A Festive Pause, and a Gentle Look Ahead

As December settles in and the winter light softens around Eau Brink, the studio takes on a different rhythm. The days feel quieter, the light shifts earlier across the worktables, and there’s a sense of ideas gently drawing breath before the year turns. It’s a time I always value — a moment to pause, to reflect, and to notice just how much has passed through this space over the last twelve months.

This year has been full of making in all its forms. From workshops filled with conversation and shared discovery, to quieter days spent stitching, sampling, and problem-solving, the studio has continued to be shaped by curiosity and care. What happens here is never just about the finished work; it’s about the process, the questions asked, the skills shared, and the small moments of realisation along the way.

Winter invites a different kind of creativity. It’s a season for slowing down, for returning to unfinished pieces, and for paying closer attention to materials and technique. Hand stitching, sampling, testing ideas, mending rather than starting anew — these quieter acts of making are often where the strongest ideas take root. There’s no rush, just time to let work evolve naturally.

So before looking ahead, I want to say a very sincere thank you. Whether you’ve visited the shop, joined a workshop, followed along online, or supported from afar, your continued encouragement means more than I can properly express. Independent creative spaces thrive because of community, and I’m deeply grateful for yours.

As part of this ongoing care for process and learning, there’s a small but useful update to share. If you’ve previously purchased a Posh Peg Bag pattern or kit, you’ll now find a QR code included which links directly to a YouTube video showing how to make it. It’s there as gentle guidance — something to dip into at your own pace, whether you’re starting a new project over the festive break or returning to one that’s been waiting patiently. Think of it as a quiet companion to the pattern, rather than something you have to follow step by step.

As the year draws to a close, there’s also that familiar hum beneath the calm. Sketchbooks are filling, samples are appearing, and ideas that have been waiting quietly are beginning to surface. Winter is such an important time for this slower, thoughtful work — a time to test, refine, and let new directions reveal themselves.

I’m especially looking forward to spending more creative time alongside Cat Nash, who will be joining us on a more regular basis going forward. Her thoughtful approach to repurposed textiles and stitched clothing sits beautifully within the ethos of the studio, and it feels like a natural extension of the conversations already taking place here.

As we move into the festive days, just a gentle note on opening times.
The shop will be open until 2pm on Tuesday 24th December, perfect if you’re popping in for inspiration or materials. The shop will reopen on Friday 27th December, welcoming you back between celebrations.

We’ll also be holding a Studio Open Day on Sunday 29th December — an informal opportunity to wander, see what’s been happening, glimpse works in progress, and get a feel for what’s quietly taking shape for the year ahead.

For now, this is a moment of gratitude and pause. Thank you for supporting independent creativity, for valuing thoughtful making, and for helping Eau Brink remain a place where ideas, skills, and people can meet. Wishing you a peaceful, restorative, and creative festive season, wherever and however you find yourself stitching.