Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Plus some holiday reading in my 2023 Collaborative Round-up

Just pausing in the midst of tinsel and snowflakes to say a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all! I sincerely hope you have a WONDERFUL break whatever that means to you. Christmas always makes me so reflective and I’m glad of it but equally as I get older, there’s a heaviness in it sometimes… I wrote this post last December and have taken the paywall off for you if you want to read something more reflective this season and feel comforted in grief.

Back to the present and it really is isn’t it? A present!

I love making the magic for the kids and gnawing on Rudolf’s carrot last thing before brushing my teeth on Christmas eve. 😉 🥕

I’m immersed in that world rather than this one but I’m sharing something I think you’ll like…

✨❄️

Artwork by

Amy

Collaborations and flexing our writing muscles

I’ve LOVED collaborating with folks for my Big Dreams and Quiet Ambition section here on Substack this year.

It’s been so insightful to hear from nine creatives and bring their stories to you. I was so excited and driven to make space for other people’s words here. The big vision is really coming together now.

I will be bringing collaborations back in Spring Time and I’m so excited to share more about my 2024 plans with you in January.

✨💫

Audio…

Bored of waiting for the invite to be a guest 💌 🎙️🤩 😉, I launched two podcasts this year; one with my friend and colleague

Laura Oldfield

over at Company of Two and another over on Sparkle on Substack. Laura and I are SO proud of our ‘slow grow’ community for mothers and making space to record four episodes for you this year. There are 165 of us gathering in circle there from across the world, come say hi?

You can listen to us talk on balance, being and business in motherhood. Subscribe for free here or listen on Apple Podcasts…

Over on Sparkle, I’d really recommend a listen to my podcast episode with

Susannah Conway

… we talk creativity, online business, closing the year, ADHD and menopause - it’s just a goody and as generous as she is. 💫

Substack Serendipity with Susannah Conway

2023 guest posts

I wanted to re-share some guest posted/ interviews I had with a few beautiful folks this year incase you missed them and fancy some holiday reading

Thanks to

Keris Stainton

at The Ladybird Purse,

Suzy Walker

at HeartLeap,

Rachel Katz

at Inner Workings,

Lyndsay Kaldor

at Story and Thread, Jess at

Loadofolbobbins

,

Silvia Põldaru

and

Laura Oldfield

over at Destination Balance for hosting my words and inviting me to share them with their communities.

If you missed them they are here;

All about abundance

How to start your own Substack

All the Rules Are Made Up

Tuning in and living creatively with slow-lived entrepreneur, Claire Venus.

Just one more…

12 days of Advent: a Substack Community Celebration #12

There’s also an article for Vox Magazine

Rachel Katz

curated featuring Dave and my story. Incredibly proud to be sending solidarity to others on the important topic of chronic illness this holiday and always. You can read it here.

And lastly, a guest post for Sarah Robertson over at Brand Seasons on Why Substack is such a great platform for creatives.

Thanks for connecting and reading my words this year, supporting us on our journey and staying connected to your own magic too.

Hope you have a wonderful festive break and I’ll see you for more fun here in 2024!?

Claire x

My mum and my daughter on her birthday, Alnwick Garden, Northumberland