Slow Living Notes • February 2026

February

The month of February has now passed, and I cannot quite believe that we are already at the end of summer. The sun sets earlier now, and I am very aware that this may be the first — and possibly the last — summer that we live in this beautiful house.

It still feels like a holiday most days.

However, as much as I would like to say that I have settled into a comfortable rhythm for the month, I have found no such certainty.

Our dog has suffered further leg injuries, so our morning walks are on pause while she rests her arthritic legs. It has been a challenge trying to find a new walking rhythm without the dog seeing me leave the house! Oh, the guilt I feel when I go for a walk. The way she looks at me, I just know she is disappointed in me.

At the end of February my husband had a week on holidays, and it was lovely to spend time visiting family and friends and doing a little more exploring. We are always discovering new places to swim and walk.

This new hometown of ours truly is amazing.

Studio Notes — What Was Made

Time in the studio has kept me busy this month. I was able to tick off one of my most wanted makes: creating my own personalised baby bootie bags.

These bags are made from linen and are beautifully soft. They are the perfect little heirloom keepsake bag to accompany a pair of handmade baby booties.

I have also updated my Learn to Crochet Granny Square Kit with new yarn colours. This kit is designed for beginners and makes the perfect gift for a crafty friend. The end result is a beautiful granny square made with soft cotton yarn that can also be used as a face washer.

At the end of last year I spent a lot of time knitting bunnies. I knitted and knitted… but never quite finished sewing them up.

In February I finally began assembling them, and I realised I wasn’t completely happy with the result. So I sat with it for a little while, revisited the pattern, and practiced knitting the bunnies using double-pointed needles.

Here’s the secret: double-pointed knitting can feel tricky at first, but once you find the rhythm it becomes incredibly enjoyable.

I am so much happier with these little bunnies now — and I’m especially pleased that I can pair them with my personalised linen bags to create a beautiful bunny gift.

Slow Granny Blanket Project — February Check-In

The Slow Granny Square Blanket Project has been such a dream this month. It is the one project I consistently return to each week.

I almost feel a little naughty creating something purely for myself.

Each week I make five granny squares, and I love the quiet time and reflection that comes with every row.

You can follow along with the progress of this blanket on Instagram or Pinterest.

Journaling & Slow Living

I have really leaned into journaling this month.

I’m not entirely sure why. Perhaps it is because my daily routine still feels somewhat non-existent, despite my best intentions.

Not only am I enjoying writing down my thoughts, I am also loving the collaging in my junk journal. Each week I set aside time to sit down with it and simply create.

You can read more about my journaling practice here.

Living with Migraines

As always, I struggle with balancing time in the studio alongside my migraines.

I need to constantly remind myself that a migraine is never just a “one-day deal.” Often the fuzzy, low-energy days are the beginning of one. The migraine itself may last several days, followed by a recovery period.

These days are frustrating because they interrupt my creativity and my ability to work consistently on my business. It makes it impossible to push myself constantly, even though part of me still believes that is the only way to work.

When this battle is raging in my head, a lot of negativity can surface, which is not helpful for my mental health.

It is something I am continually learning to navigate.

One small way I have found to care for myself during these periods is by preparing more nourishing meals. I have really enjoyed researching recipes and cooking some delicious, nutritious food.

You can read more about that here.

What I Consumed in February

I read three wonderful books this month.

Elin Hilderbrand always writes the perfect summertime novels. Elizabeth Macneal was a new author I discovered in the library — and don’t you just love it when that happens? I will definitely be adding her to my future reading list.

I also read The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman. The subject matter was difficult, but Alice Hoffman writes with such magic that you become completely immersed in the story.

I have nearly finished the audiobook Inside Out, narrated by Kathleen Folbigg and Tracy Chapman. I always enjoy listening to autobiographies read by the authors themselves — you can really hear the emotion and complexity in their voices.

What I Watched

There have been several great television shows this month.

Entertaining:

• Dark Winds — intriguing


• Bridgerton — of course! I can’t wait for the final episodes


• How to Get to Heaven from Belfast — funny and very clever

Made me think and research further:

• The Investigation of Lucy Letby


• Unorthodox — an incredible true story, and now I want to read the book

Creators That Inspired Me

One creator who really stood out this month was Skylar Liberty Rose.

Her talk on Insight Timer — The Courage to Rewrite Your Story in Midlife — is incredibly soothing and reassuring all at once.

Slow Morning Check-In

Last month I committed to having one slow morning each week, and I am pleased to say that I managed to protect this time.

Instead of jumping out of bed ready to go, go, go, I allowed myself to move slowly through the morning.

Interestingly, these quiet moments brought up many emotions and thoughts, so I wrote them all down in my journal.

And do you know what?

It really helped.

This is something I will continue next month.

Gentle Lessons from February

• I need rhythm and routine in my days. Rhythms soothe my nervous system


• Writing and being surrounded by paper is an unexpected and lovely way to process my emotions.


• I need to create things for myself — not just for my business.

March Intention

My intention for March is to include one “morning out” each week.

Time on my own.

Perhaps visiting the library, walking along the beach and having a swim (where I feel most at peace), then stopping for a coffee and simply relaxing.

Let’s see if it happens.

I would also like to begin a new project just for myself, using some of my yarn stash.

Please feel free to share what you have done, read, watched, or achieved in February — I would love to hear.

And please remember to do something just for yourself today.

Melissa x