I managed to make it just in time for my December blog post. As I sit in my conservatory, listening to the hail battle against the glass roof, purging the remainder of the year out with all the force in the world – it’s intense but feels remarkably relevant.
This year has been a personal challenge for me, marked by unexpected changes and bouts of burnout. At times I have wanted to quit Urraca Studios and go off travelling. However, amidst the trials, it’s important to celebrate all the achievements for this year and I’m so grateful to have persevered. I’ve achieved some incredible things that I’m immensely proud of, building my website from the ground up, doing my first ever photoshoot (thank you to Robyn Frances for the exceptional photos), and completing my enterprise course with unwavering support from the Prince's Trust over the last three years - I can’t praise them enough! I feel endlessly grateful to have taken part in all of these projects and to have connected with remarkable individuals along the way.
I do cherish this reflective and quiet period, after the madness of Christmas is over, when everyone is hibernating for the month of January. I intend to do just that, but I’m also going to use this time to put in place some structure to my year ahead and plan all the exciting things that I’d like to achieve. To aid in this endeavour, I've taken the plunge and ordered a diary from the Design Trust, prompted by numerous personal recommendations. I'm eager to discover what makes it so special.
In the new year, I'm excited to offer people the opportunity in Bristol to learn silversmithing —a craft many of you have expressed interest in and that I would love to share. Additionally, I plan to experiment with solid gold jewellery – I can’t tell you the amount of times I have had people ask me if I would consider working in this precious metal, so I hope to finally be able to deliver this in the new year.
On a personal note, I’d like to invite in more precious moments with loved ones, and to cultivate gratitude. Aligning myself with the seasons, engaging in foraging, and growing my own food are some things I’d like to do to reconnect with nature and prioritise my mental well-being in the coming year.
For now, thank you all so much for being a part of my journey, and I wish you all a wonderful and fulfilling year ahead full of lots of new memories and magical moments.