Navigating the changing seasons
Plus some creative projects for you to try!
I don’t know about you, but I feel like the past month was one of those months that has gone slowly and quickly all at the same time.
The whole of 2023 has felt like that for me actually. The changing seasons can bring a period of reflection, and I especially find that at this time of year as autumn arrives. It’s natural for many of us to be thinking now about things we’d like to do or those that we haven’t achieved, just as much as it is in January when setting out intentions for the new year. Maybe it’s because I used to be a teacher, so part of me still runs on the academic year - who knows?! 😂
I’ve realised this year that I put a lot of pressure on myself to get loads done, and a lot of the time I’m setting myself up to fail because my expectations are wildly unrealistic. I think that’s partly because of practical reasons, as my working pattern is quite fragmented around home educating and I feel the pressure to get all the things done when there’s any down time (not that this ever happens, of course). It’s also because for as long as I can remember, I’ve been working towards the next big project, and since my physical shop and studio shut my big dream project was over.
So I’ve had big ‘where do I go from here?’ feelings recently. Instead of trying to work out where that is immediately, I’m trying to embrace the unknown and enjoy the present. Perhaps we’re so conditioned to chase our dreams that when they don’t go to plan, we don’t quite know what to do with ourselves. I might not be working towards that dream-sized project anymore, but that’s actually right where I need to be so that I can stop and appreciate where I’m at.
Working on commissions is one of my favourite things to do, and I am so privileged to get to do that regularly. That in itself is a huge dream come true, and slowing down to appreciate that has been a big positive. The final proof for my second book has been approved, and that’s so exciting (and scary, but mainly exciting!). I do a lot of freelance work with Make & Mend Co. and they are amazing to work with, and I’ve already started working with them behind the scenes on next year’s Make & Mend Festival. I have loved writing my newsletter again and I am planning to write an additional post or two each month, without over-committing myself. Hopefully you’ll find these useful, but if not then do remember that you can unsubscribe at any time at the bottom of the emails (but I hope you’ll stick around!).
There’s a lot of brilliant stuff happening, but I have this annoying habit of only focusing on the things I haven’t done - does that sound familiar? Writing everything down here for the purpose of this newsletter has actually been super helpful, so if you’re also feeling this way then I’d highly recommend making a list for yourself too. If you’re putting yourself under this pressure then I hear you! Lets try and cut ourselves a little slack - we’re doing brilliantly ❤️
WIP
I haven’t made much progress on my mural banner this month, so I haven’t got any updates for that (but it is making me want to find time to do some this week!). I’ve got a couple of commissions with Love Embroidery in the pipeline, and you might have seen me choosing colours for that in my Instagram stories this week. Picking colours is still one of my favourite things to do, I absolutely love it!
One of the posts I’m wondering about writing about how I choose thread colours for projects - would you be interested to read that? Let me know!
Project inspo
I’m delighted to have another project in Love Embroidery magazine again this month. This was a design that I’ve had in my head for years now, and I finally got around to pitching it to them earlier in the summer. I wanted Santa to use a lot of textural stitches, and my friend Heather sent me this video of Ceylon stitch a while back - when I saw it I knew it was perfect for his hat. I love the idea of Santa having a hand-knitted hat, don’t you?! And he’s even more jolly than I thought he would turn out, so I’m really happy with this piece.
You’ll find the full tutorial for this project in issue 46 of Love Embroidery magazine. Current and back issues are available here.
Stitch of the month
The stitch of the month has to be turkey stitch, as it’s just the perfect stitch to use in my jolly Santa hoop. You’ll find the video tutorial here on YouTube.
Don’t forget to tag me if you make this project, or drop me an email if you have any questions about this stitch too!
Currently reading
Main Character Energy by Jamie Varon (affiliate link).
This year I’ve been trying to have a fiction book on the go alongside non-fiction, and this is one of my absolute favourites this year - I couldn’t put it down! I read the whole thing in two days, which is absolutely unheard of for me 😂
I love Jamie’s writing, she is so generous with her work (see
for more) and her debut novel is an absolute gem. It’s a love story, packed full of everything you’d hope one to be, along with some real words of wisdom that I didn’t know I needed to hear. If you need a bit of escapism and some encouragement along the way, then this one is for you too.Home ed
It’s half term here this week, although to be honest that just means that most places are more busy than usual! 😂 Autumn is still providing us with lots of inspiration this month, and I’m looking forward to trying this leaf printing idea this week. It looks so easy to do, and I love the idea of making sweet note cards with it.
This DIY nature crown would also be a lovely project for little ones. My kids always love looking for nature’s treasures, and this is a brilliant way to use what they have collected.
From the archives
Every time I share a photo of my craft room on Instagram, someone asks me about my curtains! I made them from some amazing Pantone fabric that I found on Spoonflower, and they honestly bring me so much joy. You can read about them here, with all the details included in the original post.
As the festive season approaches, you might also enjoy these felt perpetual paper chains that I made a few years back too. I made them in pastel colours, but they would work really well in traditional festive colours. This is actually a project adapted from a festive project by What Delilah Did, and I absolutely love it - whether you add decorative stitching or not, it’s a project to treasure.
Hello! Hooray! Shop
I’ve got some great hand embroidery supplies in my online shop, and this Prym Aquatrick marker and brush pen is one of my favourites! I’ve tried lots of methods of design transfer over the years, and this is honestly so easy to use. It works on a variety of fabrics and is excellent quality too! They’re still on sale at the moment too - find them here.
See you again soon!
Just a reminder that I’ll be posting an extra post this month, so look out for that. I wish you a creative month ahead!
Clare 😊
Definitely sticking around! The post about how you pick your colours sounds fun, I always like seeing how other creatives approach things. :D
Can very much relate to the focusing on things I haven't done, rather than recognising what I have! Congratulations on approval of the final proof of your book - and all the many other wonderful things you've been creating & doing!
I also relate to that feeling of not having a big focus or goal to work towards. A few years ago when everything was falling apart I knew I wanted to do something with art, but I had no sense of what it might be and how that fit with writing/coaching bits I enjoyed. Being in that space did teach me so much about it being okay to just enjoy doing things without knowing where I'm going with it. I'm grateful for having that time, because even when I did find a goals and a sense of purpose again, it's helped me in getting on and doing stuff despite all the unknowns around it! Also hubby is someone who doesn't do the big dreams thing, and that has really shown me that it's okay to not be working towards big stuff, that life can just be filled with enjoyment in the every day!