Resolutions, revisited.

I discovered my list of new year resolutions while trawling through the contents of my old laptop the other day, and thought it might be interesting to see how I'm doing with them so far. Here goes:

Write more letters

I’ve not written as many as I’d hoped, but certainly more than last year. 6/10

Keep note of interesting/difficult/hilarious customers and incidents
Again, not as in-depth as I thought I would, or as frequently, and have lost some due to the notes being on tiny bits of paper, but overall I think I’ve kept track of the best ones! 8/10

Make a book of beautiful and inspirational shops & places
Haven’t even thought about this one yet, let alone done it. Maybe next year? 0/10

Visit National Trust properties
Have been to two, one more than once, and plan a few more before the year’s out. 6/10

Catalogue my books onto LibraryThing
I had such high hopes of doing this when I’d moved in – maybe by the end of the year I’ll have managed it? 4/10

Set aside time once a month to update LiveJournal
I haven’t actually even been to the LJ site in the last three or four months, so I think I can safely say I won’t be using it in the foreseeable future. In my new happy state I don’t need it to vent so much and I don’t find it as user friendly as it used to be – my friends’ posts don’t seem to be easily available as they used to. 0/10

Take more photos
Inadvertently, yes – mostly due to the weekend in Bath and needing to photograph DF stock, but yes, more than I’d expected to be able to. Still rubbish at uploading and filing them though, and definitely need to upload some to the Youthnet Flickr group before the end of the year, or there will have been no point offering my services. 6/10

Blog once a week
Not quite once a week, but more regularly than I expected. Plan to improve this before the end of the year. 5/10

Meet up with some ROC members
First meet was CAE 2010 which was, for me, an incredible success – next meet is bank holiday Monday and I think that’ll be just as good. 10/10

Go to at least one live show
Went to one in Northampton on 3 January and haven’t made it to a single one since – may have to re-enter this resolution in the next show season. 10/10 for the one live show as it was 90 miles in ice and snow in a RWD car, but 1/10 for failing to attend any others this year.

Rescue my belongings from storage/take a road trip in a van
My stuff is no longer in storage! Admittedly there are a few bits in the living room it would be really nice to shift soon, but I have all my things back and I did one solo road trip in a giant red van called Velma, and another one to London in a smaller van with Julia. Almost exactly how we planned. 10/10

Start & attend a craft club, or join a knitting circle/club
Joined Kitsch at the outset, have missed a few meetings but I love it and have even provided them with a book club! 9/10

Knit something
Hmm, so far not so much, I have patches for a blanket and plans to crochet some amigurumi animals, if that counts? 3/10

Make presents & cards for Christmas and birthdays 2010
Ok, so this one I’ve failed miserably at, I’ve not even managed to send cards to most people for their birthdays. Next year will be the year. 0/10

Get Folksy, Etsy & Misi shops up & running
Folksy has some items for sale, Etsy shop exists but has no listings and I’m not even registered on Misi. 2/10

Go to at least four craft fairs as an exhibitor
Having been accepted to Hylands monthly fair, starting in September, I have a fighting chance of achieving this before December, assuming all goes to plan! 6/10 so far.

Rescue and upcyle found objects & things from charity shops
Bangles, vintage buttons, rescued clothing & scraps of lace – I’m on the right tracks! 8/10

Learn to use resin and/or silver clay
This isn’t going to happen till I have more money & time. 0/10

Make an item of clothing
Hmm, may need guidance from Lou on this one. I have however made a patchwork wall hanging and two cushions. Halfway there?! 5/10

Collaborate on something artistic or crafty
Chloe’s tree charms for my bracelet sort of count, but I’d love to do something bigger that counts as an actual project. The Bibliocraft exhibition also sort of counts. 5/10

London days
I can’t actually remember the last time I went to London. Epic fail. 0/10

Reinvent wardrobe/chuck out stuff I don’t wear
I did this quite effectively during the move, but would love to add some more eclectic stuff to what I own & wear. 7/10

Bake a cake for work
A giant cake, ginger biscuits AND brownies. And it only took till my year anniversary of being here! 10/10

Make cupcakes
I’ve definitely done this this year, and brought them to work too, but I’m not sure I’m a cupcake kinda girl now I know I can make proper big cakes! 9/10

Do the 50/100 book challenge & keep it up
Hit my 103rd book last night so definitely a success. 10/10

Visit Stonehenge
So near, yet so far. Not yet, may have to sneak to next year’s list. 0/10

Do the long overdue trips to see friends around the country
Sarah G, Ian, all six of my uni girls, Toria – doing much better than I expected this year! 10/10

Remember birthdays
Oh god, let’s not talk about how many I’ve forgotten. 0/10

Make jewellery etc for Ali & Jo’s weddings
Yep! Made a bracelet I wore to both and had a valiant effort on customising my mini hat fascinator 9/10

I'll review again in December/January, when I'm writing my list for 2011!

Looks like...

the Craft Experiment has expanded to include baking! :)

Bourne Mill, Colchester

bourne mill
Originally uploaded by creamykiwi

So yesterday was a typical lazy Sunday till my parents phoned and said they were going to see Bourne Mill at 2ish and did I want to join them there. It's in Colchester, I could hardly say no because of the long drive!

So I did, and it was unexpectedly beautiful! Mum has all the decent pictures on her camera, but here's a quick one I took of the weir and the trees surrounding the water that drives the wheel... you'd never guess the place is surrounded by houses these days!

Am quite impressed with the quality considering it was taken on my phone, too... not so much impressed with my composition though, I need to work at that :P