Welcome back, and Happy New Year! I hope that you had a lovely Christmas and a chance to switch off from the hurly-burly of day to day life. We had a wonderful time here; a great, celebratory Christmastime, and then a lovely slow blur of days which blended into each other as we nested at home, piled up in rugs on the sofa, with the occasional blast of icy fresh air from walks in the woods.
Santa was extremely kind this year, and so too were our friends and relatives who showered Harry in loveliness, so thoughts this week turned to the very important task of saying a heartfelt ‘thank you’. Harry’s a wee bit too young still to produce identifiable drawings or to have the concentration and dexterity for complete written sentences, so instead we staged a chaotic 5 minute photoshoot to produce some fun pictures for a home-made thank you card.
I slung an old sheet over a bookcase for a backdrop, then gave Harry a big handful of ‘thank you notes’ – printed ad infinitum onto paper and then sliced into words – to play with. As you can see from the outtakes below, he tried throwing them, blowing them and ultimately just tried not to drop them; he loved it for about 3 minutes, and that’s all I needed. The clear-up took slightly longer…
I printed out some copies and glued to blank cards, pasting in one of the ‘thank you’s we used in the photo into the inside of each card and then filling in. We added interesting stamps to each before feeding into the postbox.
I then got a little carried away with the general theme and made some ‘grown up’ thank you cards using the same principle (below), cutting and pasting the words for thank you in different languages and adding a simple wooden star from a pack of leftover Christmas craft embellishments. I like their simplicity, particularly for this time of year when we’re all a little weary of sparkly festive colour and ready for a more neutral palette and a return to muted decor…
One of the joys of this last couple of weeks has been having the time to play a little and to try new things. My mum’s Christmas gift to me included a big bag of wool and knitting needles, and a foolproof pattern for a beginners’ scarf; she taught me to cast-on on Boxing Day and I’ve just finished my first ever piece of knitting (below), and mighty proud I am too! I suspect that I lack the patience and concentration to ever excel at knitting, but I’m cheerily offering hand-knitted scarves to every member of the household, buoyed by a passionate, if temporary, enthusiasm for wool.
And so to the New Year, and to resolutions. As some of you know, this blog was born of a resolution on NYE 2012, when I decided to write a blog for a year, documenting the fun stuff I do with Harry and the projects we try. Up until about the middle of December, I was pretty clear that it would come to a natural end with the close of the year, and I would look back on it as a great thing to have done at a very specific time in my life.
But.
I think I’d really miss it. And without the discipline of posting regularly, I doubt I’d take as many photos or preserve as many memories as I do. So, my resolution for 2013 is to continue for a while longer, perhaps not with the same intensity, but definitely with the same kind of projects and ideas, posting when inspiration strikes and when time allows. Your comments and feedback are fantastic to receive (and thank you so much to everyone who replied to ‘A Pause’ with all your festive good wishes and the small insights into life where you are; it was a wonderful Christmas present for me).
I’ll be back next week for the grand opening of Harry’s Hardware and Auto – his play store and garage which appeared, as if by magic, last week – and I hope that you’ll join me. In the meantime, I’m sweeping pine needles, wrapping and storing Christmas decorations, and replacing the glitz and bling of the festive season with simple things around the house, like these; a bowl of fresh lemons which is slowly scenting the kitchen and mingling with the paperwhites and hyacinths to produce a distant promise that Spring will come again…
Yay!
Please don’t go- we’d miss you so!
-Jeanne, http://www.domesticspace.com
Hi Kate,
I wish you, Harry and your partner all the best for 2013.
Wow what a great news that you stay longer in the “blogland”.
I really enjoy the photos of Harry! He is lovely! 1000 (tausend) Dank!!!!
A big hug from Germany
Sonja
Happy New Year to you and your family.
Since I just found your blog and absolutely adore it, I’m so happy to know you will keep at it. I imagine it is a tremendous amount of work. However, you are very talented, both artistically and as a writer and we would really be missing out if you stopped!
