Category Archives: 2017 Goals

04

Jan. ’18

2017 Crafty Plan – Recap

2017 is over and as with every year, I wanted to review and reflect on how things went for my crafty life this year.  I planned to post this at the end of the year but came down with a bad cold. 

 I started the year a bit rough with things not so great on the work front.  That forced things on the crafty side to grind to a screeching halt.  And I started the year without a plan of action.  As a result, I didn’t create a plan until February.  It wasn’t that late but I felt ill prepared for the year and I never felt as if I ever truly caught up.  In fact, my whole quilty life took a back seat as I fell in love with knitting and yarn.  I didn’t stop quilting as I did get stuff finished but not nearly as much as I did in previous years.  Oh well, life is an ebb and a flow and I am enjoying the ride.

And here’s my 2017 crafty plan and how I did …

  1. Quilting
    1. Finish 6 quilts == I finished 3 and they were Missing Ivy, Baby Quilt #1 for Mason, and Baby Quilt #2 for Averlee.  
      1. Missing Ivy
      2. Celtic Solstice
      3. Have yourself a quilty Little Christmas
      4. Raining Cats and Dogs
      5. Provence (2012 LQS BOM
      6. Area One Quilter’s Run
      7. Scrapitude 2016
      8. Asian (2012 LQS BOM #2)
  2. Knitting
    1. Sweater “Kimono” – FINISHED
    2. Socks – 12 for the year.
    3. hat – 1 for each family member – I THINK I GOT ONE DONE FOR JACOB AND HE NEVER WORE IT SO I STOPPED.  LATER I DID ONE FOR ME THAT KAYLA LIKED.  I LIKE HAT KNITTING WITH CHUNKY YARN AS IT GOES BY FAST.  SO I THINK I’LL HAVE ONE ON THE NEEDLES AT ALL TIMES.  
    4. car knitting – Jacob’s beanie – DONE
    5. Use yarn stash (which as of 2/15/17, the following are being knitted from stash: 2 socks, Jacob’s beanie, Rikke hat for me or Kayla.) – NOT DONE. FOR 2018 I WOULD LIKE TO MONITOR THE NUMBERS SIMILAR TO HOW I MONITOR MY FABRIC STASH.  I TRIED DOING THIS Sometime BEFORE AND THEN STOPPED.  I AM GOING TO TRY AGAIN. 
  3. Cross Stitching – continue working on Mama’s Bukid each week.  DONE. I’M WORKING ON PAGE 5.  I CALCULATED THAT IT WILL TAKE ME YEARS TO FINISH BASED ON HOW LONG IT TOOK ME TO FINISH PAGE 1.  I THINK BECAUSE OF THAT, I STARTED WORKING ON THIS MORE DILIGENTLY AND I’M GETTING THROUGH PAGE 5 MUCH FASTER.  
  4. Bag Making – I DID GET A BUNCH OF BAGS DONE EARLIER IN THE YEAR AND I TOOK SOME CLASSES AT MY LQS AS WELL.  I FEEL LIKE I AM ABLE TO DO THIS MORE COMPETENTLY BUT I NEED TO DEVOTE TIME TO ACTUALLY DO SOME WORK.  I GAVE MOST OF THE BAGS I MADE AWAY AND I NEED TO MAKE MORE.  I LIKE HAVING THEM TO GIVE AWAY WHENEVER I NEED SOMETHING HANDY. 
  5. Clothes – I want to start learning how to sew garments.  I’m not sure how or where to start so I guess my first step is to find an easy project to start learning on.  I STARTED AND THEN I STOPPED.  I GOT OVERWHELMED. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO WANTS TO LEARN THIS YEAR SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND A CLASS TO TAKE. 

And my overarching non-craft specific goals:

  1. use what I have
    1. my fabric stash
    2. my yarn stash
    3. my tools
  2. Get rid of the things that I don’t love anymore
    1. sell
    2. donate
    3. throw away
  3. Watch my spending
  1. only buy things I will use now

I really like this but didn’t fully implement these overarching values on to my monthly or weekly tasks so I wasn’t very good at remembering these. In fact in reviewing my 2017 plan I saw this and loved the simplicity of it. I know it’s going to be harder to follow as I’ve bought a lot of fabric and yarn this year and have not used as much as I would like. 

