Sew Sweetness 2014 in Review

This is a little view of some of the things that went down here at Sew Sweetness in 2014! Initially, I wasn’t going to write a post like this (a lot of things leave my being the minute I finish making them…I guess I’m more interested in the actual making than in the finished project, lol), but I’ve been enjoying the year-in-review blog posts that I’ve been reading from other bloggers in my Bloglovin feed so much, so I caved. Someone else might enjoy reading this…who knows.

The mosaic above is just a few of my favorite makes from the year.

2014 was the first year that we ran Bag of the Month Club (and 2015’s club just started!). It was a raving success, and it was so fun to see everyone enjoying bagmaking as much as I do! It also reminded me of one of my favorite parts of the sewing community…getting to work pattern designers who are SO SO talented! Thank you Samantha, Betz, Janelle, Anna, and Christine for your endless creativity!

I designed two fabric lines this year. It was a crazy experience and something that I was so grateful for! Jungle Ave. came out in June 2014, and it is just so me…bright colors, polka dots, the Chicago subway map…the most fun thing of all was making bags in my fabrics! My second collection for Art Gallery Fabrics comes out this March and is called Fantasia.

I exhibited twice at Quilt Market this year, which is an industry trade show. It took a lot of time, $$, and effort, but it was amazing! This was my booth from Spring Market (photo shot by Art Gallery Fabrics)…

…and this was the booth from Fall Market (photo by Nicole of Modern Handcraft).

I wrote the free pattern for my Brookfield Bag that appeared on Sew Mama Sew.

Sorry for the poor quality photo from my phone (I didn’t take my camera to Quilt Market this year). This is one of my favorite moments, beautiful Tula Pink holding the Crimson and Clover train cases that I made for her booth. If you know me, she is my favorite fabric designer, and this was the third time I made things from my patterns for her trade show booth. I love her so much and she’s awesome and if I could never use any fabrics ever again besides hers, I would be totally fine with that (although I do still use a lot of other fabrics because I love a lot of other people’s work!).

I was on Sew It All TV with a bag pattern that I wrote especially for the show. It was crazy having someone do my hair and make-up (sadly, the next day I went back to my unglamorous t-shirt-and-jeans wearing self), and it was fun that my family got to watch me on tv (and no, I still haven’t been able to watch, lol).

Luke Haynes came to visit me (well, NO, he did not come to Chicago just to see me, but I got to have a meal with him!)

My favorite pattern that I released was the Rockstar Bag. I’m using the bag itself right now. Somehow the fabric got snagged on something and it has a teeny hole, so I guess I’ll have to make another.

I wrote another book this year…I turned my manuscript in right before Thanksgiving. The book comes out October 2015 (working title: Windy City Bags). It did not make me as crazy as it did the first time around.

This was my favorite dress that I made this year. I haven’t even blogged about it yet, but I finished it on December 26th, so technically it’s a 2014 finish. This is the By Hand London Kim Dress, and when I posted this on Instagram, it was the most likes I ever got for a photo I posted on there. So I guess people like seeing handmade clothing?

2014 is dedicated to this lady right here, who kept me together and told me what to do when I just couldn’t think any longer (which happens much more often than you would think!).

So what’s up with 2015??

• In October, Bari J. (God love her) told me about this book called Essentialism. It changed my life. It was written in a manner that I could understand, and it really struck a cord. That is my #1 goal for 2015. Do less, but make sure what you do is absolutely the most important things that you should be doing only, and you’ll have more success. I think it will totally change what I do as far as blogging and other projects, and free up more time for designing.
• Bags, of course
• Mega focus on garment sewing (Assignment: Project Garment) – I already made a bunch of things over the holidays that I haven’t even blogged about yet. I’m learning SO much. I’m realizing that garment sewing is a process, and now that I’m doing a better job instead of rushing through, I’m beginning to realize that there is a lot I have to learn.
• I love blogging, so there will continue to be more of that.
• Planning a large sewing/learning event for Fall 2016. We started planning it this year and signed the necessary contracts for it. Look for more information about it this fall.
• My new Sew Sweetness Purseware starts shipping to shops at the end of this month. I’m really excited about this. Hopefully you’ll see my printed patterns along with purse hardware at your local quilt shop soon!

I am so thankful for sewing friends near and far, pattern testers, blog readers that have become friends, my family who puts up with the craziness, everyone that has thrown a kind word my way…you’ve fueled me into this sewing-obsessed being that I am today!