Resolutions for 2014

I know we're already 10 days into the New Year but I've finally decided on my New Year's Resolutions!

As well as all the usual stuff like trying to eat better, save money, etc, I resolve to...

1. Get out of the house and go places and see people.

My "weekly" Nice Days Out have been awesome. It's been really good for me to have some proper days off from work (less stress! more exercise! loads of inspiration!), and going to all these new and interesting places has been great. I'm aiming to go on 50 Nice Days Out this year and also to take 2 slightly longer trips (one in the spring - which I've just booked! - and one in the autumn). I also need to actually make the effort to meet up with people for coffee, etc, instead of failing to get round to it like I usually do.

2. Make more time for books.

The internet is great, but I need to be a lot stricter with myself about turning off my laptop in the evening and picking up a good book instead. See also: turning off the TV. So I am aiming to read at least 36 books this year. My teenage self would be frankly appalled at the idea of reading so few books in a year, but I think 3 a month is a sensible target: more than I managed last year, but still achievable.

I also have a big stack of lovely craft books sitting in my "to review" pile that I need to look at and, you know, actually review! So.... I'm going to aim to review at least 36 craft books here on my blog (just revewing the ones I currently have to review will take me up to 25! Eek).

3. Make more stuff and write lots of tutorials.

Making stuff is a) something that makes me money (because, you know, it's my job) and b) something that makes me happy. I need to do more of it!! Designing new things, sharing tutorials, publishing patterns, finishing old projects... I want my 2014 to be full of crafty goodness, and only I can make that happen.

I am not setting myself any fixed targets for most of this, just trying to focus on making time each week to be creative and work on my projects so they don't get stuck in my sketchbook or work-in-progress pile or drafts folder. But, I have decided to aim for sharing 36 free tutorials here on my blog. I have loads of tutorials I keep meaning to write up and share with you guys but they end up getting put off because other things take over. I'm hoping that by setting myself the target of 36 tutorials, that will give me a bit of "deadline pressure" and I'll actually get them done :)