Welcome 2013!

Although I wasn't quite as keen to get rid of 2012 as I was say 2010 or 2011, I am still so happy to welcome in a new year and one that I'm sure will be even better than last year! There is some VERY exciting some stuff lined up which I will be telling you about just as soon as I can, including something publishing related and some travel... (must remember to renew my passport, eeek!) I do love a new beginning, some time to reflect (I've had even more than I expected due to being laid up with a horrible bug the last few days too, ick!) and make plans.

2012 was a rollercoaster year for me, it started with a bit of a low for me for a few reasons, which I won't harp on about, needless to say though I was left with a difficult decision to make, a bit of a mess to sort out and some dusting down and getting on with things to do! The course of how I thought things would go changed, but what seemed like a negative at the time, turned out to be the biggest blessing of all, I retained control of my brand, my work and the direction I was going in and that freedom turned out to be a huge blessing as I found out just weeks later - without that I wouldn't be in the position I'm in now or able to take up some of the fab offers that have come my way (some of which are still to be revealed - eeek!)

I managed to keep all of my resolutions, except one, my quilt never did get started, I was just too busy!

And so 2012 I will remember as the year I...

* changed direction and realised I COULD do it all by myself if I just had a little more faith in myself
* launched a ton of new products
* diversified into retail with the addition of my NOTHS shop
* partnered with some fab companies including Serif and Silhouette (with a few more yet to be revealed...)
* returned to Create & Craft
* launched Craft Academy and the Sarah Hurley Lookbook magazine
* learned to cook
* got excited about a Jubilee and Olympics I thought I didn't care about (ha! how wrong was I!)
* met lots of you at Donington
* laughed more and cried less than I can ever remember - got to be a good thing, right?

My one little word for 2012 was 'Believe' to believe in myself and my decisions, my gut instinct - I certainly did that and I'm VERY happy with the way that turned out! :o)

My one little word for 2013 is...

It may seem like a frivolous one this year but it's a reminder to myself, never let ANYONE dull my sparkle, there will always be people who try to drag you down, make you feel bad about yourself or insecure in what you can do (usually because they themselves feel insecure) people that bully (you'd think it stops in the playground, but sadly, no!) backstab and think they will appear better than you if they put you down or shout louder than you - but when you have sparkle, it shines brighter than any of that and noone can dull your sparkle unless you let them - so rise above it all and sparkle on! :o)

Here is my first sparkle of the year...

Don't mind me, I'm off to sparkle some more.... ;o)

Thank you for dropping by today!

Sarah x