January Review

And just like that, it’s the 31st January!   One month of 2014 has passed and the next 11 months are stretched out ahead, full of promise.   On the whole it’s been a good January for me.   I’ve felt a lot better (apart from putting my back out in the last few days), I’ve made decisions on what I want to do with the business and my blogging, and I’m in a positive frame of mind.
circle SBSJanuary started really well for me.   A couple of days after my birthday, I won a retweet from Theo Paphitis, and my twitter feed exploded with new followers and good wishes.
handmade birthday card flowers and butterflyI managed to get my craft on and make cards, get some scrapbook layouts made, finish some decoupage and get some sewing done.   It’s the most creative I’ve been for a long time.
crochet samplerI’ve also started crochet lessons which is something I’ve wanted to do for a couple of years now.   My doubles and trebles lesson was a bit more successful than my tea gloves lesson.   Perhaps it’s because I don’t drink tea, I just don’t have the tea gloves gene in me.
paper storageProbably my greatest achievement is to get more organised.   My magazine mountain is now a foothill, and several WIPs have been completed.   I’ve got a long way to go still, but with each mini breakthrough, I feel more weight coming off my shoulders.

How was your January?

Theo Paphitis #SBS Winner

circle SBS

 

I wanted to get more focused on my blog and my webshop in 2014.   I’m still on catch up, so my targets for January were just to get my workspace organised.   Simple but achievable.

However, I did start a couple of things.   I have a plan in place for what themes I am concentrating on for www.craftyguider.com month by month.   I have started following more accounts on instagram, pinterest and twitter, as well as more blogs on bloglovin, and I started entering Theo Paphitis’ Small Business Sunday competition on twitter.   Two weeks in, I won!

My winning tweet said “When I was a Guide, I earned 2 Craft badges. Now I’m a leader, I design and make badges.”

I am so pleased Theo Paphitis personally chose me, and having had a quick look through the #SBS winners website, the benefits are fabulous, I’ve increased my exposure on twitter, and I hope this, with a bit of hard work, translates to more sales in my webshop.   And best of all, I hope to meet Theo and get a certificate at his next winners event.

I’d love to hear from you if you have any creatives you think I should be following on social media.   And obviously feel free to click on the links above to follow me!