Friday, 9 March 2012

The Making Winter Project - did it work?



1. Little Cotton Rabbits 2. Saidos da Concha 3. Knitsofacto 

The Making Winter project was dreamt up by myself and Mrs Thriftyhousehold one day in early autumn 2011. She was excited about wearing woolly tights again. I was not. We wondered whether we could hatch a plan to help those who are less than enamoured with winter to embrace the shorter days more, through creativity and cosiness. The plan was about taking a leaf out of Mrs TH's book and having fun in winter. 

The question is, did it work?

I know that being part of this project meant that the little ones and I reached for baking ingredients much more often. I've made Rebecca's/ Lydia's apple cake alone four or five times over the last few months. That is a very good thing.




Most Thursday evenings I have begun to meet at a friend's house with a small portable project. Four of us have eaten cake and made things together round her fire. Sometimes we sipped ginger wine and watched, perhaps predictably, Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice. I has become a regular craft night and a weekly highlight.

Lighting our fire became as essential as brewing tea this winter. We haven't always waited for the evening to reach for the kindling We've realised quite how cheering it is.





All these things have definitely made winter easier for me and the grey sky days have felt a little lighter. There were lots of downright lovely days looking at the gorgeous collection of images and seeing the fabulous enthusiasm with which so many bloggers joined in.




Did anyone else find the project uplifting? There were so many fabulous blogposts (126 of them at least!) and hundreds of images in the Flickr pool but did they enhance winter for you? Did it help to peep at the mosaics? Did you try a new recipe? I would so love to hear from you about it.

Finally a stupendous thankyou from both myself and Mrs Thriftyhousehold for each and every contribution and comment. Truly, without them the project and indeed winter, would not have been so wonderful.
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39 comments:

  1. Cheryl9 March 2012 at 15:26

    I have loved joining in with this project. Its reminded me to notice the wonderfulness of winter, without its gloom creeping up behind me. Plus I've discovered a whole lot of wonderful blogs and recipes to try. Thank you both for hosting. Hope you are planning more!

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  2. Gina9 March 2012 at 15:41

    I know I didn't actually join in but I enjoyed reading what everyone else was doing. A wonderful project for sharing a little winter happiness.

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  3. Pipany9 March 2012 at 15:45

    I didn't join in Emma but I loved seeing others' takes on it. Gorgeous images always help me where winter is concerned. x

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  4. KatEzat9 March 2012 at 16:03

    I loved it! Please do it again next year :)

    Only 10 days left till spring - YAY!

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  5. Itchin' Stitchin'9 March 2012 at 16:21

    It was so much fun! Loved seeing what others found joyful in this season.

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  6. Angela9 March 2012 at 16:45

    Like many others, I did not join in but found great joy in reading other people's posts. Thank you to everyone who contributed such beautiful ideas, and tasty recipes, and attractive photos.

    Esp thanks to you and Mrs Thriftyhousehold for facilitating it all - blessings xx

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  7. Marigold Jam9 March 2012 at 16:59

    Now I wish I had joined in - it all sounds wonderful and I'm sure it must have helped winter pass.

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  8. driftwood9 March 2012 at 18:11

    winter was so much lovelier this year xxx

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  9. Su9 March 2012 at 18:58

    I think it worked - it was lovely seeing what other people were doing. I loved the mosaics - such colour and creativity.

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  10. Down by the sea9 March 2012 at 20:20

    Thank you both for coming up with such a wonderful idea. Unfortunately I only found you after Christmas so didn't join in with the first part. But all the ideas brightened up the dull months of January and February and made me appreciate the winter more.
    I would join again if you run it next year!
    Sarah

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  11. farfromharmfarm9 March 2012 at 21:12

    Thanks for this great project and giving us all a chance to enjoy winter a little bit more. I loved it!

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  12. Annie9 March 2012 at 23:09

    I love winter, totally, always have, and it's been fabulous to have so many new wintry ideas to explore. It was a brilliant idea, and I've really enjoyed taking part, thanks guys. Please do do it all again next year :D

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  13. greenrabbitdesigns10 March 2012 at 00:31

    I'm not a winter person but it was fun to look for the good in the season!
    Vivienne x

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  14. dottycookie10 March 2012 at 10:49

    I really enjoyed it, not that I posted all that much but I did keep thinking "Ooh, would this be good for Making Winter?" and I was pottering about.

    And now it is spring - well, sort of.

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  15. menopausalmusing10 March 2012 at 12:18

    I lurked........ and looked........... and loved it all!

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  16. Ali10 March 2012 at 12:50

    This winter didn't seem so bad - maybe it was the project, or just that it wasn't terribly cold and miserable. I liked being able to see the enthusiasm for the winter months - perhaps I am finally learning to accept the ebb and flow of the seasons.

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  17. Anonymous10 March 2012 at 13:22

    I didn't participate but I did enjoy seeing what everyone else got up to, so thank you to all.

