A Look Back at 2014

I've had this post in my file for the last week and I've gone back and forth about whether I should post it or not. I really don't want it to come across as a "look what I've done" retrospective. As upbeat and positive as I try to be, there's a little voice that lives in me and I'm sure a lot of you as well. That little voice loves nothing more than to focus on what I didn't do, what I should have done, where I should be at this point in my life. As much as I try not to listen, sometimes, when things don't go as I had hoped or something disappointing happens, that little voice loves nothing more than to speak up. As this past year came to a close, that little voice was talking, and loud. A friend called on Christmas Eve. She is a very good friend. One that I feel very lucky to have. I had sent her a set of the owl pattern weights as a Christmas/birthday present. She's one of those lucky people to be born at Christmas time. I shared with her that I had been thinking about closing down my blog. Is this where I want to spend my time? Questions like these especially come to us when there's a potentially life changing situation looming over you. Then I decided to take a look back and here's what I found.

2014 began with this incredible surprise. I knew that the garment would be in the issue, but WOW!!!, the cover!

Then the sew alongs began with Sew News. The year began with the Amy Butler Beautiful Belle Bag. Such a fun project.

The next project was the Clara Dress from Sew Liberated.

I ended up living in this version that I did for the sew along. It was perfect with heels as well as sandals. I think my husband got tired of seeing me in the dress ;)

The third project in the series was the Summer Breeze Top from Hot Patterns. For the sew along, we made it into a dress. Some said that they didn't like the ruffles that I added to the neckline and armholes, but I did!!  

Then we made pants using the Clover Slim Pants pattern from Colette Patterns. I made 4 pairs of these pants!

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The Emily Bag from IThinkSew. Fabulous bag! My niece was over recently and ended up going home with one of the bags I made. The other 2 have been sent to Italy. When our former exchange student visited this summer, Sew News had just sent back the bag I made for the magazine. His mother and his girlfriend both fell in love with the bag, so Merry Christmas!! Now I have none:)

We finished the year with the Sewaholic Robson Coat. I have now finished 3. I did give one away as a gift, but I've been selfish with the other 2 ;)

In April, the show I did on the Perfect Travel Dress aired on the Sew It All program with Ellen March.

I was asked to participate in Sewing Indie Month as the Pattern Hacker. I do love to hack a pattern ;)

I was completely shocked when I was asked to be interviewed for "Living With More Style Than Cash." It was such an honor. If you would like to hear the episode, you can find it HERE.

In September I taught at the American Sewing Expo in Novi, Michigan. It was a wonderful experience.  

Another absolute shock came when I was told that I had been voted as one of Burda's Top 50 Bloggers.

Again, I was shocked and honored when Susan Khalje asked me to teach with her in a one day seminar here in Chicago. I spent a lot of time being shocked this past year!!!

Our Mary Bridge Pillowcase Project was featured in Sew News.

Throughout the year, we did a number of sleeve designs for the Sleeves On Saturdays posts.

We continued on with the Fabulous Free Pattern Friday posts. My favorite drafting posts :)

I began the new series, Thrifty Thursday, showcasing free sewing patterns.
The Polly Top from By Hand London.
                   
The Yellowtail Cami from Seamster Patterns.

Owl Pattern Weights.

There were a few remakes and techniques.

A couple of crafty items like this little pin made from the selvedge edge of my fabric.

I did a series on making a fascinator.

Along the way, I've had some fun!!!

We've had a lot of inspiration.

Did a lot of cooking, like these delicious Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookies.

And we've had a little time to reflect.

There was so much about this past year that I had completely forgotten about. I've accomplished more than that little voice would like to give me credit for.
As this new year begins, I would like to give you a challenge. If you have a blog, it's easy to look back. But if you don't, here's the challenge, record your life. It doesn't need to be a detailed journal. It can be just short notes left on a calendar. But record your life, what you've done, happy moments, places you've been, even what you've made. And then, when the year comes to an end, look back and I think that like me, you will be so pleasantly surprised.
In some ways, that little voice is a good thing, especially if it makes us angry enough to push forward. Just don't allow it to make you stop :)