I'm travelling into a new way of working, a new country, a new language, and a new hobby which I'm passionate about. Come with me for some of the journey...

Friday 31 December 2021

Highlights from 2021

It's been a crazy year - relocating to a new country (well, I actually did that in November 2020, but it's been an ongoing, transitional process!).  I didn't get to start unpacking until April of 2021, and setting up the craft room took quite a long time.  There are (confession time) some boxes which went onto shelves still needing sorting, and they still need sorting now... but I'll get there eventually.  

In the meantime, a whole new couple of vanloads of belongings have turned up here towards the end of 2021, as my mother has downsized in the UK, so lots more stuff needs to find new homes here at the Czech end of operations.

Although I've found time at the craft table, it's mostly been for fairly small, quick makes - lots and lots of tags! - and not many major projects.  But there are highlights to share all the same - especially since quite a lot of these didn't make it as far as the blog.  So I hope you enjoy this little journey through some of my 2021 crafting journey.  (Click for a larger view on any of them.)

 















(Please forgive the little white squares in the corner... they are the symbol from Instagram telling you that on that platform there were additional photos to see close-ups and angles.  If I ever get round to proper blogging again, I'll share some of those here too!)

And, of course, I'm very proud of my Inktober collection of drawings and paintings...

And the December collection of tags make me pretty happy too...

So here's wishing you all a healthy, happy, hopeful 2022.  I'm aiming to start finding that work-life balance that allows me to continue to grow in this creative work, and also to give this blog and all of your blogs some more of the attention they deserve.  I hope your plans and dreams will come into focus in the coming year, and look forward to the fresh challenges and adventures to come.

Stay safe, stay well, keep crafting!

Look to your heart and soul first, rather than looking to your head first, when choosing. Rather than what you think, consider instead how you feel. Look to the nature of things. Feel your choices and decisions. It just might change everything.

From The Nature of Things by Jeffrey R Anderson

17 comments:

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Most of these I had not seen, since I am not on Instagram and that platform won't let me view anything until I join. Thanks for sharing these beauties. They are all very inspirational.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Forgot to wish you a lovely new year and a great 2022. I hope to see you more on your blog next year, dear.

Fonda said...

Best wishes in the new year!

Nan G said...

Wow amazing makes Butterfly! And still fairly active given your constraints this past year. Wishing you and family a blessed, safe and healthy 2022. Hugs

Nancy Wethington said...

You are an amazing artist, always creating gorgeous projects. Loved looking at your 2021 art!

My name is Erika. said...

Wow Alison. You had an absolutely wonderful art year. These are all so beautiful. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas holiday and I definitely want to wish you a Happy New Year. I hope 2022 is happy, healthy and as creative as the last year was. hugs-Erika

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

Happy New Year Alison, so glad I walked backwards in blogland this evening as Elizabeth said I too have not seen most of these as I'm no longer use IG.
What a creative year you have had, your new surroundings must be truly inspiring, thank you so much for sharing your talent and creativity here.
I especially love the watercolours, it gives a warm fuzzy feeling when we translate to paper the love of nature, bringing them to life with the watery strokes of a brush and pigment using our very own hands.
Wishing you all the best for 2022, happiness, health and much creativity.
Hugs Tracey xx

Lys said...

Wonderful collections, Alison. Thanks for sharing your creations, which are a delight for the eyes, and such an inspiration. Have a safe and rich new year.

Mac Mable said...

Stunning and creative post Alison x. Here's to a Happy, Healthy and Crafty 2022 x.

Fliss said...

Absolutely stunning collection of artwork Alison. All so very beautiful and completely your style too.
Wishing you a very Happy New Year and all the best for 2022.
Really sorry to have not been around for so long, life and stuff has got in the way and prevented a lot of my sharing on social media etc.
Hoping the New Year will be better.
Fliss xx

Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith said...

So nice to see all these again on a big screen! I can appreciate the details more! xx

Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith said...

PS: if you want to get rid of those little squares in the photos, you could try using this Instagram downloader: https://igram.io/ It finds all the media (photos, videos) associated with each post. You just have to enter the URL of your posts from the desktop app. Works like a charm! ;)

Patricia said...

Awesome

Witchcrafted Life said...

Exquisitely gorgeous creations one and all - your breathtakingly lovely watercolour pieces endlessly included.

So true about the ongoing process inherent to many moves. In a way, I quite like that though. Stretching out the unpacking/organizing helps, I find, to strengthen the budding bond between oneself and their new abode.

Autumn Zenith 🧡 Witchcrafted Life

Diana Taylor said...

Wow Alison, I haven't seen a lot of these as I don't really 'do' Instagram but what a feast for the eyes - I can't begin to pick out which ones really grab me as they all do! They all contain the elements I love and are all put together in your own beautiful style, which I also love! Gorgeous!
I know these wishes are very late as we are nearly through January but I hope this year is everything you wish it to be and I look forward to seeing more of your beautiful work on your blog - I must try and open Instagram a little more often and learn to like it!!
Diana xx

Let's Art Journal said...

Wowz so many amazing nightlights for 2021! I so enjoyed seeing all you makes and your December tags are stunning - beautiful 😀. Take care and Happy January! Hugs Jo x

mariabellekens said...

Your tags are wonderful!!! I love them all!!

Greetings
Maria