Happy New Year!!!!!

From My Very First Joke Book

Yesterday I predicted two things correctly:

1. I'd be asleep before midnight

2. D would have a terrible "headache" today.

He can't tolerate alcohol at all, and I really don't know why he insists on having even a single glass of champagne, but being undeterred is one of his 'things' and I've given up trying to persuade him otherwise. In light of the second point, we are having a quiet New Year's Day at home... except no one told the children who were up by 6:00 and shouting "MUUUUUUUUUM.... <insert choice of random status update or other irrelevant fact here>". At that point, we did of course request consideration and lowered voices, but being children they took absolutely no notice what-so-ever. Luckily they are cute enough to get away with it.

'hat modelling' with Mum

So 2011 is over and done with and I'm not sad to see the back of it. It was a tough year with lots of family illness and loss, and I'm sure that THIS *gestures around the Cwtch to indicate knitting/ crochet/ blogging*  has been the key to staying relatively sane and centered through the toughest bits. 

2012 is all about moving onwards and upwards! 

D turns 40 this month (no doubt to followed by another headache) and is determined to achieve his career goals this year. In February Little Miss starts pre-school, my sister begins the next chapter in her academic career with her PhD, and Mum will relocate here from Wales which is all incredibly exciting and will mean a lot of change for us. Not to get left behind, I am setting some SMART personal objectives for the year and of course I have some crafty goals too, which include (but are not limited to): 

• Complete the Beekeeper's Quilt before the end of November 2012 - the finished size is yet to be decided. 
• Practice "knitting without looking" daily - mainly so I can read and knit, but also so I can watch a film without falling asleep (which is inevitably what happens if I sit still without knitting for more than 10 5 2 minutes). I will do this while making my One a Day Hexipuff....
• Make at least one Hexipuff each day and blog the weekly tally, until the project is finished.
• SOCKS! I still haven't made any socks! I will make my first pair before the end of February.
• Revise my 'Year of Projects' list by next Sunday and post an update to the YoP Group. 
• Make a waldorf style Kiki doll before Christmas 2012. 
• Translate some of the many ideas in my notebook into patterns and publish at least 4 more on the blog and Ravelry by the end of the year. 

It would be easy to keep going, but that's enough for now. 

Before I go, I snuck in a final FO for 2011 yesterday afternoon. I love it - this quick, simple and effective cowl pattern will be on my list of gifty makes for next Christmas. 

PATTERN: Cherry Garcia by Adrian Bizilia

YARN: Mirasol Sulka (60% Merino, 20% Alpaca, 20% Silk) x 2 skeins

NEEDLES: 8mm

This was the first time I'd used Sulka and it's absolutely gorgeous. I will be placing an order for more today as it's divine. The pattern took exactly 2 skeins, and I really mean that - with approx 2.5 cms left from the cast on, I only just had enough to bind off. 

I need to get cracking with today's hexipuff so all that remains is for me to thank you for your visits and encouraging comments over the last 11 months and to wish you health, happiness, plenty of yarn, and creative inspiration for 2012!

xxxx