May 29, 2008

What were you doing 10 years ago...?

Thank you all for Luke's birthday wishes, the party went well, apart from, we did decide to be brave and go for a bbq, only for it to start raining just as Mr LK started cooking, then the gas promptly ran out!  Luke had fun anyway, and got lots of new cars, so he's one very happy little 3 year old.

I haven't had much time to blog this week with the children being off, and next, we are off to the Lake District for the weekend.  But while perusing Flickr, I did realise that I hadn't blogged this yet...

(front)

This is another version of my mum's bag, I changed the shape, mainly due to the fact that the felted cardigan used as the base fabric is now in short supply.

(back)
It was a present for my mother-in-law's birthday.

I've been tagged for the same meme by quite a few other bloggers, (forgive me for not listing everyone, and thank you for thinking of me).  Quite a few of the questions from the meme have already been answered by other meme's previously, but there was one question which caught my eye... what was I doing 10 years ago?

Well, 10 years ago I was newly married, living in our first house, no children yet and working in, what was probably a crafters dream job, an in-house design studio for a large multinational needlecraft kit manufacturer based here in the UK.  If the brand name was Anchor, then most likely, I would have had a hand in the production of it.  My first day there was in June 1994, and I remember it well.  I sat at a desk in front of a piece of graph paper and was asked to draw out my first cross stitch design, I had no idea where to start!  After 3 weeks of graph paper, I got to move onto the computer, through which I learnt a huge amount about design.  

I had the opportunity to work on projects with Marks & Spencers, the Embroiderers Guild, and Ehrman Tapestry to name but a few, and also had work featured in many of the craft and stitching magazines.  We had fun working there, it was a good design team, and there are many tales to tell... like the time I glued a bead to my forehead, or got my foot wedged in the arm rest on my computer chair (I wriggled around for about 10 minutes before asking for help to be released!), I put on well over a stone in weight as the snack machine was outside the design studio door, and the time our boss tripped and fell into the bottom draw of the artwork cabinet that someone, (who will remain nameless, but you know who you are!!), had left open.

All jobs have their ups and downs, and by the time I left, I'd moved in one direction, and the job had moved in another.  Anyway, I now have a new design team to work amongst...

all of you!

9 comments:

Lindsey said...

Fond memories... It is a great industry to work in, isn't it? I worked for a somewhat smaller business known for producing cross stitch kits. Our day to day worklife was 'variable' ;0) but I loved doing 'Stitches' trade show at the NEC - meeting all the customers and our sales force.

Kitty said...

What sort of bead? What colour? What shape? Did it look like a pretty bindi, or like a bead glued to your forehead? :-p

Sounds like fun anyway, and it's always good to read about the person behind the blog. Thanks for sharing. x

Anonymous said...

Amy - thanks for playing along. I too liked this question - isn't it fun to look back and think about all you've accomplished and how you've grown. Thanks for the insight! Have a great weekend!

Becky J. said...

10 years ago...hmmmm...isn't it nice that we always remember those "good" times. classic stories of ourselves that must be told to those who can relate. thanks for sharing.
ok. i will share-- i poked my rearend with a crochet hook, of course while at work.....

Becky J. said...

oh=-) i didn't push the anonymouse button. crap!!

Unknown said...

10 years ago I had just met Warren,and I was just about to get engaged, and then 2 months later get married (whirlwind romance!!!) so 1998 was my bestist year EVER!

Ginger said...

mother-in-law'sbag so great i just love it.She going to love it.I'm having fun reading all the comments you get . You all are so clever big hand clap for you all to keep up the great work .

Laura said...

10 years ago seems so far away now, but hasn't it flown. I was 20, in my 3rd year at art school knitting and felting, partying and worry free! I still feel the same today:)

Unknown said...

wow 10 years ago I was working in London as a secretary for my now husband ;-) I certainly could never have predicted where I would be today - living in New York, crafting full time .... all seems very surreal