Hi there We looked at family traditions yesterday, and I showed you our Adventskranz, which sits on the window ledge in the kitchen… This got me thinking about what December used to feel like, in the run-up to Christmas – before it became quite so busy, quite so loud. What Christmas was like back in the day. When I think of past Decembers and Christmases, I always think of England. Even though I lived abroad for many years – in…
Hi there, Happy Sunday. How are you?This 100-day countdown has certainly been picking up speed, hasn’t it? And in December there always seem to be several countdowns running in parallel. You’ll certainly have heard the word Advent. Most of us think first of Advent calendars – 24 little windows, one opened each day in December, often with a chocolate reward inside. But here at our little farmhouse, we uphold a different tradition, one my Mum passed on to me –…
Hi there, HAPPY NATIONAL CHRISTMAS JUMPER DAY! What’s it all about Alfie? Well…it’s for SAVE THE CHILDREN. Simply put, it’s a day to wear festive jumpers to raise money for children in the UK and worldwide. Well, at Clarity, we put our Christmas Jumpers AND our thinking caps on – and we have come up with a perfect plan… Remember Jim’s old Christmas Jumper? Well, we shrank it! It’s so brilliant now! In fact we have speed knitted 6 new Christmas…
Hi there Happy Saturday. Happy Feast of St Nicholas Day! Did you put your shoe out yesterday evening? Was it full of sweets and nuts this morning? When we were kids, our Mum always upheld this German tradition. Well, St Nicholas is celebrated in many countries, not just Germany. Dates back to the 4th century, apparently. Anyhow, it was always very exciting in our home as children. I remember putting my little shoe outside – fair and square – and…
Hi there How about a trip down Memory Lane? I remember designing these two Framer stamps many years ago. They were so popular, we developed a whole collection of “O” Stamps. Can you remember them all? They all come with fabulous little scene-building stamps too. I guess these were the first designs we came up with, where you created little scenes within a frame, a shape. We’ve certainly been on that trail ever since, haven’t we?! I have asked Tom…
31 days to Christmas?!? You’re joking! Where is the time going?? All I keep saying is, “Well, I’ve ordered the turkey!”. As if that is an indicator that I’ve got things under control. Ha Ha Ha. And so to my old mantra, ONE DAY AT A TIME. As soon as I say that to myself, I immediately feel relief. Believe me when I say that any anxiety I may be experiencing has nothing to do with Christmas. I really am…
Hi there We waved goodbye yesterday to all our lovely friends and customers who joined us for the Clarity Open Days — and what a brilliant time we had! The atmosphere was buzzing from start to finish, full of laughter, creativity, and good company. It was so wonderful to see familiar faces and meet new ones too. Judging by the smiles, chatter, and the beautiful artwork being shared, I think it’s safe to say everyone had a thoroughly enjoyable time….
Hi there. Today is the 11th November. So let’s just pause for a moment, and remember. Lest we forget… Louise will ask for 2 minutes silence at 11am, after our Groovi Tuesday session, as a mark of sincere respect. Remembrance Day is not about glorifying war, but about gratitude, respect, and a shared promise to strive for a more peaceful world. As the country falls still, we will stand together in reflection, thankful for the freedoms we hold because of…
Hi. Me again. Second blog today! I wanted to take a moment to address something that’s come up this week. Our big Sale has been a roaring success — thank you so much for that! The support has been overwhelming, and we’re so grateful to everyone who placed an order. But — and there’s always a but, isn’t there — the sheer volume of orders means we’ve fallen a little behind on dispatch. Now, for those of you who’ve been…
Hi there! It’s beginning to feel a bit like Christmas in my head. Only about 7 weeks before Grace and Mark come home! They’ve booked their flights, and they’re home for about a fortnight! I know they’re all grown up now, and they live thousands of miles away. But they’re still my kids, and I am still their Mum. And when the family gets together at Christmas, I so look forward to it! Remind me of that on Christmas Day,…