We’re back. We’re jet-lagged and glad to be home, with our own bed, pillows, shower, hair products…

There are stories to tell, photos to sort through, and a lack of craft to talk about since I had barely any time for more than a few hours of embroidery over the whole month. But I did do a little sketching here and there – moments of creativity that were like therapy at times.

Of course, when I got back I eyed my workroom critically and made some changes. I’ve come to expect a mood for change after a time away from home. It’s much easier to spot the source of problems when you’re not in the midst of them. In this case, I considered how the space I’m meant to create in was so cluttered that I end up doing everything on the dining table downstairs, and realised that there was only one large thing in the room I would be able to remove without having to get rid of it completely and/or giving up a craft: the day bed.

So I pulled it out of the room, moved the knitting machine and drawing board to the walls and suddenly there is SPAAAAACE! And I decided to swivel the drawing board top so it lays flat to use it as an extra, though high, table.

I will store the daybed mattress under our bed and slide it out if I need to lie flat to straighten my back. We’ll put the base in the garage – since I made the daybed I want to keep it. Though there’s a chance we can fit the daybed in the lounge room, perhaps under the window – which Slinky would approve of.

I’ve also looked at my crafty to-do list. There are some WIPs to finish, projects-in-waiting, and new things to try. Thanks to tacking a pile of projects before I went overseas I feel I can now pick and choose as the mood takes me. The only pressure is to make cards and presents for a certain fast-approaching time of year. (Don’t mention the ‘C’ word.)

In other news, the back of our house isn’t falling off any more. The metals supports have been added to the verandah uprights, so the wall is much less creaky when it’s windy. The shade panels and centre panels of the balustrade are still to be installed, so I’ll wait until then for pics.