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 :)
9 comments:
Wow, that's a lot of targets! I hope you reach them, especially the crafty ones (36 tutorials!).
3 books a month seems like a huge amount to me: I think I read like 5 books in all of last year :/ while the teenage me would finish a book in a night when I had the chance.
Good luck with everything!
Wow! That are a lot of resolutions! Wish you the best for this new year, and I'm hoping at the end of the year you have fullfilled them all!
Thanks guys! I will be delighted if I meet all these targets - at the very least having them to aim for will be setting my year in the right direction :)
Those are tough targets! It isn't easy to get creative because you feel you should or you want to be. At times I have tons of ideas and others feel like I will never have an idea again. It's hard to find the time to make and to read as well. Both take up so much time.
I got my synthetic felt from Love Paper Fish as you recommend. Its really nice! Will buy more definitely. Also purchased some Kunin felt. That's a bit weird though - I can definitely tell it had a past life as plastic bottles. Nice Spring colours though. I shall match the felt according to need and purpose I think. The wool mix felt definitely is the cuddliest.
Good luck with your resolutions!
Sara
Sara - I'm so glad you liked the LovePaperFish felt! It is amazing how different the different types can be, isn't it? The Kunin felt is great for anything that needs washing (I've used it to make things like coffee cosies in the past).
You are so right re: creativity, but as a crafts writer coming up with new ideas on demand is something I have to do a lot! It is very tricky if I get a patch of creative block, but usually the more time I spend designing and making things the more ideas I get for new projects, making stuff sparks new ideas into life :)
Thanks for sharing your Nice Days Out! I heard that the clock museum was special. Good luck with your resolutions. You can read during your travel time (but make sure you don't miss your stop - I almost did yesterday on the way to Tate Modern)!
I wish you all the best in the new year. 36 tutorial and books and reviews sounds like a lot, but I think that even if youdont meet all those targets, you will at least try to make a change and that is important :) Good luck with that all!!!
Good luck with all that. You're pretty much living my dream life.
SNJ - oops! :)
Silly Little Sheep - exactly, doing more of these things will be great even if I don't meet my targets xx
Sapte Pisoi - thank you! x
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