Every year I notice my one little word finds me more often than I find it. I read this today here and it hit me hard. I had totally blown past it when I read Yes, Please so I was glad to see it again in black and white today.
Happy Monday night!
enJOY it
an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.
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I'm not a resolution person, but I am a "goal" person. I like something actionable (obviously) and I'm a big fan of to do lists (you already know all this). At the start of each year, I like to come up with something things to "complete" in the next 365 days.
This is what I completed in 2014 :
- take a pottery class
- start a podcast
- finish decorating the house (hallway, master bedroom, entryway & bathrooms)
- launch a shop newsletter
- grow a decent vegetable garden (25% complete)
- finish off the backyard (75% complete)
- take a trip as a family
- capture one photo of the three of us each month
- take my shop in a new direction
Overall, not too shabby. My pottery class plan failed because the workshop I wanted to go to never called me back (and I never followed up). I made progress on the house, but it's not "done." We built planter boxes and grew veggies but they didn't thrive like I hoped they would. We made massive progress on the backyard, but it needs some more succulents.
Business-wise, it was an exciting year. MAKE29 launched, the podcast launched. I got my newsletter going and I came up with an idea for GET TO WORK BOOK which I really hope is my first Big Product That Grows Beyond My Reach.
The focus in 2015 is about half business / half personal (which is how my life is). I want to :
- finish MAKE29 strong (and get rid of my remaining product)
- start a new bday project (called MAKE&GIVE30) which will hopefully provide great blog content and challenge me creatively
- launch the new planner
- clear out my office cupboards and better use the space
- finish the house for real (hallway, master bathroom, bed side of our master bedroom)
- grow a much healthier backyard garden
- add (more) succulents to our backyard
- continue with the capsule wardrobe (and after summer is over get rid of everything that didn't get worn during all four seasons)
- take a roll of film of Ellerie each month
- eat dinner together!
- make time for a monthly date night
- keep hitting my 10k steps (tracked with the fitbit)
As always, listed out, it feels like a lot. But some of these are just worked into my daily routine (steps, dinner, wardrobe, film photos). Some I'll accomplish in a weekend (clear the office, decorate the master bath, frame photos for our hallway, add some succulents). Some I'll work on over a season (the garden, the planner). And some are a constant work in progress (the new bday project, date night plans).
I love to have a healthy mix of goals. Some that take a long time. Some that are easy. Some that are hard. Inevitably, I won't get all this stuff done, but that's okay. That's an equal part of the process. No matter what happens, I've learned that starting with some actionable goals helps me have a productive year.
Looking for more practical goal-setting inspiration? These posts might help : how I schedule daily tasks, how I tackle huge projects & the difference between goals and to-do list items.
Since writing this post, I created Get To Work Book! It's a day planner + goal setting workbook that is designed to help you take your big goals turn them into something real. Learn more and shop the brand here.
Other posts you might enjoy:
- on motivation
- how I tackle huge projects.
- time spent consuming vs. creating.
- why I set goals
- tips for success with long-term projects
- more thoughts on "balance."
- creative books I always return to.
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A few things :
this was so fun to see! Do you still need (want) a goal tracking calendar? Grab a PDF today!
there's a new ELISE GETS CRAFTY podcast episode up featuring artist, Crystal Moody. We're chatting about developing (and sustaining!) daily creative habits. Subscribe on iTunes or stream here.
I'm on the Coffee & Crumbs blog today talking about (what else?!) goal-setting.
did you see google's 2014 year in review?
I haven't yet read any of the "best books of 2014"… but that's good news for my nightstand.
also … you mean we don't have to get up to change the discs anymore?! This alone makes 2015 the best year ever.
I'll be back to regularly scheduled posting (and bringing back weekend links every Saturday) starting on Monday! Have a great weekend and happy 2015!
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I'm doing a different sort of wrap up this year. I have shared a lot of photos & words over the past 12 months, but I have not shared a lot of numbers. Above is a collection of random facts that made up 2014 for the Cripe family. This was absurdly fun to pull together and bizarrely accurate. (Thank you gmail.)
And that's it from me on the blog in 2014. I wish you a wonderful end to this year and bright beginning to the next.
cheers, elise
*fonts are lobster 1.3, league gothic and century. graphics were drawn by me on my walcom tablet.
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Over the years I have shared many a memory keeping method on the blog. Traditional scrapbooking, minibooks, Project Life, bound photo books, art journals, framed collages, photo albums…even this blog is a memory keeping method. I LOVE photos. I LOVE words. I love taking photos and writing words and then looking back and reading through.
I've noticed a shift these past few months though and right now I am not as interested in spending the time putting the words and photos both together in an album. There is always a season for my hobbies and so I don't doubt I'll be back at some form of paper memory keeping eventually, but right now I am excited to change things up for 2015.
I am going to keep taking all the photos (on film, DSLR and iPhone) but I am going to be doing my "journaling" about Ellerie in a small bound book. I had it made through Pinhole Press. It's actually designed to be a guest book (like for a wedding or home) but with a few alterations it became an "I want to remember…" journal for my girl.
I added a collage of recent film photos to the first few pages (you get to add 3 pages of photos to the front) and then had "I WANT TO REMEMBER" printed at the top of every page. I want to remember is an easy journaling prompt that I have used many times. (Most recently two weekends ago.)
I went with a guest book instead of a journal because I liked the horizontal format and I figured it would be easier to write in. I plan on keeping it by my bed and keeping track of Ellerie habits, words and antics throughout the year. I won't write everyday. I won't try to fill a page. I won't worry about if the pen bleeds through the paper (it won't though, the stock is beautiful). I won't worry about miss-spellings or keeping the book precious.
