Goals for 2012

Did you make any resolutions regarding your crafts last year? What about this year? I was just looking at my list of craft resolutions for last year:

1. Finish at least 1/2 of the projects on my current WIP list.
2. Take pictures of completed projects.
3. Start Christmas gifts ASAP, and finish them by the end of August.
4. Empty &/or downsize sewing basket.
5. Frame completed cross stitch projects.
6. Update Etsy shop on a regular basis.

How did I do?
1) I should have finished 7 projects from my WIP list. I finished two.
2)I did well with taking pictures until April. Now I have a pile of things on my desk that I need to blog about, but can't because I haven't taken pictures yet.
3) Yeah...I'm lazy. 'nuff said.
4) Accomplished! I purchased a plastic container, so that when enough projects get done I can put the lid on and stack stuff on top. (Anything for more storage space!)
5) 2 out of 6. Maybe that should be 2 out of 4 - one I have decided to make into a pillow cover, and another will be attached to the top of a box. If I can ever find a box the right size.
6) I did fairly well with renewing items when the listing expired...

Although my resolutions didn't go very well, I did manage to complete a lot of projects, including some that should have been on my WIP list.

Here are my crafting goals for this year:

• Blog regularly
• Scrapbook regularly
• Keep Ravelry and Stitcher's Showcase projects updated
• Get ideas for Etsy shop out of my head and into the Etsy shop
• Keep working on finishing things in my WIP list
• Get better at photography (I got some awesome gifts for Christmas that should help me with that.)
• Have Christmas cards and gifts finished by November 1
• Reduce my yarn stash to one basket (that's my stash, before sorting it into two baskets) 

Upcoming posts: Projects that were finished last year, pictures and details about WIP's, some cooking and baking, and a Stitches in Life post.

October Goals

Blogging seems to always be at the end of my priorities list. Yesterday I realized that since my priority list is ongoing, I will never get to the end of it, hence my lack of blogging. So, here I am with a cup of coffee finishing a post I started two weeks ago. It as been a long time since I've posted any goals. Earlier this year, I was fairly productive with projects and goals, and I think part of that was due to setting goals every month. Here are my October goals.

1. Complete my 'sewing challenge'. A friend of mine asked me to turn a set of headphones that no longer work into earmuffs. I have spent a lot of time thinking about how to do it, and writing down ideas. Now I just need to sit down and work on it!
2. Christmas gifts! This is something of a perpetual goal. Every New Year, I set the goal to finish Christmas gifts by June or July. Every year I end up scrambling Christmas Eve, and sometimes Christmas Morning finishing gifts. So far this year have not been any different. I have decided on the ornaments I'm doing for everybody, so, again, I just need to sit down and do it! I have yet to decide if I will make gifts for close family and friends, or purchase them.
3. Update Ravelry projects and stash. I have always liked the stash feature on Ravelry, but have never kept up with it. Most of my projects are up to date, they just need photos. 
4. Finish updating my blog - I have been keeping a running list since January of all the projects that need to be blogged about.
5. Celebrate I Love Yarn Day (October 14) with some knitting! (And blog about it!)

*Clip Art from Classroom Clipart

Updated Goals (April)

You may have noticed that I fell off the blogosphere. I'm trying to climb back on, but I'm having difficulty finding time for anything computer related. Back in February, I finally got a job. It's a full time job, caring for my friends' 1 1/2 year old daughter while they are at work. I have had a lot more crafting time, thanks to daily naps, but by the time I get home in the evening, I have almost no interest in anything computer related. Not necessarily a bad thing - most people need to spend less time on the computer, and I'm no exception. I got an unexpected day off today, so I will start by updating you all on my craft goals, and try to write a few more posts to publish later this week.

