Sunday, January 02, 2011

goals for '11

It's a fresh, shiny new year and a perfect time to think about Life Goals. I think about these alot. Must be OLD AGE. ;)

Things I will be concentrating on in 2011...

1. Pay off my credit card. That's probably too personal to share with the world, huh? But it's my goal for this year! Pay that silly thing off. It's doable; I can do it!

2. Bake more bread. And cookies/treats. I love homemade bread AND by making it I know exactly what's going into it. Ditto cookies and things. (Plus, I have a bread machine, which makes homemade bread so much easier to manage!)

3. Plant a bigger garden. Last year I started my little patch with tomatoes and lettuce and squash. I'd like to add a few things this year. Green beans? Corn?

4. Become more self-sustaining. (#2 and #3 are a big part of this.) If you've been reading very long, you know I'm struggling a bit with the throwaway mentality that has taken over our world. Ultimately, I want to be debt-free, grow my own food or purchase from local farms, and shed excess "stuff".

5. Spend with good conscience. For me, this means I want to invest in high quality, lasting products. It is also important to me to purchase Made in the USA, to support the workers here at home. If it's not made in the US, I'm going to purchase quality imported items (like my sweet, sweet car!) My neighbors to the north, (Oh Canada!) and in Europe and Australia have wonderful, quality items waiting for me to use and love. Oh jeez, I'm sure there are wonderful, amazing products indigenous to EVERY country, so I don't mean to leave one out. Basically I'm trying to eliminate mass-production from my life, and support fair labor practices.

6. Thrift more. In keeping with #5, there are so many wonderful, usable, beautiful, vintage products that are more suited to my taste and lifestyle, than what is currently being manufactured (in poor countries with even poorer labor practices!)

7. Sew one vintage pattern per month. You didn't think I was going to leave out sewing did you??

8. Buy quality fabrics. Natural fibers are my favorite; I'd like to purchase and use more wool. Wool has always frightened me, but I'm going to bite the bullet and learn some essential care techniques (dry cleaning isn't my friend). I would like to thrift for fabrics too. SO MANY quality fabrics to be had in the thrift stores! I'm excited to repurpose garments this year!

9. Fill my closet and chest of drawers with beautiful, handmade clothes. Ultimately, I would like my entire wardrobe to be handmade. I'm going to be my very own couturier. I would like to master: pants (I'm super close on this one!), button front tops in a variety of styles; pencil skirts; lingerie - slips especially.

10. Spend quality time with my kids. I do this now, but as they get older, it's easier for them to hole up in their rooms. Family movie night and family game nights have always been favorites of ours; I need to be more conscious and include these in our week.

Bonus goal...Bust the stash! I almost forgot this one. I seriously need to clear out some stash, especially quilting cottons. I might be making more quilty-type things. Which is good. I love patchwork!

Now, for those sewing goals, here are new contenders for the vintage sewalong 2011:

I don't know the number on this one but it should be here in a day or two. I LOVE the dress with matching coat!


And I had such marvelous luck with my last 40s pant (from pj's) pattern, I've just bought this one and can't wait to try it. (This will probably be my first entry in the Sewalong. BONUS...I think they qualify for my Hepburn/Hepburn sewalong too! They are very Katherine):


And in the blouse category, these are darling. I love the variations:


I'll probably be making both of those as my first entry, as an "outfit".

In parting, I'd like to share a photo of my beloved Jessie, an Appaloosa my dad bought me when I was 17. She passed away yesterday afternoon. I'm only comforted by the fact that she had a long, happy, hay-filled life and her passing was easy and quick. God go with you over the rainbow bridge, Jessie.

18 comments:

  1. You posted some excellent goals for next year - I found myself nodding along in agreement as I read each one.

    I am so sorry to hear about Jessie. Losing a beloved animal companion is always difficult. <>

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  2. Your goals are very good, thanks for the thoughts and I can use some of them in my own life.

    Sorry about your horse, they are special animals.

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  3. Oh, I'm so sorry about the loss of your beautiful horse!

    I think your goals are so great, and as some encouragement, wool is really not that scary. I machine wash all of mine (yardage usually warm/normal/dryer, finished garments cold/delicate/line dry) with very few mishaps. It sews like a DREAM, usually wears like iron, doesn't wrinkle much, etc. I am quite a fan.

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  4. Oh honey! I'm so very, very sorry to hear about Jessi. Hugs to you.

    I nodded in agreement with many of your goals. I too would love to shed some stuff, make 90% of my clothing and buy stuff that lasts.

    My goal this year is to just buy less. To use the stuff I buy and to figure out wool. I've got some - it scares the bejeesus out of me! and with slobbery dogs I fear I'll be taking my skirt off in the garage when I get home from work. g

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  5. What a beautiful horse. So sorry. I hope you remember all the wonderful time you had with him.

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  6. Your horse was a beauty; I'm sorry you lost her. Your goals are admirably balanced; I wish you success with all of them!

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  7. Anonymous1:39 PM

    Gorgeous pic of Jessie. So sorry for your loss. Your goals are good ones and we share similiar ones! Happy New Year.

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  8. So sorry to hear about your horse! I'm glad she had such a long, full life. Give yourself a hug from me!

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  9. Great list of goals. I am with you on all, but especially #5.

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  10. :-( What a loss - I am so sorry.

    On a happier note - I love your new car and think your goals are so do-able (that's important!).

    I can't wait to see your progress!

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  11. Good luck on your goals, they are so thoughtful and attainable! My condolences on your loss, Jessie was a beautiful horse. Your vintage patterns are so lovely, I'm dying over the sleeves on the coat!

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  12. I really admire your goals for 2011. So practical! Your new red bug does look like a fun car. So sorry for your loss with Jessie. It is so hard to lose dearly loved pets.

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  13. I'm so sorry you've lost your beloved horse. Losses are so difficult. You have a lot of goals-some things to concentrate on and think about. Hope this new year brings you happy surprises.

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  14. I'm so sorry about Jessie. I lost my 33 yo Qtr Horse back in August. So hard to let them go.... will be anxious to see what vintage pattern you sew. I'm still trying to decide, too. Several in the running.

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  15. I am so sorry to hear about Jessie. You are in my thoughts, because I know how much our animal friends mean to us!

    I loved your goals! Makes me sit back and think about my own stash and what I waste everyday.

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  16. my condolences to you on the passing of jessie. not only was she a companion for a long time, she was from your dad, which i'm sure was special too.

    i'm totally into the whole frugality/sustainable living thing, and would be happy to share some of the blogs i read. :)

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  17. Hi, I've just found your blog - lovely :-) I'm a yarn person by nature but have just got a new sewing machine so want to get back into fabrics :-) I agree with your goals - very similar to mine including the dreaded credit card bill! I am so sorry to read about your beautiful horse -

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  18. Susan B9:59 PM

    green beans - do bush, not pole. More tender! Do yellow and green beans. Corn - no! too much room for what you get. Onions - very easy to do. Greens (kale, lettuce, swiss chard).

    I quilt a lot so if you have any questions, just email!

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