The Best of 2017

Sunday, December 31, 2017
My 2017 word of the year was...
Persist

And persist I did. 2017 has felt like a year of transitions. I started off the the year working at a new job site, (like it or not) a new President, I attended class at two different collages, and later got a new car (no more relying solely on public transportation!) which meant new adventures and more trips out of the city.

What I Made in 2017


As far as my makes go, my creativity seems to have flowed in waves. At the start of the year I did a lot of knitting for The National Women's March, Standing Rock, and The American Heart Associations- Little Hats Big Hearts campaign. In the spring I did some drawing and painting, creating some drawings for The Virtual Paintout, did a portrait of actor Stanley Tucci, discovered some live drawing platforms via Facebook such as Draw This! and created some landscape paintings inspired by Andre Derain' before taking a hiatus to focus on school. It's safe to say I ended the year on another knitting kick that shows no sign of stopping. My blogging definitely got cast aside this year, but I'm hoping to have more to talk about in 2018.


Re-cap of Goals from last year:
  • Make at least one out-of-state trip.  X
In 2017 I took a few out of state trips to neighboring states; I visited nearby Vancouver and Seattle, Washington and I visited Venice Beach, California.





  • Finish 8 canvas paintings. 6 out of 8
I worked on a series of impressionist style landscapes from around the world inspired by Andre Derain' earlier this year and I did a few more Virtual Paintout drawings.
  • Take a college class. X X
I took not one, but two college classes this year.
  • Craft for a cause. X
  • Meet my reading goal. Fail
I may have set my goal a bit too high this year. I'd aimed to read 50 books this year, but work, school and crafting seemed to get in the way, so I only read 25 this year. 

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My 2018 word of the year is...

Fearless

If 2017 was a year of persisting through transition, my hope is that as I become more comfortable in my surroundings and in my own skin, that I'll be more bold, confident, outspoken (when needed) and take more risks.  

My Goals for 2018

  • Travel Internationally
  • Go home- In 2017 friends and family visited me, so in 2018 I need to visit them.
  • Get credentialed- Now that I've completed my college classes, I just need to submit some paperwork to add a new set of acronyms after my name. 
  • Sew something- I've ordered Tilly & the Button's Love at First Stitch in the hope of upping my sewing game.
  • Read 25 books
Honorable mention:
  • Draw and paint something.
  • Knit all the things.
  • Collect all the Christmas yarn for a 2018 festive box of socks.
How did your 2017 resolutions go? What are your plans for 2018? Let me know in the comments below. 
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What I'm Listening To: Sia- Santas Coming for Us

Monday, December 25, 2017

Hey everyone! So many singers released Christmas albums this year! Even Sia has a Christmas album. Check out her song, "Santa's Coming for Us", and watch out for special cameos from J.B. Smoove, Dax Shepard, Kristen Bell, Henry Winkler, Susan Lucci, Sophia Lillis, Wyatt Oleff & Caleb McLaughlin.

I'm wishing you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS/ HANUKKAH/ KWANZAA/ FESTIVUS/ WINTER/ SUMMER (if you're in the southern hemisphere) Season!
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Help Me Choose My Christmas Eve Cast-on

Thursday, December 21, 2017
With my Christmas gift knitting complete and Christmas Day just 4 days away, it's time for me to start thinking about what I want to start knitting on Christmas Eve and I need your help. Here's a list of my top 6 contenders. Let me know which one you think I need to make next.


Top:

  • Sunset Highway by Caitlin Hunter This would be a swell sweater to have on my January vacay. I already have the yarn that I need, but it's a sock weight sweater so it may take awhile to finish.
  • Wonder Woman Wrap by Carissa Browning What better way to ring in the new year than with a bit of girl power! This pattern was on my #2017MakeNine list and I purchased some yarn to knit this up at the Flock & Fiber Festival this fall.
  • Breathing Space by Veera Valimaki This is another pattern from my #2017MakeNine list and I already have the pattern for it. I love the colors and the shape of it!
Bottom:
  • Tartan Lula Loop by Wool and the Gang I purchased the yarn and pattern for this scarf several years ago and never knit it up. It would be lovely to have this to beat the winter chills.
  • Sassy Santa Hat I got a random skein of Knitted Wit yarn at the Flock & Fiber Festival that vaguely resembles their Sassy Santa colorway, and it might be nice to have a festive cap to wear to work on Christmas Day.
  • Salal cardigan by Andi Satterlund  This is another #2017Make Nine list item. I started this cardigan during Andi Satterlund's Salal KAL but it knit up larger than I wanted and I frogged it and vowed to knit a smaller size at a later day.
So, which one should I start on Christmas eve? Let me know in the comments below. 
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