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  18. kristina10 March 2012 at 15:17

    Oh it did make a difference! K x

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  19. Rachel10 March 2012 at 17:19

    It was fun to follow your adventures although I didn't join in myself. I'm glad to know that it worked for you!

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  20. Freda10 March 2012 at 20:58

    Thank you both for Making Winter - it DID make a difference, made me focus on doing good things, and sharing them was fun..

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  21. Gillian - Tales from a happy house10 March 2012 at 22:22

    I adored taking part in this project. My blog is in it's infancy and it was a lovely introduction to the fantastic sharing community of other bloggers out there. We don't celebrate winter enough! Btw your craft evenings sound heavenly. Gillian x

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  22. sarah-jane down the lane11 March 2012 at 09:06

    Ah, so much winter loveliness - I should have joined you - silly me...I did enjoy seeing what you were up to though...Happy Sunday in the spring sunshine,

    Sarah -x-

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  23. Locket Pocket11 March 2012 at 19:59

    I think your making winter project was wonderful - will you be doing it again? Lucy xx

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  24. Poppy11 March 2012 at 23:01

    I loved looking at the pictures ....thank you for sharing!

    Lou xxx

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  25. Thimbleanna12 March 2012 at 01:00

    I didn't join in Mrs. Pebble but I sure enjoyed looking at all the beautiful photos. Thank you for hosting!

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  26. Floss12 March 2012 at 09:56

    I think it was a great idea, and though I didn't join in, I think your thoughts influenced my winter all the same. Thanks so much, and Happy Spring!

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  27. wonderwoman12 March 2012 at 10:50

    i thought it was a brilliant idea - i loved reading everyones' posts even if i did not post as many as i hoped! I hope we do it again next winter. hugs

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  28. Mrs. Micawber12 March 2012 at 15:00

    It was wonderful! Thank you both, so much, for conceiving it and bringing it to fruition. Making Winter gave me something to look forward to, provided ideas and recipes to try, and was great fun all around. I even found myself wishing it would snow more (we had a very mild winter) so I could have more wintry posts. I'd say the project worked. :)

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  29. Thrifty Household12 March 2012 at 16:27

    It was fun wasn't it!?

    Does this mean that you'll be really excited at the prospect of winter 2012/13?

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  30. julie12 March 2012 at 18:07

    Yes, it definitely worked. A lovely celebration of all things cosy and comforty to get us all through the cold, dark days. I love some aspects of winter but the short days and the dinginess do sap my energy so it's been lovely to while away an evening hour looking at bright and beautiful images in the flickr pool and on everyone's blogs. A definite success, thanks to you both for an inspired idea x

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  31. Anonymous12 March 2012 at 19:45

    It was lovely to see what everyone else was up to all winter, and gave the impetus to visit a lot of blogs I'd not visited before!
    planetcoops

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  32. Thomasina Tittlemouse14 March 2012 at 07:02

    I thought the whole idea was inspirational - made one appreciate things that one might not have noticed or seen the delight-factor in otherwise. So enjoyed seeing what everyone came up with. Please do it again and thank you to you and mrsthriftyhousehold for hosting.

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  33. Unknown14 March 2012 at 09:59

    I really enjoyed the extra baking too, and I love the friendly community
    you two have made here - thanks so much for organising it and bringing
    more 'lovely" to winter! Btw, totally agree with you about fire-lighting -
    it is the one thing that transforms winter more than any other for me. Bxx

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  34. Twiggy14 March 2012 at 18:35

    I do love Winter but still found your posts and images so uplifting.
    Twiggy x

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  35. Elizabeth Musgrave17 March 2012 at 13:56

    I sort of joined in towards the end and I did read and enjoy what everyone was doing. I think I will always be a spring and summer person but it definitely helped to have a focus for the winter days so thank you for the idea and the hosting. Back outside to the garden now with a hop, skip and a jump!

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  36. Fleur Cotton20 March 2012 at 13:55

    I feel as though I've missed the boat in this one ... a lovely idea and I'd love to join in if you do it again next year!

    Fleur xx

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  37. Mimi20 March 2012 at 22:56

    I really enjoyed the Making Winter Project and found a lot of new blogs through it! I know that it came about to help make winter enjoyable and spring does not need that help, it would be lovely to have a 'celebrating spring' project too!

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  38. Calico Kate22 March 2012 at 19:53

    It was a quite brilliant idea/scheme and I hope you do it again next year. I could do with one for the Summer as I'm not really a fan, I much PREFER the winter!! :)
    CKx

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  39. Ginnie24 April 2012 at 03:45

    It was so much fun to participate and meet new people, learn new things. Thanks so much for the idea and for encouraging us to join in.

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I so love reading your comments and will try very hard to answer them but sometimes life gets in the way and I don't manage every time. Thankyou for dropping in here and taking the time to say something - it means a great deal.