Searching back through my blog, it appears that I never posted my February goals, although I did write them out on paper. Here is what I have accomplished since my January post:

1. Completed and mailed belated Christmas gifts to CA relatives
2. Finished my punch needle project
3. Finished my never-ending granny square afghan
4. Finished the quillow that's been in a drawer for more than 7 years
5. Knitted a hat and booties for a baby
6. Sewed a fleece shawl
7. Made some beaded jewelry
8. Created cat toys out of gauge swatches
9. Made a list of all the projects that I need to blog about (I love making lists - they make me feel so much more organized.)
10. Participated in a tatting challenge
11. Framed two of my completed cross stitch projects
12. Re-evaluated my knit afghan project(s)

Here are my goals for the month of April:

1. Finish and mail gifts for NC relatives
2. Finish Father's Day Gift
3. Figure out what to give my parents and sister and brother-in-law for their anniversaries
4. Catch up on blogging
5. Update Ravelry Stash
6. Finish at least half of Family Tree cross stitch (my take-it-to-work-project)

Clip Art from The Sewing Box

Project Resolutions

Every year I rummage around for the previous year's resolutions, realize I didn't really accomplish any of them, and make a few new resolutions. I leave the list out for a month or two, then file it until next January. However, when it comes to projects, I do a little better. Maybe it's because I keep my list in my craft notebook. Whatever the reason, I usually manage to meet a few goals throughout the year. I also reevaluate once in a while and set a few new goals. This year my crafting goals are simple, and a little more open-ended than usual.

1. Finish at least 1/2 of the projects on my current WIP list.
2. Take pictures of completed projects.
3. Start Christmas gifts ASAP, and finish them by the end of August.
4. Empty &/or downsize sewing basket.
5. Frame completed cross stitch projects.
6. Update Etsy shop on a regular basis.

 The WIP's I would like to finish this year are the crocheted afghan, one embroidered pillowcase, cross stitched family tree, Lady of the Thread, knit stockings, knit socks, and the punch needle design. I will be trying to post regular updates of these projects.
Speaking of projects, I have removed the drop down menu of my completed projects. It was getting too long, and I didn't enjoy messing with all that HTML. My completed projects are now listed on this page. You can also find the link underneath my blog header, next to the Scrappin' Saturday page.

For the month of January, my goals are:

1. Finish and mail belated Christmas gifts.
2. Finish granny squares for crocheted afghan.
3. Start participating in Tatting Tea Tuesday.

Lady of the Thread Cross Stitch

This is my current large cross stitch. The design is by Lavender and Lace, and is called Lady of the Thread. I mentioned it briefly here. I am stitching it on 28 count black linen. For some reason I'm having more trouble with stitching over two than I have with my previous linen projects. My mini-goal for this week is to have the Ecru section at the bottom of the picture on the right finished by Thursday night craft night.
~Sarah

Weekly Goals

I missed updating my weekly goals last week. My Dad had surgery to fix his dialysis catheter, and Mom and I spent all day Thursday at the hospital. I'd hoped to finish the cross stitch afghan square, but didn't get that far. Part of my delay in finishing it is being caused by a mistake, and I'm trying to get all the colors in places where they look natural.


Let's see, I didn't get near the Appomattox cross stitch, the only FO that needs a picture is the candlewicking, and I just took one. I used the auto-fix feature to make the stitching show up a little better.



As for the knitting, the only knitting I've done since finishing my sister's scarf was this evening. I knit the gauge swatch for my cousins' socks. For some reason my gauge has changed dramatically. I used to have almost perfect gauge, but lately it seems to be way off. I'm debating whether or not I should drop down a needle size. Since they're socks (and they don't have heels) the gauge isn't as important. Also, being a little larger, they would last my cousin a little longer. Any advice would be happily considered!
~Sarah

Weekly Goals

The past couple of weeks have been rather dull craft-wise. This week I'm going to try and make some progress.

My Goals are:

1. Finish Honey Teapot on Cross Stitch Afghan
2. Work on Appomattox cross stitch
   
3. Post pictures of any completed projects still on the WIP list
4. Knitting - that may need a subcategory!

I have not started any new knitting projects, although I have a very long queue. The 3 most important projects are:

1. Figure out the gauge and start knitting for Warm Up America
2. Knit socks for cousin Ally
3. Shawl for Mom

I have yarn for all 3 projects. I just bought the yarn for the socks this past week. They're made to look like Mary Jane style shoes, so I'm using glitterspun for the black to jazz them up a little.

