Just a quick recap before I head back to organize our flat (messy from holiday festivities).    I can’t believe it’s 2012 already.   I know, I know – everyone you’ve ever met has said that or something similar to you in the last few hours.  But still, I repeat – I can’t believe it’s 2012 already.  Seth and I are almost halfway through our three years in Edinburgh, according to the Mayan calendar the world is about to end, and since it’s January, it is no longer okay for me to listen to only my favorite three Christmas albums (at least, not in front of other people).

2011 was a great year – we went to Paris, enjoyed a summer in Edinburgh (not hot persay, but sun from 4am to 12pm, yes please!), hosted many visitors and visited our homes in the states.

I did complete 20 knitting projects during the year – finishing with some baby hats for my soon to be born nephew and a friend’s new baby son.   I didn’t manage to blog twice a week, but don’t actually feel guilty about it.  My book goal fell one book short, but I am thinking that somewhere during the year, I read a book and neglected to blog it, so I am considering that goal a success despite my lack of actual ‘Book 52 of 52′ post.

For 2012, I plan to:
1. Finish 20 knitting projects.
2. Fit all of my crafting supplies into only two cubbies by December (currently occupying five cubbies and two small bins).
3. Sew a hexagon quilt.
4. Workout 3x/week (Zumba, Pilates/Yoga and running)
5. Get outside of Edinburgh and hike/walk once a month.
6. Read a history of Scotland (have one on my shelf just now – by a Scot named Magnus Magnusson – what a name!)

I wrote a few more down somewhere, but I will start there for now.    Besides my own goals, 2012 will hold a trip to London with Seth, potential trips to Ireland and back to Paris, another visit home to the states, another summer spent by the swan pond near our flat and plenty of good times with friends (and hopefully a good new job in there somewhere as well).

Here’s to your 2011s and 2012s whatever you completed and have planned!

A finished version of Jane’s unfinished work.  My favorite version.

A women thrown from her wealthy lifestyle makes a living as a successful seamstress.  And no, this is not a romance novel in the trashy sense, despite the title and strange cover image.  :)

Another Yarn Harlot book – I am loving the knitting humor.

Continued on through the short series – enjoyed the re-read!  Felt a little nerdy reading a children’s series, but it brought back so many good memories of reading it when I was younger.  The writing and the humor is very clever – would be a good series to read together with kids without getting totally bored.

One of my favorites from my childhood and clever enough to be interesting to an adult.  It’s the first in a four book series, so I think I will continue reading through them (for probably the 10th time in my life, if not more).  GREAT for older elementary school kids and anyone who can still appreciate a story involving practically minded princesses, dragons, princes and magical kings.

I’ll save the absence apology for another time and move right into the fun stuff.  Well, my definition of fun stuff, maybe not yours…

I have finished Seth’s sweater in time for him to wear it while it is still cold.

It came together nicely and fits well after blocking.  Now I am finishing a few belated gifts and then it’s on to knitting for me – so selfish I know…

I have been sewing blankets for this shop in Edinburgh, a job I picked up via a recommendation from my lovely friend Kristen.  Now that I’ve been doing blankets for a couple months, my boss Suzanne asked me to complete the patterns and designs for fleece hot water bottle covers (a project started by Kristen before she got all fancy and went to London Fashion Week. Just kidding, Kristen, I am so happy for you in your new job!).  So this morning I pulled out all my scrap fleece and got to pattern designing based on Suzanne and my meeting from last night.   I’d show you a photo, but it’s just some turquoise fleece and some paper (actually, that would be a cool photo, but I can’t find my camera…).

Kristen, Suzanne and some of the other sewing gals from the shop came up with some great designs to be appliqued onto the ‘hotties’: Nessie, a thistle, a scottie dog, flowers, a sailboat and more.  I’ll be busy with these for a while as Suzanne has just made her initial order of 35 (3-4 of each design).  I am really enjoying being a part of a design project from the ground up – Thanks to Kristen and Suzanne for trusting me with this work!

I’d better get to designing and sewing, as Seth and I head off to the states for a visit home at the end of the month.  We haven’t been back to the states since we moved to Edinburgh 14 months ago – Bring on the family time (and a little Chipotle thrown in there too)!

I hope to be back in this space soon with more finished projects and photos.  Happy Tuesday to you until then.