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Hello friends,
This newsletter is a cautionary tale of biting off more than you can chew.
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I'm sorry I haven't written in a while, it's been a bit crazy here at the house. Nothing bad, but as I mentioned above, I've learned a lesson about taking on too much and finding yourself swamped and overwhelmed by all the little things.
It all began last autumn when I started making little figures of mice and frogs sitting on chairs, which I put in my shop. No sooner were they done than some lovely person would drop by and take them home. Then one day, a lovely lady who collects miniatures suggested I look into the Kensington Dolls Showcase, and being me, of course, I applied for a booth and was accepted.
It was exciting at first, choosing fabrics, ribbons, threads, and needles. I made a space in my studio and set about crafting little characters. As much fun as I had, I also began to feel overwhelmed. If you visit the shop, you might know that I work there on weekends, and on the other five days, I was sticking and gluing, trying to make enough new friends to fill the booth. It took days to make a single figure, and I started to fret that I couldn't make them quickly enough. But instead of sitting back and realizing my mistake, I soldiered on, feeling overwhelmed. The joy of creating a new character faded away, and I began to feel trapped.
Then, last week, I spent the day painting a little scene for a Story Boxes project we are working on, and as soon as I picked up the brush, all my cares melted away. I felt that deep calmness that comes with doing something that fills your heart. As my mind settled, I said to myself, "I wish I could do this all day."
A little reflection helped me realize that I had been forcing myself down the wrong road and not listening to my inner voice. So, I canceled the show, and now I'm planning on making an illustrated children's book about Rookscroft, as well as working on book 4 with Quentin and Robin. I feel so happy and free.
I bought a little cabinet for the shop, and the little figures will be for sale there, and also on our website. I’ve included a picture for you to see them. I’m making more, this time slowly, with fun and care. I’ve learned an important lesson about not pushing yourself too hard.
I hope you have a lovely spring, filled with flowers and happy birdsong. And speaking of birds, let me pass you over to Quentin and Robin, who are just dying to say hello.
Until next time, take care.
Jayne
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Well, hello there!It seems like an age since we last met! The news from the house is that Jayne locked herself away in her studio, lost in heaps of fabric for days at a time. sewing and gluing. and never so much as an hour to spend with Robin and I who were forced to entertain ourselves in the kitchen. We played endless card games, and you know how much I loathe playing those, but Robin just loves them, and I considered it an act of charity to keep him amused. He doesn't mind a jot if he loses, but loves it when he wins, so it was all very exciting for the little fellow.
Thankfully, Jayne has recovered from her crafting spree and I'm getting a steady supply of toasted hot cross buns, Today I was in the library writing an ode to spring, I'm using my most precious nib, the one found in the grounds of Newstead Abby by an ancient relative of mine who swore it was left by the garden wall by Byron himself.
Robin has taken up residence on the kitchen shelf, and I'm not allowed anywhere near, apparently, there is a surprise or some such thing. I have to keep my distance till Sunday, so we are taking our meals in the study till then.Jayne's back to her old self, baking up all manor of treats for the weekend, we will have a houseful of guests and feasting on Easter Sunday, and I don't mind telling you that I'm rather excited at the prospect.
I hope you have fine plans too.Until next time, stop and smell the flowers, and don't spare the treats!
~Quentin
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Hello friends, isn't it exciting! It's chocolate season again, the best bit that comes after Christmas, when the flowers come out. It's called Easter, and there are lambs in the fields, and there is a rabbit who hides eggs in the garden, and we go out and find them and collect them in a basket. I'm very good at spotting them because I have very sharp eyes.
This year I have a special treat for Quentin, I saved up all my pennies and ordered a chocolate egg, and when it arrived I had an idea, and that was that I would be inside it when he breaks it open, and I will pop out and dance for him because that makes him laugh, and I like it very much when he laughs.So the only way for me to be in the egg was to engineer a little hole, and so I pecked out a bit of chocolate, which tasted very nice, and now I can squeeze inside.
Then I was thinking about Sunday, and if it's going to be a surprise, I need to be inside the egg before he comes down to breakfast, so Im going to get up very early in the morning before he wakes up, and I need a blanket to stay cozy and something to eat, and also a book so I don't get bored. And today I have been putting everything in there so it's ready.I took a picture of the egg for you, and after I had taken the picture, I pulled the handkerchief down over it so it's in disguise (I also pecked the hole a little bigger because I needed sustenance).
I hope you have a lovely easter and I hope you see the rabbit and get lots of chocolate too.
Your friend
Robin.
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