Slowing down to avoid burnout

How embracing a slower pace has helped me find clarity

The run-up to the festive period is usually the busiest time of year for many of us who run small businesses, but this year is a little different for me. I’d normally be painting embroidery hoops on rotation, packing up orders in every spare moment around the kids, and heading out to markets most weekends in December. But in the last two months I think I’ve sent out a grand total of four orders by post, which is a far cry from the busyness of just a few years ago. It’s not what I dreamt of back then, but after making a conscious decision to scale back my online haberdashery I know it was the right decision for today.

Pivoting over the last 12 months was a huge deal for me, and although it was my intention to scale back this part of my business, that doesn’t mean it isn’t a weird feeling! I’m naturally a bit of a worrier and I tend to go round and round decisions in my head, so it feels a bit odd to have a quiet season right now. But I’m trying my best to let go of that because I’m exactly where I wanted to be. I’ve got regular commissions coming in and other freelance work that I wouldn’t have been able to take on if I’d been at my old studio and physical shop.

One of the main reasons for scaling back a little was to attempt to get some more balance back in my life. Not that a complete balance is ever really achievable (despite the pressure from so many places to ‘have it all’), but I’ve got to the point where any time off is a rarity and I can feel myself going down the path to burnout. So slowing down has been necessary in order for me to avoid that. The last few weekends I have taken some proper time off, and have actually found myself being more productive during my full work days on Mondays and Tuesdays. Who knew?! 😂 I’m always reminding my friends that rest is productive but remembering to give myself that grace is something I’m still working on. 

So this is the energy that I want to have for the remainder of 2023 and I’m going to try to take it into 2024. I’m going to prioritise rest, whatever that looks like when I need it. I’m going to prioritise the things that bring me joy. I’m going to keep working on my boundaries and reminding myself that it’s okay to put them in place. 

Take a moment to think about how you can slow down a little over the next few weeks.

• How can you make time for yourself?

• Can you make some time for rest (whatever that looks like for you)?

• Is there anything that you can say ‘no’ to so you can protect your peace?

WIP

Over the last six weeks or so I’ve been working on something really exciting, and I think that really allowing myself some space and embracing a slower pace gave me the time to work out where I want to be heading.

I wasn’t going to tell you about it yet but I couldn’t wait…I’m working towards launching my embroidery subscription on Substack! The main launch will happen at the end of January which will give me time to get ahead a little with the projects. I’m currently stitching the first design and I hope you’ll love it as much as I do.

I’ll also be creating a Pattern Archive for Founding Member subscribers, featuring all of my back catalogue of pdf patterns that isn’t available anywhere else.

I’ll give you more details about how it will work nearer the time, but if you’d like to support my work before then you can pledge for a subscription now. I really appreciate all of your support!

Project inspo

This month I joined forces with eight incredibly talented stitchers as part of the Community Stitch project, organised by my lovely friend Amy at Hello Treacle. It’s a celebration of diversity in the stitching community, where there is room for everyone. It’s a community that encompasses many different styles and techniques, and it’s a community which comes together to support each other too. I’m so grateful for this community, it’s connections and everyone I’ve met in person and online.  

Do go and check out the other amazing artists in this collaboration - I’ve included Instagram links below:

C @celiajayi 

O @themakersmarks 

M @thebarmyfox 

M @sewsophiecrafts 

U @threaddoodles 

N @nataliegaynordesigns 

I @hellotreacle.uk 

T @hellohoorayblog 

Y @nellymakescraft

Stitch of the month

With Christmas fast approaching, I thought I’d share something that you can easily add to your Christmas projects. Star stitch is simple but effective - you could stitch it in some metallic thread for some extra sparkle! 

Find the YouTube tutorial here. Don’t forget to tag me if you use it, or drop me an email if you have any questions about this stitch too!

Currently reading

I’ve managed to fit in a bit more reading this month in an effort to slow down and get off my phone before bedtime, and my current fiction book is Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson (affiliate link). I’m about halfway through and really enjoying this! There’s a lot to get stuck into with all of the characters, their relationships and tensions and the impending doom. It’s the first in the series of three books and I know I definitely need to read the second!

I thought I’d also share a few posts here on Substack for you to check out too, in case you’re new to the platform. It’s really easy to read on the app, especially on an iPad or tablet if you have one.

I really loved this post by

Claire Venus

and

Lauren Barber

with an interview with Lauren talking about launching a new group programme. But it’s about so much more than that, and it was something I really needed to read this month!

I cried reading this piece by

Zoe Gardiner

from

Postpartum Matters CIC

- you should definitely read it!

This post about silencing your voice and the pathway to truth by

Alex Elle

from

Gratitude Journal

is a brilliant read.

Home ed

I’m very much a ‘Christmas isn’t a thing until 1st December’ kind of person, but we’ll be cracking out the festive creative projects at the end of this week and I’m really excited! There are so many brilliant things you can make with kids, many of which will be heirlooms that you’ll bring out each year.

I really want to try these clothespin people ornaments from The House That Lars Built, as I’ve had them pinned on a Pinterest board for ages!

I bought some of this Blokes in Furry Parkers gift wrap from Happy Stuff Studio a couple of years ago, and I really want to do a cutting and sticking activity with these. We might make some fun recycled Christmas candles like these from Handmade Charlotte.

This is an oldie but a goodie, and you can’t go wrong with a paper snowflake suncatcher.

Not sure I’d make them completely from scratch, but I know my kids would love to decorate their own snowman marshmallows.

From the archives

I’ve left it a bit too late to make a Christmas cake this year I think (oops!) but these sparkle cookies are really delicious! If you like a chocolatey festive bake then you should try these Christmas brownies too.

And as I forgot to add the link to the perpetual paper chains last month, here's the link!

Hello! Hooray! Shop

Just when you thought this instalment from me wasn’t jam packed enough, then here’s one final exciting thing for you: you can now preorder my second book! Yay!

I am absolutely thrilled to tell you that The Modern Embroidery Handbook is due to be released on 30th March 2024 with White Owl Books. It was a real labour of love, but I’m so proud of it! It was such a joy to work with my editor, Katherine Raderecht, again on this one, along with fellow ex-Mollie Makes team members Jane Toft (who did the incredible design) and Jesse Wild (who is the best photographer). I cannot wait for you to see it!

It’s also available to preorder via my publisher, on Amazon and Bookshop.org too. Kits will be available for preorder soon.

See you next month!

Thanks so much for reading, it’s wonderful to have you here 💖 I hope you find some time for creativity this month, and if you want to chat you can reply here on Substack or find me on socials too.

Clare 😊