Happy New Years!

My only goal last month was to finish my doll before new years, and I managed to just barely pull that off! I did not succeed in filming and editing my full youtube video before new years, but it was a close enough thing that I decided to delay this newsletter by a couple days so I could finish it up. Ultimately, anything I'd have to say about the project is said in the video, and while I make no claims to being a skillful video editor or youtuber, I am fairly pleased with the end result.

I'm thinking about my next projects, though those are still vague ideas. I've gravitated back around to the idea of a big dragon, something coated in moss and mushrooms and little crochet flowers. It'll be a fun one. But I don't think I'll take it on any time too soon. I've been stressed, and sick, and overwhelmed, and I suspect the last thing I need is to start the new year trying to one-up myself on big sculptural projects. It will happen when it happens. I intend to make a lot of small and silly things before I try to embark on anything remotely serious.

It is tempting to ramble on here but in all honesty I have very little to say. Sometimes I carve out time to draw, and when I sit down I find that I have very little interest at all in actually drawing anything. That's frightening in ways I cannot adequately put words to. I wouldn't know who I was without decades of constant doodling. I don't want to lose that. But neither do I want my hobbies, or my creative pursuits, to be ruled by fear. I am most proud of myself when I realize I've spent an afternoon doing something fun for the sake of that pleasure. I am most at home in my own skin when I am not trying to prove myself to myself.

I hope very much that, come February, I have some fresh trinkets to share with you. I hope very much that, if I don't, I do not feel ashamed for it. We are all doing our best right now.

I look forward to writing to you again, in February or whenever I have fresh work to share.

Thank you for joining me here.