New year, new thoughts
Some company in a studio tidy up
Happy new year to one and all. Let’s hope the coming year unfolds slowly and creatively and our wee virtual studio space continues to offer a space that brings joy. Looking back on 2025 I remember, with such fondness, our book arts projects and I hope 2026 will be as rewarding. Recovering from flu over the festive period means a slower start to the year than is normal for me. My Etsy store remains closed until I have found the energy to create the books that are floating around in my new year mind. I have prioritised my subscriptions offerings and here I am pleased to report some progress. Our Fragmented Stories book has found its form and in the video you get a wee peek at it. I will share a vlog on that in the next week or so but as you see at the start of the video my studio needs a tidy. I work across several projects as once and, therefore, usually have two or three piles on my workshop table. The piles appear to have collapsed and been added to and that is way too much stuff on the table for my sanity. Even though my studio has a door to close it down at the end of the day, I still tidy up and reset each evening so that the morning routine is prepared. While poorly and trying to work gently the table has become a dumping ground and that is an absolute no no for me. My late grandmother taught me that a tidy space is a tidy mind and she would not be happy about now. To add insult to injury I have mis-placed my needle case that I printed her name on as a thank you for teaching me to sew when I was a very small child. I can’t tell you how upsetting this is and so far it hasn’t re-appeared as a I tidy.
Putting all that together the best course of action for me is a slow, gentle tidy putting things back in the natural homes. My space is much more than a book artist space and it has to work very hard. Everything having a natural space is so important to the way I work. I rarely lose anything, hence when I do the wheels come off a wee bit. I thought I might not be the only one having a wee tidy of their creative space at this time of year so I filmed some of this process and also the space once tidy again. Now, with the flu departed and my space tidy I feel I can begin work in 2026. Joyful.
