A month in retrospective. January.

Life gets in the way of blogging and sewing, I try not to compare myself to others in real life, and lately I've been down on myself and my progress in sewing and comparing my progress to other bloggers.
I've been reflecting on last year and realised how much I accomplished, I just didn't take the time to stop and realise quiet how much. So this year I want to be more aware of that, I've made a list of questions I plan on filling out every month to appreciate, while I may not be sewing, I am living and that's important too. So here are the questions.

Highlight of the month.
Planning our driving holiday in march, finally deciding to upgrade my car, I'm looking forward to that - beep, beep!
Low light of the month.
Experiencing my first back to school sale - its enough for me to never want to have children! I worked 201 hours last month. All I can say is parents, don't leave your shoe buying to the last minute, if you do, please don't take your frustrations out on the sales people, they are not paid to put up with abuse. :)
Interesting places you visited.
I started off the year at the beach, I went to my first ever moonlight cinemas in the botanical gardens, I made my annual pilgrimage to fryerstown's antique festival, visited the beautiful gardens at Saint Earth's, visited Trentham & Daylesford, found a beautiful nursery of garden art and plants.
Did you start any garments?
Yes, a toile of McCall's 6350, which is channelling Madonna-esqe pointy boobs. I need to get the fit right before I cut into my expensive fabric.
Did you finish a garment?
Yes! I finished the hem of a vogue dress which mean its complete, finally!

Did you buy any fabrics or patterns?
I may of popped into the fabric store for the sale, I also may of come away with 12.5 meters of fabric.
Did you any accomplish any of your goals?
Yes! Basil is enrolled for obedience school, we are excited, well I am!

Crazy Basil, wanting attention.

Books read in January.
Without remorse & Patriot games - Tom Clancy, the masqueraders - Georgette Heyer, One Fifth Avenue  - Candance Bushnell.
Misc.
-I found a bakery with the nicest vanilla slice of all time, its an 12 minute walk from my house, its very dangerous.
I had Australia day off - I spent the whole day in my PJ's, it was great.

Wow I didn't realise how much I actually did, no wonder I'm tired. He he.
Thanks for reading. Kat

The fabric store 40% off Sale.

This might interested all you local fabricoholics . I should really stay away but who knows what will happen! I wonder if they finally have the swimwear fabric on sale?

Goals for 2012

Last year was a very big year for myself & Ben. In ways, it was a good and bad year. We bought a house, we have a very special fur child who came into our lives, friendships started & a friendship ended, babies come into the world, and people departed. For the most part, I was happy to be seeing the back of 2011, because I know that things can only get better.

I work well with goals, especially if they are time related. I find it very satisfying to cross things off my list. I wrote most of these last week, some have been on my list from last year, mostly the house goals. I'm looking forward to seeing big ticks on my list this year.

Miscellaneous

Spend the day in Daylesford and surrounding areas.
Visit Werribee Mansion & Garden.
Go to Warrnambool for a long weekend.
Visit more antique stores/fairs/markets.
Visit the Zoo.
Get Basil into obedience school.
Have more date nights.
Attend Grace Kelly's Style Icon show
Attend an art show.
Go to the theatre.
Attend the ballet.

Have relaxing weekends.

Sewing

Blog more but keep the content high quality.
Attend a get to know you over locker class.
Sew 15 items this year.
Be quicker when making said 15 items.

Sew 4 Colette Patterns this year. Ginger again, Chantilly, Rooibos and Crepe. Stash Bust where possible.

Garden

Buy some garden statues/ decor, weather vane & a metal cow are high on the list.
Level back yard, lay down turf & keep it alive.
Design a children’s area include a cubby house.
Develop backyard.

Rip out all trees, shrubs that need to go. Convince Ben to do the work. J

House

Finalise layout of house.
Start Renovations.
Find box bay window with diamond panes.
Use as much period/second hand etc material as possible.
Finish painting.
Put up more photos in the house.

So there it all is! Hopefully I can get most of it done, or at least in progress before the end of the year, although I'm sure time will fly.

Thanks for reading!
Kat