2014 in review!

Hands up who hasn’t done a thing since Christmas? Yep. The past 7 days have been a complete blur for me, but a much needed blur. I really can’t believe another year has passed as I sit down today to review the blog-worthy stuff that’s gone down the past 12 months. If I’m honest, I’m a little disappointed I didn’t go out and initiate more opportunities for myself, but my confidence has really only started to pick up within the past few weeks, so I’m trying to be less hard on myself. 

2014 was the year I got pumped about getting my shit together and organised …

In March I summarized my top 5 spring decluttering tips in a blog post that I still use to this day. I then got to nerd out about organisation with Sarah in print in Image Interiors & Living‘s August / September issue, then I shared my ten minute morning tidy here on the blog in August. Something I do this day religiously every morning.

Then in May of this year I met up with a long time cyber friend Maria [aka, Dinki Dots!] and we attended the first Blogtacular 2014 in London town. It was an exciting and equally exhausting day and a half and I’m so glad Maria didn’t turn out to be a serial killer. I’m so very glad we decided to meet up as we got along even better in ‘real life’, sitting up way past our bedtime talking all sorts of nonsense. I can say I made a real friend with Maria. 

In June I was asked by Lily to help take her and her husband Alan’s online Mexican food shop and design their newly purchased shop. It was an absolute honour to be asked by such an awesome power couple to make Picado Mexican what it is today … 

… My heart still swells with pride [lame alert] when I think of Picado. I think of where we started, what we managed to achieve and not only how quickly we were able to give life to Picado, but we didn’t want to strangle each other by the end of it all. That’s how awesome Lily and Alan are. I couldn’t have asked to work with a more awesome and inspiring couple. 

The day after Picado opened, husband and I jetted off to Stockholm to chillax on our Baltic Cruise …

… What I wouldn’t give to be in either Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia or Latvia right now in the winter time. Insert heart-eye emoji here.
In August I was asked by my co-worker Avril to design a website for her to showcase her incredibly unique artwork ahead of her television debut …

… What we came up with was a tailored and streamline site that highlighted Avril’s mind boggling artwork, Avril Hutch Acrylic Artwork. You’ve seriously got to check out her artwork >> www.avrilhutch.com << Girl got mad skills.

This year I made a few DIYs and tutorials across a wide variety of skill levels and mediums … 

Some of my favourite DIYs this year were …

– the Death Star globe I made for husband’s birthday
– a tutorial on how to repair very worn [and haggard] rugs
– how to get bolder shelves on a budget
– my simple lamp shade upgrade
– the up/recycled cat scratching post I made from our old scratching post
– the DIY rescue kit for the unexpected guest, perfect for your spare bedroom
– this years edible ornaments that I made not once, but twice [because we’re pigs]

I was also featured in some pretty damn exciting articles both online and in print this year … 

… First up, not necessarily me per se, but our fur babies Juniper and Toshi were featured in AO’s favourite interior bloggers pets [thanks again Kimberly xx], I wrote for Image Interiors & Living, made my first appearance in a book, and most recently featured in the Sunday Times.
And the biggest change for me online this year was I finally bit the bullet and changed the name of my website from ‘Hydrangea Girl’ to ‘The Interior DIYer‘ in November. I know it shouldn’t make that much of a difference, but I already feel like I can take myself a bit more seriously. Just a bit. 

Happy New Years Eve, homies! I hope you’ve had a great 2014 and already have your mind set on new goals or milestones for next year. I know I do as I didn’t step out of my comfort zone as much as I’d like to have in 2014. But that’s what new years resolutions are for, right? Guilt tripping yourself. 

xx A

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14 Comments

  1. January 1, 2015 / 19:52

    Alex, you little chickadee – you had me grinning like a grinny thing reading your kind words!! (I was going to put "grinning like a [insert politically incorrect reference here]" but Lumberjack told me not to! Don't want to attract abuse to your blog from offended people!) You were my favourite part of Blogtacular!

    It's great to look over your year (and glad you put in my favourite 'tree framed castle thingy with gold bobble whatsit' picture) – you really have achieved so much, and should be very proud of yourself. I know there is more greatness to come in 2015 too!

    Happy New Year! I hope it's an amazing year for you xxx

    • January 2, 2015 / 18:37

      Oh Milesy. You are just too lovely. I must confess, I didn't have a bloody clue what you were referring to when you said "tree framed castle thingy with gold bobble whatsit picture". And then I scrolled up and realised you were talking about the church in St. Petersburg! Hahaha, oh you. I'm actually thinking of getting that photo printed on a giant scale as I'm proper proud of my 'framing' skills with that one. I'm not mad on all the green leaves though, but you gave me the most wonderful idea! Thank you! (Don't worry, it will make sense eventually).

      Surely you only meant grinning like a cheshire cat, yes? Yes. It must have been that.

      xx A

    • January 6, 2015 / 23:16

      I thought my description was confusing, but trusted you'd figure out my jabberings!
      Intrigued about the wonderful idea I've given you… mysterious indeed! Xx

  2. January 5, 2015 / 20:28

    Ahhhh what a fab year you've had!! And look it's the post I did with the kitties!! Yay!! Aww man I totally need to come and hang out with you and Maria – she's rather all kinds of awesome. Sigh. ROAD TRIP!!! xxx

    • January 6, 2015 / 10:49

      THAT WOULD BE SO AWESOME! We need to make it happen this year. Big time road trip. We could visit all manner of places and talk all manner of nonsense. Yes, yes.

    • January 6, 2015 / 23:13

      Yes, we should so do it!! Xx

    • January 9, 2015 / 18:25

      Right – seriously – we should plan this thing – SQUEEEEEEE!!!

    • January 10, 2015 / 14:48

      Aaaahhhh!! When? Where? Let's make it happen!! Although you two are far too cool for me. I said that to Lumberjack and he said "but you're cool in your own way" – hahahaha in my own way…say what??!!!!

    • January 12, 2015 / 10:26

      HAHAHA Maria, you total almond!!! If we went to high school together, we'd all be sitting at the same lunch table <3 "Is butter a carb?"

  3. January 8, 2015 / 04:25

    I clicked "Hydrangea Girl" in my uber tech savvy "Blogroll" favorites folder tonight only to find that you've done a bit of cyber house cleaning since I've last been! I love the new design and the commitment to produce more this coming year. Congratulations on a productive 2014 and here's to an even more satisfying 2015!

    • January 10, 2015 / 10:59

      I've been wondering if people would be redirected once I changed the name of my site, and luckily, it seems to have worked o/

      Thank you, Jennifer. It's always lovely to get feedback on the visual side of my site! I spend too much time geeking out over the smallest code xx

  4. January 9, 2015 / 13:37

    Alex, what a wonderful experience it was to work with you chick; you were the perfect gal for the job and you totally got us! Your commitment and work ethic is amazing and I predict great and wonderful things in your future. You work hard and that shows. We love what we did in Picado and all the love and dedication shows in every lovely detail! I cannot wait to work with you again! (maybe a Picado Cork branch in the future?!) hehehehe! Thank you and have a FANTASTIC 2015!!

    • January 10, 2015 / 11:39

      Oh Lily. You get me right in the feels. It was such an opportunity to work with you last year. And we so need to organize a little meet up sometime soon! For the sake of Picado. I think I'm experiencing withdrawl.

      And hell to the yes – Cork branch FTW! xx