Now that I’m feeling better, I’ll finalize my 2018 crafty plans!  

Stay tuned!

Happy crafting… 

~Melanie

 

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11

Dec. ’17

2 weeks til Christmas…

Here are the things …

  • Starting point Shawl – Continue knitting 600 stitches per day. I want to be 75% through the final clue.
    • done and I’m actually closer to 85% done… Here’s my current picture…

Starting Point
12/10/2017

  • Mama’s Bukid – Page 5, Row 4 – finish Row 4 and start Row 5
    • done!

Mama’s Bukid
12/10/2017

  • St. Patty’s Socks and Secret Mandala sock blank – finish the decreases and start the foot.
    • done
  • Harry Potter – knit 2 rows per day.
    • not done!
  • On Ringo Lake – piece 12 geese per day until Clue #3 is released.
    • not done!

This week’s goals:

  • Starting point Shawl – Finish this!  I have quite a few rows left but the actually number of stitches isn’t that much.  I currently have about 80 stitches per row and I’m steadily decreasing 4 stitches every other row.  So, I will continue to do 600 stitches and I should be done this week.
  • Mama’s Bukid – Page 5, Row 5 – Get halfway through Row 5.  I started Row 5 over the weekend and my plan is to get halfway through Row 5.  I am not cross stitching as often as I was so I’m not getting through each row as quickly as I was.  I hope that changes after the holiday.
  • St. Patty’s Socks and Secret Mandala sock blank – I have to do about 45 rows on the foot before I can start decreasing for the toe.  My goal is to get halfway through.  I want these socks done in December and that will count for 2 socks for my box of socks in 2017. So if I do about 23 rows this week, 23 rows next week, then I can do the toe the final week of the year and complete my 12 pairs of socks in 2017 KAL!
  • Harry Potter – knit 2 rows per day.
  • On Ringo Lake – I haven’t really been quilting during the week so I hope I take a night or two to work on clue #3.

Happy Crafting!

~Melanie

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01

Dec. ’17

2017 Crafty Plan – December

  1. Starting Point Wrap – Finish
  2. Wrap the stuff in the organza bags
  3. fill the purple bags
  4. Mama’s Bukid – Finish Row 5 and 6 of Page 5
  5. Kayla’s Weasley Sweater – knit 2 rows per day
  6. On Ringo Lake! – keep up with the clues each week.  Not necessarily do EVERYTHING but do a bit of each clue.
  7. Staycation – finish the top (excluding borders).

~Happy crafting!

~Melanie

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30

Nov. ’17

2017 Crafty Plan – November Recap

I kept working diligently on my projects and that’s all that matters.  I enjoy doing my various crafty projects.  It gives me a sense of peace when I’m sitting at my craft table working, listening to my podcasts or an audiobook or just being quiet in my surroundings.  And now November is over and here’s what I was able to accomplish from my November task list.

  1. Starting Point Wrap – Finish Clue 4 and get started on Clue 5.  This is a Christmas gift so I would like to get clue 4 and clue 5 finished by the end of November.  I don’t think that’s going to happen and I’ll just keep it at Clue 4 for now.  I think I heard that Clue 5 is not very much but putting the two halves together. But I don’t know if that’s true. STATUS – I finished Clue 4 and started on Clue 5.  It’s not true that clue 5 is not very much.  There’s a lot in clue 5 and I need to do at minimum 500 stitches per day to get it done in time.  I will need to do more if I want time to block and wrap.  I am enjoying knitting up this shawl and because of this, I purchased the collection, Shawl Society II by Helen Stewart.  My plan is to start the Fairyhill Shawl as soon as Starting Point is off the needles.  I hope I have enough energy to pick my yarn and pack them with the needles I will need so I can take it with me when we head up north. But this is way down the list of things to keep track of so if it doesn’t happen – no biggie.
  2. Secret Project #2 – Quilt and bind.  The label is already done so I’d like to get the label on too. – DONE!
  3. A Rainbow Garden – continue to work on block 8. – NOT DONE
  4. Mama’s Bukid – Finish Row 1 and 2 of Page 5 – DONE!  I’m working on finishing Row 4 so I did a great job here.
  5. Kayla’s Weasley Sweater – Continue to knit 2 rows per day on whatever part I’m on.  I don’t think I’m going to be close to getting this done for Christmas so I’m taking it off my Christmas list. – NOT DONE!  I decided early in the month that this is down my list of things so I did work on it a bit here and there but not 2 rows per day.  I got the back done which I can’t remember if I finished that last month or this.  And I’m working on the front.  I’m at about 8 inches.  When I get to 13 I have to start working on the “K”.

