Is Your House on the Map?

Hello friends!

I’m so excited to write to you - I’ve just wrapped up the most beautiful Christmas market, and my last ever market. I may continue to offer art prints online but the market season in my business is complete ✨

I even made a sign for my stall — you know you’re an artist when you’d rather paint your own sign than get in the car and traipse down to Officeworks to get it printed.

Both take an hour, and one is way more fun.

The sun was out all day (not a storm in sight, yay) and the evening was alive with laughter and dancing under a clear sky and half moon. I was positioned in front of El Camino Cantina where patrons sat outside, finding respite from the heat by sipping giant margaritas (jealous).

I was ALSO positioned right next to the DJ and the Market Folk Info booth (access to free Christmas ginger cookies and great music). There were ladies in red and green sparkly jumpsuits twirling hula hoops. I couldn’t help but bust a few moves. What a vibe!

Ten years ago, when I wanted to share my art with the world and I didn’t know how to go about it (other than setting up a clumsy website - look at her now 😍), I thought markets seemed like a great idea.

I was soon enamoured with the experience. NOT the preparation or packing, bump-in or pack down, but the gathering itself. I was painfully shy, which didn’t help. Over time I found my confidence.

What I love most about markets is meeting people and learning about their favourite places.

I had some amazing conversations yesterday, so I thought I’d share 10 things I learnt:

1. Barcelona was the most requested map that people wanted me to draw

2. Men, much more-so than women, love my map artworks!

3. Women tell me that my map artworks make great gifts for men that they are actually happy to have on their wall haha

4. I spoke to at least 5 people who live in The Yards apartments who didn’t realise they are my murals they see in the foyer every day!!

5. My ex-barista friend turned client/customer happens to now be back in Brisbane, where I thought he was still in London - he surprised me by showing up to my stall. He has my London artwork that he adores and now I feel extra happy knowing it reminds him of his previous home 🥰

6. Growing up the in UK gave one man the most fondest memories of wallpaper

7. A 2 year old got to visit Paris this year, when his parents also saw it for the first time

8. One man who is a map lover owns a 2m x 2m poster of the Brisbane Refidex* (are you as old as me to know what this is?)

9. Quite a few Londoners now call Brisbane home

10. You can definitely hire a car and drive around Europe and apparently it is not that stressful. They hired a car from Nice and enjoyed 10 days of driving around Switzerland. There are a lot of tolls (frequency, not necessarily price) and they are easy to navigate with euro coins and Apple Pay!

Number 10 was timely advice as my husband Jon and I are hoping to get to Europe in 2026 and have been umming and ahhing about where/how/when.

And what I found most curious is that of all the people I surveyed yesterday, not many had their travel plans locked in for 2026. There is a lot of dreaming happening right now, but not a lot of action.

When I asked why, everyone just ‘wanted to get through to Christmas’.

So if you’re focused on Christmas, I want to offer one last special opportunity to grab one of my gold foil city map artworks. I know there were a couple of you yesterday who missed out, so you can choose your favourite online.

FIVE CITIES - Brisbane, Sydney, Paris, London and NYC

TWO COLOURS - White and gold / Navy and gold

Except for the rare, last-of-its-kind Rose Gold and Black London artwork. I ordered only three of these (to test the colour combination) and it is stunning.

Just one left.

They are the perfect Christmas gift for these kinda folks:

• travellers

• adventurers

• men/dads

• people who call these cities home

• yourself (you deserve to celebrate your own memories).

I’ve got a discount code for you, that ends tomorrow 30th November.

Enter: ‘EXTRAHAPPY’ for 30% off (price includes shipping).

If you have any troubles ordering don’t hesitate to email me. If you’d like to purchase in multiples (more than 5) for corporate or client gifts, please email me for a wholesale price.

Enjoy! Have a beautiful weekend and thank you for supporting my small business. It means more than you know.

Love,
Kylie + Mr G x

*The Brisbane Refidex was a gift from my parents. When I moved from Toowoomba to Brisbane to study landscape architecture in 2002, I didn’t know where I was going.

I am an adventurer at heart. Every Sunday I had a little ritual of opening the Refidex to a random page and driving there (sometimes friends tagged along). That is how I know so much about Brisbane and can confidently drive just about anywhere in the world (and hopefully soon, Switzerland).