#fosteringstory

[hollymarlow]

We saw my son's foster brother a couple of weeks ago. He's been moved to a different placement, and I wasn't sure if we would be able to see him again. My son absolutely loves his foster siblings, so I am hugely relieved that we have managed to get in touch with this lovely lad's new carer and arrange to meet up. We had a fab morning catching up, and at the end, my son's foster brother gave him this toy car and told him he wants him to have it. He's played with it every day. A lot of people talk about sibling relationships and how important it is to stay in contact with blood siblings who are placed elsewhere. Don't forget foster siblings too. Those bonds can be so precious. ❤️ #fostersiblings #fosterbrothers #fosterbrother #fosterfamily #fostercarematters #foreverfamily #lovemakesafamily #siblings #attachment #attachmentbuilding #buildingattachments #fostercare #thisisfostercare #fostering #fosteringstory #fostercarestory #pflegemami #pflegemama #pflegefamilie #pflegeeltern #familledacceuil #famille #mamandaccueil #cuidadodeniños #adopcion #adoption #adoptionsupportuk #postadoptionsupport #socialwork #socialworkmatters https://www.instagram.com/p/ChngHpCMGEz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hollymarlow]

Introducing another new character for "Room in the Nest," my next book, set in the world of Delly Duck, to help parents to explain various kinds of foster care (and the outcomes) to their children. It's a parallel story. You don't need to have read "Delly Duck: Why A Little Chick Couldn't Stay With His Birth Mother" to understand it, but I think those who have will enjoy spotting a few characters who feature in both stories. #illustration #pigeon #fostering #fostercare #fostercareadoption #fosteradopt #kinshipcare #adoption #adoptionuk #adoptiveparents #adoptionstory #fosteringstory #fostercarestory #storiesthatmatter #adoptivefamily #adoptionbook #fosteringbook #fostercarebook #fosterparents #books #socialworkreadinglist #adoptionreadinglist #Dellyduck #roominthenest #lgbt #lgbtq #pridemonth2022 #pridemonth #pride2022 https://www.instagram.com/p/CfbE33fsZJ8/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hollymarlow]

This clever "upright" computer mouse is such an essential tool for me, I felt it deserved a shout-out. I'm so grateful that this mouse exists. The normal ones are so painful for me to use. I've mentioned before that I'm a #writer who can't really write. An #illustrator who can't really draw. I have #fibromyalgia and #hypermobilejoints, which mean I can't hold a pencil or use a normal mouse for more than a couple of minutes at a time, or my hand seizes up, and my elbow and shoulder pain goes from tolerable to horrendous. I really wanted to #illustrate my recent #fostercare #book "Room in the Nest," by myself, so I learned how to create backgrounds digitally (I love making clouds and rainbows 😍) and how to digitally edit pictures. So I don't need to draw very much at all. I draw the bare minimum, and use digital tools and this hero of a mouse to change the raw sketch into something pretty. #hypermobility #fibrowarrior #illustratorlife #disability #disabilityhack #disabilitytool #fibromyalgiaawareness #hypermobilityawareness #chronicpain #painwarrior #hypermobilejoints #ehlersdanlossyndrome #ehlersdanlos #fostering #fosteringstories #fostercarestory #fostermama #pflegemama #pflegemami #adopcion #cuidadodeniños #mamandaccueil #mamanadoptive #parentsadoptifs #pflegeeltern https://www.instagram.com/p/CikYagaMhOh/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hollymarlow]

Something you may not have known about me... I'm a #writer who can't really write. An #illustrator who can't really draw. I have #fibromyalgia and #hypermobilejoints, which mean I can't hold a pencil for more than a couple of minutes at a time, or my hand seizes up, and my elbow and shoulder pain goes from tolerable to horrendous. I have to take a break halfway through writing a gift tag, or the #pain is unbearable for weeks. #Writing is easy enough to avoid. I just use my computer (or a phone! Most of my first drafts have been written while cuddling a child with my other arm!). #Drawing is a bit trickier, but I so wanted to #illustrate my own book. And I realised when creating my first few books, that there's a way I can do this. I can create backgrounds digitally (I love making clouds and rainbows 😍) and I can digitally edit pictures. So I don't need to draw very much at all. These cute little half-bugs took me over an hour, as I needed to rest my hand a lot, but they are going to become several different bugs. I'll cut out the #ladybird, duplicate and flip her so that she's got two colourful and even sides, and I'll cut out the little black spot and place spots on her. I'll probably make two or three ladybirds with different spot patterns. Similarly, I'll use the #dragonfly wings to create wings for the other side, so that he can actually fly! And I can change his colours to create lots and lots of other dragonflies. I can also tweak the wing shape for variety. I may even move the segments around a bit and create some caterpillars from the body, and digitally add legs. These bugs will be flitting around in the background of "Room in the Nest," my next book about #fostercare, #kinshipcare, reunification and #adoption, coming in September. You can follow me on Amazon or subscribe on my website hollymarlow.com to be notified when it is released. #fibrowarrior #hypermobility #illustratorlife #authorlife #disability #disabilityhack #fibromyalgiaawareness #hypermobilityawareness #artist #digitalillustration #ladybug #author #illustration #fostering #fosteringstories #fostermama #pflegemama https://www.instagram.com/p/CgOxl1qsb8x/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=