My Christmas Project List –

  1. Starting Point Wrap – see above on my status
  2. Secret Quilty Project #2 – Done!
  3. Secret Knitty Project #3 – I finished 2 of the 3 pieces and that’s okay. My goal was to get as much as I could before 12/1 and I got 2 finished. I’m working on 3 but today will be the last day I work on it until 1/1.  I will gift the finished 2 and keep the 3rd and hopefully make a couple more to give at a later date.
  4. wrap the stuff in organza bags – not done. I’ll be working on these in December.
  5. fill purple bags – not done. I’ll be working on these in December.

 

~Happy crafting!

~Melanie

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28

Nov. ’17

Less than a month away…

We’re closing in fast on Christmas and are you ready? Here’s what I’ve done from last week’s to do list …

  • Secret Project #2 – DONE!  I’ve even taken the pictures and my page is ready to publish after this has been gifted.
  • Starting point Shawl – knit 3-4 rows per day.  I want to finish clue 4 this week. – DONE!  Clue 4 is finished and I’m working diligently on clue 5.  I have to do about 500 stitches per day in order to get this done by Christmas.  Which means, I need to do a bit more to get it blocked and wrapped.  I’m going to try.  At this point, I’ve got 172 stitches per row and every couple of rows, it decreases by 4.  Once there are no more stitches on this side, I have to do the same on the other side.  So going forward I have to watch stitch count versus number of rows.
  • Secret Project #3 – knit the final 3 inches so that I can work on the next part. – DONE!
  • Mama’s Bukid – Page 5, Row 3 – finish Row 3. – Done! I’m working on Row 4 and I’m actually about half way done with it.
  • St. Patty’s Socks and Secret Mandala sock blank that I’m knitting up congruently – do the last 10 rows so I can work on the heel. – Done! I’m working on the heel.
  • Harry Potter – do another set of 20 rows. – Not Done!  I only got 12 rows done.
  • And since this is Thanksgiving Week spend Black Friday with Bonnie Hunter’s first clue of her mystery quilt for this year! – Done!

My List for next week:

  • Starting point Shawl – knit 600 stitches per day. I want to be halfway through the first joining triangle this week or 25% through the final clue. Actually it would be great to be at 30% or more so I can be on track for finishing a bit early. 
  • Secret Project #3 – Start the next one.  My goal was to create 3 of these but I’m going to stop 11/30 so I’ll be in the middle of the third one.  I’ll start up again in January and ship this off when it’s done.
  • Mama’s Bukid – Page 5, Row 4 – finish Row 4 and at the rate I’m going possibly get through half of Row 5.
  • St. Patty’s Socks and Secret Mandala sock blank that I’m knitting up congruently – I only have a few rows left working the back of the heel, my goal is to get that done, turn the heels and then pick up the stitches.  This week, I want to get my socks to the point where I can work on the foot.  I’m not going to get this done this month but I want to get them done in December.  That will complete my 12 socks for the year and I can start again in January.
  • Harry Potter – continue to work on this as I have time.
  • Finish Clue #1 of On Ringo Lake and work on Clue #2 on Friday.

Happy Crafting!

~Melanie

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20

Nov. ’17

Monday makings and to do’s, 11/20!

