Warm Wishes for a New Year, Along with a Recipe for a Cozy Drink

Hello Friends,

I hope that whatever holiday you celebrate at this bustling time of year brought you warmth, joy, and a little magic.

I nearly missed getting this December note to you but here it is, just under the wire before the last day of the year slips away!

December has been especially wonderful for me. It began with a family trip that fulfilled a lifelong dream, I finally had the chance to walk among and touch ancient Mayan ruins in the Yucatán. (We were at Chacchoben, “the place of the red corn,” if you’re curious to read more about it.)

The temples are now home to monkeys, curious visitors, and no doubt a few archaeologists, and being there felt like peeking through time.

When I was in college studying cultural anthropology, I imagined a future full of travel and encounters with places like this, but life leads us along winding paths. I’m so grateful I got to experience it a little now, alongside the lucky and love filled life we’ve built.

Since returning home, I’ve been happily busy in the studio working on a new painting of a crooked and character-filled tree in our woods, finishing a commission for dear friends, shipping out moon calendar orders and holiday gifts- and finally cleaning my messy studio. All of that alongside a rigorous daily winter walk schedule with two very enthusiastic dogs! :)

As I move into the new year, I’m beginning research for my next series of paintings, diving back into the world of herbs and teas to plan where this winter’s work will take me.

In this email, I’m sharing:

• a cozy simmer pot recipe for the cold season

• a first look (and first chance to purchase) my newest painting

• a link to the 2026 calendars

• a link to a fantastic online class (a great way to pass the cold months!)

Thank you, truly, for being here. I’m grateful for your interest in my work, your notes, your support, and your presence. I’m wishing each of you a gentle turning of the year, and a happy, healthy New Year filled with creativity, resilience, and peace.

Please follow this link to keep reading:

https://margaretshipmanart.com/so/42PjrCy2x?languageTag=en