Sunday 23 September 2012

A five year anniversary...

:: the patchwork of my life ::


Who knew when I first started writing this blog that I would be able to maintain the momentum of it continuing for five years? And yet here we are today, marking that very anniversary.

It has been my place to record the minutiae of my life and has brought me many unexpected things in return: wonderful friendships, a sense of community, a passion for crafting and being creative, intensified by the joy of sharing.





I like to think of it as a colourful space and one that reflects my outlook on life. It is ridiculously obvious from a mere glance through this blog where my passions lie. This year, more so I think, than any other, a huge focus has been on my garden. The colour I add outside is interpreted into what happens inside. Having said that, my garden, like the inside of my home isn't necessarily a riot of colour in all its permutations, but instead I like to add punches of it now and then. And that is a good thing as there have been periods of intense darkness, as regular readers will understand.






This blog also gave me a taste of how it feels to write about the things that are important to me and through it I found the confidence to write about how it felt when Tom died enough to be able to embark on a soul-searching journey that ended in the publication earlier this year of my book. Sometimes my posts require few words and at other times, I find that the words are flowing freely and my fingers are moving swiftly over the keyboard. I like that often, my photographs speak for themselves and I have never felt more inspired to capture elements of life and have them all in one place.






This chair that I re-upholstered (freestyle as I went along, using one of my favourite fabric collections), now has pride of place in my kitchen. It has become quite a talking point and one that I have been nagged (you know who you are!) about blogging about on many occasions. So it finds itself here, in this post, and reflects exactly what my blog and the whole blogging experience has come to mean to me: the patchwork of who I am and what I like (and don't like), in all its mismatched glory.


You never know what the next post will contain. I never know! I just mosey along and when the mood takes me, I blog.

So there you have it. Sort of in a nutshell. I am hugely proud of this space and long may it continue. Who knows what it will become? I have the inkling of an idea in my mind about perhaps taking my crafting to another level so the focus might change. I hope not too much. Onwards and upwards!

22 comments:

  1. Congratulations on 5 years a-blogging! Long may it continue. I've only recently discovered your blog... even though I've been there for 5+ years too!

    Good to meet you at our willow weaving creative bloggers day last week,

    Celia x

    btw I LOVE your chair!!!!

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  2. Congratulations on being 5! I love your chair too!

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  3. Congratulations. I love your blog and look forward to reading it, especially when there have been periods of absence. The chair is stunning.
    Liz

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  4. Another set of congratulations on reaching 5 bloggy years old from me too - and another covert of that chair - just stunning :)

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  5. You know how much I love your chair, and your blog and how happy I am to have had the chance to make a real life connection via a cyber one. Congratulations on the 5 year milestone and looking forward to the next exciting phase.

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  6. You KNOW how I feel about that chair. It is exquisite and helped to calm me down before the fair last week. It has healing powers, I'm certain. As has this blog. It is a wonderful, soothing, creative place and when I clicked over here a few weeks ago it made me realise how much I was missing having visited blogs so rarely over the summer. I can't tell you how excited I am about this possible new phase. Truly xxxxx

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  7. Tracy, I have really enjoyed our little chats on twitter, but for some inexplicable reason, never got to your blog here. Well. So pleased I eventually made it, and I don't quite know where to start except to say what a wonderful space you have here (and that chair is awesome!).

    And I read the post you linked to about Tom, your love for him and the tenderness with which you write about it has left me so moved, I don't really have the words...

    Very much looking forward to being one of your blog readers heading off into the new phase. Bx

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  8. When I started reading this post, I was concerned that you were about to announce your departure from blogging. Phew. Here's to the next five years (and beyond) of Dragonfly!

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  9. Came across your blog for the first time yesterday. Looking forward to a good mosy around but for now, many congratulations on making it to five years. And on my, that chair! Claire

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  10. Congratulations - it has been such a privilege to be a reader here and delight in your creations (that chair, your quilts, your photography - everything) and also be with you when times have been not so bright.

    xxx

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  11. Congratulations Tracy on your first five years and here's to many, many more. I can't remember when or how I found you but I am so glad that I did. Your blog is a constant source of pleasure, I always love your photographs as you have a real talent for capturing a beautiful image and your crafting is inspirational - your boldness with colour has really inspired me to try combinations that I'd not otherwise have thought of. It's wonderful too that your writings here have led to the publication of your book and led you to a group of like-minded friends who I feel very proud to be included in. Anyway, well done you and thank you for your blog. Oh and for what it's worth, I definitely think that taking your crafting adventures to another level is your destiny xxx

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  12. Life is a patchwork, it takes the dark patches to make the bright ones sparkle. It takes courage to stitch the two together and make something useful and beautiful. Congratulations on your 5 year blog anniversary. We look forward to many more! Thanks!

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  13. I am so lucky and happy to know you, Tracy, and feel privileged to be with you (if from afar) in good times and not so good. Your creative gifts are staggering, and your approach to life inspires me constantly. Congratulations and much, much love. xoxo Lynn

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  14. happy 5th blog birthday Tracy, so very happy to have been here to read it, and to see that chair in person xxx

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  15. Congratulations on your 5 years. Your wonderful patchwork blog is a joy and an inspiration, I hope you know that Tracy x

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  16. Congratulations on 5 wonderful years. And that chair is AWESOME!!! Love, Love the bright, happy colors!!!

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  17. What a lovely post, a lovely room and as for that chair. Oh my, why on earth have you left it so long to show it off? It I GORGEOUS!
    Happy anniversary, you have achieved a huge amount.
    Kate x

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  18. Happy blogoversary - that chair is so wonderful, I want one exactly like it!

    Pomona x

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  19. Happy Anniversary! And I'm completely smitten with your chair! K xx

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  20. Oh-my-gorgeous! I love, love, love your armchair...have secretly been lusting after making something similar myself for (cough, cough) years...it'll never happen honestly!

    Happy anniversary - I always thought after about eighteen months my blog would dry up, but almost four years on and I'm still motivated and keen as I was when I first started.

    take care,

    Nina xxx

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  21. Happy Blogiversary Tracy. The chair is perfect. XX

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