Winter Wonderland
(Breathe deeply. Slow down. Allow each of the stresses to momentarily fall away.)
We’re amid a Christmassy, wintery whirl where our to-do lists can become out of control, we can feel as if we are running around in circles and our relationships can become strained. Maybe it’s time to take some time out, and what better way to do this than to pull on some wellies, wrap up warm and head out into the serenity of the natural world?
When our brains are on overload simply to get through the challenges of each day, they have little room left for creativity; therefore, we need to find the space to get our minds and bodies back into balance before we can expect any great spurts of creativity.
Walking in the outdoors has so many benefits to both our physical and mental well-being. It is generally understood that a thirty-minute walk several times a week can increase cardiovascular fitness, maintain bone strength and keep weight in check. Walking a short while after a meal can moderate blood sugar and aid digestion. In addition, walking during the wintertime can boost your immunity as a burst of cold increases the production of white blood cells which are the frontline defence against infection.
The benefits to both our mental and emotional well-being are also well documented. This is backed up by our own experience. Exercise per se is a stress buster, helps us deal with anger and frustration, and lifts our mood. Time spent in nature gives us a fresh perspective of our problems and we often come back feeling more peaceful. When we combine exercise with being outdoors, the benefits are doubled! So, why not carve out some time and head out for a good, brisk walk or a gentle amble this weekend?
Wherever you have chosen for your walk, be it a secret woodland, a muddy footpath across fields and vales, some wide-open moorland or a swathe of beautifully landscaped parkland, you can appreciate your surroundings with all your senses. Slow down and focus on the fresh, frozen world around you, and let your creativity begin to flow. Come on a wintry walk with us to find some fresh and frosty inspiration!
What can you see? The skeletal winter tree line can have a stark beauty in its own right as it stands tall and resolute against a steely grey sky. Crimson berries stand out in contrast with evergreen hedgerows and clambering ivy. If you look up, you may spy some mistletoe with its white berries and dusky green leaves. A conifer wood will have plenty of fallen pinecones; take a look at their intricate spiral design. Could you gather some of these delights and create a stunning, natural wreath, a candle holder or maybe a striking table centrepiece?
What can you hear? If you’re in a woodland, the rustle of leaves or the crunch of pinecones beneath your feet is very satisfying. Why not take a flask of tea or hot chocolate and a package of cake, find a sheltered nook and sit for a while enjoying your surroundings? In the stillness, you will hear a variety of bird songs and may also hear the swishing of branches overhead or even the scurry of tiny mammals.
What can you feel? For children who explore the world through touch, any outdoor space is a sensory delight. If you have come out with the whole family, maybe you can send the children off on a sensory treasure hunt. Ask them to bring back objects with the following textures: smooth, rough, soft, hard, bumpy, slimy, cold, warm (a glove or mug of tea!), squishy, bendy, brittle…the list is endless. All these wonderful textures can spark our creativity too; what about some felt tree decorations, some chunky yarn bunting or some silky-smooth ceramic candle holders?
What can you smell? Take any dog for a walk and you’ll know quite how many fascinating smells there are in our countryside! For us too, it’s worth taking some deep breaths and luxuriating in the delicate scents all around us. From a mossy, musky woodland aroma to the freshness of a heathery moorland, nature inspires us with fragrance. If you make candles, wax melts or soaps this indeed is a veritable feast for your imagination. For the rest of us, while we can’t bring these scents home with us, we can add some other ones to our Christmas decorations using cinnamon sticks, dried oranges and cloves.
What can we taste? Unless we know a little about foraging, there is a limited supply of edible plants during the winter. However, you can enjoy that warming flask of tea and some safe cake!
Once you’ve invested in your well-being and enjoyed a wintery walk, you may have come back bursting with an idea or two for the next crafting project. Or, you may just be feeling more relaxed and ready for a hearty casserole and a cosy evening around the fire. Either is good! However, if you have some ideas brewing, you might think about a craft stall in the next few months. If so, you’ll need to consider craft stall insurance UK. If you take out your craft stall insurance UK with us, we will look at your unique business and ensure you have a package which suits your business requirements. As a family business ourselves we highly value each of our customers and communicate directly with you. So, pick up the phone or drop us a line and either Sam or Naomi will be here to answer any questions you have about craft stall insurance UK.
We hope that during this Christmas season, you will make time to enjoy the beautiful world in which we live; while this might take more effort for those of us living in the middle of a big city than for our fellow crafters in the remote Scottish Islands and Highlands, it is well worth the investment of time to come back feeling better and re-inspired. Happy walking!