Newsletter from my studio

January 2024

Happy New Year, friends!!

I hope this finds you well. We celebrated the first morning of the year in our favourite local National Trust park with friends and shared a little picnic, thankful the sun was shining.

Last month, I shared how I hoped to make my Christmas season slower and it was so fun hearing some of you share your ideas. For the most part, I think we managed to take time to enjoy the season, the simplest of ways were often the best. Taking some time out in my room on Christmas Day was a win. Recording some of the highlights of the day really helped to foster a sense of thankfulness. One of the highlights was seeing a little robin in my parents’ garden as I was cutting some greenery with my dad to decorate the Christmas table. Another was seeing the little family of hedgehog gift tags under the tree which we brought over with us from my studio in Yorkshire. On Boxing Day, we all went for a walk on the beach in Donegal and found some incredible shells which the boys were thrilled about. The walk took us on a long sandy strand, very much needed to blow off cobwebs after several days of stormy weather.

The boys and I sketched these the next morning. We still haven’t taken the time to identify them properly but that may happen this week.

STARTING A NEW PLANNER

Something I wasn’t anticipating was starting bullet journaling. In the past I’ve used Moleskine planners with days of the week already printed on the left side and a blank page to write notes/journaling on the right side. However I found this Leuchtturm planner at a reduced price and jumped on the opportunity to bravely pivot my planning strategies a little and get started… So for the very first time, I’m embarking on a bullet journaling adventure! And this is my planner for 2024. And I’m actually already enjoying the freedom it offers.

While I started with a visual log of highlights from 2023, I realised I wanted a similar list with the title “hardships”. Giving myself permission to acknowledge a few challenges from the past year really helped to process some hard stuff. Truth be told, 2023 was a tough one for my side of the family and it’s left me feeling quite sad. So as we start a new year, it’s ok to acknowledge this. My wish is for us all to shine through the darkest of times and keep doing the next right thing.

Here are some of the highlights of 2023 … it’s a little messy but I enjoyed getting these more positive thoughts down on paper. And really, there’s so much to be thankful for.

If you’re interested in giving this a go, here is a simple method video which I found helpful.

Other bits&bobs and sweet little things

• Meet Me in St Louis has such bright colours in it. I could organise a zoom call with scenes of it to draw together. What do you think?

• Do you have a word of the year? My word would be “calm”. What is yours?

• My mum made us this Mary Berry apricot and chestnut stuffing on Christmas Day and it was beautiful.

• My date in York with Caleb was magical. York at Christmas is always a good idea! I’ve got it in my planner to share more on this next December. Hope you can wait that long.

• Recording a video of my process making cardboard hedgehogs was a revelation, both cringy and fun. I learnt so much.

• We went to see Wonka as a family just before travelling to Northern Ireland. We all quite enjoyed it. This too had lush colours. And that chocolate cabinet he had… very dreamy.

• I asked for this analogue clock for Christmas and it is stunning. It should help me get up in the mornings without having to keep my phone in our bedroom but I haven’t started yet. Please remind me.

Thanks again for supporting my work this past year.

Sending love from Yorkshire,

Helen xx