Celebrating the Old, Ringing in the New

Celebrate card details on the Elizabeth Craft Designs blog HERE!

Happy New Year's Eve, my artlets!

I tend to look ahead (in a panic!) a lot of the time.  My life is filled with deadlines, both real - and imagined!  But it's been quite the year here at Quietfire Design and well worth a look back.

The Quietfire Design Team has shared a huge number of creations with you, both here on Quietfire Creations (219 posts!) and on their own blogs. We had a few talented guest designers share their special touches.  Many of the Elizabeth Craft Design designers have showcased the A Way With Words dies as well.  I can't tell you how much I appreciate their wonderful creativity and the variety of ways they find to use Quietfire products! To see most of these amazing projects, scroll through our Pinterest boards!  You can start with this one for rubber stamped artwork and this one for A Way With Words projects.



I started the year out at the Craft and Hobby Association conference in Anaheim and for the first time was wearing an exhibitor id. I spent most of my time at the Elizabeth Craft Designs booth learning so much that my brain was almost numb.  It was my pleasure to get to know Els and family and Susan Tierney-Cockburn and Karen Burniston.  Els had released 29 products for me this year bringing the total of A Way With Words collection to 41 (shhh, more coming very soon.  So excited!!)  For a quick overview, watch these little videos!

 

 

 

 

 

I was honoured to be published in most issues of CardMaker Magazine this year!  Many thanks to CardMaker editor Tanya Fox for liking what I do! It's always a thrill to open up and issue and see what's in there!
 

Which brings me to the designer of the die I used for the above Treasured Memory project above.  And that is the incomparable Becca Feeken.  Becca is a magician with paper. If you're not familiar with her, it's time to visit her website for a treat you'll never forget.  It's hard to pick a favourite card!  I have created a Pinterest board dedicated to her Quietfire projects HERE. I am so lucky she likes using my stamps!

 

 

In April, we published A Way With Words Cards and More ebook!  I learned a lot!  Special thanks to Elizabeth Craft Design for publishing our projects and Judi Kauffman for her invaluable assistance and eagle eye.  I started in January thinking I could have this polished off in a month....  As I said, I learned a lot!

This year I am celebrating over 500 designs in the Silhouette Online Design store!  Wow, how did that happen?! I think there must be something for every occasion and more. You'll find lettering, both formal and modern, boxes, cards and more.  It's an ongoing struggle with Illustrator to create these files, but that anguish has eased with the purchase of a new computer in August!  I fought a valiant battle - thinking it was my fault and I just wasn't digitally inclined - and then about 6 weeks after my purchase, things started falling into place.  Whew. I'm sure my blood pressure has taken a big drop!

In May, I started the Quietfire Digital blog, which is slowly gaining momentum. If you'd like to be a guest designer on it, send me an email with your project (and a link to your blog if you have one!)!  I have a limited number of designs in svg format on the Quietfire site HERE which are usable in most electronic cutting machines, but if you see something that is only available on the Silhouette Design store that you'd love as an svg, let me know!

 

A huge thanks to Silhouette America for inviting me to their 2016 Summit in Honolulu.  I was in tears when I got the invitation!  They introduced all their new products at the Summit (which I am slowly acquiring and experimenting with), hosted us in rooms in the Sheraton Waikiki overlooking the beach and ocean, and treated us to a sightseeing day and a dinner cruise. I was numb in disbelief.  So honoured! It was my pleasure to meet a number of the other amazing designers at the various events.  We are all so different!

And it's not because of this, but I have to say I am constantly reminded what an amazing tool the Silhouette Cameo is.

In September, I headed off to Edmonton, Alberta for the Great Canadian Scrapbook Festival, hosted by Creative Scrapbooker Magazine.  It was a great time!  And I didn't even get too nervous when I had to teach Make n' Takes.  I'm much more comfortable teaching day-long calligraphy and bookbinding workshops than short projects!  Thanks to everyone who came to shop or to visit in person! A special thanks to my friend Susan, whose tables, chairs and amazing talent for organization has made the event "doable" the last two years.  She also stores my display racks! I'm so lucky to work with someone who is on the same wavelength!I had another first there: my first Facebook Live broadcast!

 

 

   

 

 

In November, I put on my calligrapher's cap and went to Red Deer, Alberta to teach Foundational for the Lettering Arts Guild. I enjoyed every minute.  What a wonderful group - it always has been - welcoming me for the first time over 15 years ago!  (Gosh, how time files!)  Sending a special shout out to Roxanne, my hostess, for sharing her time, space and family with me!

 

Are you still with me?  Almost done!

 

 

I changed caps to my bookbinding cap and spent a delightful day in November on Gabriola Island, located just off Nanaimo. We folded, pierced and punched!  We had to punch holes on the floor because the tables had too much bounce!  Awesome books! Awesome group!

 

Unfortunately, the year ended on a sad note.  Fred Salmon, my calligraphy tutor, passed away.  He was 94.  I really don't even know where to start or where to end when describing him.  He was a truly amazing person.  Fred will always be sitting on my shoulder saying "I don't know about that, Suzanne...." even though he hasn't critiqued my work for many years. 

When I attended his celebration of life a few weeks ago there were many fine examples of his finished artwork, but this camera ready artwork for a poster was the piece that undid me. 

   

 

 

 

 I hope you, too, have had many fine events this year.  I hope you take a moment to jot them down!  I didn't realize how amazing a year it has been until I kept adding wonderful things to this blog post!

 

Thank you for coming along on this ride with me!  There are some fun things in store for 2017 (some coming very soon!)  and I hope you'll continue to enjoy what the Design Team and I have to offer.

 

The Quietfire Design Team is the BEST! They've experienced passings and weddings, poor health and renovations in 2016, and through it all they continue to create such beauty.



 Here are a very few of their creations which stood out to me when I was scrolling back through the blog!

 

Happy 2017 everyone!

 



Wanda



 

 

Yvonne



Diana



Kathy Jo

Connie

 



Yogi

 



 



Robyn

 

 

Selma

 

 



Teresa