Just awesome Kate! Harry is a doll & your notes are works of art – probably would be the only thank you note I’d ever save! HNY 2013!!! Claire
Don’t stop. You have marvelous ideas and I love reading your blog. It is witty and real and sophisticated at once. At least that is what this gal thinks! Blessings to you and your family!
So glad to hear you will continue with your blog. I’ve so enjoyed reading about your makes and adventures with Harry, you’ve even encouraged me to get crafty with paper! As someone who is ‘non artistic’ I’m inspired to make Amish Barn Stars and if they go well hit crackers running. Thanks for the easy instructions and links. Happy New Year to you all!
Oh no no no, you cannot go! I would lose my creative mojo without your site. Even if you don’t post as often, please post. I can however relate to the thought of what to do next with a blog. Right now I have realized that I cannot possibly continue at the pace I have been going with my blog so for me 2013 is all about quality vs quantity with posts. Or so I say right now vs when the craving hits to just write something. I love your cards b/c I am a sucker for anything made from wood for crafts.
So pleased you’re continuing! I love reading your blog and have been totally inspired by your projects. Thank you and happy new year! Viv
I just found your blog before Christmas and am very very happy to hear you are sticking with it for another while. It’s really lovely and you have great ideas so yay for you staying.
Happy New Year to you and your family.
Helen xx
Another one here saying thank you for carrying on with your wonderful blog. I get so much inspiration from you and always look at your site with awe and admiration at what you manage to create and achieve, Happy New Year! Claire
So this year WILL be a happy one : you’re not stopping your blog !!! It’s the first great news of 2013.
Happy new year Kate, and I wish you all the best.
Bonne année d’une fan française
Audrey
Oh good, I love your blog, very much, I am excited you will continue. Its always a treat to look at your posts Kate. Happy New Year !! (little Harry is so adorable !!)
Yes, keep going! I’m looking forward to many more inspirational ideas. I have yet to make the fire starters. I was going to make them with my daughter before Christmas, to give as gifts to neighbors, but we both got the flu.
And now that I know you have a job on top of everything crafty you do–which still boggles my mind–I’ve been guessing what it is. I think you must be either a professional photographer, a graphic designer, a very upscale window dresser, a magazine editor or something else related to visual, commercial design and display. Am I close? You needn’t answer this, of course. And you might be something else altogether, like an accountant. In which case you should change careers to any of the above…
Hi Barbara, I do hope you’re over the ‘flu and out the other side; the men in my life (big and small) were struck down too with colds and norovirus so I feel lucky to have escaped given how many bugs are flying around. And thank you for the compliment re jobs – I loved your assessment and analysis; alas nothing could be further from the truth (!) – in reality I have a very cerebral, office-based job that features a lot of meetings, computers and numbers and has a distinct absence of photos, mood boards and scissors. In combination with my blog, it gives both sides of my brain a workout and I love the contrast, unexpected though it is
Wow. Well you’re right about getting to use both sides of your brain, then!
http://aresidentalien.wordpress.com
Ohhhhhh no pleaseeeeeee don’t stop your blog which is so great and source of inspiration for me !
All the best for you and your familly for 2013 !
Bises !
Nathalie (Paris)
Don’t stop! Your blog is a true inspiration!
Don’t stop! Your blog is a true inspiration!
Rita from designmegillah.com
I have only just found your blog too (via Rambling Renovators) and it’s just delightful! I’m glad you will be blogging on ….. As I haven’t read it daily any regular posts will make me a happy girl :0)
So happy to hear that you will be continuing! I love reading what you have to say!!
I am so glad that you are electing to continue your blog into 2013. I stumbled upon your creative blog late in the year and I truly enjoy your well written reflections of life with a toddler. Happy New Year and a hope that creativity strikes you often so that I can share in the process.
