New Year, New Crafting....

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.

2012 - A Year In Pictures

1. January - The birth of this blog, cosy suppers with friends, cold weather, weekends spent hibernating at home, mugs of hot tea.

2. February - Snow, a week by the sea back home, my birthday, a day trip to London, cosy lunches with friends, stew and dumplings, 

3. March - An unusually hot month, blossom, trips to the park, gardening, ladybirds, lardy cake.

4. April - A brief snow fall, a day well spent learning to crochet, lots more gardening, Easter, a week spent in Durham with family, tulips.

5. May - Angus turns three, sunshine, a gloriously hot and sunny weekend celebrating my Dad's sixtieth birthday, bunting, ice lollies, birthday cake. 

6. June - John's birthday, Jubilee celebrations, paint, a new sofa, paddling pools, rain showers, union flags.

7. July - A joyful holiday in the Cotswolds, a week of sunshine, fresh air, countryside, day trips, strawberry picking, cream teas.

8. August - The Olympics, long school holidays, rain, my sister came to stay, day trips to local farms and parks with friends, a trip back home to see family, beach huts, ice creams.

9. September - Back to school, Angus starts nursery, the Yorkshire Dales, blackberries and apples.

10. October - Halloween, another day trip to London, another trip to Durham and the Northumberland coast, lavender, crunchy fallen leaves, toffee apples, pumpkins.

11. November - Bonfire night, sparklers, craft fairs, running races, preparing for Christmas, hats and gloves, poppies, parkin.

12. December - Bella turns six, nativity plays, cheerleading performances, parties, new toys, gingerbread, lemsip, poinsettias, fairy lights.

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One of the many rewarding aspects of blogging is the way in which you can look back over things, track progress, smile at moments caught on camera, remember things you might otherwise have forgotten.

I've added a few words to accompany the above pictures, but not really included the everyday, the air that I breathe, which is; John, Bella and Angus, family and friends, cooking and baking, crocheting, knitting, sewing, crafting, reading, book group - all the things which bring me endless happiness and keep me sane.

It has not been an easy year, but looking back through this blog I see that it has been a busy one, full of doing and making and eating and laughter. I hope 2013 brings more of the above.

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Happy New Year to you all. Thank you so much for being here and reading and sharing this blogging journey with me. Your comments and support are an endless source of joy and inspiration and I treasure you, my blogging friends. I hope 2013 brings you everything you wish for.

Gillian x