New Year, New Flair

It was one year ago today that I posted my first post on this blog.  I’ve really enjoyed this creative outlet very much.  It’s a new year and I’ve got some new ideas.  I also hope to continue to inspire you through my posts and pictures.  Each year I like to make a list of creative goals (you can call them resolutions, if you like) that I hope to achieve.  Here’s my list for this coming year:

>I participated in a couple of craft shows this year (this isn’t on my “list” but is something I hope to continue in 2011) and a customer commissioned me to knit a hat for her granddaughter.  I love these little fruit/veggie hats from Ann Norling  and have knit a lot of these.

Pumpkin and eggplants, acrylic yarn

Tomato, cotton yarn

Son #1 modeling the tomato hat

As usually happens when I pick up my knitting needles, I remember how relaxing and rewarding the knitting process is.  This year I hope to do more knitting.  I am not a very experienced knitter though I have been knitting since I was a child.  I am also not a very fast knitter and find the time required to complete a project a little discouraging.  But what I realized recently is that if I keep a project in a bag, ready to travel with me whenever I leave the house, I can work on it whenever I have a few minutes and eventually I will finish a project.  You don’t have to worry about this becoming a knitting blog because I don’t have the expertise to tell you anything useful but I will, occasionally, post pictures of the projects I complete.

I have recently discovered a new company that I want to share called Quince & Co.  The owners of this company offer yarn made from domestic wool and spun in their New England mill.  They are ecologically-minded, conscious about the farming techniques of their materials and using non-toxic dyes.  Their goal is to produce an eco-friendl,y affordable yarn and sell directly to knitters via their website.  I have ordered their color card and will report back after I’ve tried some of their yarn.  You can read more about their story and see their lovely wares at their website.

>Even though I describe myself as “primarily a garment sewer”, I have not, actually been sewing many garments in the last two years.  I am hoping to change that in 2011.  After my second child was born it took me a while to get back into the size clothing I wore before my kids, and I found I didn’t have the desire to sew clothes for my “new body”.  With my kids in school a few days each week I am hoping to find the time to start more time consuming projects and get some clothes made.  I am excited that this year I will get to go to my American Sewing Guild (ASG) Chapter’s annual sewing retreat.  I used to be a regular at this event before I had my first child in 2006, and this will be the first time I have gone since then.  I have already pulled out one dress and one skirt pattern, found the fabric I am going to use and am getting ready to cut out the pieces to take to the retreat at the end of this month.  Another associated goal is to learn the newest version of Wild Ginger’s Pattern Master Boutique (PMB).  This computer software drafts custom patterns based on your own body measurements.  I have had a lot of luck in the past creating garments with this program but have not used it in several years.  In fact, I am still using Version 3 even though the latest version is Version 5.  I am hoping to jump in and learn the newest version and start using the program again.

In an attempt to stay motivated and on track with my garment sewing, I am going to feature a garment each week on my blog, things I have sewn in the past coupled with current projects I complete.

>I have noticed that I have recently been doing a lot of crafting.  I like crafting but I’m finding that it is taking the place of other things I like to do (like sewing).  I think craft projects appeal to me at present because my time is limited and broken up into little chunks and it is easier to complete these projects that require less time commitment.  I am planning on replacing some of the crafting time with other things that I like but I also am hoping to try a few new crafts this year that I have not tried before.  I have collected a number of found objects to use in a mixed media piece and am hoping to try something along those lines this year.

>I am hoping to continue developing my line of bridal accessories and open my Etsy store sometime this year.  Stay tuned.

>Lastly, I am hoping to improve the photography for my blog by taking a couple of classes on the subject and using a whippy-do camera I borrowed from my inlaws.  I feel that my photos do not feature my work as well as I would like, and I’m hoping to improve that this year.

Whew, that’s a pretty long list.  Hopefully seeing it in print will hold me accountable to some of these goals, and I am hoping to share all that I do along the way with you.  Thanks for visiting my blog this past year and leaving such nice, encouraging comments.  They mean a lot to me.  Please come back often in 2011.