Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

2019 was a great year for Nine Arrow. Filled with plenty of ups and downs, all part of growing a business. I learned so much, somethings the hard way but they are still good lessons in the long run. The response I got from people over Christmas was incredible! I can't quantify how much I appreciate everyone’s support. Beyond paying some bills, it's shown me there is interest for what I'm creating, and turns this side hustle into my full time job. I got a number of beautiful messages over the winter that have really inspired me to keep on making new things ‘as Gaeilge’.

I will admit I was pretty burnt out after Christmas, managing to get another bad dose over the break. I realized I needed to hibernate in January. And honestly I've had so many people say the same thing to me this year, hibernation is in. January is set up to be a time of new beginnings but I think it is the hardest month to do that! Anyone who knows me knows I've been banging on about how I started my “new year” last November. I did it for both symbolic reasons and business ones. I felt it made more sense to start thinking ahead starting at the start of winter rather than the end of it. Don’t get me wrong i’m still playing perpetual catch up with my to-do list. But it did change my perspective on a few things. I was able to give myself permission to take a step back from making new images. Instead I focused on what I had created in 2019, a type of focus I don't do very often. It was a healthy step as it let me see how much my art style has developed and also highlighted the places I need to work on. I haven't drawn or painted in the last three months, and that feels weird! But I know i'm going to reap the benefit of that now in Spring.

Agus tá sé anseo / And it's is here! Spring! I celebrated this by making some Brigid crosses on the 31st of January with a gang of friends. I had no reeds, rushes or straw and wasn’t keen on the ol’ plastic straws. Instead I cut up some strips of coloured card and it worked out great! It was an evening of chats, laughter, mugs of tae and weaving (with a dash of metal music thrown in for good measure, why, for the craic!). I felt energized on the 1st of February known as La Fheile Bride and Imbolc. Using the Imbolc symbolism of growth and heat returning to the land, I tried to weave my Spring intentions into my solar cross. I’ve hung it up in my office to remind me of what I intend to achieve for Spring. I've already started a few small projects. Something sweet for Valentines day and a new pillow design that I can hopefully share next week! I've also been in spring cleaning mode. I don't know about you's but whenever I clean, things always get so much worse before they can get better. I'm swamped with boxes and bags but I know at the end of it I'll put some sort of order on the chaos. While cleaning I've found too many duplicates of art materials I haven't even tried out yet. No more buying art materials for me till I use up what I've got.

And with that in mind I've set myself a challenge for February. I want to fill an A5 sketchbook. I made a few sketchbooks with left over paper 5 years ago. They are messy and rough and perfect for destroying. I always get way too precious with new pretty notebooks. (oh wow, I just realized its the same as my cleaning, its gotta get worse to get better!) I don't remember the paper type of the notebook so materials will be a bit of an experiment but sure that's the fun! The notebook has about 128 pages. That means I need to fill up 4.4 pages per day.....its 06/02 and as I'm writing this I have...5 pages of a possible 26.4 pages done..... brostaigh, brostaigh / hurry, hurry. This notebook challenge is like going to the gym. After I get in the swing of things it will get easier....right?!?. I'll post updates on the challenge on social media and I'll check in here at the end of February to see how I get on! Also keep a eye out for the new pillow design for Spring and please let me know what you think of it.

Slán go fóill,

Cat

Spás Beag