~Sarah

Weekly Goals

Last weeks goals & progress :

1. Join LovePurl ~~I sent the e-mail, and am waiting for a response.
   
2. Finish the tatted medallion ~~I finished another corner. I'm going to have to start taking it to Church - I always get there early, so it will be some Enforced Tatting Time.
3. Knit: shawl or Warm Up America Squares ~~I finished two more pattern repeats. That leaves 4 to go. However, I have too many stitches on my needles. I'm going to buy some circular needles tomorrow.
4. Mending - my mending pile is expanding rapidly, and taking up too much space. ~~3 items were mended.
5. Cross Stitch: Pick a project, any project! ~~I worked on Appomattox Courthouse. Here's a picture to prove it. (Compare to picture here)

Some other things I did this week:

• Made a second attempt at the door slammer stopper thing. (First attempt here.) Pictures coming soon. Can anyone come up with a better name??
  
• Continuing in the I'm-tired-of-it-sitting-around-so-I'm-gonna-finish-it mood, I pulled out this quilled coaster tonight. It didn't quite have space for the pearls, so I used some leftover half-pearls from this project. It sort of works, but not really. As you can see, I'm holding the bottom piece on with my basketry clamps. Any suggestions for how to make it stay stuck to the coaster??

Goals for the week of February 19:

• Knitting~At least two more repeats on shawl, or better yet, finish it.
  
• Sewing~Make another door slammer stopper thing. (And clean up the mess I made in the sewing room.)
• Tatting~Finish the medallion.
• Misc.~Cross stitch or quilled coasters.

Have a happy crafty week!
~Sarah

Weekly Goals

Here are last weeks goals and how I did:

• Get back to my tatting. I want to try and remake the failed medallion properly by the end of Craft Night on Thursday.
• Umm....I started it over, and made the same mistake...I've run a thread through the two picots that should be connected to hold them together while I tat the second round. If it comes out ok, I can keep the two together with a straight pin when I pin it on the styrofoam ball.
  

• Finish knitting Queen of Hearts Afghan square.
• Well, I finished it, but my gauge fluctuated drastically. Let's just call it a practice square and take the afghan off the wip list for now.

• Join LovePurl. LovePurl is a KAL for charity knitting.
• Haven't quite gotten there yet.
  

Goals for this week:

1. Join LovePurl
   
2. Finish the tatted medallion
3. Knit: shawl or Warm Up America Squares
4. Mending - my mending pile is expanding rapidly, and taking up too much space.
5. Cross Stitch: Pick a project, any project!
   

Belated Goal List

Last week my goals were:

• Finish the last two tatted balls: well you already know how that went.
• Look for a pattern at the LYS: they didn't have any patterns like I was looking for, but will be getting one in a few weeks.
  
• 8 rows on shawl: nothing to report. I did mention that my creative drive was somewhat crushed by my failed tatting attempt, didn't I? However, here's a picture with my lovely new stitch markers modeling.

This Week:

1. Tatting. I really want to finish those ornaments. Besides, they're taking up too much space in my craft pile.
   
2. Do some knitting, or cross stitch, or sewing. Whatever. I just need to get enough done to have a photo for next weeks list.
   

Happy Crafting~
Sarah

Weekly Goal List

I'm way overdue for a Weekly Goal List. Better late than never, right?
My goals for this week are:

• Finish the last tatted balls
• Trip to the LYS to find a pattern for my Sister's birthday present
• Knit at least 8 rows on my Easy Triangle Shawl

My current progress on the tatted balls: 50% done with the first one. I'll probably finish it tomorrow. Then the question is 'will one motif be enough or should I do two?'
I just started the triangle shawl - I'm 12 rows into it - right where the pattern starts repeating. I'm using homespun yarn, and the color is called 'gothic' - it's a gorgeous variegated purple.
As for the knitting pattern, I have not found anything I like on the internet, so I hope the yarn store can help me out.
~Sarah

Weekly Goal List

Goals for this last week:

1. Start (and hopefully finish) third tatted ornament cover -- I got it started.
   
2. Finish doll outfit #1, start #2 --Finished #1.
   
3. Wrap gifts and mail package #1 --Wrapped Gifts

This week: Finish all Christmas gifts!!! That's 1 sewn, 3 tatted, 2 knitted, and if I have time, finish sewing a dress for myself.
Here's a picture of the gifts headed for CA. Sorry I can't show you what's inside yet.
Merry Christmas!
~Sarah

Weekly Goal List

I put off writing this post so that I could finish this tatted ornament cover.
Despite all my mistakes and having to 'retro-tat' {tatting in reverse; i.e. ripping out} several times, it came out pretty good. I also got to try this joining technique, and it worked out really well.

