I’m alive, I promise!  I hate that I haven’t blogged in well over a month (!!) but I had to stop in briefly to tell you that I’m here, I haven’t deserted the blog, but I have been literally non-stop busy for weeks now.

Pretty much since I decided to sign on the studio space, everything all happened at once.  In no particular order, here are some wonderful things that have happened since we spoke last: I got a press (a Vandercook SP-15), I moved into my studio space, I’ve been printing & designing like mad for NSS, I’ve been doing lots of custom work.  Not so great things: I got the dreaded norovirus (twice in one week, no less), haven’t slept much, eaten much, exercised, or been able to see family & friends for weeks because of my schedule.  I don’t even want to count the days till NSS, but I know it’s in less than two weeks!  Holy cannoli, where did the time go?!

There’s so much I want to share (the press move, setting up the studio, NSS stuff) so since I have a mountain of work to do, to be continued!  For now, here’s a few snippets of the past few weeks via Instagram (still the best way to see what I’m up to).

Hope you’ve all been well!
– Colleen

{images shown via my Instagram @letterandlark}

I’m currently typing on a ferry see-sawing it’s way through the Atlantic to Martha’s Vineyard – there’s the beginnings of a blizzard right now.  I caught one of the last ferries out (phew!) and the water is PRETTY darn choppy.  Why in the world go out in this?  Because I’m finally on my way to spend two weeks alone to work my you-know-what-off, designing and planning for this year’s NSS (Booth no. 2168 , sharing with Parrott Design Studio!).  Nothing is going to stop me from using every day being productive, not even a blizzard!

I’ve never been alone for this long before, and also haven’t been away from my husband for this long either… it’s a little bit scary, but at the same I’m tremendously excited.  Work has also been very busy lately with “businessy” things: quotes, bookkeeping, studio planning, project management; so the opportunity to take a mental break from everything and truly focus 100% on doing creative work is the biggest gift I could be given right now.

I’m guessing I’ll continue to be fairly quiet in here, but you never know – I might just post some photos or an update.  I promise I’ll have lots to share in the weeks to come!
~ Colleen

Well, hello there!  I’m back blogging friends, and am really excited for this new year!  I hope you had a restful holiday season with friends and family.  I am beyond excited for 2013 and have so many good things beginning to happen and already in the works, I can’t wait to share everything with you all.

We recently had our first snowstorm of the season, covering everything in a thick blanket of snow, and although it’s been very chilly, I love seeing everything draped in white.  Even though winter can be stark, the snow makes everything look crisp and clean and makes me excited for all the possibilities of the year to come.

Hope you’re just as excited as I am!  Welcome back, it’s so good to be back in this space with you again.
~ Colleen

After multiple holiday fairs (including three weeks straight in December of full weekends) I am finally done – phew!  Definitely the busiest fair season I’ve ever done and the constant packing/unpacking, loading/unloading the car got old pretty quick.  However, I met the nicest people and everyone had such kind things to say about Letter & Lark and the work that I do, and that made it totally worth it.

Now to focus on getting my studio new year’s cards printed and mailed and hopefully taking some much needed time off before starting off 2013 with a bang!

{images shown via my Instagram @letterandlark}

Where did 2012 go?!  The last few weeks have been literally flying by; days seem to blur into one another and I feel like I’ve been “treading water” for a bit with everything that needs to get done.  Not having a day off in a few weeks, I am very much looking forward to the holidays to rest and recharge for the coming weeks.  With NSS looming on the 6 month away horizon, there is so much I need to do and finish before spring is here.

As much as I’d like to keep to my original Monday–Friday posting schedule, I am recently becoming honest with myself that I can only do so much alone (not to mention there are only so many hours in the day).  Also, while we’re being honest: I haven’t been able to maintain the 5 days a week posts for some time now.  I have loved blogging for the last several years, but lately haven’t been able to put in enough time to develop thoughtful posts.  As things ramp up elsewhere, I’m going to be posting in this space more infrequently for a bit.  My hope is that I can launch a redesign of craft lovely in 2013 along with a new blogging format (similar to the way 3191 Miles Apart has done over the years).  With everything in life, things ebb and flow and need to change.

Craft lovely isn’t going away, but is going through a bit of hibernation and evolution for the winter months.  Instead of 5 posts a week, it’ll be more like 1-2 posts a week.  I hope you can understand and stick by my side through this change.  Sometimes when you’re posting on the internet, it sort of feels like you’re shooting a little paper airplane into outer space, wondering who (if anyone) is reading.  I’ve heard from lots of you over the years and know that, yes! – you’re very much real and continue visiting this blog, so I’ll continue to launch out my little planes to you all, keeping you posted on Letter & Lark updates and changes.  I assure you, there are some good ones happening.  I am very much looking forward to 2013 and hope it’s a year of big, positive changes for everyone.

In the meantime, you’ll find me much more frequently on Instagram and Facebook.

Hope your holidays are off to a good start!  Kindest wishes,
– Colleen

{image shown via my Instagram @letterandlark}

For those of you trying to checkout in the shop this weekend and found that you couldn’t – it wasn’t you, there was a glitch in the coding for the new shop!  Today the issue has been fixed and as a courtesy for your patience the holiday discount code has been extended to this Wednesday, November 29th!

Simply enter “THANKFUL” for 15% off your entire order.

Thank you for your patience with this cyber speed bump!
– Colleen

To everyone celebrating in the States tomorrow, hope you have a wonderful holiday with your loved ones!  I’ll be taking the rest of the week off from here to spend time with family.

Also if you’re starting your holiday shopping this weekend, don’t forget that you can receive 15% of your total order in the shop until Monday, November 26th.  Simply enter “THANKFUL” when you checkout!

See you Monday!

{image shown is of the Autumn Leaves letterpress note card available in the shop}

I hope you’ll excuse my absence from this space this week.  Life has been throwing my family an unexpected curve ball and I’ve needed to give them my full support.  I hope to be back here soon, probably on Monday!

Thank you for your understanding.
– Colleen

The last two weeks have been filled with so much rain, I am desperate to stay outdoors this weekend and get as much sunshine as possible!  I’m also hoping to bake and maybe visit a farm, besides spending some time with family to celebrate my sister’s birthday (happy birthday, Cathy!).

What are your plans for the weekend?

{image shown via my Instagram @letterandlark}

After almost a week’s worth of rain, I’m welcoming the sunshine that we had today and hoping it lasts through this weekend!  I’ve got some printing to wrap up over the weekend, but will make sure to get some rest and relaxing in as well.  Clouds and rain, please don’t ruin another weekend for me…

Hope you have a lovely (and sunshine-filled) autumn weekend!
– Colleen

{image shown via my Instagram @letterandlark}