Happy 2013!!!

I hope everyone enjoyed the past couple weeks. I know I enjoyed my week and a half off from work during which I managed not to turn on my laptop, spent some well needed time with family, relaxed with my husband in our new home, hand-sewed some curtains, and just dwelled. It was lovely.

I am rather excited for the new year. Dan and I are in our own place. We have space to organize (which I find to be a fun challenge.) I will have a new sewing room to play in. All around goodness.

This year’s looking forward list is a hodge-podge of activity rather than the traditional beginning of the year to-do list. Let me see if I can group this nicely….

For Fanciful Utility fans:

In February, I have an upcoming FanU workshop at the Genesee Country Village & Museum. We will spend a Saturday afternoon learning techniques from the book as we make one of my favorite needle-books.
In March, the Mumford library will be hosting a book signing tea. Stop in to my favorite small town library to get your book signed or pick up a copy to have signed. The exact date is to be determined based on the library’s renovation schedule. (This great library is getting a long needed renovation that will give the library more space while preserving the historic building.)
Throughout the year, look forward to new templates to accompany Fanciful Utility as well as creative ways to use the techniques from the book.

For Shawl fans:

I’m hoping to move forward on the new shawl book……

My general looking forward list:

Compile an annotated photo index of my fabric stash as it is organized into the cabinet. Among this stash will be found future sewing projects to include…. a V neck, gathered bodice, flounce skirt sheer 1850s dress… new sleeves for my 1840s dress…. potentially another 1840s dress…. a traveling wardrobe…. a new cotton wrapper…. a long waiting green tropical wool early 1860s dress…. a Regency blue sari dress…. a sheer early 1860s dress …. a new dress or two for Lily as the season needs…. oh, and the court dress.
I want to get together a full civilian outfit for my husband. The decade is still to be determined as I think it might be easier to convince him to wear it if it is from the 1840s or 50s.
For my relaxation and pure fun of it, I want to do several dresses and accessories for Mae.
Finish my red embroidered shawl as well as the ribbon/shawl idea.
Pull off a certain secret project by October. shhhhhhh!
Keep a regular schedule on both of my blogs. On my personal blog, look forward to stories of getting the apartment organized which will likely reveal some of my obsessions. On the living history blog, my main goal is to finish any series I start. I apologize for the various series I started over the past year and a half but haven’t had the focus to finish.
In terms of event to-do, I would like a nice living history event with my husband, a nice civilian event alone, a social event with my husband (after all he still owes me a dance), some time in the village, a nice event to take my sister to and something educational some place small. (vague, I know)

This 2013 list is far less lofty than previous years’ lists. It is also less specific. My main goals for 2013 is to be happy, healthy and patient.

I hope everyone has a beautiful year.