Welcome December and the thoughtful moments of the closing year. Winter has descended fully in Southern Ontario with three snowstorms already and lots of frosty days. Full disclosure that Winter is not my season! I have spoken of that often.
I have an eternal season of Spring in my heart and mind but I have stocked my library with comforting winter stories to read as I slow down to try to appreciate the gifts that winter will bring. Squirrels digging for peanuts in the snow, the glimpse of bluejay framed against the wintery pine and the flash of red as I see a cardinal at the feeder. Winter does have gifts.
The light hits the studio at different times of the day. It gets dark shortly after 3:00 PM but not before a burst a light shines on my desk. The light fades quickly and I find that I need to adjust my work schedule so I am working at the brightest times of day. There is lots of artificial light in the studio but I seem to work best with the sunlight filtering through the window.
During this busy season, I hope you find your rhythm. Think about what you may need to adjust. I am a great encourager of taking the time to nourish yourselves. Artistry requires a lot from us. There is the dedication to practice, the experience and expertise in materials and the nurturing of any creative sparks that come to us at odd moments of the day or night. It is a difficult path to work with your hands but ultimately so rewarding.
This year, I have been so blessed to watch the growth of dedicated students. The work they have done has truly encouraged me as I continue to work on the next course of study to present. There is definite pressure in this work. There is an endless list of tasks to be done as I prepare for courses and complete commissions. But there is so much reward in seeing what students are creating and how they have grown in confidence and artistry.
There are just not enough words to say thank you properly for all the support you have given me through emails, cards, letters, texts and the genuine gift of friendship. You are such a blessing to me and I look forward to all that 2026 has in store for us. My January classes are open for registration online. Sweetie Birds will be hosted by The Gentle Penman and the class is meant to chase away the winter blues with fun bird inspired letter designs. These designs certainly bring me joy and they can be adapted to suit any season.
The 2026 edition of the Artful Flourish will be hosted by Ardington School online. The Artful Flourish is my most important flourishing class which gives you the skills to build on and truly understand the art of the flourish. Learning to Flourish has given me so much peace over the years and it is an absolute necessity in my daily practice. Even if you are an absolute beginner, The Artful Flourish will set you off on a beautiful exploration into the world of true offhand flourishing.
My tentative teaching schedule for 2026 will be posted to my website later this month. You can also email me to request the pdf of the schedule There is lots to explore together and I am so excited about upcoming classes. My yearly Youtube Christmas video for 2025 is now up on my channel for you to enjoy. You can find my YouTube channel here. I have been adding content to the channel this year and will continue to augment the resources that I post there in 2026. Lots in store!
Sending lots of love to you all as you keep your traditions for this December season. I hope you find Joy, Peace and Health this season and may it increase even more in 2026. With love to all of you!
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