Hello again, friends!

It’s hard to believe, but I’ve been selling online (mainly Etsy, but a few folk finding “World of Art Prints” online) for six months now, and what a journey it’s been! As many of you know, I’ve been focusing mainly on reproductions of old maps of Scotland, and it’s been going rather well. I suspect my success has something to do with my pretty solid knowledge of Scotland—a knowledge I owe largely to my dad.

You see, my dad spent forty years in the army, and as a result, our family holidays were strictly confined to Scotland. We didn’t just explore the usual tourist spots; oh no, we went off the beaten path, often in a caravan, sometimes off-road. I have vivid memories of a certain field near Oban—complete with some very unhappy cows—that I must have been five or six years old at the time. These Scottish antics continued until I was about 14, covering just about every corner of the country, although we seemed to spend a disproportionate amount of time around the Isle of Skye, where my grandparents are from.

So, when someone reaches out to me on Etsy, looking for an old map of a specific area in Scotland, it’s like a trip down memory lane. Whether it’s a place I’ve visited or just know from my many adventures, I take great pride in being able to track down the perfect map. More often than not, these requests are tied to genealogy research. People are trying to reconnect with their roots, and they often have a particular area in mind—maybe a village a grandparent mentioned or a landscape tied to family lore.

When I receive these requests, I love digging into the archives to find just the right map. If I can’t immediately locate the specific area someone’s looking for, I don’t give up easily. I have access to several archives, and I’m always happy to go the extra mile to find something that works. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that these maps aren’t just beautiful pieces of history; they’re helping people connect with their past.

My collection of Scottish maps is growing all the time, and I’m thrilled to see how much interest there is in these pieces of history. I’m continually adding more options to my Etsy shop, and I’ll be expanding even further here on the website. Whether you’re a history buff, a genealogy enthusiast, or just someone who loves the rugged beauty of Scotland, I’m sure you’ll find something special.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me so far—I can’t wait to see where the next six months take us!

Cheers,
Ciorsdan