One of our engagement photos. Photography by Tami MacInnis. Yarn by Tanis Fiber Arts :)

This holiday season was a good one for me, even if it didn’t all go according to plan. I had hoped to swim every day as part of a knee rehab I’m desperately trying to achieve, to shoot new tutorials for the blog and to test knit my first triangular shawl. Instead, my knees actually managed to get worse, while I was artistically prolific, I wasn’t organized for tutorials, and though I bought the yarn, I haven’t even touched the shawl.

Instead I enjoyed some unexpected gifts. I had dinner with my friend Linda, who I’d been meaning to see for a coffee for a very long time, and who found me again via Ravelry of all places. I met and got to chat with a longtime reader of the blog, the wonderful Lorraine. We had only minutes to spend, but I felt that we could have talked all evening given the chance.

And what a year! I made amazing new friends through my resin work,(Aims! Susan!). I got to meet a true piece of Canadian heritage, Mr. Alvin Ramer. I took up spinning and weaving. My photography was published in Spinoff Magazine. Encouraged by the feedback from my readers, I wrote a book, which also played a part in helping another artist, Amanda from Bloomspoons, launch her own business. Tito and I participated in our first art show as a couple. We helped drive Rayna home, across the country, and got to be the first people in all of North America to watch the sun rise. I got engaged to the love of my life.

Every year I get a chance to reflect on, not the things I make for the blog, and not the patterns I sell through the blog, but the wonderful people and adventures that blogging had brought my way. From traveling to a convent in Boston (which resulted in my meeting 2 of my best friends!) to images of Newfoundland plastered over walls in Istanbul, I have found that if you open your heart to adventure, and are prepared to get our of your comfort zone and follow your ideas, even if they’re crazy, then beautiful things will come to you.

This year will be a good one. Tito and I are deep into planning, of course. Planning for the wedding, planning to take up snow shoeing, planning to visit Rayna in Newfoundland this spring.  We will also make sure our hearts are open to the plans we didn’t make, and seize the opportunities that come our way to grow friendships, indulge our art and follow our inspirations wherever they may lead.

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my life this year, in the blog or out of it. You all enrich my life more than you could imagine, and I feel very lucky for the little moments that we share.

I wish you all a happy, healthy and inspired 2015!