My Handmade Year: 2013

It's starting to become a little tradition of mine to have a review of my crafty year.

Before I say my final farewell to the year I find it's nice to have a little look back through the 12 months and see what I've been up to.  It's amazing how much gets forgotten and it's also a great way of reminding myself that yes, I did actually achieve something this year.

Thinking about it, I've have done a few things I'm happy with this year.  I've added quite a few new tutorials.  I opened my little Cherry Heart Boutique where you can buy my patterns (and download free ones).  I also took part in a something new, the Colour Collaborative, which I've enjoyed a lot.

Let's take a look then.  My crafty year in pictures...

(If you see something you like and want to find out more, 
just click the picture to link to the relevant posts for that month.)

You can also check out my previous review posts for 2012 and 2011.














There you have it.  2013 is done.

Here's to 2014 and I very much hope it's a good one for you all!


S x





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Comments

  1. What a wonderful crafty year you've had! Well done!
    Wishing you a very Happy New Year and I look forward to seeing all your new creations for the coming year!
    Sandra

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  2. Sandra what a wonderful, wonderful year you have had creating with your hands! I have only begun to re discover my craftiness and your collage here has inspired me to 'get my craft on'! I look forward to seeing what you create in 2014! Happy New Year :)



    Sophie xo

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  3. I can only envy you your productivity, and your talent! So many wonderful finished things and new designs. Here's hoping you have just as much fun with your fabric and yarn in 2014 x


    And yes, I've enjoyed the Colour Collaborative too :)

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  4. Dear Sandra, your post is as beautiful as all the things that you have created this year. One of the good things this past year for me was to find your blog and even though I did stop blogging myself (for the lack of time) I love to come here. I already told you what a cozy place you have created and I want to thank you, again, for sharing it with us. I also love your optimistic outlook at life :-). You have been so much inspiration to me and a I made few of the things you shared here (mittens, cowls, baskets ...) and hopefully I will dare more difficult projects next year :-) have a wonderful New Year 2014! :-) hugs, Jitka

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  5. So much gorgeousness! I love your patterns and the finished products and look forward to finding out what is coming in 2014! Happy New Year xx

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  6. There is so much! What has struck me more than anything looking back over yearly reviews of blogs I like is the sheer volume of stuff. Even more than the gorgeousness of it all. I just don't have so much stuff. I could never afford it or have the lifestyle to support it all. You do have to have a certain life style it seems in order to have these things. It is really quite exclusive and is something to aspire to and live up to and it seems very competitive. Also, contrary to what many people think, it is just so expensive to make your own things. Yet some blogs have endless pictures of expensive blankets, scarfs, shawls etc.
    Yours is a business but others are not and yes it does seem excessive to have to have so very much. Sour grapes maybe, because every item I make has to be carefully planned and budgeted for. I wonder how many other people could expand their skills if only they could afford the life style magazines, the cash merino that whole blankets get to be made from and the relentless merry-go-round of accumulation, of both materials and finished items? For many in the recession, it is a case of make do and mend. The mind boggles at what one is able to do if you have the resources at hand. Many people do not have the time because they are working and they don't have the money (in spite of the working hard). Even in the world of handmade life is not fair it seems. Beautiful materials make beautiful things. I admire greatly those who make beauty from scraps and recycled items. Very expensive fabric is purchased so it can be cut up into small squares, very far removed from the original idea of the quilt, yet they made beautiful things in the past, when off cuts and old clothing were used.
    Incidentally this is not a dig at you. To me you are my number one multi-talented blogger and everything you make has a beautiful aesthetic and appeal. You both share and challenge yourself with your business - which I hope is a success for you, as it is deserved. There is though an air of total indulgence that comes across in some blogs which is getting harder to enjoy as it seems to be a show and tell which has the purpose only of engendering envy and show casing greed. I admit to some envy but mostly of the resources and not the skills, phenomenal as some are. That aside, I do think what I have seen as recaps of people's year borders on distasteful. I am sure most won't agree with me and I will be told I have eaten too many sour grapes. It's just how it seems to me at times. This being one of those times. Do people even appreciate how lucky they are? Sometimes it really seems they do not.

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  7. What a strange post. I can understand where you're coming from (I guess), but considering we know nothing of the blogger other than her About Me, it's unnecessary and presumptuous to assume she has any kind of life style. Even if she does, it doesn't matter. She owes us no explanation and your post comes off as more jealous than envious. Also, beautiful materials do make beautiful things, but so can discount materials. It's more of what you put into it than the materials used. Some of the items I get the most compliments on were made with cheap acrylic yarn.

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  8. How lovely, what a great 2013 you had, best wishes for 2013

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  9. I've really enjoyed the colours and inspiration on your blog since I found you in June! Long may it continue :-)
    Wishing you and yours a very Happy and successful 2014,
    LLJ xx

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  10. Wow - all so so wonderful. Happy new year to you, Sam xx

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  11. Wow! you've made so many beautiful thing this year! I'm setting myself the goal of making 24 things in 2014, hopefully this time next year I'll be displaying all of them

    http://ahandfulofhope.blogspot.co.uk/

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  12. What beautiful things you have made this year, if I was half as productive I would be happy :)

    Happy New Year when it comes
    Alison
    x

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  13. I think this is hardly the pace for such a comment. You do not have to read blogs, you do not have to look at pictures,. no matter if your comments do have relevance and we are all entitled to our opinions I feel it very sad that you have made such sweeping assumptions about a single blogger who actually creates so many beautiful things and shares her talents so generously.