Last week’s tasks and accomplishments:

  • Secret Project #2 – Bind this. – DONE
  • Starting point Shawl – knit 3-4 rows per day.  I want to be half way through the purple section. – DONE
  • Secret Project #3 – knit another 5 inches so that by next week, I can work on the next part. – NOT DONE.  I DID KNIT ON IT BUT I ONLY GOT ABOUT 3 INCHES DONE SO I STILL NEED TO CONTINUE ON THIS PART FOR 2 INCHES.
  • Mama’s Bukid – Page 5, Row 3 – I’m almost done with Row 2 but I will not be able to finish it until I get through Row 3.  There are a bunch of stitches at the bottom of the row that I could count to but I’d rather wait until I’m closer to that spot.  I’ll be able to easily get there from Row 3 and the likelihood of mistakes will be reduced. – NOT DONE.  AGAIN, I DID WORK ON ROW 3.  I ACTUALLY GOT THROUGH HALF OF ROW 3.  I THINK I SPED THROUGH THE FIRST 2 ROWS SO THOUGHT I COULD DO THE SAME OF ROW 3.  BUT ROW 1 AND 2 ONLY HAD ABOUT HALF THE ROWS FILLED SO OF COURSE IT WOULD TAKE ME LONGER TO DO ROW 3.  IT WOULD BE GREAT TO GET THROUGH A ROW EVERY 2 WEEKS.  IT USED TO TAKE ME ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO TO GET THROUGH A ROW.  SO INSTEAD OF THIS TAKING ME 16 YEARS TO FINISH HOPEFULLY I CAN DO SO IN 8!
  • St. Patty’s Socks and Secret Mandala sock blank that I’m knitting up congruently – do what I can when I have time.  I would REALLY love to be finished with the leg but I’m half way there.  I need about another 20 rows so with this being at the bottom of the list, I’m not holding my breath. – I WORKED ON THESE A BIT BUT I’M STILL NOT DONE WITH THE LEG.  I’VE PROBABLY GOT ABOUT 10 ROWS TO DO.
  • Harry Potter – also, do what I can when I have time.  It would be nice to have a set of 20 done.  I will be attending knit night this week so I might be able to do it. – DONE.  I AM WORKING ON MY SECOND SET OF 20 ROWS AND I’VE ONLY GOT A HANDFUL OR ROWS LEFT BEFORE THIS IS FINISHED.
  • A Rainbow Garden – continue working on block 8. This is my Sunday Stitch project so this really depends on how things go on Sunday.  You’ll find out then. – NOT DONE
  • Maxwell Bag – finish hand stitching the second handle. I do not have high hopes of finishing this anytime soon. – NOT DONE

My List for next week:

  • Secret Project #2 – bury one set of threads and label this.
  • Starting point Shawl – knit 3-4 rows per day.  I want to finish clue 4 this week.
  • Secret Project #3 – knit the final 3 inches so that I can work on the next part.
  • Mama’s Bukid – Page 5, Row 3 – finish Row 3.
  • St. Patty’s Socks and Secret Mandala sock blank that I’m knitting up congruently – do the last 10 rows so I can work on the heel.
  • Harry Potter – do another set of 20 rows.
  • And since this is Thanksgiving Week spend Black Friday with Bonnie Hunter’s first clue of her mystery quilt for this year!

Happy Crafting!

~Melanie

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13

Nov. ’17

Monday makings and to do’s, 11/13!

Last week’s tasks and accomplishments:

