Think what you will about New Year's Resolutions, but they have been the basis for my blog since I started it! It's nice to sit down and think about some fun crafty goals for the year ahead so I can think about different things I want to focus on, and perhaps challenge myself with something a bit different as well. It's also always super exciting to think about crafting anything I want after weeks of only making Christmas presents!
I've never completed a whole set of resolutions, and I try not to get too bothered about that, because I always have a good shot at the whole list, and I'm always getting my craft on, and that's really the point of the whole thing!
First up, let's look at 2016's list, and see what I managed to tick off.
Clear as many free and purchased craft kits as possible.
Fries Before Guys Cross Stitch Kit.
Arbour Alphabet Flags Bunting.
Pom-pom Gift Tags.
Wool Cards.
Cross Stitch Cards Kits.
Crochet Charm Bracelets.
Daisy Socks.
Cross Stitch Cards.
Flying Ducks Cross Stitch.
Fimo Clay Charm Bracelet.
Stag's Head Kit.
Make all the things I've bought supplies for but am yet to make.
Pink Iron Man Gloves.
Heart Pocket Apron.
Creepy Clown Cushion Cover.
Keep adding to my embroidery duvet.
Make things from my huge collection of craft books.
Pink Iron Man Gloves. (Pattern from Twinkie Chan's Crochet Goodies for Fashion Foodies: 20 Yummy Treats to Wear.)
Arbour Alphabet Flags Bunting. (Pattern from What Delilah Did Presents Secret Garden Embroidery.)
Cross Stitch Cards Kits. (Pattern from X Stitch by Sarah Fordham.)
Flying Ducks Cross Stitch. (Pattern from X Stitch by Sarah Fordham.)
Heart Pocket Apron. (Pattern from Crochet with One Sheepish Girl by Meredith Crawford.)
Colour Block Ribbed Turban. (Pattern from Crochet with One Sheepish Girl by Meredith Crawford.)
Fimo Clay Charm Bracelet. (Pattern from Make Clay Charms byApril Chorba.)
Creepy Clown Cushion Cover. (Pattern from Evil Knits by Hannah Simpson.)
Craft for Ivy.
Arbour Alphabet Flags Bunting.
Crochet Beanie for Ivy.
Baby Crochet Crown.
Mystic Mermaid Cocoon.
Ivy's Christmas Stocking.
Ivy's First Birthday Party.
I didn't complete any of them fully, though there were only a couple that could be "finished" anyway. I'm sad I only did one piece for my embroidery duvet, but I feel I made a good whack at the rest of them, so I'm quite happy. I tend to like the resolutions that are worded a bit more openly, so I don't need to feel too bad at the end of the year, as it's just as good to make progress towards something as it is to completely finish it.
So here are my resolutions for 2017. I'm back at work this year, teamed with a very active toddler, so I'm sticking with a small list again, and hopefully I can at least make a wee dent in all of them. A couple have made the list again this year, as I want to keep working on them!
1. Make more progress on my embroidery duvet.
I knew this project was going to take ages when I started it, but I really thought I would have done a lot more of it this year. I love embroidery when I'm doing it, but I think getting the pattern transferred and the set-up puts me off sometimes, and I just do something easier instead. This year I want to add a lot more, and keep expanding my embroidery knowledge by trying out different stitches and techniques.
2. Clear as many craft kits as possible.
This feels like it's always on my list but I feel like this year I can actually manage it. I have hardly any free magazines kits left as I have been picking away at the stash and not really buying any more craft magazines. 2017 might be the year I finally tick this off once and for all.
3. Finish decorating my doll's house.
I've had my doll's house since I was a teenager, but it still isn't decorated. It's only half done. I need to put in the lights and the flooring (which I have just waiting to be done), as well as fixing a couple of things that got broken the last time we moved. I'm desperate to finish it and be able to put all the cute furniture back in. Again, this has been on my list before, and I didn't manage to make any progress!
4. Craft for Christmas 2017.
Next year we've talked about actually having Christmas dinner at our house, and my head just lit up with all the cute stuff I've seen on Pinterest but never been able to use because we're usually at our mum's houses. I also bought the supplies to make Ivy an advent calendar for next year, and I'd like to sew her a patchwork gift bag, so I will definitely be getting my Christmas craft on in 2017.
5. Fill in Ivy's scrapbook.
A couple of years ago I got a lovely Project Life kit as a gift, and I had been saving it till I finished my Smashbooks. I decided to make it all about Ivy, but as I've been filling out her baby book mostly for her first year, I've yet to start the scrapbook. I'd like to get going on this so it doesn't get too overwhelming. I've been saving some bits since she was born, so I'm ready to go.
6.Sew, sew, sew!
They say a bad workman blames their tools, but I stand by the fact that my sewing machine constantly having tension problems really put me off sewing frequently. After a bit of Googling, finding out a lot of people had the same problem with my machine, and reading suggestions that top-loading bobbin machines were much easier to use, I decided to get a new sewing machine. I was lucky enough to get a lush new Janome DC3050 for my Christmas from my parents and I want to use it all the time, get super awesome, and be able to sew Ivy any Halloween costume she wants.
You can keep track of how I'm getting on with this year's list here, as I'll be updating it every time I make a wee dent in the list.
As usual I'll be doing the Goodreads reading challenge too, and you can see how I'm getting on with that using the Goodreads widgets on my sidebar!