I’m so glad you will be continuing to share your creative endeavors through this blog. I just discovered it a few weeks ago, and would have been disappointed if you had stopped writing at the end of 2012. I’m looking forward to following along in 2013!
I’m soooooo glad you have decided to continue with your blog. The world is a much sweeter place with your creative ideas and inspiration. And what a great idea for thank you cards. I bought a cute little ‘thank you’ stamp so must get down to the business of writing, unfortunately Christmas passed in a blur thanks to the flu bug I came down with. Can I rewind and do it all again??? Happy New Year to you.
let me join my voice to those saying a heartfelt thank you that you will be continuing your blog. I discovered it late last year through a link from design sponge and had no idea it was only intended to be a one year commitment. This is my favourite blog and I used to save up looking at it (rather than subscribing) – rather like leaving my favourite foods on my plate until last! I have meant to say on several occasions that you are astoundingly creative and that Harry is absolutely the luckiest little boy with the amount of willingness and effort you put into celebrating childhood. You are so sweet and down to earth about it all that rather than feeling woefully inadequate by comparison, I feel inspired by your ideas. Your site is just a lovely read (and I love to see the renovations as well) so looking forward to reading more. Happy New Year.
I so look forward to your posts and am very glad you plan to continue the blog. Harry is one lucky (and adorable) little boy! Happy 2013.
I love your blog, it’s such a breath of fresh air. I’ll be happy if you continue indefinitely. Absolutely don’t feel as if a schedule is needed, just post when the spirit moves you–a rigid posting schedule has been the downfall of many a great blog in my opinion, because they feel forced to generate content and the originality and magic disappear then. Anyhow, Happy New Year to you
Hi
I’m so glad to read that you will continue writing your blogg. I did not find you before December through craft gawker. I just love the things you make and your style. You remind me of me 15 years ago when my first borne son was about 2. Now I’m a mom with 4 children and very little time and energy, but I just love to look at your energy.
Love Beatrice from Finland
Happy New Year to you Kate! Sounds like a lovely Christmas. I have to say I am glad you will continue your blog a while longer, I do find it hugely inspiring. I too have been knitting (after a fashion!) It’s not exactly a strong skill area of mine but I do find the click of needles very soothing.
Gillian x
Happy New Year! Glad to hear you will be continuing. Your creative energy is an inspiration
i love reading your blog and very pleased to hear you will be continuing! determined to do more craft projects for myself and with my kids this year- thanks for the inspiration and brilliantly written blog posts…definetly keep going!
I am happy you decided to continue sharing your great ideas! It makes happy knowing i can continue to pass by and find your magical words describing these beautiful projects of yours. Honestly sometimes I am not sure what I like more: your creations, that I just want to reproduce for my two little ones; or, your words, that make me take off and somehow start dreaming…
I would miss you if you went away.
It’s such an amazing blog I had assumed you’d been doing it for years! I still don’t understand where you find the time or energy to do any of the things you do, let alone all of them, but really enjoy reading your posts. Harry is very cute and very lucky. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! I found you a few months ago through Design Mom and I always look forward to receiving your posts via email! I didn’t know that you had initially planned on doing this for just a year, and I’m very pleased to hear that you’ll be continuing. I love the projects you make with Harry, and I hope to be as dedicated to creating wonderful memories for my little girl.
As many have said already: I would miss you if you stopped blogging!
What a fantastic idea! I love that you included one of the “thank you” strips inside the card.
What a pretty scarf! Glad you are continuing your blog. It’s lovely. Any chance you could share the pattern for the scarf? I am a beginner too. Thanks and all the best.
Hi, and thank you! The scarf pattern can be found here…
http://katiaondas.co.uk/Katia-Ondas.php
The wool and pattern were given to me for Christmas but I believe you can order online and find in good yarn stores; the wool costs around £8/ball and you only need one to make a scarf (bargain!) – and it’s a very, VERY easy knit