Hard as it is to believe the blog here has been on the go for a year, the first post being made on 27th December 2008.  I think we’ve both come a long way since then both in terms of style and approach!

The blog was initially conceived as a venue for sharing our arts and crafts, Jolene with her varied needlework projects and me with my rather tribal carvings and papier mache projects, and whilst it certainly has provided that it has also provided something of a focus to make sure that particular projects get done … of course I have projects which will be entering their second year quite soon!

One thing that the blog has shown us is that there is definitely an appetite for what we’re doing, the growth of the blog if nothing else has shown us that and the hundreds of followers and tens of thousands of views confirm it!  So I think we owe a great big “thank-you” to everyone who has visited, commented and is currently following.  It means a lot to us, so:

THANK – YOU!

In light of the support we’ve been shown in the blogoshpere I think it’s only fair that we give something back, or maybe more specifically we give something away, or perhaps even more specifically we give this away:

Fantastic fabric finch flapping far and away for a fabulous fan of flappy fabric finches!?

All you need to do to become the lucky owner of this little fellow is have a look through the posts from the past year and tell us which post is your favourite and why … leave your comment below.  We’ll then choose a comment at random to whom this gorgeous fabric finch will be sent!  The draw will be made on Saturday, 2nd January 2009 and announced the same day.

According to the software we use for the blog  these are this year’s top ten posts (by views):

1. Matroyshka Dottee Doll;
2. Felt Bird Sculpture;
3. Character from Dickens Novels … ;
4. Handmade Christmas tree decorations;
5. Book binding … (coptic binding);
6. Cartoon Dinosaur … ;
7. The devil’s monkey … ;
8. The world’s best christmas cake … ;
9. “Stained glass” birthday cake;
10. Little felt owl and a few plant … .

Although I’m not sure that this makes them the best, here are my own favourites for the last 12 months:

January:  What to do with all those vintage buttons?

February: Papier mache spring flower bowl

March:  Papier Mache works in progress

April:  Vintage fashion ATC’s

May:  Lion dottee doll

June:  Ernest Eric – wood carving

July:  Houndstooth scotty dog

August:  Traditional scottish macaroon

September:  Commissions – mobile phone cosy

October:  More hand carved plant pokery plant pot decoration fun

November:  Sock creatures

December:  Handmade Christmas wreath

The next year for the blog, and the new year, will see a load more posts and projects featuring our preferred mediums as well as some more experimental and varied stuff, we both have our hopes and plans for our crafts and the site although I think we’ll keep them under-wraps right now!

Again thanks to everyone who has been following, those who have commented and those who have lurked, we look forward to taking you all with us as our crafting adventure continues … slainte!

COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED.  THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN TWO TICKS.