First off, thank you for the lovely comments and likes for my last post. It’s ironic, that the post that almost didn’t get written has been so well received! And also a big Hello if you’re new around here – thank you for joining me on this Substack adventure!
And now…last time I left you in a hurry, because I had the pressing matter of Interruptions to my Space to prepare for – interruptions requiring the moving of a chest of drawers, and confronting the horrors that lurked within which threatened to make it nigh on impossible to remove the drawers to facilitate the moving of, etc etc.
So did Izzy pull out all the stops and get it sorted and tidied in time for the various electrical shenanigans? Would you be terribly surprised to learn that…no, of course I didn’t. But while I didn’t tidy, and just shoved and made heaps, I did seem to spend four days wiping and vacuuming and dusting and putting back together, and now, suddenly (at the time of writing) it’s Friday again.
On the plus side, I spent both days on the weekend with friends, and very nearly finished a thing.
Although the jury is still out - should it be a bowl (intended) or a footstool (new idea)?
And housey things got done that needed to be got done. We have shiny new kitchen counter lights, a gorgeous pendant light in the dining room, a wasps nest paper shade in the living room, oodles of new sockets and two spanking new smart meters for the gas and electric.
On the downside, we also have one of those energy consumption display thingies in the kitchen. It’s only been there since Tuesday and now I remember why I threw the last one away: it’s horrendous. Boil a kettle and it goes into the red and suddenly we’ve spent our life savings. Nobody needs to see that…doesn’t do the blood pressure any good.
While I’ve been in dusting and vacuuming mode and shuffling things from one heap to another to make way for tradespeople, I’ve been following an online freebie planning challenge designed for people with ADHD. As soon as we started, I remembered why I gave up with it last year: one of the tasks is to obtain a very large wall chart for the coming year, to be able to see it all at a glance. But where to put it? Last year I was foxed, but this year – I knew exactly where to put it.
My very useful paper drying rack is also a superb place for hanging all sorts of other things, so that’s what I’ve been doing for years. Anything that can be hung on a butchers hook with a bulldog clip is fair game. But with my current brain fog, I’ve realised it’s actually more important for me to visualise the passage of time than to have clutter - not just clutter on my desk but climbing the walls, too. So it’s all had to come down. And gasp, some of it has even made it to the bin.
Already it feels more spacious in here.
As I was pootling in and out of the studio, sorting and chucking and generally nest-building for my newly organised 2024 self, my daughter made an excellent observation: I could get some sort of privacy film for my window, so I could keep my blind open without all and sundry being able to see in. So that’s what I’ve been doing today. And I wish I’d done it years ago.
No it’s not a macrame owl…it’s a brise bise from Île d'Ouessant. And yes, it is an EU flag. Faded, but never forgotten. Bonus points if you can count how many different squeegees I had to try before finding the perfect one to get the bubbles out of the window film...
Still not sorted my fabric drawers, still not actually done any art or started any stitching (bowl doesn’t count, it’s taken me a year) or preparing my things for the Ramster exhibition, BUT a clearer, brighter, calmer studio is slowly emerging. I’m quietly energised by it. It gives me hope.
And to be honest, with only a couple of weeks to go until the big day, I think nesting and pottering and gently creating cosiness is probably exactly what I need. Yes, I’m a bit hyperactive. Yes, I’m a bit of a plate-juggler, and a burn the candle at both ends kinda gal. But I think I’ve finally reached the point where I just want to stop.
It’s time to make a Christmas cake (and not berate myself for doing it ‘late’) and do things with marzipan (eat it, mostly) and go foraging for greenery to make a door wreath. Tree’s going up this weekend, and the smell of pine and the soft twinkly lights really will be my signal to go full hibernation mode.
What’s your signal to stop? Are you a hibernating bear like me, or perhaps a bit of a party animal, energised by all the jolliness and festivities?!
You’ll probably see me again between now and the end of the year, but until then, happy hygge xx
I’ve just moved into a new space with loads of natural light thanks to 4 massive windows and a patio door. It also happens to be a ground floor corner apartment that has a parking lot feet from each window. I had the window filmed ordered and waiting for when I could move in. It really is quite brilliant! I get all the bright light I crave, but privacy 5’ all round. Though, there is a shocking number of very tall people who live here… but I can’t see the cars, just the tops of the houses across the road, and when the sun decides to finally peak out, I’ll have glorious views of the sun setting. Now, the go see about trying a different squeegee on those last few bubbles.
Love the privacy screen! How many squeegies......??? A lot! But also just the right number. I'm nearly always overcommited at this time of year. I somehow thought it was a good idea to participate in not one, but TWO, knit-alongs, while also trying to finish off the usual baking and gift crafting frenzy. Still haven't gotten past the first few lessons of the last course I bought from you, so that's now been pushed back to after the holidays. I'll get there though!