I’ve decided to do a year in review post, I didn’t do one last year… in fact, I barely blogged last December for one reason and another (I was struck down with another illness – what is it with my immune system and December?!). Anyways, I got a new camera last January so I have photos from throughout the year this time around.
January
The year started of chilly, and I remember getting super excited about our holiday in May, we started booking hotels & planning our trip in Florida for our friends’ wedding. I also spent a day hanging out with astrophysicist types at MOSI and celebrated my 26th birthday.
February
A pretty uneventful month, sales slowed right down for Finest Imaginary (as is usual at that time of year), and the weather was still chilly. We went to see the Imagined Village in Holmfirth, which must be the first time I’ve seen a sittar being played.
I got my chili seeds ready for the spring, alas, they didn’t really amount to much thanks to the lack of sunshine we had in summer.
I’ll be trying again with them this year, though, and hopefully we’ll have a crop!
March
I started screen printing again in March, something I’d been longing to do for a while. I was also hatching some ideas for a finest imaginary collection that would appear later in the year. We also finally started sorting out our ‘spare room’, which is now the main office in our home. We have a ‘flight deck’, a wall with two long desks and far two much technology for two sane people, and a sofa bed. I spend most of my days in here now that I work from home!
April
Adam went on a trip to Germany with work and brought me back a bavarian bear. I broke my nifty fifty after my camera fell from a desk, complete disas-tuh. I had thought of replacing it with a 1.4, but I just got another 1.8 seeing as we were going on holiday a few days later & wanted spending money for then instead. I did upgrade to the 1.4 later in the year, though. I was also on tulip watch for the bulbs we’d planted the previous Autumn. I can’t wait for these to come up again this year!
May
May was our holiday to FLORIDA! Oh yesssss! we were so so so excited! It was a holiday of firsts for Adam and I, the first time we’d go to Disneyland together, the first time we’d have a car in the USA and the first time we’d see any of our friends getting married!
We spent 1 week in Orlando where we went to some of our favourite theme parks, then we drove down to Key West via a few other stops. We spent the last few days of the holiday in Key West with our friends and their families, it was the most fun! We saw wild dolphins, went night kayaking (and picked up conchs, sea cucumbers and all manner of beasties), got drunk on the rum boat, went snorkeling, visited museums, butterfly houses, ate AMAZING pulled pork, ate key lime pie and drank margaritas. Oh, and, saw our friends getting married at Hemmingway House!
June
Was a pretty big month, I’d handed in my notice at the day job a couple of days after we got back from Florida so I was in my last month of working for someone else. I started running again with the aim of completing a 10k (didn’t happen, but I’m still working out more than I was), and I made an awesome cat gif. I also get my f1.4 lens (oh baby), and learned to make tortillas (we still need a press, though). June was also our month of vegetarianism!
July
Was my first month of self-employment, oh boy! I even managed to keep it to myself until my very first day! It’s still one of the best things I’ve ever done, and I don’t regret it. January 1st marks my 6-month-aversary, wowzer!
We also went to Jodrell Bank Live, a full day event of music and science. I took photos of cows at the Yorkshire show, dyed my hair red, watched my beau graduate as a Doctor of stars, and watched all the star wars films back-to-back.
August
We went on the Huddersfield taste trail, which was a fun-filled afternoon of food & booze – just my thanggg! I also discovered my love for halloumi, I mean seriously, where has that cheese been all my life?!
I found out that we’d been accepted for a table at Renegade craft fair in London, and also went to the Liberty London open call. I released a new range of Finest Imaginary items, something which I was super proud of.
September
Was only two minutes ago, right? No?
I was majorly preparing for Renegade London, designing a whole host of new moleskines and cards. Fun, but tiring..! I was simultaneously working on a few freelance projects, with some lovely new clients who I’ve continued to work with – yay for new clients!
There was a photoshoot by Fanni of my navajo pattern inspired range, the photos came out so beautiful!
October
We hot footed it to London for the Renegade craft fair, it’s was amad hectic weekend but so, so much fun. I got to meet the lovely Claire from miso funky, we shared a stall space and nattered like old wives all weekend. It were grand! I got to meet some other lovely people that weekend, too.
I was left exhausted though, and ended up getting sick when we got back (I mean, seriously, immune system, put some fucking effort in for once).
November
Saw the start of the busiest time of the year for Finest Imaginary, Christmas orders started coming in & we had a few fairs that month. I gave my wardrobe a much needed clearout (it could probably do with another one already!!), and made some awesome cupcakes.
December
We’re just at the tail end of this month as I write this, and it’s been pretty awesome.
We’ve had a few things fixed up around the house seeing as Adam’s been off work and I’ve been working less than usual (hello, freelance/self employment). We’ve spent plenty of time with friends and family, recharged our batteries (and been ill with colds at the same time) and discovered new tv favourites. We visited the Christmas markets in Manchester, got stressed about money (and then unstressed about money), ate far too many mince pies and drank far too much mulled wine.
And that’s it. That’s my year! It’s been eventful, let’s hope for more of the same in 2012 :D
