A conversation with a friend last week about what made a year good or bad got me looking deeper at how we define ourselves and what is important. It provoked a renewed check-in on my self-awareness, which got me thinking about what it is that I really do with my time. I mean, what am I chasing? Is it wealth, social media fame, a job title, or traffic on my website? Am I chasing anything at all? Maybe I’m just rolling along? Isn’t that ok, too?
How do you measure a good year?
Today I will share my year in review and let you come to your own conclusions.
I was grateful to take the month of January off from alterations and visit some of my oldest friends and family. We traveled all the way from Ohio to Savannah, Georgia, through Florida, and then on to New Orleans, Louisiana, with a bunch of points of interest in between and thereafter!
- NOLA
- Camping in New River Gorge National Forest
Entering art shows, juried and non-juried shows, can be scary. You may be rejected or, worse, judged by the public. This year, I did three big ones.
- The View, Juried Landscape at Rosewood Art Center
- Rosewood’s Annual Print Exchange
- Passages: A Collaboration Community Art Project
I was honored and flattered to have been in three noteworthy publications.
- I was interviewed for my dressmaking by the Dayton Daily News
- My group, The Dayton Designers Meet-Up, was interviewed by WYSO
- My city interviewed me about my fitness journey.
I had the privilege of teaching and mentoring countless students. Thank you!
- Simple Skirt Drafting Class
- Sewing Machine Basics
- Mika interned with me last summer.
I tried my hand at leadership, public speaking, organizing volunteers, and volunteering as President of the Kettering Arts Council.
- Art On The Playground, Art on the Commons, Rosewood Holiday
- Learning New Things
- Artist Receptions
The Dayton Garment Designer Meet-Up is a group I started in 2015. We hold fabric swaps, see art shows, hold educational events, and get sew-cial!
Oh, the art exhibits I’ve seen this year. I wish I could list them all.
- New Orleans Museum of Art
- Dayton Art Institute
- Imagine, Glass Art Museum, St Petersburg, Florida
I did two big photoshoots one with Becky Cates and one artist collaboration with Joy2Sew.
- Photo Shoot with professional photographer Becky Cates
- Collaboration with designer and costumer Joy Hoover
I cut back on material consumption to save up for my dream draping dress form. I used books to learn proportions, how sizing works, and more about fit.
- Meet Claudia Wolf
Like all bodies, I have a special size, height, and my style is unique. This makes it hard to sell clothing I’ve made for myself. I sold almost 30 dresses in my work studio.
I survived on my own for three months while my husband, a disabled adventure cyclist, Juicymelt was riding his bicycle from coast to coast across America. I learned a lot about myself during this time.
- The blueberry lemon cake I made him.
- The day he got back from his cross country trip.
- The time I spent with friends.
- The 2024 eclipse totality.
I practiced my flat pattern drafting skills and worked with some amazing patterns, making almost 50 garments this year. Here are just a few of my favorites.
I have no idea what 2025 holds although I’m optimistic it will be a year of growth. Thank you to my family, friends, and followers for your continued love and support.
Thank you for reading,
Tracy McElfresh
Dream it! Sew it!
- Indie Shop Fabric Haul, Southwest, Vanlife Tour, 2025 - January 28, 2025
- How Not to be a Fabric Hoarder 9 Years Later - December 28, 2024
- Professional Sewing in Fit and Sewing Tips in and Around a Minute - December 18, 2024
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