MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! (yes I know I’m a little late LOL)
If you’ve been wondering why there haven’t been many blog posts or pins lately, you’re not imagining it – I didn’t stop, I just shifted gears. December became one of those months where the work happens quietly in the background, the kind that doesn’t always show up as posts, but lays the foundations for everything that comes next…. With a little Christmas Family fun on top!
But honestly? A lot actually did happen.
Products Were Growing (Even When the Blog and Pins were Quiet)
While the blog took a little nap, the creative side absolutely didn’t. New designs were created, products were uploaded, and the Redbubble print-on-demand side of Waratah and Wood really started to stretch its legs adding a few new categories which will continue to grow over time….
There’s something comforting about knowing that even when life feels busy or scattered, the work can still move forward — just in a different form.
December was very much a building month, not a broadcasting one.
The Workshop Finally Took Shape 🛠️
One of the biggest (and most exciting) things that happened was setting up the Waratah Workshop after my wonderful partner, Peter, finished building it for me!
After a long time of planning, rearranging, imagining, and re-imagining, the space where the handmade side of Waratah and Wood will live (officially known as the Waratah Workshop as opposed to Peters Waratah Woodshop!) is finally coming together. Tools have homes. Benches are set. The creative mess is beginning to look like intention instead of chaos.
Working in this space now, it feels less like a dream and more like a promise.
So… Where Are the Handmade Pieces?
They’re coming – I promise – but probably not until I retire….
The handmade side of the Waratah Workshop is incredibly important to me, and it’s not being rushed or forgotten. Before I start the physical products, there are a few other pieces that need to settle first:
- The Gumleaf Gang website – including over 700 characters, games, songs, interactive things for kids to do and more needs to be created and launched (this will be one of my biggest ongoing projects over the next several years).
- The Gumleaves and Grimoires site also needs to be created and launched (another life long project).
- A few YouTube creative channels – the first of which has been launched with the Waratah and Wood Aussie Songbook (this will later link back into the websites as well)
- and finally pulling it all together with handmade paint your own characters, personalised toys, specialty gifts and other items to go along with the full Waratah and Wood Universe..
Getting these elements ready now means the handmade work can arrive without pressure, in its own time, and with the care it deserves, while still updating and maintaining the rest of the universe… it will all come together in the right time….
I especially want the handmade pieces to feel grounded, intentional, and joyful — not squeezed in between unfinished systems – hence why I’m thinking retirement is the perfect timing – no full time job getting in the way *wink*
A Quiet Month, Not an Empty One
December didn’t disappear — it just worked quietly.
It held setup, learning, organising, creating, and a lot of behind-the-scenes progress that will support everything you’ll see next. Sometimes the most important months are the ones that don’t shout.
Thank you for being here, for your patience, and for growing alongside this creative world. January brings space to share more, show more, and finally start inviting you deeper into the Waratah and Wood world.
And honestly… can you believe it’s been less than 10 weeks since I launched the first part of this? It already feels like a world in motion…..
Here’s to 2026!
