Goodbye 2013

Happy New Year Everyone,

Last year, when I did a post called "GOODBYE 2012) it was my most read blog post to date. Since then I had another blog post (The Clog Blog) Which was my all time most read blog post. Literally thousands of readers checked that one out.

Here it is, another year gone by, and as I look back, it was another eventful year.  A year filled with highs and lows. Some great happenings, and some not so great.  I read somewhere once "that you do not know when you are on a mountain top, unless you have been in the valley".

My year began with trying to finish up loose ends on my book RUNWAY CROCHET.  It was a fun book to do, and I had lots of help from fellow designers.  I had just come off a rough year and I was so grateful for such talented friends - Shelby Allaho, Ellen Gormley, Tatyana Mirer, Shannon Mullett-Bowlsby and Sharon Hubert Valencia, all contributed designs.  Gwen Blakely-Kinsler, founder of CGOA, recently reviewed the book and you can see her review here.

http://crochetqueen-royalramblings.blogspot.com/2013/11/book-review-runway-crochet-by-margaret.html

At the same time that I was finishing up RUNWAY, I was starting on GRANNY SQUARE FLOWERS. Unbelievable, one book not quite finished, next one in the works already. GRANNY SQUARE FLOWERS was my second book on beloved grannies.  Isn't it wonderful, from Runway fashions to Granny Squares in the same year! Lots of room for both in my world.

My first book on granny Squares "THE GRANNY SQUARE BOOK, was doing so well, I was asked to do another.


                                            

                                                       
                 

First Granny book was so popular that it has been translated into Italian.  Some of my other books have been translated into other languages, but this one is the first in Italian, so it is a little special to me.  Besides, I have a bunch of new friends from Italy on Facebook, such fun!

I'm afraid I got a little over the top with the Granny motif. While at the conferences, I was wearing my granny square sweater, my granny clogs and made granny square cookies. Never enough of granny, she's been good to me :-)

Early in the year, I had finished with the loose ends on RUNWAY, started second Granny book, finished that one and no sooner was that one finished, started on another (title still under wraps, but due out soon).  If that wasn't enough I am now working on another new book (also still under wraps). Should keep me busy for awhile.

In addition to all the books, I did several workshops throughout the year.  I attended and taught at CGOA events in Indiana and North Carolina. Did book signings at several events, like the New York Sheep and Wool Festival and Stitches East in Hartford, Ct.

Visited and taught workshops in two really lovely shops, one in Middletown, NY,  one in Wallingford, Ct. Met so many wonderful people had such a great time.  

Here are some photos from my workshops and visits, too numerous to post them all;

Yarn Tasting at the Yarn Box in Pawling, New York, such fun, about 84 people attended the festivities in the newly renovated shop. Marie, owner of the shop, and Erlinda, from Cascade yarns provided yarn, food and fun for all.

                    American Needleworks in Middletown, New York

American Needleworks in Middletown, NY

Country Yarns in Wallingford, Ct

                     Lauren at Country Yarns in Wallingford, CT.

                      Hooked on Dutchess, Poughkeepsie, New York

Even had time to make myself one new sweater, featuring one of my favorite things, the 
butterfly.

Have a wonderful, happy and healthy New Year,

Margaret