The very last day

Hello - is it me you're looking for? Long time no see - and the year has almost gotten to its end! I am so happy to be here again, I've missed you all! And without any long (and boring) explanations about my absence except that life just happens sometimes (as you all know) let's take a look what I've been up to in 2013! I am combining my year and the HandmadebyMia-year here - it's all about me  me behind everything after all! Here we go:

JANUARY

January was cold and dark - the days were gray and snow kept pouring down, and it was followed by fierce cold weather. So some color therapy was in order... Pink made a strong appearance! As usual (read: every year) it was a bit difficult to get back to usual daily routines after long and wonderful holidays but somehow I made it into...

FEBRUARY

 

 

February gave us even more snow, but the days started to get longer. I made some new felted wool figurines, and many different birdies. I also started to de-stash my oldest fabrics, and the Moomins were first ones to go. Very little did I know... The Moomins turned out to be the (rare, it was a slow year) hit of the year! People just love them, and my stash...Old one gone, new in great progress!

MARCH

 

 

March was a great and not-so-great month - it was sunny and springly but I turned forty. Uh-huh, harder than I expected even I was completely spoiled. March was also a month of the heffalumps, they kept popping in everywhere... bags, pillow and pouches!

APRIL

 

April brought some happy things beside more sunshine! First I re-found the real letter writing after I made a few happy birdie-pencases, and I still write&receive real handmade (that is something else, let me tell you) letters monthly. I was happy to hear how many of you were inspired to start writing again after quite a few years. Clara the traveling owl visited us too, her latest journeys can be read here.

MAY

 

May brought the sunshine and green to us, and I simply couldn't get enough of it. Feet were bare and first stitches were knit outside - what a lovely month! Ice hockey and Eurovision song contest came and went - oh well, one can't win every year, right?

JUNE

 

 

The great weather continued in June, and happy summery pillows were made in the outside garden-studio. I was officially declared as the loony of our block when I was knitting wool bags outside when the weather hit +36C - oh well, no surprises there! Midsummer was fantastic too, even the days were getting cooler. Strawberries were a great, great inspiration, and we even won a few battles this year, hooray!

JULY

 

July was a sunny, summery month, and we spent a lot of time outdoors. We did a lot berry-picking, and the freezer is still half full with beautiful redcurrants, strawberries and blueberries. I made tons of plans and new designs for my shop, and had some big plans for opening an another, too, but the time wasn't right yet - the autumn to come turned out to be something completely else than planned. But the designs are still there, and so are the dreams!

AUGUST

 

August had some great birthdays, my mother-in-law turned 90 and my nephew turned 5 - both celebrated their special days with a lot of sunshine, laughter and happiness. One received a hand knitted shawl and the other got a bouncy castle - any guesses which went to...

SEPTEMBER

 

September was definitely autumn-y. Leaves were colorful, and it rained and rained. It didn't matter that much as we had the greatest gift of all: I had a little niece! She is a little princess, and my dear nephew is a proud BIG brother. I feel so blessed.

OCTOBER

October started with great expectations to get so much done for Christmas and in time for once. Oh my, life happened and... It all got so hectic around here, we were not all well, and I decided prioritize family first. Days were lacking hours and October was over in a blink of an eye. Thankfully.

NOVEMBER

 

 

November... Someone turned 50, one little princess was baptized, a lot of house-decorating, baking, gift-wrapping, hosting and over all socializing took place - hectic, hectic, hectic. We all were not well either and that made it all extra tough. Enough of moaning, but I must say I can't agree with an old cliché saying that I wouldn't change a day. I most certainly would.

DECEMBER

  

Oh dear December... A new house to decorate for the first time, new traditions to create, new memories to make... It was a bit nostalgic yet exciting. By the windows from my Moomin-calendar were opened, the better it all got: holidays were just around the corner. My shop was somewhat neglected, but I wrote down quite a few new ideas; if only I could find the time to execute them! I decided to have the last two weeks of December holidays, and that must have been the best decision done whole year; sleeping does wonderful things for the ladies in their forties after all... This all said the Holidays were merry and brighter than I dared to hope - we're going to be alright, after all!

***

That's it - that's my year in a (giant) nutshell. Not an easy one, but still a good in many ways. I am happy to say it good-bye, though, and welcome 2014! And oh my, IT IS 1st of January already - writing this all down has taken somewhat longer than expected. Here's to all of you who made it this far! I have missed blogging, and to my new year's solution I hereby declare I'll get back to track starting now! Because you're all so great, friends, and I thank you for being there for me in sickness and health so to speak. You're all precious!

Here's to New Year 2014, may it be the best ever!

Yours,

Mia