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A New Years Resolution...

Friday, January 1, 2016












Happy New Year!!

I think I've been living under a rock - I've only recently come across the notion of choosing a word for the year, instead of writing a long list of resolutions - this seems to have apparently been a thing for a little while now... Any whoo, as soon as I read about this, I was done with my long list of resolutions and I knew almost immediately what my word would be -

Focus. 

It encompasses everything 2015 wasn't and everything I want 2016 to be. It's concise, and well, it's focussed, unlike a long and wordy list of things that are easily forgotten by January 2nd.

I spent the majority of 2015 feeling very scattered, and yes, being pregnant for the first half and then having a baby for the second half was a major reason for this. Little people turn your world upside down don't ya know. I had naive visions of being able to work steadily through while Oscar was sleeping, but I vastly underestimated how much time they take up, mentally and physically, even when asleep. A girl's gotta eat, sleep and shower at some point (never mind the washing or the laundry or the vacuuming or any form of social interaction...).

Oscar had a big impact on my attention span and motivation when it came to this little space and my wee range of sewing patterns. But that didn't mean I was short of ideas. In fact, I went a bit stir crazy with all the ideas I had for my sewing patterns and new little side ventures I could explore (sitting on a couch for hours breastfeeding does that to you). But you guys, it became very clear that I just needed to calm the heck down and focus - which is what I've done quite a lot of ever since I found my word.

So, I've been focusing away and have decided on and planned my next 5 new patterns. I'm not in any rush to release these patterns, goodness knows there are plenty of amazing indie patterns already out there at the moment, but it's nice for me to know what's next. The first is a little update on my very first pattern (it's drafted and graded and now I'm just adding the extra bits to the instructions so it can go out for testing mid-January - keep an eye on your inbox if you signed up to be a tester) and the next is a knit top/dress pattern that I've finally settled on the final variations for and have started drafting.

I've also been working slowly away on a new idea that I had some time ago - dolls and doll kits. It was almost a no brainer when Oscar arrived, even though I know you'd think I'd be more into drafting patterns for kids clothes. But honestly, at the moment, I really have no desire to do children's clothing. This may change in the future, but right now, Oscar grows so quickly out of everything, that I'm sure as soon as I would have finished something, he wouldn't fit it anymore. And dolls are so fun you guys!! I can't wait to share a bit more about them soon.

Focus doesn't just apply to my blog and sewing patterns though. It applies to Oscar - when I'm with him, I need to focus solely on him and what we're doing, not on my long list of To Do's. I need to be in the moment with him, enjoying him and watching him grow and learn. It's going so quickly already.

Focus applies to David and myself. We have a new person to take care of, but that doesn't mean we should neglect each other or ourselves. David and I are both really good at giving each other a break from Oscar duty (not that he's a duty, but you know what I mean. Maybe I should rephrase that to Oscar Watch) but we also have to make the time for hanging out with each other as well as pursuing the individual things that make us happy and give us something to talk about at the end of the day that isn't just what Oscar did (although, that's pretty fun to talk about, let's be honest).

Focus applies to our little home. Ironically, I need a clear space to work and live in, but I'm an inherently messy person. I'm clean and uncluttered, but boy am I messy. Don't walk into my sewing room after I've spent an hour drafting/sewing in there, it's a complete bomb site. But when I do have to work, spending 10 minutes at the start or at the end, clearing a space and giving myself access to the tools I need, means that I can actually spend time efficiently marking things off my list, rather than sifting through piles of fabric and notions looking for my fabric scissors. It applies to my whole house in general, it means at the end of the day, I can relax in a clear space. For me, having a clear space definitely helps with a clear mind.

Focus applies to buying, growing and making our food. We aren't big on takeaways in our house, but boy can we spend up on treats at the supermarket! Focusing on a weekly menu not only allows for us to actually stick to our grocery budget, but it will help at the end of a long day knowing that a healthy dinner is already planned and that the ingredients are waiting in the cupboard. It also means we can focus more on being in touch with the seasons as we plan meals around what we are currently growing. Right now, we're eating a tonne of salads and a lot of beets. Dealing with a bounty of zucchini is next on the menu...

Focus applies to my new mama friends. Having a baby throws you into a whole new world of friendship groups both online and off that are very much needed. I need to nourish these, they stop me constantly questioning if I'm doing it right.

Focus means writing everything down. Emptying my brain of everything that needs doing so I can clear out the mental clutter to focus on what I'm doing in the moment. I used to be a really great list person, I lived on lists and I let that habit slide in 2015. I tried half heartedly here and there to write lists, but always lost them, or forgot about them. Not this year, lists are my friends again.

Focus means truely taking a break when I need one and not feeling guilty for sitting down with a book or taking a nap or staring into space for half an hour. All of those things mean when I do get back to my work or Oscar or making dinner, I'm refreshed and ready for it.

Isn't it amazing how one word can cover all of your goals and hopes for the new year ahead? I know it's all rather arbitrary this new year thing, but a new year kind of gives you permission to wipe the slate clean and start all over again, doesn't it?

So, do you have a word? Are you struggling to come up with one? How about writing your main resolutions down, I'm sure you'll find a common theme within that can be summed up in one word.

Wishing you all a very happy new year, talk soon,

xx
J
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