Also this week, I found a teddy bear pattern, a skein of yarn, and started knitting. I finished it this evening. Since it's a gift, I won't post a picture just yet. I'll try and post it on Ravelry, though.

My Ravelry invite came about a week ago, and I meant to blog about it, but got too busy. Ravelry is a wonderful way to connect with other knitters and crocheters, and keep track of your projects, books, yarns, needles and hooks. So far my favorite feature is the needle/hook inventory. It made it so much easier when I needed to know if I had size 8 needles for my teddy bear project. {Somehow I've managed to acquire 5 pairs of size 8 needles} If you're on ravelry and want to look me up, I'm simplestitcher.

Back to my goals, I got one of two items mended. The poncho has been put aside until I get my packages sent. I started the first doll outfit, and am nearly done; it just needs sleeves and a hem.

Goals for this week:

1. Start (and hopefully finish) third tatted ornament cover
2. Finish doll outfit #1, start #2
3. Wrap gifts and mail package #1

These bookmarks are for some of my friends. You can't really see it in the picture, but the upper and lower bookmarks on the left have roses engraved on them. I got them from Fire Mountain Gems. The charms for them came from Let's Bead. The bookmarks and charms for the two on the right are from Beads 'N Things. All the beads are from my Mom's collection.

Happy Crafting!
~Sarah

Weekly Goal List

Last week's goals & how far I got:

1. Cut out fabric - the fabric is all cut out, and waiting to be sewn.
   
2. Finish collar on poncho -I got to the neck/shoulder division (about 12 rows)
   
3. Finish tatted ornament cover - When I started the second round, I had a difficult time figuring out how to connect the 2 rounds. I have finished the first pattern repeat.
   
4. Tackle mending pile - the mending pile was duly tackled and the most important items mended. I missed two items; one was not in the mending pile, and the other simply needs a button loop replaced.

This week's goals

1. 11 rows on poncho
2. Find knitted teddy bear pattern
3. Finish ornament cover, and start the next one
4. Mend overlooked items
5. Start sewing doll clothes

I managed to prioritize my list of things to make before Dec. 14'th. I will be sure to take pictures and post them after the packages have been received.

So many things to do and so little time! I haven't even started my Christmas baking yet!
~Sarah

Weekly Goal List

Last week I made a list of goals, and I think it helped me be more industrious. I got 12 rows of my sister's poncho done, and finished the first round for ornament covering #2. I didn't have time to cut out the fabric, but will try to get it done this week.
This evening I worked on the poncho some more and have gotten to the part that completely baffles me. My Dad has an appointment near a yarn store that I really like, so I'm going to 'carpool' with Mom and Dad on Thursday. While they're at the appointment, I'll go around the corner and get some knitting advice. :)

Goals for this week:

1. Cut out fabric
2. Finish collar on poncho
3. Finish tatted ornament cover
4. Tackle mending pile

Happy Stitching!
~Sarah

Knitting Project

My current knitting project is a poncho for my sister. So far I have finished the back and am approximately halfway done with the front. The pattern is Fashion Note J17-0724 from Red Heart. The yarn is Bernat's Soft Bouclé and the color is Misty Shades. I've worked with Bernat's yarn before; once as trim on a dog sweater, and once with one of their baby yarns. Each time I've resolved to never work with nubby yarns ever again. Despite my resolve I always seem to buy more nubby yarn.


My Craft Goals for this week are:

1. Complete 16 rows on poncho
2. Figure out how to knit faster and not make mistakes ;)
   
3. Start another tatted ornament cover
4. Cut out fabric for 2 Christmas presents that must remain anonymous for the time being.