Hi everyone! It’s been quite here on the blog for awhile. I was sooooo busy (and a little overwhelmed) with holiday orders, and longer hours at work (retail), so I didn’t have any time to hop online at all. I am still pretty steady, but not the same kind of deadline, so I wanted to sneak in my new year’s resolutions, and share a giveaway my friend Lindsey of Winding Road Crochet is hosting, PLUS she has a free Crocheter’s New Year’s Resolution Checklist for ya!
My resolutions aren’t specific (that much) to crochet, but I do hit some crafty points in there, plus some personal goals. I had written this up a couple weeks ago, and recently I found out about Lindsey’s checklist, so I thought this would be the perfect time to share my list…
130 Pounds
My biggest goal for this new year, is to drop down to 130 pounds – currently, I sit at 160. About three years ago, I was at 145. At that point, I was at my heaviest, but with some hard work, and the help of my weightlifter niece, I was able to drop down to 125. I was beyond proud and happy to lose 20 pounds, and to feel awesome health wise, and with the way I looked, but before I knew it, my weight went back up, and then to a new heavy. I used to naturally sit at 115, and I think now, my body has just picked a new natural as it’s been consistent, but I am not happy with it, or my energy levels, PLUS I am getting married next year! Biggest goal, go to Zumba class at least twice a month!
Write a Business Plan
My ultimate dream is to have a little yarn boutique. I have done tons of research, picked out the perfect spot, and have been really pushing my blogging over the last year in hopes of earning enough to quit my day job, and start saving up for my boutique…::sighs::… That has proven quite difficult to do.
I decided to push a little more forward, and seek out advice on how to write up a business plan so I am more prepared. I went onto the Small Business Administration’s site, and found a class. The class was held at a community college in Melbourne, which was about 45 minutes away, but the timing was perfect for my schedule, and it was free.
The instruction provided hand outs with examples, and went through a powerpoint. I crunched some numbers when I got home that made my dream seem impossible, so I never got around to doing my business plans, but I want to make it a goal this year to do.
Practice Spanish
I am half white, and half hispanic. My mom is from Puerto Rico, but never taught me Spanish growing up because my dad was white, and she said it wasn’t polite to speak a language in front of someone who didn’t understand. I really wish she had tried to teach me some because it is much more difficult to pick up as an adult, but I work in an area where EVERYONE (employees and customers) speak Spanish first, and English second, and it is hard not being able to communicate much. I have picked up a lot over the years, but I would like to take this year to practice my Spanish more, and learn more. Eventually, I would like to be able to translate my posts and patterns into Spanish so more makers can use them.
Finish More Projects
I had this goal last year, and I am not sure if I really accomplished “more”, but I definitely ended up with less WIPs, which is really what I wanted. I have a bad habit of starting a project, working it a bit, and then putting into a WIPs bin, and starting something new. To finish more, I still kept multiple projects going at once so I wouldn’t get bored, but I picked out different times to work on the different projects. For example, I would take a project to work with me, and work on it (ONLY) during my breaks, and then I would have a different project that I would work on at home. I would like to continue getting more projects finished in the new year, and even take more time to myself to just make more. I miss how crafty and motivated I used to be before I started blogging, and want to get back to making more.
Finish 2 eBooks
This year, I completed an eBook – Soap Cozies or Gift Bags, Vol 1. I had a lot of fun putting it together, and I want to do two more eBooks in 2019. I am not sure what I will focus on, whether it be another Soap Cozy or Gift Bag volume, or a different theme all together, but I am going to sit down soon, and plan them out. Any requests? Drop me a line!
Use Up Stash!
I think this is a goal many crafters have – use more of the stock piled supplies, and buy less. I have a HUGE stash of yarn, and I want to try to use it up to save money, and to make room for new year.
While I would like to use up more of what I have, I also want to try to switch my focus to boutique yarns a little more because I am still on the search for the best options. I don’t want to make a garment, or home decor piece that I will spend oodles of time on, and then it will get fuzzy and icky easily. As I experiment, I will share my findings!
Make 5 Garments
Over the last year, I have done a lot of researching – schematics and measurements, and seeking out books and classes, as well yarn experimenting, so I can design some nice garments, especially since I want to bring more fashion posts to the blog this year. I have given myself a goal of 5 aiming for fall and winter designs.
Christmas Shop Early
I think this is something everyone says every year… “I am going to Christmas shop early this year”. I know I say it to myself every year, and every year, Christmas sneaks up on me, and I struggle financially to get my bills paid, and do my shopping, baking and making with what’s left, plus the time involved. Soon, I will be sharing a post on coping living paycheck to paycheck with advice I have complied for planning for things like Christmas, and after I share it, I hope to follow some of my own advice for this year’s planning. I will also be sharing my wedding planning and budgeting too!
