A Mid-Year Check In

 I hinted to something at the end of my last email to you. I did that before I had it all figured out. I said I would give you a mid-year recap that would NOT just make you feel like time was flying by. I’m learning, that as my own boss, I have to give myself a little challenge, in writing, as a commitment to get it done. I bet you have a trick or two that you use to get things done.

The idea? A little recap of my goals. And why any of that matters to you in this hot July weather.

Also, another chance to thank you. Your supportive response to my work has fuelled me to make things better for both of us.

When I take time to reflect, I see how the small steps have added up. And when that reflection looks for the wins, I actually see the wins. And for me, this is a big shift. Training my brain to look for the good has helped to process the challenges with less judgment and self-criticism. Maybe that’s a reminder you needed today too.

So, what has 2026 been like for The Crafty Chipmunk so far? Whew…here we go.

At the beginning of the year, I committed to making the first half of 2026 more “profitable”. Little did I know that the lessons I would learn in 6 months would be so much more valuable. Sometimes our simple goals lead us to the most unexpected places, don’t they?

In the past, I hibernated in January. This year, I dove into developing a new product called Love Letters and launched it in February. Based on a dose of nostalgia from finding some old letters, this was a fun way to pay homage to the days of snail mail and share some love. The response to the Love Letters was so encouraging! Enough that I added them to my regular product line. Always a welcome outcome of a test!

And that helped me learn that the feeling behind the design in important to my process. Knowing the “why” eases the decision making. Maybe that’s helpful for you too.

What was happening at that same time is important to tell you about. While launching new product, I was dismantling and scrapping a design I developed in the summer of 2025 and debuted for last year’s holiday season. Not one of those designs sold. That is not a welcome outcome of a test! However, it did teach me about the uncertainty that comes with designing and creativity. The way I knew I was growing? My reaction. I let it go. Not letting it shut me down or feel like it was a waste of time was the most important part of that whole story. I had fun trying it. It didn’t catch on. It’s ok.

And that helped me remember that experiments that fail are simply data. And spending precious energy trying to assign a reason or blame is not necessary.

My next experiment was trying a large market further from home. Bigger could be better, I thought. I was excited to be accepted to a market about an hour from home. Recruited my sister to help me. Stayed with family so the drive wasn’t so far in the morning. Took lots of product. And sold very little. Now, please understand that selling product is never my first reason for going to markets. Good things still came from that event. I was disappointed of course, but no regrets.

The big lesson came later that week when I attended a smaller, familiar venue and sold over twice as many designs. Like Dorothy, I thought “there’s no place like home”. That week helped me trust myself and focus on how I want this business to work for me. Far away was exhausting. Closer to home was energizing.

Ok, so now we are fully into spring. Another opportunity suddenly pops up. And it fits with something I’d been thinking about doing. I took the leap and applied to the Best Life Self-Care Health Fair. I am SO grateful I did! The collaborations from that event are still unfolding. I got to create with the talented Alex.

The whole experience, and what is still coming, just solidified my motto that we are better together. The conversations at that event were emotional, meaningful and inspiring. It meant more to me than I can put into words here.

A big part of why I started this business was to share ways to develop one’s own creative practice. Why it’s important to have a healthy, enjoyable way to process the stress of life. Simple. Fun. Uncomplicated. I’m so pleased that I revived the Cultivating Creativity workshops and they are resonating with those that attend. (If you’d like to learn more, check out the workshops page on my site.)

That experience was another reminder to listen carefully to my inner calling. To nurture the nudge and see where it leads. Perhaps there is a nudge you’d like to nurture. Listen for it.

Meanwhile, in the Studio, I was getting huge support with the Crafty Chipmunk website. The fabulous Sydney Lewis was kind enough to take photos in the Studio and I am beyond excited that she did that for me. Thrilled to have such high quality, fresh photos to use! And my favourite graphic designer, Alex Perez (in photo), gave the site an overhaul using her keen visual & technical skills and Sydney’s photos and made it all look amazing.

I’m extremely grateful to have that kind of support around me and I do not take one bit of it for granted. I invite you browse around the site to see their work for yourself.

Collaborations make everyone shine!

This re-cap has already gotten very long…and it is only covering half a year! Yikes! Stick with me for a bit longer, we’re almost done.

The month of May was a break from making new designs. I took some courses and did some much-needed inner work, along with some administrative tasks and planning. Meeting other professionals that help entrepreneurs with their headspace has been such a gift! (Curious about the courses? Reach out.)

And yes, I’ve been working on plans for the holiday season. Last year I thought I started early. I was wrong. This year I will be more prepared with fun things when, and only when, the season comes. I will not rush seasons for you. Learning to pace this business has been perhaps the biggest learning curve for me.

Personal goal-setting has also been a challenge for me. Being part of team working on an external goal – easy peasy. Setting them for my own business – not so straight forward! This idea of learning to plan in reverse has been a new challenge! Here is what I finally understand. Figuring out what I need to do today, and next week, and next month to help me have a kinder, gentler December is worth the process! 😉 I’m proof that it is never too late to teach an old chipmunk new tricks.

Ok, that’s it. Of all the things you could be reading right now, I am humbled that you chose my ramblings to read. I take the time to write these posts only because I have gained SO much from embracing my creative soul that I want others to experience those feelings.

To sum up this summary, I love creating for you. I love offering you something unique, made with my hands and my human brain. I love offering you an opportunity to get your creativity flowing.

And I’m working hard to make the second half of 2026 something worth writing about.

Thanks for being part of this ride with me.