we're back with a few thoughts for the new year

this little lady is joining our family!

The holidays were wonderful in a million ways ~ spending fabulous time with friends and family, lovely celebrations, abundant, never-ending delicious meals and treats, a visit to the mountains and one of the highlights of my year, surprising our little ones with a puppy. Along with that, the holidays also felt extremely busy between holiday merry making, gift gathering and spending lots of time in the kitchen cooking. I'm a girl who loves a simple life at heart and also thrives by having some down time so those quiet family days that we did manage to squeeze in were some of my very favorite moments. This holiday season also felt funny in the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy, as I was left in a state of shock and grief stricken for quite some time, probably alongside many of you. I had a hard time spending time online and just wanted to be off the computer and home hugging my little ones. I apologize for my absence, but it just felt right to me. I'm still having a hard time processing it all, but I've also never been more aware of how precious this life is and how we all need to embrace each other and find kindness with as many people as we can. In fact, I've adopted 'kind' for my word for the year. I'm sure you've seen Ann Curry's 26 Acts movement? It's beautiful and makes me imagine a world full of kindness and how different we would all feel!

The new year always feels great. A fresh start, reflection and thoughts and goals about what you'd like to do better and different. One thing I've been thinking about for this coming year ~ beyond all of the ways in which I want to improve ~ are the things I'd like to continue doing that I've felt good about and that seem to be working. It's so easy to challenge yourself to always be better, faster, slower, more efficient, softer, tougher, etc... but it's funny how we rarely take the time to focus on what we're already doing right! Have you thought about giving yourself credit for some things you might be proud of and want to continue? It's certainly been a new, refreshing, gentler way of thinking for me and takes a little pressure off trying to make all those resolutions I make every year, only to be disappointed when I blow it early on. You've been there too, yes? :) I'd love to hear your thoughts on this!

I've been reflecting on the Makerie a lot during this holiday time and the heart of what it means to me. What I keep going back to is this: Creativity and making things with our hands makes a difference. A big one if we let it into our lives. It empowers us, connects us and fills our souls with possibilities. Believe me, I know it's hard to make time for creativity during our busy days! And yes, doing a creative project often feels more like a luxury and falls to the bottom of our endless 'to do' lists. I often struggle with this myself. However, when we do take the time to pick up our knitting needles or a pencil to doodle a drawing or even sit down at a sewing machine, it fills our spirits and brings us back to the present moment in the most beautiful way. What I do know is that creativity, in whatever way that means to each of us, makes us happy and fulfilled. If the Makerie experience can inspire even one person to bring more creativity into their life, well that's a dream come true for me and one more happier person we can send into the world.

Even though our online presence has been a little quieter than usual, rest assured we've got some incredible things bubbling up behind the scenes over here and I'm really excited to share them all with you soon. Make sure to join our facebook page, follow us on twitter and sign up for our mailing list so you'll be the first to hear the news. Thank you so much for being here and wishing you each and every one of you the happiest new year!

Love,
the Makerie

p.s. If you're wondering who the little bundle is, that's the newest member of our family ~ Ms Neve ~ who we get to bring home this Saturday! If only you could hear how excited our kids are, telling every single person they meet that we're getting a puppy. Any advice welcome! :)