Is it time for a little Christmas list?

Taking time to pause, reflect...and start a new project 😅

Before anything else, and as this is my last post for 2024, I’d like to say THANK YOU for your company and friendship this past year, and wish you a very…

Hedgehog mode activated

Hedgehogs are one of the few mammals that are true hibernators. During hibernation hedgehogs are not really asleep, instead they drop their body temperature to match their surroundings and enter a state of torpor. www.hedgehogstreet.org

You can tell I’m starting to hibernate when I start doing things I only have the patience for a few times a year. Like knitting. With 60 stitches to a row, once you start another one you’re committed until you reach the end. You can’t hurry knitting (well, I can’t). Knitting in circles is worse still, because there is no end. I’m such a slow knitter…

Undeterred by my track record in finishing things, my lack of skill, and absence of a pattern, I’ve started on some legwarmers. I’ve given up on the circular needle now (not enough stitches) and I’m currently playing pick-up-sticks with three…unexplored territory!

While I’ve been casting on (and off and on again, my tension is all over the place, story of my life) I’ve been having a look back at the year:

What did I do in 2024?

My habitual and instinctive response is to say “nothing” and move on. But not so fast, Izzy…I did get stuff done, probably not what I intended and not everything is finished, but hey - I still did it!

• Attended my first art retreat and made some good friends. Not a day goes by without someone sharing something - or just checking up on each other.

• Joined a fab online group for neurodiverse business owners. While I don’t feel like an intrepid entrepreneur, I’m certainly neurodiverse and it’s in their friendly and supportive company that I’m writing this post!

• Filmed, edited, wrote, organised, all the things for my online Advent challenge

Finding the short videos really useful. I need to sort my stuff and this is giving me the push I need. Judith

I’m really enjoying your videos Izzy! So far I have really only watched them but they have given me all sorts of inspiration and ideas, so many thanks. Michaela

• Completed the #100dayproject and scratched some artistic itches. Not sure seaweed gelli prints are in my future but I’m glad I experimented! I also had a bit of a creative breakthrough in the last few days, and I need to hold onto that ‘a-ha’ feeling of things slotting into place.

  

  snippets of my favourite pages from #100dayproject 2024

• Made one of my favourite little stitched pieces this year, a tiny card, during an online work session. Sold it immediately to someone on the call - not my intention - and before I posted it to them, I took photos and it’s now the ‘hero’ image for my website and business cards. You can see it here and also here.

• Made more cards to replace it, shared some photos, and once again, sold them before I could even pack them up - thanks Pam😁

• Made even more cards for the #oneofmany project, raising money for charity

• Sold one of my favourite (larger) pieces of work at Ramster. Very satisfying: first to finish it after starting a while back, then to sell it so quickly!

in progress…

• Ran my big Fabulous Free Motion course twice, and again, blown away by the enthusiasm and imagination - and increase in confidence (yay!) of the participants

this is just a fraction of the wonderful work from Fabulous Free Motion

• Started filming and editing for the revamped Swirls course (previous participant work here, here and here)

• Broke my little toe and simultaneously discovered the importance of toes for almost everything. Gah.

• Kept my streak (more or less) in German on Duolingo. I’ll hit 800 days before the year’s out. Still can’t say anything useful beyond ‘danke’ but my reading comprehension is ticking along!

• Kept my streak with this here Threadnoodle and something like 50 posts!

What do I want for 2025?

I’d quite like a new notebook? Lol.

Perhaps I’ll add one to my Christmas list…

How about you? What were your highlights? and what are you hoping for next?

Until next time…

Here’s wishing you a truly wonderful holiday or break, however that looks for you - busy and jolly, or quiet and calm - and I’ll see you in the New Year!

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Seasonal Linkidoodles

• If you need a little something for the ‘twixtmas’ nothing-time, how about this set of prompts to help mark the days (and the rest of the year to come)?

• If planners are your jam (and I have stuff to say about planners and notebooks, early in the new year…) how about this beautiful ‘intentions’ planner? I can’t vouch for it, but it is beautiful - maybe you could stroke it every now and then, even if you can’t bring yourself to write in it.

• Need a soundtrack for your Christmas noodlings? Can’t beat a bit of Charlie Brown!