Franschhoek based company ‘The Shepherd Hut Co.’ 🏠 The shepherd’s hut dates back to 16th century England and was a very simple dwelling made out of whatever materials were available - usually wood and metal. It was a kitchen, dining room, bedroom and storeroom all rolled into one all set on a strong metal axle so that the hut could be carted from field to field wherever the sheep were grazing. 🐑 The modern version is really quite luxurious, and can be used for extra accommodation, as a home office, or for your mobile business. (Swipe left to see one in the wild). 🎉 Keep an eye out for their site coming soon on www.theshepherdhutco.co.za
Wrapping up the last few projects for 2018 and getting ready for…. a holiday! 🎉Whoop! Part of what is helpful at this time of year is to look back on the year and ask myself some of some questions about the work I’ve done, what I enjoyed, didn’t enjoy, what I want to do more and less of. There are some other questions though that would also be good to ask, which I recently wrote down in my notebook. (Some of these are probably from Andy J. Pizza’s ‘Creative Pep Talk’ podcast, which I listen to a lot!)… • 🔸 Is how I’m working, working for me? 🔸 What work do I wish I’d be commissioned to do? 🔸 Can I commission myself to do that work? 🔸 Am I happy with the direct my work is taking me? 🔸 How can I bring more meaning to the world through my work? 🔸 What is my gift, and am I refining it, and using it as best as I can? • Will you be taking some time to reflect on your 2018? And if so, what questions do you ask yourself?
➕Squarespace from Scratch➕ is a guide to building your own Squarespace website from start to finish. In this online course I'll help you through the process of preparing all your content for your website build, putting together a style guide, choosing a Squarespace template, structuring your site, and launching something super professional that you can be really proud of and that will take your business, project or NGO to the next level. If you're interested in hearing more about pricing, launch dates and course content, please sign up by following the ‘Squarespace from Scratch’ link in my bio above and I'll keep you in the loop.
One of my lates sites to go live. This was a site redesign for a luxury travel company who wanted everything about this site to be absolutely sumptuous and elegant, from the images, to the colours choices, fonts, galleries - the works! www.oryxandorca.com
One of my lates sites to go live. This was a site redesign for a luxury travel company who wanted everything about this site to be absolutely sumptuous and elegant, from the images, to the colours choices, fonts, galleries - the works! www.oryxandorca.com