Hey All, I hope you had a great holiday season! We had a wonderful first Christmas with Baby Apartment Farmer and a nice low-key New Year’s Eve at home. In years past, January has been a real let down for me. The sparkle and glitz of Christmas are gone. Boring winter sets in. But this year, I was actually all set on go to get the tree down, the decorations put away and the house in order. I enjoyed them while they were up, but everything was put away by New Year’s Day. I wanted to start the year out fresh and clean!
And as a compulsive list maker, this is my very favorite time of year. Planning requires lists, after all! I have to admit, I’ve done something psychotic… I’ve joined a 52 Project Challenge on the one of the forums I frequent. It’s basically like a crafter’s support group – the goal is to complete one project each week of the year. Here’s what I’ve got planned –
| House slippers | January | Me |
| Circle scarf | January | Me |
| Travel tissue case | January | Me |
| Scrapbook paper seed envelopes | January | Me |
| Valentine’s Day postcards | February | Holiday |
| Embroidered stationary birthday cards | February | Holiday |
| 4th of July flag bunting | June | Me |
| 4th of July pinwheels | June | Me |
| Halloween costume for the baby | September | Holiday |
| Spiderweb skirt for Halloween | September | Holiday |
| Snapfish photo calendar | November | Christmas gift |
| Snapfish Christmas cards | November | Christmas gift |
| Fanny pack/belt bag | TBD | Me |
| Dinosaur hat | TBD | Christmas gift |
| Magnetic paper dolls | TBD | Christmas gift |
| Lion stuffed animal | TBD | Christmas gift |
| Gorilla stuffed animal | TBD | Christmas gift |
| Kitchen knife roll | TBD | Me |
| Jelly jar shelf | TBD | Me |
| Patchwork table runner | TBD | Me |
| Apron | TBD | Me |
| A-line skirt | TBD | Me |
| Coming home from the hospital outfit shadow box | TBD | Me |
| Wedding/honeymoon scrapbook | TBD | Me |
| CD wallet scrapbook | TBD | Christmas gift |
| Tote bag | TBD | Me |
| Cold frame for the window box planter | TBD | Me |
| Portable spice rack | TBD | Me |
| Pour spout mason jars | TBD | Me |
| Gold glittered deer | TBD | Holiday |
| Travel cosmetics case | TBD | Me |
| Tile coasters | TBD | Me |
| Pattern piece lampshade for sewing desk | TBD | Me |
| Embroidery hoop pocket organizer | TBD | Me |
| Scrapbook paper pattern envelopes | TBD | Me |
| Diamond quilt – cut blocks | TBD | Me |
| Diamond quilt – piece horizontal | TBD | Me |
| Diamond quilt – piece vertical | TBD | Me |
| Diamond quilt – assemble quilt | TBD | Me |
| Diamond quilt – quilt/topstich | TBD | Me |
| Laminated kitchen helper magnets | TBD | Me |
| Change purse | TBD | Me |
| Crocheted ice skate ornaments | TBD | Christmas gift |
| Glittered paper leaf wreath | TBD | Me |
| Cookie cutter Christmas wreath | TBD | Me |
| Shutterfly photo story book | TBD | Christmas gift |
| Christmas gift for nieces – TBD | TBD | Christmas gift |
| Christmas gift for son – TBD | TBD | Christmas gift |
| Christmas gift for husband – TBD | TBD | Christmas gift |
| Christmas gift for husband – TBD | TBD | Christmas gift |
| Stocking stuffers for son – TBD | TBD | Christmas gift |
| Stocking stuffers for husband – TBD | TBD | Christmas gift |
It’s quite a list, right? And I’ve actually gotten one done already – I made two of the pour spout mason jars. It literally took two minutes to put together. I’m using one for my bulk instant yeast and one for cinnamon sugar, and I love how convenient they are.
And as if that list weren’t enough to keep me busy, I do have a couple more goals for this year in the foodcrafting department –
| Put up 52 quarts of tomatoes |
| Make pancetta |
| Make fermented hot sauce |
| Make fried garlic |
| Grow vegetables year round |
| Make chili powder from dried and ground hot peppers |
That list is destined to get longer as I hop around on Pinterest and come across new things to make and try. And of course, I’ll be sure to post about all of the good stuff I accomplish. What are your goals for the coming year?
Wow. That is an impressive list! If you even do a fraction of those projects you will have had a successful 2012. I, too, am an inveterate list maker who loves January… My list includes starting a Windowfarm, growing mushrooms indoors, felting something, and fermenting a lot of things. Happy New Year!
Thanks; it’s ambitious but I hope to check off a lot this year! Your list has some pretty excellent tasks on it – growing mushrooms indoors, especially. I hope you post about it so I can see how it goes; might have to add that one to my list too.