Closing out 2016

I'm about to say something that is said by so many of us, and holds true, every year.
"I can't believe a whole year has gone by already!"

Having wanted to get back to my blog, I figured the new year would be a great time to start.  However, before I do, there are some 2016 happenings, I wanted to share.  This year, was a busy year for me, both personally and in the shop.  My husband and I celebrated our 30th Wedding Anniversary in June; and Gitta's, likewise, celebrated it's 30th in October.
30 years, wow!
I wish my mom could be here to enjoy her accomplishments, she would have been so proud and thrilled.
I can remember thinking, many many years ago, when I started working at Bell Canada, that 25 years seemed so far far away.  My co-worker had just celebrated 25 years of working at Bell, and to me that seemed like a lifetime away.  Today, I feel, the past 30 years have flown by way too quickly.  Here's hoping I will savour every moment of the next 30 years.

As those of you having already seen the photos on facebook know, that my husband and I thought Hawaii would be the perfect place to celebrate our 30th Anniversary.                         
                                                                                                We had a fabulous time.  We walked along the beaches (white, black and green sand), climbed into volcano craters and lava tubes, saw a live volcano, watched the sunset at 13,800 ft on top of Mauna Kea (a dormant volcano),  visited some tourist spots, shopped along Waikiki, snorkeled with sea turtles, ziplined over waterfalls, hiked along ridge trails, and body surfed (not very well).
 
In October, we celebrated Gitta's 30th Anniversary.  I can remember first opening our doors in a smaller shop just down the road.  I remember thinking the shop looked a little bare, but after only 10 years we had outgrown that location and moved to the larger shop we are outgrowing today.  The shop has been like my third child, yielding a wonderful extended family of stitching friends and customers.  I have loved every minute, and could not think of anything else I would rather do.

My dad is still a regular fixture in the shop, and was there to help with the  Anniversary celebrations.  We had many wonderful donations from our suppliers, which we used for door prizes and gift bag stuffers.

We ended the year with our Annual Christmas Open House.  As always it was held on the first Saturday in December.
We prepared gift bags for everyone, laid-out the snack table, had a sale on everything in the shop, and prizes were drawn at the end of the day.

As I do every year I had also designed yet another reindeer, which we kitted as my gift to everyone that dropped by to partake in some Christmas Cheer.

Knowing, not all of you are able to drop by the shop, I would also like to gift this year's Reindeer with all of you.  With any luck Santa's reindeers will fly all around the world.
Click here for your copy.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with family & friends.
Wishing you all a fabulous New Year, filled with love, health, and happiness.