Looking back and forward

New Year's Eve and a time to reflect on the year and to look forward to 2020. This year has seen some changes for me which will continue into next year. Less craft fairs, less magazine commissions and more time to make what I want to make. I started cardmaking classes and they have been very popular so will be continuing with those in 2020. I rediscovered my love of cross stitching and discovered perforated paper allowing me to combine small cross stitched images with papercrafting to make cards. I also plan to make more cross stitch pictures to sell.

I have had my best year to date selling at Prima Rose, the local vintage tearooms/gift shop. In fact I have been the second biggest seller this year, the owner being the first. Some things like the tooth fairy pillows which I started making at her request have been very successful. One lady bought 5 just before Christmas!

There is a distinct change in social media this year. Many of my blogging friends have either given up blogging or blog but no longer visit or comment. I appreciate how much time it takes to comment and would like to thank everyone who takes time to visit my blog especially those who leave comments. I visit as often as I can but could do more so will try harder to find more time for that next year. Other platforms have taken over for some people ie Facebook and Instagram. I always put all my makes on Facebook in various appropriate groups and Pinterest but I don't do Instagram. I just don't have time for another platform and some of my blogging friends don't do Facebook so I need and want to keep on blogging.

Another change this year has been that I no longer feel the need to blog every day but blog whenever I have something new to share. I still love to craft but with doing less craft fairs I spend a bit less time in the craft room. I have so many other hobbies, including my new hobby of line dancing classes which we started this year, and like to have time for them all. One of the things I like about sewing is that I can sew whilst watching some TV programmes unless they demand my full attention.

I started the year well with scrapbooking but haven't done any for ages so I need to start doing more of that again as I have lots of photos to make layouts for. I also plan to keep making Christmas cards all year as I love to send people cards I have taken time over. I have no interest in making quick cards at the end of the year or batch making for speed. I also need to use more of my older stamps.

I look forward to another year designing for Lili of the Valley and my new adventure designing for Trimcraft. Who knows where else my crafting journey will take me.

Happy New Year and keep on blogging x.