Boy, Is it Ever Great To Be At The Coastal Cottage!

Here we are in the Coastal Cottage in Sunset Beach, NC.  We are unpacked and settled.  I was surprised to unpack 6 bags of yarn.  Do you think it's enough?  When I tell you my goals for 2017, you'll understand why I brought so much. I just couldn't make up my mind.  "I want to take this and this and this and this," I said to myself.  Everything looked so beautiful and immediately knitable that I was in a complete state of confusion.  I finally had to step back, take a deep breath and get a little more reasonable.  I guess reasonable is 6 bags of yarn.  I must admit, they are small bags.  

Murphy is all settled, too.  When I set my goals last January, I had no idea that 4 months of my life would be consumed with Dick's open heart surgery and recovery.  But no excuses!  I want to review my goals and be proud of what I accomplished.  

First of all I declared 2016 as The Year Of The Finisher.  My year was going to be about completing treasures.  

Goal #1 was to organize and keep organized the Stash Studio.  Well, I did half of that.  I organized but did not keep it organized.  I think I may consciously love to "work on" the Stash Studio so I may subconsciously let it get out of hand so I can feel good about organizing again.  

This is what it looked like in the spring.  Take my word for it, it doesn't look this way now.  It has knee deep pink yarn from the Brilliant Shades of Pink collection (the chair and the Christmas tree) and the Survivor Shawl class.  The good news is my pink yarn stash went from 10 tubs to 8 tubs, and that wasn't even a goal.  

Needless to say, I didn't achieve Goal #2, bringing my knitting buddies to the Stash Studio to knit.  Because I'm such a slacker, Linda won't be able to come when I do get around to be the knitting hostess.  It won't be the same without her.  

Goal #3 was to finish 2 things that I've started.  I can check that off many times over.  Last January at the Coastal Cottage I  finished this. . . 

Remember?  My beautiful gradient, rainbow, Roy G Biv throw from Tess Designer Yarns.  I kept right on finishing through out the year.

​Goal #4 was to finish 2 things I have yarn and a pattern for.  I get a great big check for this. . . 

My hospital knitting from Dick's surgery.  I had the yarn, I had the pattern then I had the reason to put the 2 together.  I love this.  Every time I look at it, I get all mushy inside.  

I have many cakes of Twisted Fiber Art Catnip just waiting to become Bandito scarfs.  I matched that dynamic duo several times this year.  It kind of is my "go to" quick gift.  It always creates the WOW! I want from any treasure.

​Goal #5 was to complete 2 projects from my UDY (undesignated yarn) stash.  If the Tribute to Breast Cancer Survivors Chairity Auction chair and Lenawee County Historical Museum Christmas Tree don't kick that goal over the moon, I don't know what does.

I probably spent more time on these 2 projects than all of my other knitting put together.  I am proud of both.

Goal # 6 was to plan 2 new classes for Ann's By Design and I did three.

The Anemone Hat by Cat Bordhi

The Bandito Scarf by Ravelry's and Twisted Fiber Art's Knitterly Anne

And last but certainly not least the Survivor Shawl by ME!  There is a great story that goes with this class.  We gave the shawls to the Hickman Cancer Center at Adrian's Bixby Hospital.  They were given to women  who are in chemo therapy.  A man came into Ann's By Design with a thank you note because one had been given to his daughter.  With a tear in his eye, he told Ann how much it meant to his daughter.  Ann is teaching a crochet class using the Survivor Shawl pattern with the shawls once again being donated to the Hickman Cancer Center.  Some times knitting and what it accomplishes just makes you feel good.

​Goal #7 was to not give up on Knit The Sky.

Yea!  Complete!

Goal #8 was to find a new LYS.  I discovered the adorable The Yarn Shop in Glenn Arbor, MI.  But I lost Yarn Quest in Traverse City which was destroyed by a car driving through it.  Thinking about it still makes me cry.  I also found Noble Knits a great online yarn shop.  They send me daily email about sale yarn.  I really try to resist but some days I just can't.  I can check this goal off as complete.

Goal #9 was I wanted to connect with my dear friend Evie's granddaughter Taylor to mentor her in knitting, but I didn't do this.  Maybe next year.

Goal #10 was to learn Brioche.  I did it! I took a glass at my new favorite, LYS Spun in Ann Arbor.  It was great.  I could have learned it from a book or YouTube video but it wouldn't have been nearly as much fun.  

This has been a great year.  I have a healthy husband, reached most of my goals while being part of a Fiber Family at Ann's By Design.  I did kind of exhaust myself reviewing all of this.  

It feels so good to write goals down and review them.  It's like making your list and checking it twice.  I encourage you to set goals, write them down then bask in the glory of accomplishment next year.  

I have set some amazing goals this year which I will share with you next time.  My best wishes to you for a Fabulous Year of Fiber and Fun.