Love Letters

06/02/2025

I call this one “is it still good?”
Something about the world is making me want to organise things on a macro level at the moment. Anyone else?

I’ve sorted the coloured pencils into categories. The pens into categories. The felts into categories.

27/01/2025

‼️ PLOT TWIST — this page (previously Deacon Rd.) is now a personal blog as an outlet to explore the threads of creativity that are woven through my life.

A celebration and collection of the things that bring me joy, and feed my need to create.

I still work in communications, as a copywriter and as a musician, though these pursuits happen mainly in other channels, and sometimes not publicly at all.

I’ve come to realise just how important it is to allow myself the space and time to create. I usually don’t have a plan, or a particular project in mind, just a desire to make and express. Each project or expression is like a little love letter to myself. (I’m all about love letters.)

I’m not a poet or a painter, a sculptor or a designer. I just love working in different mediums, trying new things, rebelling against societal norms, giving new life to old things, and adding colour and depth to my life with things that turn my head, evoke interest or stir emotion.

Keep following, or unfollow. Either way I will be creating love letters.

— Jess 💌

21/01/2025

Something tells me 2025 is going to be full noise in the creative space 💥 This isn’t my artwork, it’s my son Ollie’s. He’s 13, creative like his mama, and we’ve both enjoyed exploring our creativity in a bunch of ways to kick off this year. And this one rocks — I want it on a T-shirt asap! 😍

07/03/2024

Immensely proud to be part of the team responsible for the — led by Anna of and supported by Sarah-Jayne of and me. We’ve just printed the fourth edition which is another collection of wonderful stories and well worth a read!

Today, being IWD, we celebrate. But every day is a great day to share stories and lift each other up. To read more about the project and all the wonderful stories shared across four chapters so far, visit womanhoodjournal.nz or get your hands on a physical copy 💜

21/03/2023

Absolutely loved interviewing Bec and writing her story for the Womanhood Journal NZ. There's so much of her story that couldn't make it into the word count, so I might have to convince her to publish the whole thing somewhere one day. (Whaddya reckon, Bec??!) This chick is no-nonsense, bloody smart, and makes a fine tipple! Thanks for the opportunity, The Bond Store. Love working with you guys! 🍸

“Sexism is rife in the alcohol industry. The number of people who don’t believe me when I say I’m the chief distiller kind of blows me away. Why shouldn’t a woman be capable of doing anything a man is capable of doing? Most of the time gender has absolutely nothing to do with someone’s capability.”

What she said! Bec Kay is indeed the chief distiller of The Bond Store - a family-run operation involving her husband Chris and their daughter Ruby. Their roles were chosen based on their strengths, and with a few helpful strings to their respective bows this hard-working team makes it all look like a whole lot of fun, and very drinkable!

Read Bec’s story in the 2023 chapter of Womanhood Journal. http://womanhoodjournal.nz