What I’m working on – January 2026

2026! Who could’ve seen this coming? Austin Kleon calls January “hangover month” and I have to agree that we all need a month to recover from the holidays. And since I’m heading to Hawaii during January, I guess I’m recovering in the sun.

I know. You just wished that I might forever step on Legos in the dark with that news. I can feel the vibes from here. And I totally get it.

I love going somewhere warm in January and February. I’ve gotten to travel just enough during those months to wish I could do it every year. Feeling super lucky this year that my partner has work travel and I am getting to tag along. A friend is meeting me for part of the week too so we have big plans to craft by the pool. Expect more pics later from that.

Where you can see my work

The national, pop-up, online art exhibition called “FALL OF FREEDOM: Freedom of Expression” from the Women’s Caucus for Art is still up! You can see my piece “I pledge allegiance to me” in Gallery Two. There’s over 200 pieces of art in this show from my fellow Caucus members and I am honored to be among them.

I think this show is coming down sometime this month so if you didn’t have a chance to visit this show in December, you are gonna wanna jump on it ASAP before it’s closed.

Open calls I’m working on

This is the same group of things from December that I’m working on. One open call is due while I am in Hawaii so I am busily trying to get those items prepared for photos and then submitting.

The other open call is actually due in February so I’ll put it off until I return from travel to finish up work on it. I don’t have any other open calls that I am planning to submit to right now but I am going to be looking through CaFÉ to see what I can find where I might submit the “Into the Unknown” video when it’s finished.

Paper things

I made calendars for family members for Christmas and I was thrilled to be finished this year BEFORE Christmas. Then my partner said it would be really nice to have a calendar for his desk at work. Nothing makes me happier than making things that people enjoy every day, so I’ll be working through another set of these calendars this month as well.

Crochet things

As soon as I finished the sweater I was making my mom for Christmas I started three new crochet projects. I have an easy shawl (below left), a complicated shawl (not pictured), and a cowl (below right in the car) I’m working on currently.

Then I have to start a baby blanket for a baby due in February. February babies always need lotsa blankets. (It snowed the day my oldest was born and the doctors scared me so bad about RSV that we literally didn’t leave the house for six weeks. So I have a thing about keeping babies wrapped up in winter for sure.) I’ve never made the “6-day Superstar Blanket” so I think that’s what I’m going to work on. I already have colors picked out (see the pinks, yellows, and oranges below).

Other things in progress

I got Suleika Jaouad’s new book The Book of Alchemy: A creative practice for an inspired life which is a book of essays on journaling. So I’m sure I’ll be working through that some this month. Of course she has a substack and I signed up for it. And it turns out that this book will be the focus of Joybook this next year so I’m thrilled that I got a copy for Christmas so I have it for reference.

I’m also reading Wintering: The power of rest and retreat in difficult times by Katherine May and working on the free workshop by Jeanne Oliver basted on Wintering called The Art of Wintering.

I’m hoping to work through some already purchased classes this year as part of my goals so I really want to take a bit of time to sort through those and think about which ones I want to start with. I plan on sorting through those this month as well.

What about you? What are you working on this month? I’d love to hear about it! Email me or start a conversation by leaving a comment on this post! If you’d like to keep up with what I’m working on, I’d love to have you as a newsletter subscriber. I include blog posts from here, cool things I find online, and pictures of my dogs. Sign up here.