Welcome and Happy New Year!
As always, I am very interested in resetting our daily routine to feel healthy, natural, and fulfilling. I already do this out of necessity as a sensitive person and as a mamma. The time when the new year comes into being appeals to me very much for this reason. I don’t set unattainable goals, but rather I write out how I’d like to feel, moods, and emotions. What do you need this year? More sleep? Definitely. What else….? From there, the ideas form for all the little useful and memorable things we can do to enjoy this fresh new year. Moments to learn new things, or to revisit old things, are jotted down as possibles to try out when we can. Building a strong haven for family time is my forever goal. For my company, which I now have more time and space for since we have finished our Rose Cottage renovations, I have specified big ideas to be savoured per month.
This January, I am illustrating three of my new empathic children’s books: Baby Baskets, Bunny Book, and 12 Little Dolls. They are warm and fuzzy -to keep your heart company on windy chilly days, or any day at all. Each of these cosy tales belongs to a new book series, beginning with the winter season. These kiddies are adorably sweet. My family sits their darling little chins on my shoulder while I wash in the colours, cooing hue and pattern suggestions for coats and mittens in my ear. Then, they write and illustrate their own amazing stories, far surpassing my imagination, which I do find to be limitless. These treasured moments are tucked into the pages, as I just…have to. They’re precious delicious things that need to be gobbled up with kisses and remembered forever, embossed into my book collection. As the author, I have the immense pleasure of revisiting these little colour and imagery choices as I review the pages again and again at bedtime. Echoes remind me where the ideas came from, hearing those wise baby voices proposing them months ago. For me, this is the best part. We dearly wish that this infinite love translates to my readers’ senses as they explore my loving stories for all ages.
My other main goal is to finish, publish, and release the updated illustrated version of the first four books in The Love Letter Diaries, Leona’s Homecoming. This is my favourite series. I love everyone in this multitude of friendly characters. The second volume is also coming up, which I’ll illustrate as well.
All new books will have fine art prints and stationery options for the artwork, series collections, and general book mood inspirations. In future, a sticker collection per book is planned. We do love stickers here. Puzzles are in the plan as well. We keep a large relaxing table and bare floor spots open for puzzles every day. Unwind the mind, solve a problem, build something beautiful!
Something else that we do to be in tune with the senses is cooking. I am adding some simply scrumptious recipes to my upcoming cookbook this month (vegan, organic, non-GMO, sugar-free). I like few steps, a few fresh ingredients, and a wonderful end result that fits nicely into the day. Little chefs, here at Rose Cottage, are exploring these easy to do delightful foods, too. We are very happy indeed to finally have our new kitchen! Design reveals are coming up in February.
A new product section is being added to my Stationery Shop! This excites me greatly as I have been wanting to make and sell this upcoming surprise for many years now. It is very much a part of my ancient soul, and it helps people connect their souls together with truly one of a kind, cherished expressions. Check out the new product section soon…
My creative process is to write and paint by hand, ideas go directly from me to the page. This translation is even too far a leap for direct fluency, but until I invent that Dream Recording Machine I designed when little, this is the best way. I save the modern requirement of combining everything on the screen until the very end. Yes, it takes a little bit longer in your probable opinion, but isn’t it best to be the most real with your work? Screens do not agree with humans, especially this one. It’s quite obvious when a book or painting was done solely in the computer. Those lack soul, or purpose, to me. I find it necessary and important to be authentic. Why else would one do it? Art by hand takes skill, practice, feel. It needs your senses. It needs you. It is you. It’s a moment from you. Write the date, note your writing snack, the weather, your family’s latest cute joke, another idea to do next week. This means something. Writing on (FSC) paper allows space for thought and air. You keep it. It keeps track of you. Where are you right now? Time is visible in the lines, in your penmanship. Did you fall asleep writing the end? Yes, it’s obvious. Can you read it? Maybe it’s a little difficult, but better a notebook than a blue screen before bed. Your eyes and mind are not being attacked by blue glaring artificiality. You can hear your Self. This leaves room for serendipity and surprising ideas that may lead to something more real, revealing a truth a screen would only mask more. *Real art shows readers how to draw, paint, write, express…their true selves. As a child, I studied, ‘Now, how did they do that? Oh, that’s easy. I can do that!’ Then, you try it. Simple. If everything is too smooth and you cannot find the artist’s senses, then all their work is hidden, unable to teach anyone. Don’t waste your process. Reveal your lines, your shaky pulsing being, for you are alive, not a robot! Being your Self inspires others to be their Self. This simple truth is what I wish for our world to remember. Be you. You’re wonderful! You have unique gifts to express and share. It’s fun!
Speaking of expressing oneself, I have updated my (Recycled, FSC) sustainable packaging for 2025! It further represents the timeless, soulful feeling of my love stories and various collections as you open up your special, customizable gifts. The colours and materials were chosen to emulate the four seasons. This helps my customers to immerse themselves into these nature-loving chapters at first sense. More on this is coming soon!
Once you find Amor Milagre, I hope you will revisit me again to fall in love with all of the new book characters as we do. In here, it is a peaceful world that grows in loving connections. This realm of positive possibilities can spill out into the external world and then back into the reader’s inner reverie. Everything is connected. My thoughts and messages encourage health in every direction, which lead to a smiling soul.
Exhale. Heal. Breathe in new life and…we wish you a very lovely New Year!
Love, ~ Amor Milagre
I’ll be posting about new releases and collections at the start of every month. Until February…
