Hi, I’m Jessica’s Creativity and this is my Workshop. What does my Workshop look like? Read on for a tour. 🙂

Welcome to my Workshop. I hope the trip down the rainbow slippery dip hasn’t disoriented you too much. There’s nothing like the crackle of static in the morning. Don’t worry about your hair sticking up. It’ll settle down eventually. I’d shake your hand but I’ve been told discharging people’s static without warning can be considered rude, so I’ll try to contain the urge.

You may notice you’re not standing on solid ground, but a trampoline. Try it out. It’s a lot of fun. Unfortunately, all the furniture tends to slide towards you as you walk past, but you’ll get used to that.

The Workshop’s roughly the size of an aircraft hangar but the bookcases, tables, filing cabinets, chairs, shelves and 1:5 model of the HMS Endeavour tend to make it look a little smaller. It is cluttered, but I love the clutter. I come up with some of my best ideas by seeing strange things lying next to each other. For instance, what story could you make about an ordinary wooden clothes peg and this dried puffer fish? Yes, well perhaps not the best story fodder that.

Oh, you noticed the Coffeepot for Masochists. I love it! I saw it on the cover of The Design of Everyday Things and thought it was the greatest thing. It reminds me that often the more unusable and crazy an idea is, the more it will stick in people’s heads – until it becomes an icon. But I’m sure I’ll write a post about it sometime so let’s keep moving.

That is indeed a collection of cocktail umbrellas. They’re great for playing with, but not so good in any actual weather.

I see the imposing ocean blue box in the corner has caught your eye. That’s my wardrobe. Very small? In a way. But my wardrobe doesn’t work on the same principle as yours. You see, I think of a piece of clothing. Think really hard with all the details. And then I open the door. Watch.

I’m thinking of a coral coloured 1920’s flapper dress with embroidered v neck and beaded tassels hanging from the skirt.

Now, open the door. See? Isn’t that great? I can imagine clothes onto characters, without the wardrobe, but sometimes you just need a blue box…because things don’t always need a reason.

This nook is where I bring characters to life. It’s cozy, and quiet, and padded with pastel cushions to ease characters into the world. Once they start developing their own personalities, then they get their own personalised alcove, until they’re ready to move out on their own. But I’ll explain more about that another time.

And this is my conservatory. There’s plenty of greenery, and unfortunately some brownery. The pink and blue trumpet flowers are particularly pungent right now. If you step on the plant’s roots, it’ll blow its trumpets at you in a terrific cacophony. Try it.

This is my Thinking Spot. Really any spot where I happen to be thinking is my thinking spot, but this is the spot I come to when I should be thinking or creating and just don’t feel like it. It’s got my favourite chair (a cushioned cane chair that creaks when you sit in it), a constant cup of tea, and a bottomless tin of chocolate biscuits. (Did I mention I don’t put on weight?)

The best thing about my Workshop is it’s always changing. If I don’t like something, or something doesn’t feel right today, I just change it. It’s so much easier than in your world.

That door on the left leads straight into Jessica’s Memory Library, but we don’t have time to go there today. I often pop in to check facts, smell books and annoy the librarian.

The door on the right takes you back out into your world. It’s only been a short visit, but I hope you can come back again soon. In the mean time, please comment with your name and the date of your visit so I can remember you. 🙂