2012 has certainly been a year of learning and change and getting settled.
We moved from Katy, Texas to St. Louis at the end of the summer in 2011, so it was our first holiday here and we were still settling in.
We started 2012 in a panic. Andrew had been sick and was getting sicker. We didn’t know what was going on with him. He got an infection in his leg, but it was a blessing in disguise, because it led us to finding out he had juvenile diabetes. We ended up spending the first week of the year in the hospital where Andrew had surgery on his leg and had his blood sugar stabilized and Tom, Andrew and I went through Type 1 Diabetes education. We are still learning – what makes his blood sugar go up – when he is stable – making sure he is consistent which is hard for a teenager. And a big pain sometimes when you just want to have a snack and you have to deal with blood sugar and shots. But he has been a trooper and is healthy again and doing very well.
We also home school and there is lots and lots of learning and time that go along with that, of course. We have just voted and decided to switch to year round school – three months on and one month off - instead of the traditional nine months on and three months off. I think it will work really well for us and end the process of spending the first month of school on reviewing and getting back up to speed. Andrew also plays guitar and takes lessons and Sammy will start piano lessons this year. I really enjoy it and am grateful for the time I get with them. They are a lot of fun and do really well. There is a really great home school network here in St. Louis, as well. We have been really blessed!
I also got back to sewing. I taught a beginning quilting class to some home school girls and it was so much fun. One of the girls, age 12, after taking my
Baby Doll Quilt class, bought supplies and made a real baby quilt to give as a gift! How great is that?!
In the spring I did a half-square triangle quilt with a modern back and participated in the
Spring Blogger’s Quilt Festival over at
Amy’s Creative Side. I really loved making this quilt!
Over the summer I was so unorganized and really didn’t get my machine out. I didn’t have a permanent place for it and it was pain. I was unmotivated and wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. My things have now found a permanent place in our guest room and I have gotten busy! I’ve done quilts and have moved into doing some bags now and designed my own. I really have enjoyed working on them! I’ve also been practicing and working to advance my piecing and free motion quilting. For Christmas I got three great books:
The Bag Making Bible by Lisa Lam,
In the Studio with Angela Walters: Machine-Quilting Design Concepts* Add Movement, Contrast, Depth & More, and
Modern Patchwork: 12 Quilts to Take You Beyond the Basics by Elizabeth Hartman. I am looking forward to having a lot of fun with them! I’ve been working on some designs that I’m really excited about and can’t want to get working on.
My long-term goal is to transform my hobby into a business. To that end, my goal for this year consistency. Consistency with writing, planning, learning, and creating. To become a better writer and learn more about keeping a blog and an online store. To learn more about planning and design and patterns. To create more and become better at my craft. To move toward my long-term goal. Any tips and advice is very welcome and appreciated!
Overall, 2012 has been a good year and I’m looking forward to 2013!
Happy New Year! I hope to hear from you and promise I will be diligent and consistent in answering every one of you!
Krista
About sewwhatscooking
I'm a 40 something wife to Tom and stay-at-home, homeschooling mom to two boys, 11 and 13, stepmom to two lovely girls, and we live in St. Louis, Missouri. I love being with my family, cooking, and quilting. I love to come up with original designs for my quilts and love working with bright, modern fabrics. I also love to crochet, knit, sew, mosaics and more!
What a year you’ve had, family, sewing and otherwise! So fun that you got into teaching this year… that’s something I’d love to do more of next year.
If there’s anything I can do to help in your transition from hobby to business, I’d love to be a resource! I recently made the same leap, and it can be challenging… but there are so many great resources online. 
Sorry to hear about your young one. I am glad that it turned out to be something that can be stabilized (with a lot of effort) your quilt is super cute and I can tell why you are so proud of it. Happy New Year and I hope it is a great one!