2014 Reflections

Normally at this time of year, I put out a single post that looks back on my accomplishments and adventures for the year, then I write a bit about predictions for the year ahead. As I started working on it this year, I realized there's just too much meat for one post. It's been a big year, so. I'm going to split things up - one post for looking backwards and one for looking ahead.

2014 in a Nutshell

Like most years with my husband we travelled, I crafted and we embraced life.  This year we also started new jobs and moved cities. There were a few roadblocks - moving meant leaving my new job and I've had a health scare that's still not clear; despite those I'm pretty stoked about where 2014 took me. I made stuff and I went places.

Things I wrote

Because I learned most of what I know about sewing online, I like to give back a little when I can. For my part this year, I put out several free tutorials and did a lot of design tool mentoring on social networks. If you're looking for free ideas for next year's projects, you could try out Hack Slash, Cirrus Plaid and One Gift for Everyone. Or take a look at Supersize Castles which I made in collaboration with Sew, Mama, Sew or the Brat Pack Block which featured in Cloud9 Fabrics' Block of the Month Challenge. There were other small contributions too. As a keen traveler, I wrote a helpful post on stocking a blogger's travel arsenal. And for something completely different, I created a secret quilting code language when I set out to learn more about typography and designed a free quilt font.

Due to a few hiccups, I didn't get as many patterns out this year as I would have liked. I wish I'd been a little more proactive in my pattern writing. I'm sure my student loan operators and the medical finance collectors feel the same way. I was fortunate to have several projects and feature articles published. Once my health is restored, I'll be starting a list for pattern testers and reviewers to get those ideas out of the door. Among this year's pattern releases are Woven Slashes, the Ahoy There! pouch and Cordial on Sunday.

One of my goals in 2014 was to try to make the most of the opportunities. Along those lines, I did a little group tutoring this year including trunk shows and color theory workshops.

As it turns out. I've been busy.

Things I made

I didn't finish as many quilts as I would have liked in 2014. Embarrassingly I've accumulated a stack of unfinished quilt tops that I have varying degrees of love for and have yet to photograph or write about. I found I was more likely to cross the finish line with smaller projects this year. Most of my projects this year were high graphic and bold.

In the first part of the year I was obsessed with structured bags. I made Sara Lawson's Fireside Bowl Bag and Wonderland Bag,  and I pattern-tested Michelle@i like orange's Molly Market Tote. Then I went on a cushion cover bender. I made a cushion and another cushion and then a few more cushions for good measure. I found myself on a bit of felt bender too making everything from pennants to christmas ornaments.

Digital design also played a huge role in 2014. My creativity surged when I joined Anne Sullivan in her Quilt Design A Day project. I've had so many positive outcomes from my participation with the group that a simple mosaic wouldn't cover it. Aside from feeling stronger as a designer and furthering my creative style, I've become more articulate about design and have made good friends for life. I've learned that daily creativity and a supportive community really does nurture the soul. I've often been a bit of a solo creative, but the Quilt Design A Day group makes me want to shout - find your people, then do things with them.

Of course, travel often gets in the way of making and designing. It's a wonder that I got anything done given how much time I spent on the road.

Places I went

As usual, there was a lot of holiday-making in 2014. Right from the get go, I launched myself out onto Australia's open roads and headed down to Melbourne for a summer vacation. Craig was working in China at the time, so I went on a solo mission. Days after wrapping that up, I packed the truck again and decided a solo camping trip was in order. I headed up to Walcha and learned about the uniquely Australian sport of  Campdrafting, then popped over to nearby Nundle for a woolen mill tour.

Craig came home from China and needed a vacation himself, so once again we hit the road. This time it was a short camping trip at Lake Conjola on the south coast of NSW where we played like kids and fed the birds.

February is just about the hottest and quietest time of year on Western Australia's Coral Coast, needing some solitude we found cheap flights to Perth and headed up the coast. We hired a dodgy rental car, limped along to natural beauty, played in the pinnacles and found a perfect jetty which led to a whole new hobby and way of life for Craig and I. 

Not ones to sit still long, March took us to the Murray River and South Australia's Limestone Coast where we tried our hand at freecamping and stopped at every Big Thing we could find. By that point, it was pretty obvious that we were ready to be anywhere but Sydney in 2014. We staged our escapes as often as we could.

In May we visited Berry and Kiama to see the Australian Modern Quilt Show where I was exhibiting for the first time. It was in June that our moving plans solidified. Travel was about to ground to a halt. We were packing our house for Melbourne.

...almost.

Before Craig was offered a new job in Melbourne, we fluked into cheap plane tickets to Western Australia. Because we had so much fun on the Coral Coast earlier in the year, we decided to head back in July. Finding out that we were moving a week before the trip made for a bit of chaos, but Western Australia is worth it. July brought wildflower season and fishing.

We moved and travel settled down for me. Craig took a few trips for work and one back to see his parents in New Zealand. Melbourne is an amazing place. Both Craig and I are in our element here and haven't had much reason to leave. We're regulars at the local pub where they call us by name, and we quickly became fans of AFL, Melbourne's local sport.

A holiday in November closed out my travel experiences for 2014 - a birthday present to one of my favorite places in the world. Independent travel makes you feel brave and strong, and it had been far too long since I'd been to visited Tokyo and Kichijoji. The Yokohama Quilt Show was calling. I packed my bags, boarded a plane and had another amazing adventure.

No one will ever accuse me of letting life pass me by.

Things I liked

When I wasn't busy making or going, I spend my time embracing artifacts of bygone eras. I've always had quirky interests and 2014 proved to be no different. Along with the perennial favorites like caravans and vintage canisters -  dymo machines, 1960's gas station trading cards, homebuilding catalogues and restoring webbed lawnchairs entered the mix.

Final Thoughts on 2014

2014 isn't ending in the way we would have hoped. As I write this, I'm one day off an MRI scan awaiting answers for an unknown medical condition which is impairing my speech and causing me a significant amount of pain. Frankly, it is frightening.

I feel good though. I feel good because 2014 was such an amazing year.  I'm appreciative of experiences and opportunities that I was given and those that I made for myself.  I'll be doing my 2015 prediction post soon, but I'll give you a little sneak peek. I'm hoping for more of the same. I want to

make stuff.
go places.
learn and be happy.

happy crafting, happy travels and happy holidays from amy badskirt.