18 January, 2019

Making 'do-able' plans for 2019


As the clock ticked over into a new year, I sat here knitting wondering how I was going to get my head around on the crafty things that I want to do vs things that I actually do.

I always run out of time making gifts.

Sometimes I have just have no motivation.

Sometimes, I just don't know what to make or where to start.

A waste precious crafty time being lazy and then I hate myself for the wasted time.

Problem solving:

Firstly, I sat down and tried to 'forecast' the gifts that I want to make this year and how much time they'd take to make and of course, when they are actually needed.

I started off with a new brand of diary/planner, I felt this one had a better 'crafty' planning mode - so fingers crossed it works out well for me.

I've lowered my 'gifting' radar and just settled on one gift per person (well, basically, per kid!) for their birthday and for Christmas. Ahh, but not to confuse you or me, when I mean ONE gift, I mean, one gift of each type ie: 1 toy, 1 piece of clothing & 1 storage thingy like a pencil case or bag.  So that means forward planning for the birthday in September & December AND of course, forward planning for Christmas too.

I'm also a brand rep for a sewing pattern label, so that means I'm committed to sewing one thing per month. I have to admit that I stumbled on this last year as some things are just not my style and I've solved that little problem by making doll clothes. Yes, they actually have doll sized patterns to match the regular outfits! So rather than wrestling 3metres of fabric and taping big pattern pieces then cutting, sewing etc I'll just have to deal with smaller sized fabric & patterns! Yay, problem solved!
The doll will eventually be given to Laney for a birthday, probably either this year or next and I've also got a pattern for a cute 'kid sized' suitcase that I'll sew up and store all the doll patterns.

I'm also a rep for a yarn store and am also committed to making something yarnie each month. I was stressing slightly over this as often that means that I have to make things that weren't in my 'crafty timeline' but I was hooking up a granny square last night when it hit me … I LOVE blankets! I love the big picture of the finished blanket is made up of lots of smaller ones. So I'll go down the mofit making path this year!

Crafty Mess.
I make a lot of mess. I just can't seem to keep a tidy desk (or house), lots of clutter no matter how much I tidy. I'm hoping that by planning my projects better and having 'quick make projects' semi planned that I won't get piles next to my sewing machine or my couch (for knitting & crocheting).

Making for me.
Last year, I set a goal to be Warm for Winter .. and I did it! I made a snuggly warm hat and my big Shlanket and kept warm on those super cold walks to school.
This year, I want to set a goal of 'every day clothes' - those reliable ones that you pull on without thinking and stay wearing them until they get too dirty and need a wash!
They need to be long enough to hide my gut, I feel self-conscious if the tops are too short.
I want sleeves down to my elbow.
I want pockets.
I also need a sun hat as the UV rating is too high here and I hate my 'fall-back' straw hat.
I also want to make a comfy bra & undies and to top off my making year, I want to make an awesome dress that I just adore wearing.
Not too much to ask for is it?
Luckily, I already have the patterns! I just need to get off my butt and get them printed! I'm going to cheat and get them printed onto A0 sized paper to save me sticking them all together as I really hate that part of sewing - pattern assembly!
Some of the patterns that I'm planning are: Cargo Pants, Concord Tshirt, girly Blouse, dress, hat, bra & undies.
I also want to make myself a quilt. Some of the patterns that I've been eyeing off are: this quilt kit or this fun kit.

Oh & one more thing. I plan on starting a book blog as I love reading - I read everyday. I want to share my love of books as well as use the blog as a way to catalogue what I have read & what they are about.

Money & budgeting.
We all want to save money, always but how? I've been sitting here looking at my large fabric & yarn stashes trying to figure out how to store them when whammo.. it hits me: Use what I have. Stop getting sucked into buying things because it's discounted, on sale, closing down or new release. Sure, buy something if you're going to make it as soon as you get it but if you have to wait … then well, wait. Finish what you're doing first before you buy it. Stash dive to see if there is something else you could use. CHECK your pdf files to make sure you don't actually already own that pattern!!

A subscription renewal came up for a crafty magazine that I've been getting. I was about to click 'renew' but then I tried to remember what I'd made from the magazines. Nothing. Then I sat and thought about all the articles that I'd read. Not one. Do you know what I'd been doing? When I received the magazine in the post, I'd gleefully open it up, flick through it, love all the photos in it then put it down to look properly at later. Later came & went, the magazine still sat there. Then the next magazine would arrive and I'd follow the same steps. So I'm stopping. I MUST make something from each magazine before I allow myself to resubscribe!

Ok!  Well, that was a lot of words, so let's hope it's actually a do-able plan!
Have you made a similar plan for this year or are you totally organised?!

I utilise affiliate links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

16 January, 2019

It was a fun year

I love looking back at the things I've made over the past year. Some things I'd forgotten that I'd made (because they'd been gifted), somethings I use all the time and just a couple turned out be … well, bla.
How was your year last year? Did you enjoy it? Did you miss out on anything that you'd planned on doing?
Wanna take a look at what I did? Yep, of course you do!  Let's start with the above, my favourite make of the year.

