Year in Review

Every year round this time, I take a look at my top locations for my audience. To my complete surprise, Google stats reported Germany had surpassed my American audience by nearly double the numbers! My real surname is German, and my alias last name Von Zalez is sorta German. 

Coming in at Number 2 is the U.S., followed by France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, Albania, Canada, and finally Russia. My Russian audience surpassed my American audience prior to the Ukrainian war. I suspect internet access in Russia has been limited. 

Google and Pinterest continue to remain top referring sites. 

I also Google my blog to see what comes up and Lookee here! I am listed as No. 8 in thrifting blogs in 2023 on feedspot.com. Not sure if that means anything, but cool to land in the Top 10. 

Big news on the personal front - I am returning to college! I took a 2 year hiatus from my art history degree. Part of the problem was the last class had an online textbook. I just can't handle that. I need an actual book. When I read I remember the sections and where they are located. Sure, you can bookmark an online document, but it is not the same thing. 

One year I ran into all sorts of tax advantages being a college student. I think there was some kind of lifetime educational credit or something. Tax season here in the U.S. is fast approaching. If one is self-employed, there are all sorts of tax advantages. 

Back to the possibilities for 2024 - I can take an in-person day class for the fall session. One of my requirements is Drawing and Composition, a class that has been on my Wish List for years.  

Christmas present to myself was the $60 including shipping cost, online auction purchase of approx. 30 quilter's orphan blocks. Half were unusable and thrifted back to the Great Thrift Shop Beyond. There were 22 completed blocks and more than enough pieces for this fantastic star-themed quilt.  

There are also some nice specialty-pieced blocks I will save for future use. There are 6 fairy-themed blocks - another project suited for a gift quilt. 

Since we are on the subject of quilting, here is a quick year in review of my completed projects. 

Son's fish fabric quilt. Even though this is just an image of the quilt top. It was bound and delivered prior to Christmas. It was the first time I used wool batting and will invest in that for most of my future projects. 

Tiki bar quilt listed for sale on Etsy. I plan on doing a couple of other tiki-themed wall quilts just for kicks and giggles. 

Mini Hawaiian shirt quilt that now resides in my work cubicle. 

Men's Hawaiian shirt quilt, now with the recipient family. 

Catsville quilt for the raffle basket and quilt for niece completed.  

I wasn't what you would call prolific in the quilting realm this year. I have lots of projects queued up and more quilts promised to family members. I am looking forward to working on the Lava Lamp quilt pattern. 

Selling update: This past month I've seen sales in Christmas CDs, and sewing patterns. Not much else has sold. I haven't been listing to give myself a break from it all.