Wishing you all a peaceful 2017
Blimey, 2016 was a bit much. Charlie Brooker's 2016 Wipe seemed to sum it up nicely for me. I'm hoping that 2017 will feel a little kinder - that those of us who felt uneasy and unsettled during 2016 will make a difference in 2017. Small acts of kindness are never wasted and often spread much further than intended. Pepper your day with kind thoughts, good deeds and always leave some in the tank for yourself.
For me, the last few months of 2016 were crazy busy with work. I never dreamt I would be spending every weekday in December at the Post Office. I hope the staff at the Sandy branch don't miss me too much in these barren months ahead ;). That said, I've had some orders already over the new year so I'll be trotting up there tomorrow with my annoyingly roly poly postal tubes.
Because I was so busy fulfilling orders in Nov and Dec I didn't get to finish all the posters on my 2016 list so Jan will be spent making up for this. Then it's time to crack on with my 2017 list. It's pretty long. You guys have been brilliant at letting me know about the places that are special to you. I really do love collecting all of your happy places it's such a fun part of my job. If you have not added your happy places yet then please get in touch, it's lovely to read them all. I'm nosey really interested in 'why' they are special to you, so share that too if you can. They don't have to be 'poster worthy' places, just anywhere that makes you happy. Actually, I tell a lie I did manage to squeeze a few new posters in to December. One was of a Lake in Italy and the other was in Kent where my in-laws live.
I've got such a long list of places that I want to do in 2017 that I've spent the last few days not 'working working', but trying to get the house a bit more organised so that I can fully focus on work when the kiddlies go back to school. Simple things like meal planners and pin boards and planning the housework are as much a part of my business plan as running my Etsy shop. Balance. Harmony. And waking up in the middle of the night remembering that your tax return is due end of month. All good fun. I did manage to do a few other crafty activities over the holidays too. I made my very first zine. That was a fine use of a sheet of A4 and an hour of my life; I will definitely be making more. If you have no idea what I am talking about then take a look at this instructables guide and maybe have a go at doing one yourself. I felt like a teenager again. Mine was about our Christmas, me being sick, my husband having a chest infection and George Michael. I know. Delightful. I also managed to teach the kids lino printing and squeeze out a cheeky little print myself. It's the view from my Mum and Dad's bedroom window. Niche. Besides the fact that the shed looks like a giant microwave and the ink smudged, I throughly enjoyed doing it. And as a bonus the kids still have all their fingers.
Anyway, I'd best crack on. I've got name labels to sew into two Gryffindor scarves (they're not ending up in the lost property box), PE kits to assemble (yes I've lost a plimsole) and the beds need changing. Other than that you can expect more of the same from me in 2017. I shall keep drawing and keep dreaming. I wish you all a peaceful year ahead and I thank you for your continued support.