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  14. So many beautiful creations, crochet and hexies seem to have been a common theme! Wishing you a wonderful 2014, hugs Wendy

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  15. So many lovely and beautiful things!! Enjoy this post! :) Wishing you a wonderful Happy New Year!! xo Holly

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  16. You really have made some beautiful things Sandra! I look forward to seeing what you come up with next year! Happy New Year!! xx

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  17. Wow what a busy crafty year you've had, looks like lots of fun, and lots of inspiration for me!

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  18. Wow what a creative and beautiful year you have had. You have contributed to several of my makes this year with your beautiful patterns so many thanks. Hope 2014 is a great one for you and yours xx

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  19. This is most inspiring. Lovely work. Thank you for sharing!
    ~Elizabeth
    creativewending.wordpress.com

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  20. All wonderful projects, Sandra! May you have an even better year 2014. Happy new year :-) ♥ Ana BC

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  21. Oh thank you for posting this Sandra, very inspirational to see all your crafty efforts together! Wishing you a splendid, healthy and supercreative 2014!!! ♥ xxxx

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  22. Wow - you have made so many gorgeous crafty things. I have only recently picked up a hook and feel inspired to get crafting after seeing your year in pictures.

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  23. Lovely!!! You have such a beautiful and unique style/colour palette, I love it very much. It's been a joy to follow you through this year, thank you...and Happy New Year!
    Lucexxxxxxxxxxxx

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  24. Happy New Year! I loved being able to look through your year on this post, thank-you! It's impossible to choose a 'favourite' so I will have to say my fav is the inspiration you give. OK, perhaps my actual fav might be the post with the excellent tutorial that helped me FINALLY learn to crochet in the round. No, wait, it's defo the inspiration! Without that post I would still be 'stashing' crochet thread/yarn/wool instead of actually using it. Yes, definitely the inspiration:)

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  25. A remarkably productive year and some stunning work, let alone all the 'finishes' you've achieved lol Im ashamed at my few finishes but SO enjoy seeing your work.
    Its something to aspire to lol

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  26. Gorgeous things you have created in 2013, here is to more creativity in 2014!

    Happy New Year.
    Meredith

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  27. totally gorgeous, all of it. Well done. You are a creative machine! I like the way a unique palate of colours unites all these projects that is very "you". Happy New Year Sandra - it's been such a pleasure discovering your blog this year. x

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  28. Wow! Such a sumptious array of pure gorgeousness, Sandra. I should like one of each, please! Your blog is a total delight and you remain one of my biggest sources of inspiration. I wish you a simply wonderful 2014 my lovely friend and I look forward to unashamedly drooling over your future creations. Hxxx

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  29. Oh my....you did more than I've done in my lifetime! What an inspiration you are and can I tell you I loved every single thing I saw. I will savor this post and go back to it for not only inspiration but motivation to do more fiber arts this year. Maybe if I wold spend less time on the this pc but then I might miss out on the inspiration. I must try for balance. Thank you! Your post was a gift! Happy New Year to you and yours family!

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  30. What a wonderful crafty year. Beautiful pictures. happy new year!

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  31. All your makes are amazing, here's to a happy creative 2014 xox

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  32. What a beautiful and creative year - wishing you a very happy 2014. I'm so happy to have discovered your blog, your posts always bring a smile to my face. Em xx

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  33. Hello Sandra
    Oh, oh, oh - I have just come across your heavenly blog....why have I not found you before !?
    Your review of 2013 has given me so much to look at I just don't know where to start - I feel like a kid in a sweetshop !
    I shall be visiting lots and lots in 2014.
    Happy New Year,
    Kate
    www.justpootling.blogspot.co.uk

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  34. What a gorgeous collection of yummy crafts... Absolutely gorgeous. Happy 2014 to you Sandra.

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  35. Mary, there are so many points I’m sure we could debate for hours in your message, the cost of craft, yarn prices, buying and selling handmade to name a few.
    I do understand your point and I realise that I am indeed in the lucky position of being able to devote a good chunk of time to my hobby and so I get more time than many to indulge in doing what I love. And yes, in some, small and tentative ways I am trying to see if I could make a little income from my passion. But that is something I’m just starting to do so time will tell if it becomes a success or anything that could be termed a ‘business’. That may just be a pipe dream of mine!
    I really hope that my post doesn’t cause anyone any jealousy or envy, I’m not intending to be competitive. I just get a bit giddy and excited about yarn stuff and with only limited people to share my daftness with in real life, I love having you guys in my computer to turn to to share the fun and excitement with. I hope that comes across too.
    I have to say I agree with you totally about the crazy prices of yarn though, they seem to have rocketed up since I started knitting/crocheting and the cheaper alternatives get harder and harder to find. I do find that I prefer to buy yarn (or fabric) rather than any other indulgence these days and so I like to try and make wise choices about where that money goes. I’d love to be able to make a Cashmerino blanket too, but that most certainly won’t be happening any time soon, so I shop around, I use cheaper wools often and I take advantage of sales too. I do buy luxury yarns too sometimes, but it is that, a luxury. (She says, aware she’s just posted about spending a load of cash in a luxury yarn loop! That was a rare treat for a birthday though ;))
    Anyway, as I say, I’m sure we could talk for hours about it all as there’s so much to be said on the subject but thank you for your comment.
    Sandra x

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  36. Thanks for your message, I just wanted to say how much I agree with your point about making lovely things with ‘cheap acrylic yarn’. Most of my blankets are make with acrylic and I love how they turned out. The right acrylic can be absolutely the right thing for the job, imho!
    Sandra x

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