The juggle is real
Let's talk flexible working timetables, PLUS new embroidery kits and current reads
Hello! How are you? It’s been much longer than I’d realised since my last newsletter (oops!) so it’s great to be back 😊 I’m not entirely sure how it’s November already…It’s hard to believe that there are only a few weeks of 2024 left!
September brought new beginnings and fresh starts, and was so wonderful to be back in my studio after taking time off with my kids over the summer. Being back to school was new for us in September as we only stopped home educating in June, but we were all really in need of being back in a routine I think! Thankfully, things have gone smoothly these last few weeks so it has been a positive start 😊
I didn’t really feel like I’d got into my groove before the summer break so I’m still working out what my work routine is. Over the past few years, I’ve needed to be super flexible with my working patterns and I’ve got used to snatching chunks of time here and there around home educating. But now that I have fixed working hours during school days, I’m wondering if that needs to change a bit. The juggle is still very real, but I realised I miss a little bit of structure.
So I’m playing around with the idea of creating a timetable for my week. I don’t want it to be too rigid, as I’ll still need a bit of flexibility (and I also have a tendency to beat myself up if I don’t stick to things, so I’m keen to avoid that!). So maybe just a rough framework that I can use for the week - maybe it’s something that I can work out each Monday morning perhaps, or on Fridays for the following week.
One of the key things that I want to include is to make sure that I work on socials during my work time, to avoid the habit of doomscrolling on an evening. I also want to have some time for development, and I’m trying to allocate a bit of time each week for reading and learning some new stuff that I can apply to my business. I’ve signed up to Start to Wholesale with Therese from Small Business Collaborative, and it is amazing so far! I’m hoping to wholesale my new kits (see more below 👇🏻) so it’s really good to learn how to actually do it from someone who really knows what they’re talking about.
Over the last few months I’ve been learning to drive, and this has taken up loads of time since September. I’m pleased to say that I passed second time last week - yay! 😊 So I’m looking forward to heading back into the studio this week for the first full week of work in a while. Hopefully I’ll make some progress with working out a shape to my week.
If you’re self employed, how do you work out how to use your time each week? Do you have a timetable or do you wing it?! I would love to know and chat - let me know in the comments!
Project inspo
This week, I launched my first new embroidery kits in almost three years! It felt like the right time to be giving these a go again, as I’d really missed them actually (something I never thought I’d say when I stopped doing them in 2022) and I have loads of new ideas for designs. There was a lot of love for the three designs on socials, and I’m excited to have these kits on preorder!
Each kit contains high quality materials, with a 6” beech wood hoop, excellent quality printed cotton and DMC thread. I’ve completely revamped my packaging for these, which I’m super excited about too! There’s an option to upgrade the standard kit to a painted embroidery hoop, or buy the fabric panel on its own if you have some of your own supplies. I’m aiming to have everything ready post by the end of November.
Preorders are essential for small businesses like mine. They enable us to be able to get new products out in the world, as it can be really expensive to buy all of the individual elements that go into them upfront. So if you see something on preorder from your favourite small business, do support them if you can 🩷 It really means the world and makes a huge difference!
This is the final design of the three new kits, and it’s still a work in progress. Come and follow me on Instagram if you’d like to see progress this week!
If you need something ready to post, I have the last few remaining Keep Going, Sunbeams and Trust the Process kits available too. Once these have sold out they won’t be restocked, so don’t miss out! There’s free UK postage included for UK orders now too, PLUS international postage is back too 🥳
Stitch of the month
In the last of my new kit designs, I’m really looking forward to adding leaf stitch on the pot plant. I love that stitch - it always amazes me that some simple straight stitches put together in a particular order can create a leaf shape! It’s actually more straightforward than you might think.
You can follow this easy video tutorial on my YouTube channel to learn how to stitch leaf stitch. If you have any questions about it, just let me know!
Currently reading
I’ve read some brilliant books since my last newsletter, although I must admit that my reading slowed down a lot whilst I was learning to drive. I spent a lot of time learning the Show Me Tell Me questions and watching videos of the Gateshead driving test route instead 😂 Favourites include (* for affiliate links):
The List by Yomi Adegoke* - I honestly couldn’t put this down and read it in a couple of days, it was amazing!
I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue* - this took me a few chapters to get into it, but when I kept going I couldn’t put it down either. It’s dark and thrilling but also relatable, and I loved it.
No Worries If Not by Lucy Nichol* - this is set in Newcastle upon Tyne so I was immediately drawn to it, and I just loved the characterisation in this one. Really funny and just a great story where you end up really rooting for the main character.
My final recommendation isn’t a fiction book, it’s Modern Improv Quilting by Laura Veenema* - I am obsessed with Laura’s work and preordered this earlier this year. If you’ve followed me for a while you know I’m not a quilter (I can’t count or measure 😂) but I’m really excited to give this a go.
From the archives
Stir up Sunday is coming up soon, and if you’re looking for an easy Christmas cake recipe then I’d recommend this one that I’ve been making for years.
If Christmas cake isn’t your thing, you might like these sparkly ginger cookies instead!
Facebook told me recently that it was the 3 year anniversary of the opening of my physical shop, which closed a little while after. If you’re new around here and you’d like to read more, see this blog post. I’m feeling in a much better place about it all, and in April there will be just one more year to go with me subletting the lease. Phew!
Wishing you a creative month ahead
Thanks so much for reading, I hope that the coming month brings you lots of opportunities for creativity. Next month, I’ll let you know about some changes that I’m making to my Embroidery Membership moving forwards. Let me know what creative projects you’re working on in the comments!
Clare 😊
Hi friends! I’m Clare Albans, a hand embroidery artist who loves craft and colour. I’m here to encourage you to take time out to be creative! Sign up for free project inspiration, honest chats about the ups and downs of the creative process, and tips and tricks to help you find your creative joy. Join my paid space for my hand embroidery patterns and to be part of our growing stitching community (find out more here).