  • Secret Project #2 – Finish quilting this! – DONE!
  • A Rainbow Garden – continue working on block 8. – NOT DONE!
  • Starting point Shawl – knit 3-4 rows per day – DONE!
  • Harry Potter – I started the Front piece last week and now I’m working 2 rows per day on the Front piece. I printed some graph paper and I need to figure out how I’m going to know a K instead of the H that the original sweater boasted. – I DIDN’T GET MUCH WORK ON THIS DONE. SINCE IT’S NOT ON MY CHRISTMAS PRIORITY LIST I ONLY WORKED ON IT 3 TIMES AND ONLY DID A 1-2 ROWS EACH TIME.  I HAVEN’T EVEN FINISHED THE FIRST 20 ROWS WHICH I GENERALLY DO IN LESS THAN A WEEK’S TIME.
  • Mama’s Bukid – Page 5, Row 1 – My goal this week is to stitch the fourth line on Row 1.  THIS IS DONE AND I’M ACTUALLY ON ROW 2 NOW.
  • St. Patty’s Socks and Secret Mandala sock blank that I’m knitting up congruently – 2 rows per day.  I’d like these socks to be done this month.  But my Christmas knitting takes top priority since I plan to not be doing any Christmas knitting in December. – I GOT SOME OF THIS DONE BUT NOT NEARLY FAR ENOUGH.  I WOULD LIKE TO GET THE LEG DONE BUT AGAIN, THIS ISN’T ON MY CHRISTMAS PRIORITY LIST SO I NEED TO LEARN TO BE HAPPY WITH THE LITTLE I GOT DONE. 🙂
  • Maxwell Bag – finish hand stitching the second handle. – NOT DONE!

My List for next week:

  • Secret Project #2 – Bind this.
  • Starting point Shawl – knit 3-4 rows per day.  I want to be half way through the purple section.
  • Secret Project #3 – knit another 5 inches so that by next week, I can work on the next part.
  • Mama’s Bukid – Page 5, Row 3 – I’m almost done with Row 2 but I will not be able to finish it until I get through Row 3.  There are a bunch of stitches at the bottom of the row that I could count to but I’d rather wait until I’m closer to that spot.  I’ll be able to easily get there from Row 3 and the likelihood of mistakes will be reduced.
  • St. Patty’s Socks and Secret Mandala sock blank that I’m knitting up congruently – do what I can when I have time.  I would REALLY love to be finished with the leg but I’m half way there.  I need about another 20 rows so with this being at the bottom of the list, I’m not holding my breath.
  • Harry Potter – also, do what I can when I have time.  It would be nice to have a set of 20 done.  I will be attending knit night this week so I might be able to do it.
  • A Rainbow Garden – continue working on block 8. This is my Sunday Stitch project so this really depends on how things go on Sunday.  You’ll find out then.
  • Maxwell Bag – finish hand stitching the second handle. I do not have high hopes of finishing this anytime soon.

~Happy Crafting!

~Melanie

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06

Nov. ’17

Monday makings and to do’s, 11/6!

Last week’s tasks and accomplishments:

  • Secret Project #2 – Quilt this! – PARTIALLY DONE. I’VE GOT MOST OF IT QUILTED BUT I STILL HAVE 3 BORDERS TO FINISH UP.
  • A Rainbow Garden – continue working on block 8. – DONE
  • Starting point Shawl – knit 3-4 rows per day – DONE
  • Harry Potter – knit 2 rows per day. Finish the back piece, bind off, and start the next part. – DONE
  • Mama’s Bukid – Page 5, Row 1 – My goal this week is to stitch the third line on Row 1 – DONE
  • St. Patty’s Socks and Secret Mandala sock blank that I’m knitting up congruently – 5 rows per day.  I would like to get the leg completed this week so I can work on the heel over the weekend. – NOT DONE. I MISSED A HANDFUL OF DAYS AND 5 ROWS WERE JUST TOO MUCH.
  • Maxwell Bag – finish hand stitching the second handle – NOT DONE

My List for next week:

  • Secret Project #2 – Finish quilting this!
  • A Rainbow Garden – continue working on block 8.
  • Starting point Shawl – knit 3-4 rows per day
  • Harry Potter – I started the Front piece last week and now I’m working 2 rows per day on the Front piece. I printed some graph paper and I need to figure out how I’m going to know a K instead of the H that the original sweater boasted.
  • Mama’s Bukid – Page 5, Row 1 – My goal this week is to stitch the fourth line on Row 1
  • St. Patty’s Socks and Secret Mandala sock blank that I’m knitting up congruently – 2 rows per day.  I’d like these socks to be done this month.  But my Christmas knitting takes top priority since I plan to not be doing any Christmas knitting in December.
  • Maxwell Bag – finish hand stitching the second handle

~Happy Crafting!