A couple of quick little blankets.
Blog post here.
I also made these cute tape measures as well, 
they look pretty in my project bags.
I bought some more tape measures to decorate but they got distributed throughout the house before I could decorate them! 
 ..I'll have to hunt them out & make 'em pretty!
I actually use this folio for what it was designed for and it looks pretty on my shelf & I love how it keeps everything together!
Blog post here.
I love you and I love knitting.
I gave them to my kids for Valentines Day and they play with them still, in fact I saw Joe playing with his heart just yesterday!
This was a free pattern and it hangs above my sewing machine. Blog post here.
Maybe I should make one for my Mum too.
The Circle Cardi. Another make that I'm still constantly wearing!
I'm thinking perhaps I should make myself a brighter one, one that stands out in the crowd!
Laney designed herself a dress, so of course I had to make it for her!  It's actually her go-to dress, she's always wearing it!  I might just have to make her another as she loves it so much.
Blog post here.
My third favourite make of the year, this vest for Joe.
It gets worn heaps and my hubby was a little jealous that he didn't get one!
I'll have to make Joe another in preparation for the cooler weather, this time though, I'll add pockets.
My second favourite make of the year.
Those colours just look awesome on her bed!
Original blog post here.
The blanket really brightens up her room and the yarn is soft & squishy too.
Colourful trousers for Laney. I also use the same pattern for me and they are my a fave to wear as well.
They are so easy to sew that I'm thinking of making some for Joe too.
My favourite make of the year.
I LOVE this bag. It's a backpack, it's a shoulder bag, it's a cross-body bag. Whenever I use it, I get compliments. I'm so glad I made it.
Original blog post here.
A bright cheery shopping tote. I've only made one from the pattern book BUT I do plan on making more, I just need time and some peace & quiet!
A cute little bag for a gift.
Blog post here.
A top for Laney but even though she looked super cute in it, she just didn't like the neckline and has never worn it. Oh well. She's five, she's allowed to have say in what she does & doesn't like.
"Put your hat on Laney" .. something that I've said many times this last year but then she willingly did when I made her this cute hat!
Blog post here.
My big fat snuggly shlanket. I love it. It still needs blocking but I just don't know how to block something that large - gimme some ideas if you have any!
I made myself a warm hat to keep my noggin warm on those chilly days.
Blog post here.
A surprise gift for Joe and he loved it, still uses it every day. This was a 10 Hours or Less pattern, did I make it under 10 hours?
Check out the original blog post to find out & to also get the code to get 20% off any of their patterns!
Laney outgrew her tiny gloves and needed something to keep her hands warm on those cold walks to school in the morning.
Blog post here.
I made this shawl for a friend as a surprise mid-winter gift. She sent me a text after she received it, stating that she loved it & it was perfect for adding that bit of warmth when she was breast-feeding when she was out & about. I love it when surprises turn out to be good surprises!
My first attempt at Tapestry Crochet. I ended up gifting this to my Mum who (hopefully) loved it!
Blog post here.
This pencil skirt is something that I wear all the time. I love the fabric and I love the fit of the skirt … and the skirt was super easy to make too.
Butterfly wings. I think Joe wears these more often than Laney does as she prefers the superhero cape that I made a few years ago but it still gets played with a lot and I'm glad I make it and it'll make the perfect gift too, so perhaps I should make a few more!
Blog post here.
I made a hobby horse. I'm so freakin' proud of myself that I did make it! It was a fairly easy make as it had good instructions and I love seeing the kids play with it - it's often 'galloping' up & down my hall, rescuing toys from imaginary pirates or volcanoes!
A handmade trivet for a themed Kris Kringle, it was a fun project to make as it used techniques that were new to me.
Blog post here.
A small stash-busting gift that I made.
Round the World bag. I love this bag, it's so cute and different from everything else. I have plans to make a stash of them in different sizes for gifts.
Blog post here.
The Unicorn/Horse toy that I sewed for Laney. She loves it and I'm totally proud that I made it myself. It sits next to her bed and I often find her playing with it.
A gorgeous yellow top for Laney. It was an easy sew and she looks super cute in it. I'm planning on making more for her too.
Blog post here.
A super easy cami top. I've since cut out three more in different colours to sew up for me as well.
A cute little ornament for a Kris Kringle swap.
Blog post here.
The unicorn foldaway bag. Wow. Everybody loves this bag, everybody!
Original blog post here but if you want to skip that and just go for the pattern, you'll find it here!
Oops, I forgot to announce the winner of the Maker giveaway!
My bad, it gets really busy at that time of year!  So I asked my kids to pick a winner.  
 ….and the winner is: LittlePaperHeartsHandMade from Instagram.

A cute alley cat & garbage can for Joe. He loves it, he loves small things that have hiding places = the perfect combo. He calls it the kitty in the cookie tin though!

This romper that I made for Laney was a super hit with her and me. She looks so cute it in and it doesn't fall down like normal trousers & shorts when she's bouncing on the trampoline.
Blog post here.
I've already bought some fabric to make her a bunch more!

09 January, 2019

Corbett Cushion

We have super hot weather here at the moment BUT it's never too hot to crochet!  So here's a piccie or two of my latest crochet project.