craft book challenge 2013

Year In Review: Part I — Craft

Nicky2 Comments

My craft goals for the year were to:

Let’s see how I did — 😳 , 😛

I didn’t think I did as well as I actually did with Cold-sheeping.  Once I got off the sheep in May this year, it felt as if I was always off but after I checked my list, I realised that I wasn’t bad as I thought I was.  😀  As I went through the list, I actually did make some headway.  Wanna see?

  1. Catalog KP yarn stash on Ravelry by January 31, 2013. DONE!!! 12.06.2012
  2. Cold Sheeping Knitpicks for 2013. Absolutely NO yarn purchases from KP for 2013. DONE  I didn’t purchase any KP yarns this year.  Although I got some sweater quantities as a Christmas gift, my first purchase from them was some roving I bought after a year of no purchases during their week long Cyber Monday 2013 sale.
  3. Cold Sheeping includes craft book purchases.  This was partially successful.  I bought four technique books during the earlier part of the year. And for Christmas I bought Martha Stewart’s Craft Encyclopedia and the S & B Superstar from Debbie Stoller for Christmas.  6 purchases is better than the 15 I did last year!  LOLOL!
  4. Combine KP Stashdown, general Stash Knit Down & Craft Book Challenge. Done
  5. Shop KP stash for swaps in KP loving groups. If I can’t shop from my stash, then I wouldn’t participate in the swap. Done
  6. Reduce KP stash by at least 12 projects of varying sizes worth of yarn including blankets. Attempt made. 😛  I got mesmerized by other yarns and did projects with those instead.
  7. Make first sweater using KP yarn. Sweater Done (although not with KP yarn).
  8. Finish or frog languishing WIPS. Done
  9. Start Christmas 2013 gifts using KP yarns early.  No yarny Christmas gifts made this year.
  10. For larger stashdown goal: Catalog all yarns by January 31, 2013. DONE! 12.29.2012! WOOOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!!
  11. Browse Ravelry and blogs less, craft more! — Total Failure.  LOLOL!  Am I the only one with this problem?   Although I was introduced to some wonderful crafters, I really need to cut down my online time for 2014!

All in all, I think I did pretty well.  Where the Craft Book Challenge is concerned, I totally rocked that!!!!  I even managed to do some non yarny crafting from DIY instructables that I’d save a long time ago!!!  Winner!  I’ll to a collage in another day or two  — once I can access my photos again … oh boy! 😀  And I’ll also post my 2014 crafting goals.  My Coldsheeping page has already been updated with the next year’s goals.  Some are the same, others a little different.  I’m really looking forward to another year of Coldsheeping — maybe this year, I’ll earn my Golden One Year badge.  I so much yarn already, there’s no reason I shouldn’t aim for this.

I’m so ready to start my 2014 crafting.  For the new year, I want to test my skill-set, enhance my skill-set, craft more and continue to use the resources I already have while continuing to enjoy creating with my hands.

Have you done your crafting goals / resolutions yet? 😀    Or rather, I should probably ask, will you be making any crafting  goals / resolutions?

Craft Book Challenge: Kitchen Fixings

Nicky6 Comments

I missed August’s entry for my craft-book challenge, but I’m back but this month, with some kitchen fixings.

craftbookchallengesmall button

After this post from Cheryl, I found an infusion kit at Marshalls for $7.99.  Christmas 2011!!!  That’s right people, I had this kit for almost two years (you can find it here if you’re gamed)!   After my arm surgery, I couldn’t knit or crochet but I was antsy for something to do, for something to make.  Insert 💡 … lemme go find that kit!  😀

When I say that it’s super easy to make premium vanilla extract … trust me, it’s easy.  The hardest part is finding premium vanilla beans but I didn’t have to worry about that with this kit.

All you have to do is, split the beans in half, put them in an air-tight container, covered with vodka, then wait.  Waiting might be kinda hard too but if you want the best results, you’ll have to suck it up and wait!  LOLOL!

It’s recommended that the initial concoction is stored for at least 4 months in a dark, cool place.  After that … get ready to party in your kitchen!   Once you start using it, all you’ll need to do is top up the vodka and you’re good as gold.

You all know how I do, all I have to say now is … go make some!!!! 😀

After one week in … I already have an amazing smell and amber colour:

IMG_3366