I didn’t get as many dolls finished in 2015 as 2014 and there are many reasons. At the end of 2014 I decided that my resolution for the New Year would be to try to get to the end of the year and not feel so completely crazy (stressed). I wasn’t actually sure how to accomplish that so I worked away and mixed it up with trying new things.
I started out 2015 by doing my prototypes for the 2015 ornaments for West Elm and went to Brooklyn to deliver them. Any excuse to go to NYC! And in October I designed the next line for 2016. It has been really exciting that they have continued my line of ornaments.
I traveled a LOT this year. Some of the trips were awesomely fun, others ended up being very stressful- so I guess I’ll be testing out more of the traveling this year, right?! I went to New York City and/or Brooklyn 5 times in 2015! I saw Mr. Finch! I went to Puerto Rico for some snow relief, Philadelphia for the Sweet Paul Makerie Retreat, an I’d-go-back-in-a-minute week in Portland Oregon, and Chicago. This year I will be heading out to LA in April for Craftcation.
I taught a few classes- Tiny Worlds in January, and Ornaments in July (in Portland) and December in Cambridge.
We had that horrible winter and I am hoping to never see anything like that again.
I published 5 ornament patterns and I have so many more that I want to make, so hopefully, more patterns this year! I also had 2 free ornament patterns in the Sweet Paul Holiday issue and I saw a few super cute ones that people had made and posted on Instagram.
I was part of the 6 weeks of Softies over on Sew Mama Sew. I was interviewed by Abby with my friend Salley. And I was honored to be a featured artist in Susan’s book.
What I most obviously didn’t do were any shows. No deadlines and packing up and setting up booths and spending days interacting with customers. I think I needed a year off but I don’t want to leave them completely behind. The shows I was doing weren’t really working for me and what I really need to do is find the right show(s) instead of none.
Onward into the New Year! I don’t have a vision of what I want to focus on this year but not making myself crazy is still a good goal for me. I really want to get to some more of the things on my endless to-do list and to feel like I am doing fresh things and not rehashing old ideas.
I am currently very busy working on a group of foxes for a window display for Gather Here in Cambridge. Pictures starting tomorrow, I hope!
I’m looking forward to the fox window at Gather Here. My husband works nearby and I remember he was quite taken with the Tiny World window. And, he stops in to buy felt for me and other treats.
Hope 2016 feels like it is off to a good start. As always, I really enjoy your blog!
Thank you for the 2015 round up!
Yes ! a goal to not go crazy is a good one. I was crackers by the end of 2015. Trying new things, changing things, stopping some things, it is a constant state of flux isn’t it, trying to find that balance. I hope you get closer to it this year Mimi and have a wonderful year.