Ever have one of those years? The kind of year where you get to the end of it mostly intact, but you don’t have much to show for yourself? The kind of year where you spend more time ill and grieving than you do actually living? The kind of year you never want to see the likes of again? I suppose we all have lost days or weeks every now and again. Sometimes there are so many lost days strung together we want to write off whole years as a loss. 2014 was my lost year.

This year was a struggle on many fronts. There was much illness and death, as well as frustration and guilt. (Who feels guilty about being ill? This gal, that’s who!)  To say that 2014 was a complete waste would be inaccurate and unfair. There were some tremendously good bits thrown in with all the bad, and in the end, while both my immune system and self worth have taken major damage (pro-tip: don’t measure your worth by productivity, folks), I am coming out of this year stronger and with more resolve to make 2015 the best damn year ever.

As I sit here in a pool of sunshine snuggled in a quilt made by my mother, sipping my tea, with a purring cat on my lap it is difficult to NOT be hopeful. (Is there anything a quilt, a cat, and a cup of tea can’t soothe?) As gloomy as things may have seemed this year, I have a really good imagination and know that we could have had it much, much worse. Instead of dwelling on past failures, I am revisiting my plans for the year and calling a do-over. All those beautiful and fun prints I bought for this year will be made into wonderful wares in the new year. Spring will come again, and Sparkle J Designs will be ready to celebrate. It’ll be time for picnics and garden parties before we know it. In the meantime, I’ll be relisting current lunchware stock for those of you who need a little bright color in your work or school day to get through winter.

I plan on surviving and even enjoying the rest of winter by surrounding myself with warm and cheerful things, which will probably include lots of wool. It was such a struggle to keep up with paying work this year, I wasn’t able to make much time for personal crafting. I managed to knit the odd sock or two, and a foot or so on my Doctor Who scarf, but that’s about it. I’m taking the time now while on vacation to make a few things for myself, friends, and family before I get too busy. I’ve been learning to make candy and have been honing my bread skills. I’m very much looking forward to the new year and hope you are, too.

However you choose to spend the rest of winter, I hope you take some time for yourselves. I wish you a very happy and healthy new year, full of friends and family and lots and lots of love! Cheers!