2022 ended for me with art on doors. My daughter Claire, who creates like there's a fire that can't be extinguished in her soul, painted some of our interior doors. They're just doors - inexpensive, old, inside doors. I figured, if/when the house is sold someday, that's an easy swap out, right?
So 2023 begins and new doors open. We at Hip Stitch made the decision to close for a 2nd day each week, for a number of reasons, but time to rest, plan, create were a few of them.
The last few years have been a roller coaster of running a business. It's time to calm the waters, right the ship, and sail on with calmer weather.
Part of that goal for me as the co-owner of this business is finding my footing of what IS Hip Stitch.
*A huge, carry everything fabric store? Definitely not.
*A take a number, ignore you when you come in because we don't have time for you? Nope.
*A club where you'll only get niceties if you know us and we know you? Gad no.
*A place where you'll feel embarrassed to ask questions because you feel you'll be judged? Definite NO.
It's been almost 15 years that I've been at the helm of this ship. I've grown, I've learned, I've been put in my place and humbled and learned humility and laughed until I peed my pants and made lifelong friends and had help for my depression from the community that supports and lifts me up by shopping at Hip Stitch and asking me how I'm doing. I'm a very lucky girl.
So, at the risk of making those dreaded 'resolutions' that we've all done at one time or another in our lives and then been disappointed in ourselves when we've failed at them:
In 2023, I plan to teach more.
In 2023, I plan to listen more.
In 2023, I plan to work just a bit more on my passion for social justice and how Hip Stitch can be a vehicle for that.
In 2023, I plan to nurture friendships more.
The word more doesn't have a timeline to it, or a concrete set of objectives. I'm going to be more gentle with myself, and forgiving, and continue to begin each day by saying out loud, "It's a new day"....which if you ask my daughters, they occasionally get a text from me in the morning with that message.
(Won't you join me on this journey?)
Some of the highlights from 2022:
(also known as a photo dump)
Having 2 local artists jump on board with my co-owner Steve and I and our dream to produce fabrics unique to Hip Stitch while showcasing artists & their work to our customers. Victoria and Tammy took this plunge with us and it was quite fun - we hope to continue with them and having one more artist we're on the verge of having her fabric printed!
(lesson learned: everything takes 3 times longer than we expect)
A once-in-a-lifetime trip to Mexico on behalf of Hip Stitch w/Reut & Ginny:
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| A daughter who had her heart broken and went on a solo backpacking trip to Europe. |
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| Steve & I accepting the NM Business in Ethics Award. (I didn't pass out from public speaking - win-win!) |
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| A new son-in-law! They are simply beautiful, these 2. (neckties made with Hip Stitch fabric....just sayin') |
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| A new son-in-law who quilts! |
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| A sweet flower girl whose dress I loved making, almost as much as I love these girls. |
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| The 4 of us, on the day that we became the 5 of us. |
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| Crafting with children = happiness. |
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| My friend Heather and I seeing each other after too long, at the wedding. Heather co-founded Hip Stitch with me. I am so very lucky to have her in my life. So, let's fling open a new door and get going through it, shall we? |