~Melanie

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01

Nov. ’17

2017 Crafty Plan – November

October was a busy month but I was able to get everything done on my list.  November will be another busy month with Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner.  I’d like to get all the Christmas shopping done this month so I can enjoy the season fully.  Isn’t that everyone’s wish? So here are my goals for this month:

  1. Starting Point Wrap – Finish Clue 4 and get started on Clue 5.  This is a Christmas gift so I would like to get clue 4 and clue 5 finished by the end of November.  I don’t think that’s going to happen and I’ll just keep it at Clue 4 for now.  I think I heard that Clue 5 is not very much but putting the two halves together. But I don’t know if that’s true.
  2. Secret Project #2 – Quilt and bind.  The label is already done so I’d like to get the label on too.
  3. A Rainbow Garden – continue to work on block 8.
  4. Mama’s Bukid – Finish Row 1 and 2 of Page 5
  5. Kayla’s Weasley Sweater – Continue to knit 2 rows per day on whatever part I’m on.  I don’t think I’m going to be close to getting this done for Christmas so I’m taking it off my Christmas list.

My Christmas Project List –

  1. Starting Point Wrap
  2. Secret Quilty Project #2
  3. Secret Knitty Project #3
  4. wrap the stuff in organza bags
  5. fill purple bags

I’m sorry I need to keep these vague just in case any of the recipients read my blog.  I don’t think any of them do but they all know of the blog so they just may happen on to it.  🙂

~Happy crafting!

~Melanie

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31

Oct. ’17

2017 Crafty Plan – October Update

  1. Kimono (my first knitted sweater) – This is almost done. I need to bind it off, weave in the ends, and block it. – DONE
  2. Starting Point Wrap – My goal last month was to finish clue #2.  I did it and got started on clue #3.  My goal for this month is to finish Clue #3 for both parts of the shawl.  For those who do not know this project, you knit 2 halves of a triangle and later put them together.  So I have to do Clue #3 twice.  It’s great having this goal because in order for me to do this, I need to knit 4 rows per day to accomplish this.  That’s a lot of knitting for me since each row is 171 stitches but I want to get this done before Christmas.  My goal is to get Clue #3 done in October, Clue #4 in November and Clue #5 in December (in time for me to wrap it and gift it on Christmas).  So I’m knitting 4 rows per day.  I was able to start on Clue #3 the last week in September so it’s really 3.5 rows per day and if I do 4 rows per day, I can afford to miss a handful of days to give myself a break. — DONE WITH CLUE #3 ON 10/24 AND GOT STARTED ON CLUE #4 ON 10/25.
  3. Secret Project #1 – Take a picture of this so that I can post about it after I’ve gifted it. – DONE
  4. Secret Project #2 – The top is done and I have the fabric picked out for the backing. I would like to to piece the back, and quilt this this month.   That might be pushing things but I’d like to get this half quilted this month since it’s a busy month and then next month, finish up the quilting and bind it. – I GOT THE BACKING DONE, PIECED SCRAP BATTING TOGETHER, AND PIN BASTED THIS.  NEXT I NEED TO QUILT IT.
  5. A Rainbow Garden – continue to work on block 8.  I’m going to try to work on this but I will not be able to work on it weekly. – I WORKED ON THIS PROBABLY ONCE OR TWICE IN OCTOBER.
  6. Mama’s Bukid – Finish page 1 and start page 5. I know that sounds weird but page 5 is under page 1 and I want to work from left to right.  So I want to start on page 5. – YES, I GOT PAGE 1 FINISHED AND STARTED ON PAGE 5.
  7. Kayla’s Weasley Sweater – knit 2 rows every day. My goal is to have this done for Christmas so she can wear it but I’m not going to bust my butt to do that.  I’ve got my must haves for Christmas and this one is not one of those. – DONE. I AM ALMOST DONE WITH THE BACK AND PLAN TO GET THE BACK DONE THIS WEEK AND GET STARTED ON THE NEXT STEP.  I DON’T THINK I’LL GET THIS DONE BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

 

~Happy crafting!

~Melanie

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