At the beginning of January I review the past year and identify what worked and what didn’t, what I need to build on and what new projects I want to concentrate on. I usually overestimate how much I can get done, so this year my focus is on streamlining and simplifying!

2019 was a good productive year, the biggest project being the creation of the Tilly & Puffin and Tabitha doll patterns. I also updated the Christmas ornament collections with new designs and did a lot of photography to improve the website and Etsy shop.

It was my first year in An Gailerai Beag, the shared co-operative shop of the West Kerry Craft Guild. The name means “The small gallery” and it’s situated in the main street of Dingle so is a great outlet for my Irish themed textile art and ornaments.

The busy Christmas season was complicated by new rules making it very time-consuming to send packages to the US, but this was balanced by some lovely conversations with customers ordering special gifts for loved ones, and also some great reviews!

My first project for 2020 is to take some time off! I didn’t take any holiday at all last year, so after finishing off orders that came in after Christmas, doing paperwork and creating this year’s stock-making calendar, I’m taking the rest of January to rest and do some home decorating. Hopefully some gardening too if the weather lets me!

When I start again in February the first thing on the list is making a PDF pattern and possibly a kit of the Dachshund ornament, due to popular demand! I’ll be working on some more patterns after that, including new outfits for Tilly and Puffin, and possibly some kits to make the dolls.