2015 wasn’t a particularly big year for me but it was still a good one so let’s have a look back at what I got up to.
JANUARY
I began my monthly wallpapers project in January and also shared some tips for using your new 5 Year Diary and a peek behind the scenes in my studio. New in store were Ghost and Donut purses and Jammie Dodger brooches.
FEBRUARY
February was Jammie Dodger month with a look at how my products developed through the years and he appeared in some of your photos. I made a cute pancake for Pancake Day shared a peek at my new Solar System pattern for gift wrap, refreshed my Kawaii Japan book and had some on-demand envy looking at what you guys were ordering from my stores. Away from work, I visited the Kelpies and Edinburgh with my dad.
MARCH
March is my birthday month and I got some awesome gifts, plus I also celebrated the anniversary of me moving to Helensburgh. It was a big month for my brand new Sunflower character, who appeared on new products, fabric patterns and a paper cut Mother’s Day card. I shared some helpful guides including a guide to selling on-demand and a on-demand site comparison, plus how to save your Instagram Likes before they disappear. On the crafty side, I added a sewing table to my home and made a free printable Easter garland.
APRIL
April was a really fun month as I went up north to see my family and finally got to visit Duthie Park winter gardens. My family went all out with birthday gifts with my dad making my amazing window seat, Jan sewing a super cute apron with my Bunny Squares fabric and my sister stitching up a felt portrait! I was also immortalised in a custom stitched portrait of me and my sister made for my mum by Dandelyne. I brought 15 years of school artwork back home with me and started the My Art History series of posts that lasted all through the summer, and somehow also found the time to redesign my blog and make some pompoms.
MAY
I spent a lot of time with vegetables in May designing some new patterns and Carrot and Pear brooches. I finished off my on-demand guide with a look at my process and shared some tips on making and receiving complaints. I also posted my recipe for cucumber pickles (make them!) and had a very disappointing craft fair, which put me off doing any more local events.
JUNE
June had some lovely weather and I visited a couple of local gardens and shared some photos from my home and my type drawer of tiny things. I hit 1000 orders on Etsy and NOTHS and posted some thoughts on all the sites I sell on, plus a look at my product photography setup. I made another paper cut card for my dad, plus more Sunflower paper cuts to sell and my cookie brooches got a happy version too.
JULY
In July I had the bright idea of organising a Summer Postcard Club and 30 of us ended up swapping postcards across the globe – I’ll definitely be trying to do it again this year. I celebrated 7 years selling at Folksy with a big interview, drew everything in my bag for a Spoonflower contest, shared more of your photos and added some new cards and stickers to my range.
AUGUST
As usual, I took August off for a holiday and to come up with new designs. The Summer Postcard Club was going well and I also took part in the first Instagram Day in the Life. My new Ice Cream Treats characters were instantly popular, I enjoyed a few crafty projects and my mum sewed up some cute pencil cases for a new stockist.
SEPTEMBER
I blogged about my Summer holiday with visits to Logie Steading, Covesea lighthouse and Pitmedden Garden plus petting a giant bunny and a lot of cake! With my Japan trip only 8 months away, I started a new Planning for Japan series of posts and reviewed the great new Tokyo Cheapo guidebook. I also added three new badge sets and some cards to my range and upgraded to shiny new iPhone and laptop.
OCTOBER
October was a spooky wooky month with Little Ghost tote bags and a new version of my Trapped Ghost. I also started looking ahead with new Cookie cards for Christmas and 2016 calendars, plus I shared the results of my reader survey,
NOVEMBER
November started with a space theme as I sewed up a lovely Solar System scarf with my fabric and took it to London to see the amazing Cosmonauts exhibition. I also had fun closer to home visiting Loch Lomond Shores and the paddleboat steamer. In shop news, my tote bag was featured in BBC Good Food magazine, I added some new fabric pencil cases to my shop and released a new edition of my 5 Year Diary. I also showed off my new Snowflake ornaments and was overwhelmed by the positive response.
DECEMBER
The final year of the month was super busy with Christmas orders, the amazingly successful Etsy Made Local market in Glasgow and swapping gifts for Sister Advent. I also got in the Christmas spirit baking Cookie Cute gingerbread men and sharing my Christmas decorations, some gift wrap ideas and my wish list (I got a few things, yay!). I finished off the year looking back at a year of wallpapers and enjoying more of your photos. I hope to see many more in 2016!
