Well hello 2015

Happy New Year!

I saw in the New Year watching Father Ted (I had been watching Gosford Park!), in my PJs crocheting. It was only the fireworks going off that alerted me to the fact it was midnight!

Although I'm not a big fan of New Year, I do like to take the opportunity to see it as a new start. A chance to think about the year ahead and set myself a few goals.

Last year, I said that I wasn't going to buy any craft supplies unless I needed them for my course or my business. I can firmly say that I failed epically in that department! My yarn stash is bigger than ever. Oops. 

I've set myself 3 goals for 2015.

1) To follow a vegan diet

I won't go into the big details here about my reasons for a vegan diet but I've decided that, starting today, there will be no dairy, eggs, honey or utter animal products in my diet. I've been a strict vegetarian for around 13 years now and I've already cut dairy out of my diet as I'm intolerant to it so eggs (and cake!) are the big challenge now. 

2) Journal 52

Last year I started the art journaling challenge, Journal 52. Sadly, life got too busy and I just didn't get round to making my pages. I love art journaling but haven't been making time for it so this year is the year I do! I've allocated a day, Wednesday's, so I can look forward to it each week. Keep an eye out for my posts!

3) And finally, the stash

I looked through my yarn stash the other day and came to the conclusion that I had a lot of yarn and I couldn't get rid of any of it. I'm not saying that I can't buy anything (look where that got me last year) so I'm going to make an effort to liberate what is in there! 

Have you set yourself any goals for 2015? If so, I'd love to hear about them!

... and in with the new

In my last post, I reviewed 2013 (if you missed it, you can read all about it here) 

The start of a New Year is a chance to set intentions for the coming 12 months.  To think about what you want to get out of the New Year.  I often choose a word or a quote to inspire me throughout the year - I will share this with you in a future post.

As in previous years, I'm going to set myself a crafty resolution - yes this year it's just 1 but it's going to take all my willpower to succeed with this one!

TO USE UP THE STASH

Every crafter has a stash.  Every crafter needs a stash, items that you can just go and grab when you need them.  However. my stash has gotten a little out of control.  It is enormous!

 I have boxes of yarn, fabric, buttons, ribbons, paper and don't even get me started on the number of sketch and note books I've got.  My craft room is like a small branch of Hobbycraft!

In 2014 I'm going to use up the stash.  I'm only going to buy new if I NEED it (that's NEED not WANT!) so if I need it for my City and Guilds course or for an order (and of course, I can have a small budget for Woolfest).

I have some amazing goodies hidden away that desperately need to be turned into something beautiful and be admired.

I'm pretty certain that this is a resolution I can work with and I will share with you what I've been making with my extensive stash. 

Have you got any crafty resolutions for 2014?  Do you want to join in me in my liberation of the stash?

Out with the old ....

As 2013 draws to a close its out with the old!  I love spending a little bit of time, at the end of a year, reflecting on the events of the previous year.


So, how has your 2013 been?  

I can honestly say that my 2013 has been crazy in an amazing way and, when I look back at it, has been one of the best years I've had in a while.  There have been so many new challenges and opportunities and it makes me see the decisions I made in 2012 as the right ones.

As you may remember, I made 3 crafty New Years Resolutions at the end of last year - lets take a look at how successful, or not, I've been with these.

1. To sew myself a skirt!
I had some Amy Butler fabric, which I bought in the sale way back in 2012.  I'm pleased to say that it is now a skirt!  The most beautiful A-line maxi skirt perfect for wearing in the hot weather, or with boots in winter.  I used a great book,Sew What! Skirts , which clearly teaches you how to make your own pattern for an a-line and straight skirt.  It was really easy to do and I can't wait to make a straight, needlecord skirt in the New Year.

2.  To develop The Gingerbread Bunny through: a website, teaching workshops and selling at craft fairs.
The Gingerbread Bunny has definitley grown in 2013 - having the time to dedicate to it has been a great advantage in this!  I've taught private crochet workshops in a lovely cafe in Wigan and now teach crochet classes as part of the adult education programme which will continue in 2014 with a second beginners class (my first was oversubscribed) and, fingers crossed, an improvers class to.
I have sold at a few craft fairs this year.  I've experienced the good and the bad of these.  My best fair was one I paid a little bit more for for me stall but was by far the most successful and, even better, I received great feedback on my items.
In terms of a website, I'm not there yet.  I've improved my blog to make finding information easier but really, I need a website.  I've delegated this task to Mr Bunny for 2014.

3. To blog regularly.
Ok - I started off well but, towards the middle of the year, failed miserably.  So, I've decided not to force myself into blogging regularly.  I will blog when I feel that I need to and not in a timetabled way.  I'm going to use the Blogger App on my phone to blog on the move which may mean more short posts to share what I'm making or what I've seen rather than committing to weekly, longer posts.  I do want to write more tutorials this year so keep an eye out for those.

Overall, I'm quite pleased with how I've done with my crafty resolutions - how did you do with yours?


Keep an eye out for tomorrows post all about my resolution for 2014.