After two years of writing the Craft Café blog, I’m hanging up my sewing kit. But before I go, I would like to present some awards to the people and things that have made the last 24 months of writing this blog so memorable.

Sadly I never had a chance to judge any local cross-stitch competitions as I had my sights set on back in January when I looked into my crystal cube and made my craft predictions for the year. So instead I’m hosting my own award ceremony.

Favourite success

Winter 2009 installment of Fete was published last week, just in time to be a stocking filler.Launching Fete Craftzine in the Spring and watching it sell out in days was a real achievement. The fourth installment has just been published, sales have been steady and the contributors are getting better.

I’m planning a few changes to it’s format in the New Year and hopefully the title will continue to grow.

Favourite craft website

Nothing comes close to Craftycrafty. It’s the place to get the quirkiest craft news from across the globe. Original content, great photos, brilliant archive - enough to convert a ‘non fan’ into a total craftaholic. Bookmark it now!

Favourite craft book

‘Saturday Night Hat’ is inspiring. I how it was conceived. The author, Eugenia Kim, was strolling around New York when she got spotted wearing one of her own designs and got an instant commission to write a hat book. Her designs are so impressive they should be on a catwalk but in the meantime, this book makes hat making affordable for all. 

Favourite inspiring crafty person

Susie Johns is a local craft heroine. We met running craft stalls at a community event. She’s stylish, colourful, (purple hair as opposed to my red locks), teaches community arts and crafts like me, runs a successful weekly knitting club (she is a total knit wit genius) and writes lots and lots of books. In fact, she’s working on several craft titles right now. Essentially she’s who I want to be like one day! 

Favourite crafty blogger

'Lupin' aka Laura Howard of ‘bugsandfishes’ doesn’t just run the most successful craft blog in the UK, (she has over 400 followers and even has advertisers), it’s actually a really good read too! She’s always open and honest and her talents never fail to impress. She’s a true craft heroine, her work is beautiful and of the highest quality.

Favourite craft event

Tea at the House of Lords was never something I imagined this blog would lead to, but that’s precisely what happened at the launch of the Craft Blueprint back in April. Donned in the most colourful outfit I could find, I smoozed with the UK Craft elite, made some great new contacts and felt proud to be a crafter.

Favourite make

I’ve always got several projects on the go and this blog has seen me make fabric jewellery, knitted food, patchwork and quilting, open an online store, travel around to craft fairs, undertake commissions and teach.

But my favourite creation that I’ve brought into the world is a blanket I crocheted for my nephew, presented to him shortly after he was born. It’s become a real comfort blanket, is a bit dog-eared but I’m still hoping he will let me continue to grow it as he grows.

Fave craft shop

With it’s tempting array of knitted tea time treats and novelty items, assorted buttons, embroidered patches and multi-textured yarns, “All The Fun of The Fair” near London’s Carnaby Street is a craft wonderland.

It’s modest in size, but major when it comes to making craft cool. It’s hard to step outside without going into debt, but also a real pleasure to support them. Save up your pennies, you deserve a spree here! 

Favourite craft technique

Six weeks later I had the fabric of my dreams. I’ve tried out lots of different craft techniques over the last couple of years including smocking, dyeing, nuno felting and weaving. The one I’ve been most impressed by has been screen printing.

I feel I’ve learnt a whole process and ended up with some fabric that I really love.

Favourite crafty clan

East London Craft Guerilla are 100% passionate about craft and their events, crafts nights, fairs and classes have proved this. They are a bunch of very lovely girls who like me, just love to craft and have fun. I hope next year is even more successful for them!

And last but not least:

Favourite blog post

Choosing my own fave blog from the 53 I’ve written is no easy task. Looking back at the archive, it’s a great diary of what I’ve been through. The biggest turning point was back in July 2008, ‘new year, new me’ blog, when I left behind the comforts of a full time job to pursue life as a full time crafter. It took me years to pick up the courage to do this and although I can’t say for how much longer I’ll be sticking with that path, I’m so proud I did it.

Future craft world domination

Self-publishing my 'zine is one thing but I’ve still got my eye on the best sellers list. As craft project books seem to be locked behind bolted doors (I’ve had so many rejections over the last two years I’ve had to build a new book shelf to store them), I’ve started dabbling in craft fiction.

I haven’t written enough chapters to know if it’s going to work but if my heroine Crafty Chica can do it, I can do it too! In general I’m very excited about the year ahead. Big things are set to happen and if it’s ‘crafty’, I’ll be involved.

Thank you!

To everyone who has sent me emails over the last couple of years telling me about themselves and their crafty lives. It’s been really flattering to receive all the messages of support. If you want to keep following my crafty life, keep in touch, via my new blog ‘Cos I Like Making Stuff’.

Keep crafting : )