Another year, another discussion of goals.

This is why I don't really "do" New Year's Resolutions, any more. I totally lack follow-through, particularly in the checking-in-on-goal-progress front.

Anyway.  2013.  21 finished projects, 6 of which were socks (plus another pair which I was half-done with on New Year's Eve.)

Big goals for 2014: Knit MOAR, and knit more socks.  At least 14 pairs of socks this year.  I use my hand-knitted socks more than anything else I make (except maybe dishcloths).

So, more socks.

1/2 pair down, 13.5 to go.

Second Verse, Same as the First

Don't know if I'll be any louder in 2013, but it's unlikely to be worse - I got a job and completely abandoned my hobbies (and most of the rest of my life).

Yet again, I'm setting the bar high: 52 projects between January 1 and December 31, with 13.1 miles spun, knitted, or crocheted.

Oh, and make it through my first year of full-time contracted teaching, but really, I was planning to do that anyway.

First up: four pairs of socks in 3 months, a violently purple shawl in a pattern I've been wanting to get to for over a year, and a couple of hats in various shapes and levels of floppy.  More Hexipuffs (because they are fun and a great way to use up yarn ends).  Some dishcloths, because it makes me happy to have Doctor Who dishcloths, and also they're fairly easy turn-ins for the silly Harry Potter knitting game I play TO WIN.

GOALs!

I am nothing if not ambitious.  (Hey, I'm not in Slytherin House in the pretend knitting game on Ravelry for nothing.  I'm also a huge, huge nerd, but we knew that already.)

So, I have some goals for 2012.  Some crafting goals, to be more precise, because the Real Life goals (finish my masters, get a full-time contract, & get the house in order) are big, but kind of boring in the daily making-of.

Anyway.  Crafty crafterson over here also has a case of crazy pants.  52 in 52.  13.1 miles.  And so on.

Here's the breakdown of my goals.  I'm including in my 52 in 52 the finishing of Works in Progress (or WIPs) because otherwise, they will never, ever be complete.  So there.

2012 Challenges: 13.1 & 52/52

Because I am nothing if not ambitious (and perpetually almost willfully unaware of my limits), I have set myself a set of challenges for 2012, one old, one renewed: finish 52 projects in 52 weeks and knit, crochet, sew, or spin a combination of 13.1 miles (23,056 yards).

I'll be counting.  Will you?

Christmas time is here, again!

OK, not really, since it's JUNE, but I've finished the first gift for Christmas 2010.

This does not classify me as one of those super-organized people, unfortunately; gifts from Christmas 2009 are still here - they never made it to the intended recipients (family emergency that required me to fly across the country on Christmas Eve plus recipients with address unknown, but still.)

BUT.  I have completed the first Christmas gift for this year.

I am very excited about this.  (No pictures, as it's 11:30 pm and I am tired.)

Shawls and socks

This is going to be the summer of shawls and socks.

Well, that, and Christmas gifts.  But back to the shawls and socks: I need some.  I need socks because my fun-n-funky store-bought socks are wearing out and my sock yarn stash is (ahem) considerable (by my standards) and my work environment is one that supports slightly funky fashion choices.  So I'm considering having crazy (handmade) socks be my trademark.  First up?  Play-off socks.  On account of the San Jose Sharks are in the semis and I have some Claudia Handpainted sock yarn in Sharks.

Is bee-yoo-tee-ful.

As to the shawls?

Daydreaming about summer skies

and warm days where it wouldn't be unreasonable to wear a sweet cotton skirt instead of sweats, slippers, and a blanket (as I am, now, on this 36-degree gray, gray, gray day.)

And I've been daydreaming about what I want to pack for Hawaii (in July - I'm not planning ahead, just daydreaming) and doodling with SWAP boards.

Like this one.

Shoes, found at Zappos, are $85.  If I was sure I'd be able to stand to wear them while teaching, I would so snap them up.  But I'm unfamiliar with the brand.  Need to research - after I finish this stack of lesson plans and philosophy statements.

Pretty Maids All in a Row

So, as I'm finishing up my current project(s), I like to think about what's next.  (Ignoring, of course, the in-progress socks, sweater for my beloved, and Lady Eleanor wrap from 2005 that is between 25-ish and 50-ish percent complete.)

Part of the planning process includes yarn-visits.  I go into the Craft Room and check on my yarn.  Pick up a skein, admire the lovely colors (and notice that I seem to have gone on a purple tear at some point), and daydream about what they might become, someday.

(The cats' methods are different from mine.  Clearly.  I only sniff the yarn when no one's around to look.)