Monday, January 30, 2012

2011 was a GREAT year!

Wowza!  This blog has been sew neglected.  If you look at my January 1st post of last year you'll see that I vowed to do a better job of blogging for 2011.  Good intentions, but after my giveaway on my last (October) post, all blogging came to a halt as I concentrated on sewing for the holidays.  That proved to be a good thing! My sales for the holidays were great awesome.

Because it's almost the end of January 2012, I just want to say how wonderful 2011 was and highlight some of the events...

On the family side of life, our grandchidren, Tucker and Tessa were confirmed in the Catholic faith in May.  Parents, Aunt Mandy and gma and gpa enjoyed a little party after the event.

In June, daughter Mandy received her tenure for teaching.  Yay Mandy!!

McStevie turned 60 in April.  We celebrated that in July by taking him to Toronto (on my big winnings from the Preakness horse race)  to a Yankee game.  The whole family went and it was lots of fun.

Also in July, our Godchild Rachel got married and we enjoyed our trip to Connecticut for that wonderful event!

We got our dream kitchen last summer and have been enjoying it's beauty and functionality.

We had our usual August family week in Saratoga renting "the cabin" (our 7th year) and, of course visited the racetrack, having trackside seats this year and getting to meet Smokin Joe Frasier, may he RIP.

We also worked on another room this summer, our office, which is now Steve's "mancave".  We bought a beautiful desk from our favorite furniture shop, Painfull Acres and have a lovely wooden frame futon/sofa that doubles as a bed for extra guests, i.e. grandchildren.  The room still needs just the right wall decorations, so before and after pics still to come.

In September I did a daring thing.  I got my first and only tattoo.  It was on my bucket list for a long time.  Just a little spool of thread on my ankle..actually, it's my icanquilt website logo.  Since I told no one in my family, now that the shock has worn off, I think they think it's pretty neat cool.

On the business side of things, I released 2 new patterns in 2011,  IcanQuilt it Curvy Reversible table runner and IcanQuilt Reversible Spidy Mat.  Sales have been good for both patterns.

Last summer I acquired a new consignment shop in Potsdam, Maplerun Emporium.  I sell mostly kitchen items there and love working with Mary Hilton.  I still have items at Painfull Acres on consignment and love working with Mary Dufresne there.  Both Mary's are just the best!    Both shops are in bad need of new stock from me.  I am working toward that goal as I sold most stock this last holiday season.

Speaking of holiday season, my Artfire online store SewHappyDesigns had wonderful year end sales. This month I re-opened my Etsy SewHappyDesigns shop and have begun stocking it.  I received my first sale since opening last week.  Yay!  Thank you to everyone who has bought my IcanQuilt patterns, items from consignment shops and online shops.  I have filled many custom orders this year and I love the challenge, thank you to those customers who have given me the opportunity to make something special for them.

2011 sure was a great year and I am truly blessed!  Let's hope we all have a wonderful 2012!
Many blessings to you!