I’ve wanted to post an update here since the end of October, but the thing about making the frogs is that I don’t want to talk about them until they have been given to their intended recipients. Because of the ongoing postal strikes, I decided to take a risk and send a parcel via Evri, my reasoning being that I’d been lucky enough to receive everything sent to me with no issues and that at the time I had a lost parcel through Royal Mail.

Biiiiiiig mistake.

Evri picked the parcel up, but from that point on it was lost. I say lost, but I suppose stolen is also a strong possibility. Whatever the reason, I don’t think we’ll see that particular frog again. Such a shame, because it was a cutie.

Around this time, I was still buzzing with energy, excitement and creativity, and then I went and caught a bug. It was only a cold, but (excuse me while I go off on one very slightly) why do we say it’s only a cold. Truth is, I felt flipping awful. Since when did it become a badge of honour to pretend that you aren’t bothered by being ill? OooOOooh look at me, I’ve come to work to spread my germs around because I’m so flipping badass!

That ain’t me, so I rested up until I felt a bit better. I’m still low on energy because it’s now hibernation season, but I’ve been letting it happen rather than pushing myself to do things I don’t have the capacity for. Those dark and cosy evenings call for naps, so my number one hobby lately has been sleeping. I don’t regret a second of it.

One thing I have learned this year is that rest isn’t wasted time. If I felt my creativity waning, I used to assume that I had a creative block and there was nothing I could do about it. Now if I feel a creative dip, I sleep as much as I need to and then it always, always, comes back.

While I was feeling crappy, I prioritised my only knit that had a specific deadline and got it to its recipient just in time. I branched out from the comfort of the frogs to make a birthday present for my sister’s partner – a tiny knitted version of Newton the Whippet.

There are a couple of bits that remain secret, but since the whippet, I have also managed to replace the lost frog and knit two more for a lady at work.

I am happy to report that the replacement frog was sent via Royal Mail this time and has been safely received.

Now I’m back in the swing of things, and despite being very behind schedule I’m still confident I can get my Christmas present knits done in time. Ooooh, I cannot wait to show you those, and I’m having the best time trying new patterns.

After that, I have a lot to be excited about, including doing a course by the lady who designed the frogs. This should enable me to make MY OWN DESIGNS. When I first started knitting I didn’t think this would ever be a possibility, but as I learn more I realise that it isn’t actually magic.

And with that, it’s time for me to get back to my secret projects.

Thanks for reading,

Hayley x