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2022 has had it's fair share of challenges, and some real highlights, but for me it's primarily been a year of huge transformation!
I began 2022 at a real low point, in my Covid isolation sick bed where I'd been throughout Christmas and New Year. I was so annoyed because I'd promised my tribe that there would be a new release in January and I just couldn't do it. Gradually, however, I improved so in February I was finally able to release the Angel Of The Night Kit, and the reception it received was beyond what I could have hoped! It proved to be the best pick me up when I needed it the most, and has since gone on to be probably my most popular kit to date!
Throughout the remainder of 2022 I was able to release a further three single landmark kits showcasing landmarks from Gateshead, North Yorkshire and Northumberland, and a brand new Christmas kit, the Newcastle And Gateshead Bauble kit. Ever so gradually, the TSK world is expanding, and this year will be no different! Email subscribers keep an eye out for the annual 'where do you want me to do next' survey landing in your inbox over the next couple of months!
In February I was also finally well enough to return to my day job as a physiotherapist. However I soon realised, that after 10 years in the profession, it just wasn't for me anymore for a variety of reasons (which you can read about here if you like!), and that if I wanted to be truly happy, I needed to take the leap! So that's just what I did! My notice went in in February, I had my last day in May, and by June I was officially fully self employed and TSK had become a full time venture!
I'm still so pleased I did make that leap as I've genuinely never been happier, and that extra time gave me the opportunity to plan something I'd wanted to do for years... Christmas workshops! It was absolutely fabulous to get the tribe together for an afternoon or evening of festive crafting, complete with festive treats and Christmas tunes! I was so nervous before I did the first one, but once I was there and the tribe arrived, I quickly relaxed and had such a lovely time! I've already started thinking of ideas for next years festive workshops!
Another thing I started in 2022 was The WIP Around, the monthly newsletter for the TSK tribe. Again this was something I'd wanted to do for so long, so once TSK was a full time venture I finally had the opportunity to bring it to life and bring the TSK community some of the best things going on with TSK and the wider craft and small business community, as well as to thank my wonderful supporters with exclusive discount codes now and again! Lots of you have already been making good use of this month's discount, and if you haven't yet, remember you have until the end of December to use it!
I think the thing I'm most proud of this year is gaining not one but two new stockists, the lovely Brambles Gift Shop in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, and the fabulous BALTIC Centre For Contemporary Art on the banks of the River Tyne in Gateshead. It's been a dream of mine to be stocked in the BALTIC Gift Shop, alongside lots of other wonderful local artists, makers and creatives, and in May that dream came true! It fills me with such pride to see my kits on the shelves of all my stockists, and I can't wait to continue working with them in 2023!
But the biggest change of 2022 was in my personal life... I became a Mrs! I know it sounds cliché, but it's the truth when I say that on 10th September I donned my dress, walking boots and self-knitted shawl and married my best friend.
We had such a wonderful weekend surrounded by our closest friends and family and in the New Year we will finally be getting our honeymoon, and I honestly can not wait!
The hardest lesson I learnt this year was definitely that I have limits. In my panic after leaving my day job I booked far too much in over the last three months of the year, and so, I'm ending 2022 as it started.... with an annoying cough and living on Strepsils! I'd like to think that will stop me from overworking in the future... but I'm not sure that's in my nature! I already have lots of exciting plans for 2023 and I can't wait to get started!
See you there!
J xx