But first, indulge me in a little look back over last year's efforts...
January, February, March, April...
May, June, July, August...
September, October, November, December...
...2012 was a crafty year!
This time of year is often tricky to manage in our household. John works all through the festive season, bar the odd day or two here and there, and so we do not have those long, languorous family duvet days in the lull between Christmas and New Year when everyone else seems to lounge around watching DVDs and doing jigsaws. When Bella and Angus were younger I really dreaded this time of year but I have come to enjoy the quiet days. We miss John when he goes off to work when everyone else is in bed, but we have fun, the children and I. What I have especially enjoyed, now that all the Christmas craft fairs and gift making are over, is indulging my crafty self and thinking about projects for 2013.
I have been working on a knitted scarf/cowl affair over the last week, a great big chunky merino knit on huge needles, and Bella and I made another shoe box room for a mouse - I will show you soon. I am four months behind in my challenge to make one project from each edition of Mollie Makes, I want to crochet two baby blankets, do some more embroidery, knit more (ahem, knit better)...the list goes on.
And, like everyone, I am looking ahead to what this year might bring. Thinking, planning, making vague New Year's resolutions. This year I have just two and I think they are achievable, otherwise there's just no point.
1. Read more books - one a month to be specific. I've gotten into a habit of reading magazines in bed at night, and haven't read a book for months and months. Since childhood I have been an avid reader, and a degree and masters in English literature and career in bookselling just increased my love of books. But children and limits on my time and attention span have interfered with my reading. Pre-kids, I used to aim to read one book a week, but I now think one a month is a realistic target!
2. Knit and crochet from patterns. This will be good for me, like eating up my greens. No more random yarn purchases because I like the colour or feel of it, then mashing three patterns together with an idea from my head and hoping for the best. No, I will knit and crochet like a proper grown up.
What about you? Any resolutions? What projects and plans are afoot for you? Also, Happy New Year! I hope your celebrations were fun. Ours was spent quietly at home, just John and I, with a nice meal and an even nicer bottle of wine.
Raising a family seems to be a common reason for giving up reading. My solution was to start a reading group which forced me to read one book every six weeks and gave me an excuse to meet up with women friends over a glass of wine and a bowl of nibbles.
ReplyDeleteI do go to a book group but it's more of a wine group if I'm honest! It just gives us all a good excuse to meet up. x
DeleteHappy New Year! You have been busy in 2012! I'm still thinking about my resolutions - once all the Christmas chocolate and goodies are finished is a good time to start, it's too soon just now.
ReplyDeleteMove over Martha ... I think you are the new queen of craft :) ... I so love your crafty makes ... I am also behind on my Mollie makes ... but thank you for the inspiration to make one a month ... I will do my utmost to catch up ... think I will join you on the book reading resolution ... I adore books but lack time too ... but I will make time this year ... happy new year lovely ... Bee xx
ReplyDeleteI'm joining you on 1. Read more books. I too struggle with the attention span. Masters in English lit! Wow! My crafty ambitions this year are more about writing knitting patterns than using them. Can't wait to see what you come up with xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your year's crafts! I absolutely love all of them but I'm especially intrigued by the corgi and guitar t-shirts. How did you make those? They almost look silk-screened to me. I really like them!
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer, thank you! They are just felt and fabric that I appliqued onto the t-shirts. I use bondaweb, a fusible interfacing, to hold the fabric in place then I stitch around the edges. Gillian x
DeleteThanks, Gillian! They are adorable. That doesn't sound difficult at all, I may try it myself sometime.
DeleteHappy New Year to you too!
ReplyDeleteI had forgotten your fantastic corgi t-shirts. Love them!
Ellie
x
You have produced an amazing stash there, I am still totally in awe of your first shoebox house, it was amazing so I can't wait to see the next. A book a month is a good target. I have quite a few un-read books in my shelves, paradoxically joining a book club at the start of last year actually made me read fewer books, only those on the list, some of which were really hard-going and so took me ages. Hmmm, maybe I need to find a different book group.... x
ReplyDeleteGoodness, you've been prolific, and I love how your individual aesthetic and crafting style shows through in these images.
ReplyDeleteMe too re. the books ... I've taken to doing sudokus at bedtime and should really get back into the habit of reading more novels.
