Crafty resolutions for 2012

Happy New Year!

Who doesn't love a fresh, new year? The other day I was thinking of some crafty things I would love to do this year. Here's the list I came up with:

1. Knit 12 socks (6 pair)
I dye and sell sock yarn, yo! I should be knitting with this yarn too. Right?! There never feels like there's time, but I have come to realize that the first thing I do when I get up in the morning is go sit on the sofa with V for about a half hour before we get on with our day. Surely I can use 15 minutes of that time to work on a sock.  

2. Knit at least a couple of Christmas gifts for this year
Not everyone I know would appreciate a hand-knitted Christmas gift, but I can think of at least three off the top of my head who would. So I'd like to pick 3-5 projects and decide on when I will knit them and see if I can't get that done this year. 

3. Learn how to thread my sewing machine
My friend Kim was kind enough to find this sewing machine for me at a thrift store, clean it, oil it, and fix it up for me. I've made exactly one thing with it. Partially because it's down in the fiber studio - out of sight, out of mind - and partially because I am really intimidated by it.  But I really want to be able to make simple things with it, and I want her to know how much I appreciate the gift by actually using it! V has an idea she wants to bring to life this year and it involves sewing. It'd be so much quicker for me if I could sew it on the machine rather than by hand.

4. Sew a tote bag
Seems like an easy enough first project. 

5. Sew winter PJ pants for the whole family
This is something I've always wanted to do - make PJ pants for everyone annually. I think that'd be a wonderful family tradtion.  

6. Make an Advent calendar
This year just felt so very busy. And every day V would ask me how many more days until Christmas. It's time to get this family tradition started. I want to find something cute and get it together before the end of November. Any suggestions? 

7. Plan a few newborn shots for when Baby H is born
I've always wanted to take newborn shots - now here's my chance! I have a couple of ideas already, but I want to keep my eye on a few photographers for even more inspiration. 

8. Take at least one roll of black and white film with one of my vintage/toy cameras
I had an idea for 2011 that I wanted to take a roll of film per month. In the end, that just felt too overwhelming and I gave up before I even got started. So I'm going to make it easy on myself and just try to take one roll of black and white film. It's something I really want to do. If I can do more than that, great. But if I just get the one done, I'll feel I accomplished something photography-related this year. 

9. Work with V on her business idea
That's right, V has an idea for her own business. She's been talking about it for a good month now and I told her we'd get started on it after the new year. Of course she needs my help for it but she has already come up with ideas for two products and the name for the company all on her own. Of course it's all just fun for her, but I want to make sure I give her the best experience possible with it and to handle it all in the right way, as appropriate for her age and skills.

To keep up with all this, I have started a board on Pinterest. My intention is that it will become a mixture of inspiration and my own completed projects.

So, to get my crafty 2012 started off with a bang, I've begun my first pair of socks (here's my Rav project page for all the details).

Everything else I think I can do, as long as I plan when to do them, gather the materials sometime before the last minute, and possibly print and keep a copy of this post in my datebook.

I have a couple of other resolutions I've made too, but those aren't as fun. One is to floss my teeth every day in 2012. I used to do this, but fell out of the habit. I'd also like to get back to being plant-strong. That's my eternal struggle, apparently. And getting much, much, much more organized. I plan to do this with help from a book I found through Ginny at Small Things. The book is called Organizing Solutions for People with Attention Deficit Disorder. While I don't have ADD, my life is sufficiently busy enough that I get pulled in 20 different directions throughout the day and end up accomplishing maybe one thing when I should've finished five. This book has ideas for organization that just make sense to me. They're not always pretty, but if it's easier to clean up my house, I think it'll get done that much more often.

What about you? Any resolutions, crafty or otherwise? 

Comments

[HLiza]

I sure will make more journals; photo journals or plain written ones as 2011 saw me getting hooked to this newfound love. I also hope to buy a sewing machine and try using it..maybe have projects like you; so far my hands are never crafty enough..I can't knit, I can't draw! Happy new year guys!

[Tina]

I love your list of resolutions, especially the 12 pairs of socks ~ we share the same goal and will have to motivate one another. I can't wait to hear all about Miss V's new business idea ~ what fun! Happy New Year :)

[Brandie]

Love it all...especially the one about helping V with her business idea.

For me, it's stuff like taking a daily photo and with those photos, doing a weekly scrapbook layout about our week. Plus continuing along the path to more weight loss, getting healthier. A big one for me being in the present more often...stepping away from work and spending more down time with my family.

[Maiz]

Wow, your list is ambitious! If I were you, my resolution list would look something like this:

1. Have baby.

But, that's just me. I sort of contemplated making an "exercise a little every day" resolution, but now I think maybe I'll just go for flossing instead.

[Maiz]

Oh, and I'll also join you on the sewing machine one. Time for us to start intimidating them, instead of the other way around!

[rachel whetzel]

We do this: http://kellicrowe.typepad.com/kellicrowe/2006/11/one_little_two_.html
and I added our own family twist to it. http://www.minetothine.com/2006/12/some-pictures-song-great-christmas.html

[fer]

Love, love, LOVE the sock idea from Rachel. So easy and so cute and great idea NOT to fill the next day's sock until the night before. I'm going to share the idea w/ my daughter and my daughter-in-law.

And the book! Supposedly I don't have ADD but most of the time, I feel like I do. And so do lots of other people I know.... Wonder how many copies of that book I should order?

[melissa]

happy new year to you!!

[Melinda]

Maya, have you seen the book "your baby in pictures" by Me Ra Koh? Fantastic photo recipes starting with newborns on up. I took a workshop from Me Ra a few years ago and learned a ton - she has such a great way of seeing and explaining it too. I was so excited for her to publish her ideas to share with everyone.

Happy New Year! I know this year will bring you many wonderful things. :)