I finally did it!!!

Learn how to make an heirloom bird ornament 🎄… or treat yourself to a life-changing adventure in Italy 🇮🇪, my 100 day project update & a GIVEAWAY!

When I was a kid, my very favorite ornament to unpack each Christmas was this small felt heart my mom made for me. It had “Shelly” on one side and “We love you” on the other. I cherished it- still do ❤️. When I became a mom, I knew I wanted to create that same sense of love and connection for my own kids, so I began making them ornaments too. And now I get to make them for my five grands 🥰.

There’s something deeply meaningful about creating with your hands and your heart. I love the idea of instilling an appreciation for handmade things- things that carry the imprint of time, care, and intention. As William Morris famously said, “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” Handmade pieces hold both: usefulness in their purpose, and beauty in the love poured into them.

Over the years, many of you have asked for an online tutorial- and this year I finally had the energy and time to make one! 🎉 It’s about 35 minutes long (perfect for my fellow short-attention-span friends), and it walks you through the materials and steps to create your own sweet air-dry clay bird ornaments. The techniques can be used to create birds- or any little creature your imagination wants to bring to life. Simple, heartfelt, and truly special. Click here for more info.

A quick update… and a thank you.

If you’ve been following on Instagram, you know I just wrapped up my #100dayproject! And let me tell you- it feels SO GOOD. Next week I’ll be listing some of the pieces on my website and sharing a recap of what I learned and how the project shaped me.

Thank you for being here and cheering me on. Truly. Your encouragement helped carry me through the days I felt discouraged and wanted to quit. Having people who believe in you makes a difference.

Thinking ahead? Give yourself (or nudge a loved one… wink wink) an unforgettable experience.

If you’ve been craving something meaningful for yourself, this is a beautiful time to sign up for my 🇮🇪 Italy Art Retreat- October 8-15, 2026.

Creating in Italy- surrounded by beauty, good food, and a small group of supportive souls- has a way of opening you up, slowing you down, and reminding you of what truly matters. If you’ve been waiting for a sign… maybe this is it 💕🇮🇪💃🏽

And if you’re still reading 😋… I’m doing a GIVEAWAY 🌟! Just comment, and tell me what you are most looking forward to this holiday season, on this post/newsletter here on Substack and you’ll be entered to win. I’ll send out a newsletter next week announcing the winner 💕.

Big hugs & lots of love,

Michelle

P.S. I’ve started posting a little bit over at YouTube, and plan to do more, if you’d like to follow along I’d love it ❤️