Saturday, December 29, 2012

Reflecting on 2012

The other night I got home from work kind of late.  It was too early to go to bed and too late to stitch or start any other kind of project.  I read my blog.  Yep, I started in January 2012 and read the entire year.  It was great fun looking back on all that I had done this past year.

One of the things I enjoy most is meeting designers; hearing about how they got started in the business, getting to know more about them and where they get their inspiration from, and learning more about their designs and their tricks and techniques to creating beautiful needlework.  This year I had the opportunity to meet and learn from four wonderful designers.

Last April, at the Stitchville retreat, I had the honor of meeting Thea Dueck. We stitched and finished this beautiful Victorian Pedestal Pincushion.  The project looked daunting at first, but in the end, it wasn't so bad!.After all, I completed it!



In August, I attended the Needlework Guild of MN retreat for the first time ever.  There I had the opportunity to take a class from Jackie DuPlessis. What a talented and creative designer she is!  I thought the project was going to kill me, but instead it helped me overcome my fear of stitching over one.  The project was the Briar Rose Etui.




October was a very busy month.  On a short weekend trip to Indiana I made an excursion to House of Stitches in LaPorte and met up with Ruth Ann Russell.  We visited for a long time talking about her designs and her current project (which I look forward to stitching when the pattern is released next year!)  I am the self-proclaimed president of Ruth Ann's fan club; in 2012 I enjoyed stitching two of her designs, "I Sigh Not for Beauty" and "Heavenly Paradise."



And last but certainly not least, it was a great pleasure to meet Ellen Chester in October.  Such a delightful lady.  She shared with us her knowledge of hornbooks and sewing boxes and we learned a variety of different stitches all used in her class projects, "Fruit of the Vine Sampler Huswif" and "A Lady's Worke Box" - I haven't had time to work on these projects but will be pulling them out again soon now that the holiday's are almost behind us.


2012 was a very good year....

11 comments:

Margaret said...

You are so lucky to go to so many wonderful events. I hope one of these days to start attending like you!

Katrina said...

What a fun year!!!!! Love your recap. Happy New Year too :-).

Laurie in Iowa said...

I enjoyed looking back over your year, the classes you took and the designers you met. Lucky girl!

Kathy A. said...

How cool is that!

BrendaS said...

Cathy -- You did have a good stitching year! It was so nice to see you in the summer too:)) I hope we get to do it again soon!

Happy New Year:)

Giovanna said...

You've had a wonderful year - best wishes for an equally wonderful 2013.

Ranae said...

You had a fabulous year. I look forward to reading many more
Happy stitching year 2013!!!

Laura said...

Cathy you had a very wonderful year!! I am so glad you were able to do so many things you love and meet such cool people!!!!! I am so glad we met this year and hope to see you in 2013!!!!!!!!

Mrs. DillyDally said...

Cathy...you have had a wonderful and very productive year! Thank you for sharing it with us! I love hearing about your projects, family and adventures!

Nicola said...

How wonderful to meet stitching heroines.


Happy New Year dear friend. I wish the New year brings you lots of happiness and joy. May God shower his abundant blessings upon you all year round.

Ellen said...

Hi Cathy.

I ennjoyed reading about your year "in review". It sounds like it was a great year for you.

Here's hoping that 2013 will be even better.