As my creative life has evolved, I’ve felt called to create this new category on my writing blog – The Velvet Hollow (previously on Substack). It is where I will write more personally about grief, healing, and the quiet magic woven through life. As well as my writing life I am also the creator of a popular vintage website RachelsVintageRetro.co.uk so there will be some vintage comforts reflected in my writing too.
I sadly lost my wonderful husband, Phil, after a short battle with cancer. He passed away in March 2025, aged just 60, and I am slowly navigating life without him. I’ve always wanted to be a professional writer, and now it’s time to go for it properly. Phil would be proud and encouraging me every step of the way, being my cheerleader for even the smallest achievements, and catching me if I fall.
I chose The Velvet Hollow as the name for this blog category as it feels very ‘me’ and I want to include more of my personality here. This will be a way of working through my grief with what I know: vintage comforts, whilst also weaving in the many threads I’m passionate about: 19th century history, the gothic, witchcraft, folklore, and the stories people carry. And yes… I do love velvet clothing too!
My writing here will be slower, more meaningful, no longer chasing algorithms, which, quite frankly, has become exhausting. I am no spring chicken anymore, and despite a long career navigating ever-changing technology, I feel it’s time to slow down and honour the energy I have at the moment. In grief, that energy depletes very quickly, as the feelings of loss, longing, and absence all take their toll. As I navigate this new chapter in my life, I need a safe anchor; something to carry me gently through this liminal space into the person I am becoming.
There is comfort in the past, whether it’s looking back at Tudor clothing, Victorian customs, or more recent 20th century history such as The Festival of Britain. Objects and stories all reveal something, and it is those I will mainly be using as inspiration.
I hope you’ll follow me and share my journey. 🌛✨
Much love,
Rachel