Practice Sewing
Early last year, I involved in a sewing technical program where I was hoping to graduate with the skills necessary to incorporate sewing into my crochet designs, and have the ability to sew things for family, friends, me, my home, etc. The class wasn’t what I had thought it was going to be at all, and the teacher wasn’t very helpful to me. It had taken me two years to land a spot in the program, so I was beyond sad and disappointed that it didn’t work out.
Todd did buy me a nice sewing machine our first Christmas together, and it has collected more dust than has been used. I want to change this in 2019, and practice my sewing more so I can build my skills, and get to making things I can buy in the store. Ya know?
And that’s it! My long list of New Year’s Resolutions. I will update through the year as I accomplish things. Make sure to hop on over to Winding Road Crochet to see what her Crocheter’s Resolutions are, and get your FREE PRINTABLE CHECKLIST! AND don’t forget to enter the giveaway while you are there!!
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Mine are
To make 1 thing for myself.
Don’t start another project until I finish a UFO
Start writing down my patterns
Promote my business more
Write a business plan
You should definitely take time to make something for yourself – it’s so rewarding, and fun! I am sharing my make for me next week 🙂
I admire your self control not to start another project without finishing a UFO. I can limit myself, but not cut myself off.
I highly recommend writing your patterns down – it will benefit you so much in the long run, plus then you can share them with others!
Good luck with your business, and plan! Check with the Small Business Administration online to see if they are holding any classes near you – that’s what I did.
Happy new year, and I hope you can achieve all your goals!
I hear you on the WIPs pile. I have a huge one myself, but this year I decided I can’t start a new project without at least finishing another one that had been left behind.
Thank you for joining The Really Crafty Link Party this week!
Props to you for the self control to get your WIPs finished first – I don’t have enough control not to start something else, hehe. But I am trying to limit myself, and finish more.
Happy New Year!! I love how you write all the plan in details. All the best !
Thanks, Elvira! Happy New Year to you too! I appreciate your feedback. I like to write in details 1.) because that’s who I am (hehe), and 2.) to help others out too. There are a lot of things I have come across in my crocheting/blogging/business journey that no one else mentioned – someone has to.
Happy New Year! Well, it sounds like you have your passion of knitting set fot the next year. You have set great goals! I need to read more books, and winter is a great time to do it. Taking up a language or learning more can be fun, my hubby uses Duo Lingo program and has been learning Italian.
thanks for linking!
jess xx
http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com
Winter is definitely a great time for reading! I can just picture snuggled up with a good book, coffee and fireplace going. Thanks for the recommendation – I was thinking of trying Rosetta Stone, but it is a little pricey.
Such great resolutions to have! I hope you manage to achieve them all, especially the shopping early for Christmas one! 🙂
Happy New Year! Hope that your 2019 is off to a great start and you’ve been having a great week 🙂
Away From The Blue Blog
Thanks so much for this awesome comment! Popping over to visit your blog!
Love your resolutions!! Can’t wait to see what you accomplish this year 🙂 subscribing so I don’t miss a thing!
Yay! So happy to have you, Kelly!
Great goals, I say I’m going to use my stash every year and I do… it’s just I acquire more stash too!
I recommend sewing for yourself if you can find time. It’s a lovely feeling to wear something you’ve made. I used to have loads of me made stuff as a teenager and keep promising myself I will do more too.
Happy New Year!
Hehe. I hear ya on the stash! Too many great deals, and yarns out there to not buy more. Ha! I recently crocheted a tote bag (that I will share in a few months as part of an upcoming magazine), and I used my using machine to sew in a lining, and boy was I super proud of it! Didn’t turn out perfect, but so rewarding. I am looking forward to doing some more sewing.
Good luck with all your resolutions. I am sure you will achieve them. You have made me realise I forgot to make any, although I have an ongoing one, which is to write more patterns. I also have a vague one, that is “to be nicer”. Thanks for joining in Ginx Woolly Linx Party for January.
Your patterns are so amazing too! The be nicer one is interesting. I am quite nice, but my patience level isn’t like it used to be. Perhaps I could add “be more patient”. Easier said than done hehe
Some lofty goals!!! 2.5 years later, did you get them done? But now you know you had a health condition contributing to your weight gain. That’s a completed goal in my book. I’ve had problems with weight gain, some due to that old age thing creeping in, and some was a thyroid problem. I still have to eat like a bird though, one meal a day and one snack (both on the healthier side) but it’s still a struggle.
Can you really ever use up your yarn stash? Not a fun goal….LOL