Crafting Resolutions

With the start of the new year, it's time to reflect on the past and make plans for the future. I started the Eclectic Otter almost two years ago as part of a new year's resolution to ACTUALLY finish some of the many crafting projects I had purchased materials for and either never completed or in some cased even started. I hoped that the need to have something to write about would provide some much-needed motivation and accountability for me. This past year I've completed several craft projects for our pets that were new additions to the ever growing craft to do list and checked off a large project by finishing the Zelda string art that was previously only a vague idea in my head. I also had the opportunity to help my husband decorate his cube for Christmas and we turned it into a Hoth themed winter wonderland.

 It's hard to tell in this picture but there are snowflake ornaments hanging from the ceiling. One the shelf on the left we have Lego Minifigures around the Christmas tree, plus a wampa of Perler beads in the background. Snow blanket on the desk and icicle trim on the shelf along with the icicle lights, complete the theme.

There's also a Lego snow speeder, Perler AT-AT, and some festive signs. Oh, and the Vader mug that's always there.

I've spent the last few weeks trying to get my thoughts into some kind of order concerning my goals for which projects I want to tackle in the upcoming year. I admit that I'm still a bit at a loss. I have a stash of fabric that continues to grow because it's hard to pass up cute prints when you work at the fabric store and see them daily. I have several things that I bought without a plan for I wanted to make. I'd really like to make a dent in the stack since it's starting to take up more room than I have available for storage but I don't feel like sewing posts are particularly entertaining for people to read. Of course, the other side of the argument is that I'm keeping the blog for my own motivation not the entertainment of others. Although, I am thinking of making a mini wardrobe for an upcoming vacation that might become Wonder Woman themed so that could be interesting if it works out.

I also have plans to try and rebind one of my husband's old Eye of the World books and try out some new techniques such as marbling my own paper. I also want to finish redoing our little entryway nook but that's also a bit cost prohibitive because I feel like I need some new tools to really do it right. So right now those are my very general craft goals for the year. As part of the reflection process, I saw someone on one of my Facebook groups talk about reviewing the books they've read and choosing a top and bottom five for the year. I like that idea and think I might make a list for my book post this month.

In other news, our pup, Gilgamesh Wuffenbark, had his first Christmas and also turned one over the weekend. He got a peanut butter and jelly filled bone and brand new tennis ball for his birthday.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and wonderful new year.