Can't wait to see what you have planned for 2013!
It's official.
ReplyDeleteYou're awesome! And your crafts are gorgeous, I mean really good!
I'm so glad I've been following your blog!
Tammy xx
Lovely photos, you've been a busy Bee! Happy 2013 filled with more crafty time! :) x
ReplyDeleteKeep crafting and I think a book a month is realistic - let us know how you get on throughout the year. I'm hoping to read my book club books (11 meetings planned) plus some others too. We'll see...
ReplyDeleteBrilliant pictures, thank you for sharing them with us.
ReplyDeleteirene
xxxx
Wow, you have been busy, such a colourful pile of goodness. Makes me want to get the flu so I have an excuse to stay in bed all day and read your blog back to the beginning. mel x
ReplyDeleteForgot to say, exact same book situation over here. Reading my first book in about nearly a year. Disgraceful. mel x
ReplyDeleteI loved the look back at all your crafty makes from the year, some real beauties there and I'd be hard pressed to choose favourites. I think the secret to success with resolutions is to make ones you're going to enjoy doing. I'd stopped reading books for similar reasons to you. I set myself the very same challenge at the beginning of 2012, aiming to read one book each month and ended up reading twenty three. Happy New Year. We celebrated with a take away whilst watching a bit of TV.
ReplyDeleteYour crafts are fab! Really looking forward to seeing your creations in 2013! x
ReplyDeleteI think that your 2 plans will be mine too. I look at crochet and wish I could do it but dismiss it as knitting scared me off. I have a friend with a baby due in a month. I would like to make a really simple blanket. Do you think this is achievable? Not the time scale but the blanket? I am trying to make more time to rest and watch tv at night instead of working till I drop but need something to be doing at the same time. I also tend to just read articles at night and my pile of books is getting too high! Good luck to us! Xx
ReplyDeleteA friend who could never knit took to crochet so much faster than I did. I think a blanket is definitely achievable. I would suggest sticking to granny squares to begin with, I found them far easier, and make enough for a small-ish blanket then sew them together. It's a lovely hobby to do in front of the tv, especially if it's a fairly repetitive pattern that doesn't require a huge amount of concentration! x
DeleteThank you...will get started :) xx
DeleteOh what a great round up Gillian! You know I'd forgotten how much you have created- calling the baby brain thing on that though! So excited to see your creations in 2013!
ReplyDeleteSome solid resolutions too! I am narrowing my ideals down into more manageable chunks. Baking being my top priority- after being a Momma of course ;)
wow thats some major crafting acheivements. All beautiful too.
ReplyDeleteMine resolution is singular - no more yarn purchasing til I have completed 2 WIPs (one for me one commissioned) and started another I have all the yarn for.
ReplyDeleteI'm part of a book group that will be 2 this month. It has helped me to set aside some reading time. Like yourself I have always been an avid reader, but when Olly came along I had neither the time of the energy. I have found book group to be invaluable for many reasons other than reading - but ultimately it has got me back into the reading zone.
Happy reading!!
I do not think I read a full book till the boys were both back in school! Love your craft work, it is beautiful
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Gillian. Looking forward to seeing all your crafty makes this year and your beautiful photography. No resolutions for me - if something needs doing, start straight away! I would love to get my reading mojo back as, like you, I was an avid reader at one point. Pressure of work and other competing interests get in the way though. I did get the new Kate Mosse book for Christmas though so maybe that will get me going again. x
ReplyDeleteWhat a great assortment of creations!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year! You have been so crafty, I look forward to seeing even more from you this year. I do have a project in mind for 2013, will post it on the blog when it becomes a bit more concrete.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year! You've made so many lovely things this year - I can't wait to see what you have planned this year. I'm also another one who plans to read more this year x
ReplyDeleteI like your crafts! They look beautiful and well worked. I also love the way you make collages. Congrats.
ReplyDeletei'm doing a weekly resolution...just little things
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the toilet roll dolls - this is something perhaps I could manage. We have a new puppy so I may have a go at some dog themed ones. Haven't thought of any projects for 2013 but perhaps I should. Nice to meet you - we are not far from Leeds.
ReplyDeleteDenise x