Getting Back in the Saddle (And Goals for 2014)

On the Needles: Calligraphy Cardigan by Hannah Fettig, non-felted slippers
Complete: A bag to felt; Owls by Kate Davies; Trim Clogs from The Knitted Slipper Book, and a crocheted rainbow scarf with clouds at either end!
In the plans: Items to Stock!

Phew! That was a busy last two months of 2013. I'm sorry for the lack of updates there at the end! 2013 was a whirlwind year as it was - and December doesn't even feel like it existed.

Market Collective was a resounding success! And I want to thank the organizers, shoppers, and vendors. It was a wonderful experience, and I can't wait to be back!

As such, 2014 is a year full of item stock goals.

However, 2014 is also going to be full of personal experiences, so I have a schedule that I'm working out right now.

So, for the blog, we're going down to one to two posts per week; probably one on Monday and one on Friday. One will be a week recap: a "in the works" post, along the lines of Needlings, and one will be random chatter.

Because of my wedding in July, expect to hear very little from me that full month - in fact, expect a hiatus of all posting activity for the month of July. haha

Personally, I have a baby shower for a friend that I'm working on right now - which includes some knit items for the tyke. And I have my own wedding shawl to knit...Before July!

As for the shop, I cannot guarantee the update dates, but I will be posting to all my social media when I post items. If the update is "major" (i.e. 5 items or more), there will be a special post to let you know!

If you're not following me, you can find me on Twitter and Facebook!

I have a long list of items that I want to attempt, which you'll start seeing here as they develop. However, it does include the fan-favourites of mittens - and I'm adding felted slippers (including men's sizes!), felted rose purses, and felted wool dryer balls.

I'm also working on more box bags at the moment, and have had an amazing suggestion for a sewn item from a little guy, which you'll get to see soon!

Anyway. I hope all is well with everyone - and I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

By the way, the item I'm most proud of is in my shop right now for custom order:

Custom Order Men's Zippered Cardigan (Model not included - he's mine).

Have a lovely day!!

Katie =^..^=

Day # 2

WIPs: Boot cuffs
FOs: None
Progress: some (almost done 1/3 pairs of cuffs)!

They say it takes about three weeks to establish and maintain a good habit. So here's to day # 2 of habit making!

I went to the gym last night, and again this morning, and I'm all pumped and ready to go tomorrow and Sunday, and then I have to start training with my trainer again.

And, although I was up at about 6am this morning (well, my alarm started then. I didn't get up until the still unholy hour of 6:30am), I am feeling quite energized...But at the same time like I will actually be able to go to bed tonight and get an amazing night's sleep. Yay! Means that I'll try to be up at the still unholy hour of a wonderful hour of 6ish. I need to be up earlier than I was today to hit the gym earlier on the weekdays (less people, more spare time for me getting to work).

The upside of  this is that the gym doesn't open until 8 on weekend, which means I can get up and make myself a nice, hot breakfast, and get some knitting done (i.e. the boot cuffs. haha)~!

This is also day #2 for my blog posts! Yay! By the way, the 50th post brought my views up over 1600 views! So happy about it.

Also, I found pineapple-flavoured Danone yogurt drinks...Actually surprisingly tasty! I hope it helps cultivate good bacteria in my body!

Let's see...

Finally got all the information from all of the venues that we've been looking at. I think it's helped narrow it down to two specific ones, which we'll go look at in January (I think).

I know that it may seem like a long ways out, but I do really want to do this now so that they don't get booked up before we even get a chance, and since we do have such a long time we get our pick, mostly.

Another benefit on knowing where we'll be is we can put the town on Save-the-Dates, which I want to get out soon so that my international friends that I'm inviting have time to save to come here. It also allows me to see the space and see how I can decorate, and what handmade items I want to make to decorate. :) (i.e. garlands of yarn pom-poms, anyone? hahaha)

I'm going to have so much fun with this~!

Dallas has this last trip up north and then he's home for Christmas, so we can sit down and talk more seriously about what we want to do, and budget around things. He was studying for an exam last week he was home, and so that wasn't conducive to talking about much else. (Fingers crossed he passes!) (He thinks that he's going to be going from stressing about exams to stressing about wedding details. I told him no. It's going to be a lot of fun planning! At least, that's how I'm going to look at it, and that seems to be half the battle. That and I think I have amazing bridesmaids (actually, a Minion of Honour and Bride's Minions, which is even better)!)

If you read Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's wonderful Yarn Harlot blog, you will notice that I am likely going to start emulating her a bit more (like, with struck-out text above). If you don't read her blog, go do it. Do it now!!!! She's fantastic. :) And Canadian (all the better).

Now, to go contemplate...things. Like knitting (one more row and bind off for the first pair)!

Have a lovely evening, my dears!

Katie =^..^=

Oh Tannenbaum...(Post 50!) And the Goal Post!

WiP: Boot cuffs
ItP: You know from the last post. haha
FOs: None

So, you know how I was saying I was getting busier?

Well, part of that was going out and getting a Christmas tree (which had to then thaw). And then I wrapped my parents' gifts, since we saw them yesterday. And I know we're heading to their place for Christmas...But you never know, what with the roads between, etc.

Anyway. We met for  dinner, and it was good. :) And then we went home and decorated the Christmas tree, which looks awesome!

Went to the gym tonight, which was good! One of my goals is to get fit.

This brings me to the goals that I want to achieve over the next year (and yes, I know, I know, New Year's, etc, but why can't goals start at any time of year? Like now? Better now than later)!

So, without further ado, here's my list of desired goals:

1. Get fit (fit enough that I drop some weight, but also that I can either reduce my medication or go off of it completely)
        1. a. Eat healthier (no more sugary drinks or cookies from Starbucks. I'm allowed cream in my coffee, though!)

2. Start writing here, if not every, every second day.

3. Start writing fiction again

4. Finish my wedding shawl in time for the 2013 Stampede Showcase

5. Have updates for my Etsy shop every two weeks (there won't be one this week, though, either...I'm slogged down in comissions)

6. Read a book a month, at least.

7. Have fun!

These goals will fluctuate, but I've just been thinking over it, and these are the top priorities.

Hence, you folks have to hold me accountable! I am going to post a picture of my knitting process each time I post (following this one), and hopefully that'll help.

In other news, still reading through YarnHarlot.ca's archives. They're awesome!

It's warmed up a lot in Calgary and helped dry up the roads, which is nice.

Dallas heads up North again today, which sucks, but at least when he's home next he's off for Christmas! (Last guaranteed one for who knows how long. haha)

Anyway, heading out. Have a lovely evening, my dears!

Katie =^..^=