Stravaiging

Messy, unfocused, curiously stressful.

WARNING - Stream of consciousness ahead.

I know where January went. It evaporated in fog.

I had plans.

Plans to be calm and restful, to gently stitch some of the multiple new samples I've wanted to make.

Plans to take more 'me' time and read, cook, knit, sew, watch films, walk, dream, play.

And I did bits of most of those, and some workroom reshuffling, but it was broken and disjointed the way that real life is. There were headaches and coughs, freezing weather (not unreasonably) and broken plumbing, poor sleep, vehicle issues, excessive sugar consumption, nebulous worries and guilt.

Not the smooth, picture perfect, grown-up, graceful, hassle-free recuperative hibernating month I'd envisaged.

Big deal. First world problems. I was and am sheltered and warm and overfed. I live in a quiet and currently safe part of the country where it is possible to hide in a bubble and block out the appalling cruelty and inequality of the real world for hours at a time. I am truly thankful every day for such a privilege.

Get a grip, Tart, and focus on February.

The (non-work) positives to see me through the rest of winter include:

• exploring new printing methods at Print Club, run by Emma of @weebluepress
• making myself a simple bag using beautiful Japanese fabrics
• reading real books that I hold in my hand (I can't knit or stitch and read so it's a treat)
• having a few more coffee & cake outings with Hugh when he has odd midweek days off
• actually finishing the big sweater I started knitting in April and then put aside for nine months
• skipping for charity - it will be good for me....

I want (need) to keep these separate from Tart work. I am too good at blurring the boundaries and must try to instill a cut-off point in the evening after which I don't go back into my workroom or check my emails or 'just order x, y, or z while I remember'.

So, now that I have offloaded all that on to you, gentle reader, I shall just check the pan on the hob, pop a load of washing in and then clear a space on the worktable to start cutting fabric for new packs...x