Monday Mayhem - 2018 - the year in review.

It's the last day of the year and time to look back on what I have achieved and what I want to achieve in the new year.

Two years ago I gave myself a weight loss target of 40kg. At that time I was 131kg. At the end of last year I was down to 129kg, which wasn't exactly a major milestone. This morning when I weighed myself I came in at 126.4kg. At this rate, it will take me about 20 years to lose my excess weight, but, on a positive note, I am moving in the right direction.

On the crafting front, my achievments are a little more impressive. Here is a list of all the items that I have made this year.

52 Comfort Bears
2 Jug Covers
4 Beanies
16 Appliques
4 Simple Owls
4 Shopping Bags
4 Tea Pot Cosies
4 Graduation Owls
3 Wash Cloths
3 Plastic Bag Bags
21 Sheep
16 Octopuses
1 Dog Coat
2 Sunhat and Bootees Sets
3 Small Penguins
3 Blankets
2 Toy Bears
1 Mouse
1 Bird

Looking to the new year the plan is to continue losing weight by increasing the amount of exercise I do, set aside time each day to practice my music (especially the piano) and continue crocheting.

On the crocheting front, here is my current to-do list.

Things to make to replace stock for my market stall:

Matinee Jackets in pink and purple
Tiny Dogs
Heather Hippo
Large Witch
Large Penguin
Small Rabbit
Panda
Frog Keepsake Pouch
Ankylosaurus
Bottle Cosies in more team colours (Bulldogs, Geelong, Essendon and West Coast)
Medium Bunny
Tiny Duck
Large Bunny
Small Turtles
Platypus x 2
Koala x 2
Tommy Tortoise
Towel Toppers (Tea Towels)
Small Jug Covers

Commissions

Sheep (I have one of each of 6 colours)
Animals from "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See?" which include:-
A red bird (made one)
A yellow duck (made one)
A Blue horse
A green frog (one already in stock)
A Purple cat
A white dog
A black sheep (made one) and
A gold fish

Current Work In Progress:

Comfort Bears
Tunisian Spiral Blanket
Yarn Eater (Hungarian Crochet) Blanket
Story Time Blanket
Double Knit Butterfly Blanket
Corner to Corner Picture Blanket 
Large Jug Covers
Simple Owls
Sunhat and Bootees in white & pink
Short rows knitted scarf

Things I'm itching to get started on:

Crochenit Knee Rug (same as Cot Blanket and will also use up some of my stash of 8ply)
Table Runners for each Australian state and territory (currently trying to design the ACT one).
Tunisian Crochet Intarsia Table Runner
Picture Blanket (need samples so people can see what they might be getting)
Article in Broomstick Lace
Article in Hairpin Lace
More dinosaurs

While the sheep started off as a commission it may be time to move them to a new category, along with the comfort bears and jug covers. The new category will be for ongoing projects, things that I seem to keep making because they sell really well or just because I want to continue making them.

I will continue trying to make one comfort bear every week, continue making sheep until I have 2 of each colour and continue making the animals for "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See?" until I have 2 of each, which could take a while since my sister has asked for a full set.

That's about it from me for this year so I will take this opportunity to wish all me readers a Happy and Prosperous New Year. Until next time, have a good one.

Richard.

Friday FOs - 28.12.2018

It's the last Friday of the year and I have some more finished objects to show off before the year is done, and here they are.

A Red Bird

Another in the series of animals from the book "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See?" This is the one that the Brown Bear sees.

Comfort Bear No. 52 for 2018

My 52nd Comfort bear for the year means that I have finally managed to make one bear every week for a whole year. We will see if I can repeat that next year.

I was hoping to have a yellow duck finished this week but ran out of yellow yarn while making the head so you will get to see that next week.

That's it from me for this week. Until next time, have a good one.

Richard.

Friday FOs - 21.12.2018

I have a few finished objects to show you this week, and here they are.

A Brown Bear

I now have a Brown Bear, a Green Frog and a Black Sheep to go with the book "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?" I still need to make a Red Bird, a Yellow Duck, a Blue Horse, a Purple Cat, a White Dog and a Gold Fish.

A Purple Sheep

After selling a few sheep a couple of weeks ago I needed to replace the purple one to make sure I had a full set. I will be making more as soon as I have a full set for the Brown Bear book.

Comfort Bear No. 51 for 2018

Another week, another bear. With one more week to go I should have one for every week of the year. Something that I haven't acheived in previous years.

That's it from me for this week. Until next time, have a good one.

Richard.

Friday FOs - 14.12.2018

It's time, once again, to show off my finished objects. I only have one to show you this week, and here it is.

Comfort Bear No. 50 for 2018

Another comfort bear ready for service.

That's all from me for this week. Until next time, have a good one.

Richard.

Friday FOs - 07.12.2018

It is time, once again, to show off my finished items, and here they are.

Comfort Bear No. 49 for 2018

One more bear in my efforts to make one every week for a whole year.

A Black Sheep

While I still had the pattern in my head I figured I might as well make a blakc sheep as one of the animals featured in "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See?"

That's it from me for this week. Until next time, have a good one.

Richard.