Hello all, we are here to say farewell and thank you, as well as to celebrate the fabulous creativity of all our participants over the years with a double helping of Pinworthy projects. So let's start right there... First of all, here are the Pinworthy projects from November's Pairs, Trios and Sets challenge. It was a really wonderful collection of entries, making it very hard to select just three for our Pinworthy board (which will stay active so that you can continue to be inspired), but in the end these are the three projects we decided to feature... #3 Makena MB a.k.a. @avant_card #8 Cassie a.k.a. @mk_knits #11 Monika a.k.a. @mixmedart And here are the choices from December's Merry Little Christmas and Farewell ATCs challenge. Again there were some lovely projects, though not everyone spotted we were really looking for ATCs... so here are the projects we ended up deciding to honour... #16 Sara Emily a.k.a. sarascloset #17 Christine a.k.a. Craftyfield #22 Lyla a.k.a. A Chief's Wife I hope you'll agree that's a fabulous finale of creations - and thank you to all those who participated. As always, the Creative Guides had a great time visiting your projects. Sadly, it can't be put off any longer... it's time for the farewells. We'd like to thank you all for your support and participation, and especially for the lovely messages we've received since announcing we'd be ending the journey at the end of this strangest and most extraordinary of years. All the Creative Guides send their love and thanks. Let's hear from some of them (along with their "vintage" photos from simpler times!) Julia of Create With Me I have so enjoyed my 5 years as a Creative Guide at AVJ. Learning SO MUCH, not only from the team, but also from all of you who joined us each month in sharing your artistic talents and creative ideas! Julia xx Jennie of Live the Dream and @atkinsonjennie How can I sum up my time with A Vintage Journey? Seven (almost!) wonderful years of creativity, learning new skills and techniques, gaining confidence in my work and teaching abilities but above all else the friendships made both here in the UK and wider afield, many of whom I have met and spent time crafting with. AVJ will be a huge miss but I have wonderful memories of an amazing time. Jennie x Alison of Words and Pictures and @w0rdsandp1ctures I've been here from the beginning so this is a definitely a wrench, but I'm sure it's the right decision as we all find ways to cope with this strange new world. It was so exciting to be invited by Brenda to be a part of this wonderful Vintage Journey, and I've forged firm and lasting friendships en route. Of course, it's sad that this stage of the journey is over, but I've no doubt we will all continue to meet one another somewhere along the road. Love and thanks to all the Creative Guides I've enjoyed working alongside and learning from, and to all the amazing participants over the years. It's been a wonderful ride. Astrid of Astrid's Artistic Efforts and @astridchristinemaclean Nearly 7 years and what an amazing journey it has been! There have been many Highs, and perhaps a few Lows too, but overall it has been a time of so much creativity, joy and friendship. I have learnt so much during these years, both from my fellow creative guides, both past and present but also from our fabulous visitors and challenge participants. So as this strange year draws to a close and our blog journey here comes to an end, - the overriding sentiment I feel is one of Gratitude! So Thank You all so very much and may the new year bring you all health, happiness, creativity and peace! Astrid xx Jo of Let's Art Journal and @letsartjournal I have plenty of happy AVJ memories to smile about; from taking part in the challenges to becoming a Creative Guide which was always a dream of mine. I have made some wonderful friendships along the way and I would like to thank the other Creative Guides for being so welcoming and supportive, as well as everyone who has participated in our challenges – you are such an inspiration! Being part of this team has been very special to me and has pushed me creatively out of my “Art Journaling” comfort zone. This included creating some winter wonderland decorations for the “Mini Marvels” challenge which I still put up every year, tags for Tag Friday leading my to create a Tag Journal of memories, cards as part of our Creative Card Making tutorials and of course my very first ATCs. I have to say that I have loved every moment and I feel very blessed that you were part of my creative journey - thank you so much! Love & hugs, Jo x Nikki of Addicted to Art and @nikki_act Well it's time to say goodbye to A Vintage Journey. My first design team post was nearly at the beginning, but not quite - it has been a wonderful 6.5 years of craft and friendship. Thank you to all the amazing people I met along this journey, you are an inspiration. With love to you all. Barbara of yaya scrap & more and @barbarayaya I have been a Creative Guide for a short time but it is not quantity that matters in things, what matters is quality! The time I spent with the other Creative Guides was splendid and I can say that the AVJ team is without a doubt a wonderful and supportive group in times of difficulty, full of fantastic artists! For this, I thank all the Creative Guides and all of you who have followed us! I am happy to have been part of it! Stay strong, hugs, Barbara Annie of CuriousnCrafty Treasures and @mcmacannie I really can't find the words to let you know how much being part of this team has meant to me. I have enjoyed every minute and thank all of the Creative Guides, both past and present, for their kindness, support and inspiration throughout this amazing journey. I would also like to thank our lovely followers for their positive comments and inspiring entries to our challenges. Wherever your next creative journey takes you I wish you all the best. Lots of love & hugs Annie xxxx Amanda of Ink-a-Pink and @p1nkart I have loved every minute journeying with my fellow Creative Guides that have become valued friends who I love, respect and admire greatly. You all have a very special place in my heart. A Vintage Journey has allowed me to grow both creativity and personally and I feel truly blessed and so very grateful to have been an AVJ Creative Guide for 5 years. Since knowing A Vintage Journey was reaching its final destination my heart has been heavy but it has also been full, full of all the many ‘happy’s’ I now have to treasure. Thank you AVJ it really has been the best journey ever, an amazing ride to remember always. Toni of artistic craft dabbler and @toniajao It has been such an honour to be a Creative Guide on A Vintage Journey. I remember when the blog first launched and it was a joy to see the wonderful projects, in the styles I so loved. I was in awe of the skills and imagination of the Creative Guides and I can honestly say that the AVJ blog was instrumental in spurring me on to develop my own work. I am so happy that I got to share at least some of the journey. Of course, all of this would not have been possible without the fantastic support of our loyal followers. Thank you all for helping to make my dream come true. Toni x Ann of Ann Chuang Crafts and @annchuangcrafts I have been a Creative Guide for a short time but it is a wonderful time in my life! The time I spent with the other Creative Guides was splendid and I can say that the AVJ team is a wonderful and supportive group! For this, I thank all the Creative Guides and all of you who have followed us! I am happy to have been part of it! Stay safe, hugs Ann ... and last (but the opposite of least!) the founder of A Vintage Journey, Brenda Brown, without whom none of the journey would have taken place at all... Brenda of Bumblebees and Butterflies Starting and being a part of A Vintage Journey opened up so many opportunities for me both to learn from so many talented artists and to share my love of all things art and craft. Each new destination allowed me to stop, take stock of what I was doing, to think, research and to experiment with new ideas. I have been able to develop many new skills and combine them with the ones I bought with me and in doing so I have 'met' so many wonderful people from all around the world and made so many new friends. I would like to thank each one of the Creative Guides and each one of you, our readers and participants, for the fellowship, support and love you've shared over the 6+ years we've been together. My best wishes to you all. Yes it's been just one incredible journey and one amazing expedition. I think you can tell how much we've enjoyed ourselves here, and A Vintage Journey will still be here for you to enjoy. You can still drop in if you'd like to browse the nearly seven years of inspiration from the Creative Guides, special Guest Creative Guides, and of course from everyone who has joined us on the journey for one of our challenges. We know we'll continue to meet you along the way via our blogs and yours, as well as on other social media platforms. From all of us to all of you... thank you, stay safe, stay creative and good luck wherever your future journeys take you. Happy New Year and happy onward travels, everyone! With love from all of us at A Vintage Journey xx