Bye bye 2011 - it's been AWESOME!

A post to pay tribute to 2011, cos it's been a right blast! Here we go...

♥ January

I lost a bloody lot of weight!  No complaints here - shame it was down to the heartbreak diet. Onwards and upwards...

...I booked my flights for Austin, Texas!

♥ February

We ran our first co-hosted giveaway with Sick For Cute! to launch the 'Meet The Stockist' interview posts.

I did my first video blog!

I bought a pair of roller skates and started regular roller dance classes. I also gave roller derby a shot! (Turns out I don't like getting knocked about).

I went to London and had a really lovely weekend with Samantha where she got papped by Elle Magazine and we had gorgeous cupcakes from Selfridges.

Our Electric Storm necklace was featured in Cosmopolitan Magazine! Wowow!

I led a jewellery workshop with about 50 students there!

I watched a season and a half of Mad Men and lost another 8lbs.

♥ March

I learnt how to tie my hair in a big top knot, a la Breakfast At Tiffany's

I went to Lincoln to visit a friend that I hadn't seen in years. It was fun!

I haphazardly opened a shop in Leeds city centre

♥ April

I went on a girl's holiday to Barcelona which was very cool. A real whistle stop tour but saw everything I wanted to see and had a right larf.

I had my hair styled at GHD head office and they made me look red-carpet ready! All dressed up and nowhere to go...

♥ May

I had the wonderful privilege of being befriended by the Hebe Media team who were off to Barcelona to big-up the Leeds scene.  Sadly it was too late to physically join them on the adventure but they took my jewels over and interviewed me as part of their featured creatives.

Team Hebe Meets: Rowan Grant from HebeMedia on Vimeo.

I launched The Kapow Collection - one of my favourite collections to date!  The pieces got photographed by friend photographer Carla De Azevedo and modelled by Victoria Stansfield. Cute eh?

♥ June

I went to Austin for a fortnight which was freakin awesome.  I made new friends, spent lots of time with Kate and had a good relax!  I'll definitely be back there just as soon as I can!

I turned another year older!

♥ July

With Carla and Victoria, we did the first ever Kitschen Sink studio photography shoot.  It was loads of fun!

I decided to close the shop I had opened in March.  It was a really interesting learning experience.  I trust my gut feeling and instincts completely and on this occasion it just didn't suit my tight-ship, independent style of working.  I'd maybe try retailing again in the distant now I know what to look for in a premises, but I love the flexibility of design right now.

♥ August

I went to the Trafford Centre for the first time!

I left my day job in staff development for a promotion to a centre of innovation in medical technologies. Ooh lala! It meant I'd get to give more ideas, dabble in marketing and there's lots of talk of Intellectual Property, a subject I love!

I got accepted to sell at Saltaire Festival.

Kitschen Sink was featured on Le Look - a Barcelona based fashion blog, thanks to Hebe.

LeLook.eu

I won a unicorn onesie!

♥ September

I sold at Saltaire Festival and Reet Sweet!

I was shortlisted for TWO Leeds retail awards!

♥ October

I had a gander at the first ever Renegade craft fair in the UK.  It was OK!

I launched mini-pins as part of the Kapow Collection that are suitable guys and dolls... they really took off!

I took part in ReetSweet and we went for drinks after with some of the stall holders who are a great bunch!

Business Link ran a special event with two big names in the fashion business - Eric Musgrave and David Seabourne. It was inspiring!

I did my first ever outdoor market and found out I was accepted to BUST Christmas Craftacular in London!

♥ November

I took part in Super Duper Fair in Blackpool and BUST Christmas Craftacular in London... and another outdoor market!

My best friend got married and I was bridesmaid! It was on Bonfire Night. A really special day.

I learnt how to network properly - I know, right?!

I saw Friendly Fires live and had a really good night out afterwards involving a cocktail of shots. Wowza!

We encountered the worst train journey of my life - I was meant to leave London at 8pm, and I got home at 3.30am the next day!

♥ December

 I somehow managed to sell at three events over two days. Crazy sales!

The biggest and best news of the year - Russell Kane wearing a POW mini-pin on Twitter and then ON TV! Read the story here!

xoxo

♥ Colourful ♥ Kitschy ♥ Funky ♥ Fun...

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