January
January was a big quilting month for me. The Fat Quarter Shop Create Your Own Blogger's Bundle competition I dreamed up went viral in the quilting world. I still can't believe how far across cyberspace it stretched.I also kicked off the Quilt As You Go Free Motion Quilt A-Long which was a personal challenge and I was thrilled that people joined me on the adventure. I was also thrilled that Leah Day and some other quilting celebrities joined in the fun. All the posts and requirements can be found here. I have more plans in this direction! Stay tuned!
February
I lost a lot of February in sadness when I said goodbye to my best friend and sidekick of 11 years. I saw a picture of a cushion cover recently that had appliquéd "My kids have tails". That's me. I can't explain what Patches meant to me, so I won't even try. Needless to say, taking him to the vets and saying goodbye is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.
March
This little picture came out in Australian Patchwork and Quilting magazine as a double page spread, along with my Rabbit Tree pattern.
April
April was huge. A little music came back into life with the arrival of Miss Melody, who immediately proved herself to be an asset with her fabric collection tendencies and general photo-model qualities, and a good companion to Lainey.
I also had 5 days in Lombok with two of my besties from university in Indonesia in 96. It was like we'd never been apart...
May
I had my work displayed at the state Quilt show and was a finalist in the Blogger's Quilt Festival.
June-July
The group of quilters I was meeting with decided to formalise and become the Perth Modern Quilt Guild. (Silly sausages voted me in as President.) I also thought I was going to have to say goodbye to Lainey, but she hung in there. I did finish this:
August
The Fantastic Foxyloxy Folder was born for carrying board and rotary cutter to meetings, and I had possibly the silliest fabric-giveaway comment competition ever, with An Ode to FabricPorn. AND I got a design wall. Yippee!
September
Getting ready for Sewing Summit ....
and planning and scheming for ...
October
The Travelling Pic-Stitch Bloghop!
Oh, and Sewing Summit! The absolute highlight of which was meeting my fellow ASS gurus in person.
And then the road trip, and sewing in some memorable places.
November
I said my second goodbye of the year as Lainey's illness finally overcame her tenacity. This was a dog who was a mother-er and liked to make sure her pack was safely tucked into bed before she rested. I'd like to think she decided her human was in safe paws with Melody. I'd say she was a faithful companion, but to be honest, she was faithful to anyone with biscuits... At the same time, my mum had a run in with cancer and my workload doubled. I got through November. That's about all I can say.
December
The balance was restored with the arrival of Ms Scarlett as we went back to being a two Cavalier household. She's got the attitude of a young Patches and has started to haunt the kitchen like Lainey's ghost. And Melody is happy again which makes me happy.
Whew. I'm looking forward to saying goodnight to the Year of the Dragon. 2012 was amazing - memorable, sad, exhilarating and exhausting all at the same time. But I wouldn't mind a quieter ride for Year of the Snake. I'm looking forward to new quilting friends, new travel experiences, and winning lotto.
(Nic and I are going to Hawaii and then I am going to visit MR in Canada and taking her to visit Julie and Alyce in Japan, then I shall pop over to UK and Ireland and see who I feel like taking to visit Teje in Greece. If Sara is nice to me she can come to Greece too and then we can go via Italy and the Aurifil factory back to the states and visit Quilt Market. When my lotto numbers come in, that is).
But, I will NOT be making a Year of the Snake quilt!
I would also like a quieter year of the Snake.. that Dragon was pretty awful at times.
ReplyDeleteThanks for doing a recap post, I only started reading your blog regularly mid-year and I had missed a bunch. Your quilts are really fabulous. For a second I was jealous of your travel plans til I saw they are all contingent on lotto winnings.. my fingers are crossed for you.. If I'm in Greece when you go visit Teje, please bring me with you~ and you're always welcome to pop by NYC too..
Happy New Year~~~
ok all great, lots of gorgeous makes but I'm distracted... I think I'm in love with your arse! ;)
ReplyDeleteI wish you a much more enjoyable 2013, with lots of laughs, much love, good health, and plenty of time for the things you enjoy!
ReplyDeleteyou're coming back to hawaii?? when? where?!
ReplyDeleteLol, think Jen needs to start supplying you with lottery numbers ;o) Hope this year is more fun, possibly with less hair raising camper rides ;o)
ReplyDeleteYeah, 2012 wasn't one of life's better years, here's hoping 2013 is much better.
ReplyDeleteI'm a year of the snake girl (pity, would've preferred dragon), which is ironic given my snake phobia. And given said phobia, I'm glad you won't be making a snake quilt.
Winning lotto is definitely needed, I like the sounds of those travel plans. Maybe I should start buying tickets.
The photo of you with that beautiful black and jewel quilt and the original quilt dogs is still my favourite (though the girls cuddling on their bed is a close second)
There's the Yokohama Quilt Festival in Nov and the Tokyo one next January. Just sayin'.
ReplyDeleteLovely read! I have tears in my eyes re your puppies - not fair.
ReplyDeleteHugs - Lurline.
Can I come too?
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry that you had to say goodbye to two special friends during 2012 xx I did want to say though, funny coincidence, I went to university in Indonesia in 98. Did you do ACICIS? I was in Yogya but not with ACICIS but used to hang out with a lot of them. I'm really glad I had that experience but haven't been back to Indonesia since about 2002. Happy new year Laura, I hope it is a better one for you :)
ReplyDeleteThe hardest thing about pet owning is saying goodbye but I wouldn't be without all the years of love (and drool and fur etc). Our dog Molly is 12 and so getting close to the end of her life. Luckily although she has problems with arthritis and two dodgy knees no major health issues so hope she's around for a few more years. Love that photo of your two new doglets together, so sweet!
ReplyDeleteYes, come visit me! :) What an exhilarating and exhausting year you've had! Here's hoping to a fabulous 2013!
ReplyDeleteso sweet Lora. xxx happy new year. come any time again
ReplyDeleteWhat a year! Awesome quilts and great achievements! Well done.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! How sweet is that picture of Melody and the new puppy?! I'm so sorry you lost Lainey.
ReplyDelete