Stitching Without the Rush

There’s a rhythm to this time of year that feels both cosy and chaotic. The days get shorter, the to-do lists get longer, and it becomes very easy to race from one commitment to the next without really pausing to breathe. After such a busy year of workshops, events, shows, teaching and constant creating, I’ve realised how important it is to slow the pace just a little.

Over the weekend at Marriotts Warehouse, I was reminded of something simple: creativity feels different when there’s space around it. Chatting with visitors, seeing familiar faces, sharing laughter with fellow makers — it all felt wonderfully grounding. Those gentle moments of connection are often where the real inspiration sits, tucked between conversations and shared stories.

As I move into December, I’m leaning into that quieter energy. This is the time of year when the studio naturally softens. The light changes, the kettle goes on more often, and the projects shift from big, ambitious pieces to thoughtful experiments and small pockets of play. It’s a season that invites a slower kind of creativity — the sort where ideas have time to breathe.

January continues that feeling for me. It’s a month of regrouping and recharging, where I take stock of what the past year held and what the new one might bring. I find myself tidying corners of the studio, finishing long-forgotten pieces, sketching new possibilities, and giving myself permission to simply enjoy making without a deadline attached.

By the time spring arrives, I always feel ready to emerge again — refreshed, recharged and full of new ideas. Slowing down now means I can step forward later with clarity, enthusiasm and a sense of direction.

If you’re needing a bit of that calm too, you’re more than welcome in the studio. Bring your stitching, bring a cuppa, or just bring yourself. There’s always space here to pause, breathe and create at your own pace.