Paul and I have been keeping a running list of Ellerie words on our fridge on just a scrap piece of paper and it was one of my favorite documentation methods this year. This is sort of an extension of that and something I can do without needing much time, storage or supplies.
Of course, I could have just bought a spiral notebook and did this exact same thing. I also could have bought a fun book like this or this. Having a custom book is far from the point (thought it does make me absurdly happy to see).
So what's my photo plan? Ellerie's 4×6 film photos are going into a photo album and are being marked with just the month and year in pencil. I don't have a real digital photo plan other than to take them and probably order a family photobook at the end of the year. I do have a plan to make a cool book about the MAKE29 adventure in early February. I am going to turn the E&e photo project into a book this summer as well.
So what's my personal documentation plan? How will I keep a record of our whole family? The answer is…we'll see what happens but I'm not worried about it. I have the blog for personal documentation. I have IG for all the photos. I did very little paper documentation about Paul and I in 2014 and I am not sad about it. Paul probably didn't even notice the drop-off. 😉 If I'm feeling like something is missing I will start back up and I imagine I'll be more interested in trying to document a week in our life this year.
I will not be sharing the journal entries but I do hope to check in next year year to let you know if this is working or if I feel like I made a mistake and my "documenting" is lacking. I'm so looking forward to shaking things up.
note : links used in this post are affiliate. I love Pinhole Press and highly recommend them. I was thrilled with the quality of this guestbook but did not receive it for free nor was I paid for this post. The photos you see behind the list of Ellerie words are magnets that I have printed every few months by Sticky9. If you want to make your own, use code FRIEND29D9 to save 15% (and I get credit too… win, win.)
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I don't know whether to be proud or ashamed (ashamed for sure) that my guiding word for 2015 is inspired by a Taylor Swift song. But I'd be lying if I said I pulled this one out of thin air. The first time I heard that song I was like, "oh, for sure." (Please note it was mid-August.)
I am a literal person so the One Little Wordâ„¢ exercise is a very literal one for me. I don't like these words to just "float" in my life. I like to pluck them out of the air and washi-tape them to my wall. I like to tear them apart and break them down into something bite-sized and check-markable. (This is just one approach and probably not recommended.)
This year's word, SHAKE, which joins MAGIC, CHOOSE, BRAVE & WHOLE is totally hold-able. It's probably my most concrete and actionable word yet. I've broken it down into three really specific goals for this upcoming year.
In 2015 I want to SHAKE THINGS UP. And I will. I'm starting the year with new blog design which always feels great. I've got a brand new business venture launching in late spring. I have a new birthday project that's a bit different from what I've done before launching in February. As for side business projects, I would love to make and sell more small batches of clutches, design a 2016 calendar featuring sketches and care suggestions for indoor plants and I really want to have DIY is my drug tee shirts made. (How's that for random?)
In 2015 I want to SHAKE IT OFF. And I hope I can. I'm talking about the little and medium sized things. A parking ticket. A mistake. A very late work night for Paul. A typo on 290 letterpress prints (which, all things considered turned into a win). A randomly rude comment. A computer crash without a save. LET IT GO, BLAHA. Dig back to 2012 and CHOOSE to let it go. Choose to move forward and not mull this crap over longer than you need to. No grudges will be held in 2015. (what if I could really make that happen?)
In 2015 I want to SHAKE THINGS OUT. And I mean this literally. I want to dance more. I want to dance with Ellerie in the kitchen. I want to dance with my iTunes playlist. I want to see more live music (or go to more weddings if anyone we know wants to get married) and dance with Paul. Really, in 2015, more than anything else want to have more fun.
What I am learning : THIS IS IT. THESE ARE THE DAYS. There is no "wait for it." My girl is almost over the hump of crazy dependant and we're getting to the years of little kiddo independence. This is the year she'll climb into her carset by herself. This is the year she'll pick tomatoes for me. This is the year she'll tell me what pair of shoes she'd rather wear. This is the year she'll tell her first joke. My heart bursts just thinking about it. She's smart, kind and amazing. And I would so love to be a more creative, easy-going and fun mama for her (and for me!) this year.
HOT DAMN, do I love a new year. I love a new start. I love a fresh sheet of paper. I love a clean slate. I love a sharpied list of goals.
I'm ready to SHAKE, 2015.
Want to hear more about the One Little Wordâ„¢ concept? Today Ali Edwards joins me on the podcast and we're chatting about setting intentions for the new year why they can be awesome. We also discuss how differently she and I approach this process and what we're looking forward to in 2015. Please consider subscribing to ELISE GETS CRAFTY in iTunes or stream here.
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Merry Christmas Eve!
I will be documenting Ellerie's second year by photographing some mama and baby favorites each month.
This is what Elise and Ellerie are doing in December 2014. (And this month I had my prop stylist on hand to help out.)
READING : Lizzy & Jane | Numbers Colors Shapes
LISTENING : to the Serial Podcast | to Happy on repeat (still.)
WATCHING : Justified | The Mother Goose Club
PLAYING : with yarn | with Minnie Mouse
WEARING : big boots | little boots
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This might come as a shock, but given that there are approximately 100 ways great ways share the news about a party or event, I think paper invites are no longer a necessary tool in our digital society. So many of the other ways (particularly the email ones) are much more practical. I have been known to TAKE A PHOTO with my phone of a paper invite so that I can reference it later, usually as I am traveling to the event.
BUT, this doesn't stop me from making invites. In fact, I think it serves as even more inspiration to make them. Because they are no longer necessary, I figure if I'm going to make them, I'm going to have some fun with the process.
I have shared four different invites already this year (baby shower, bachelorette party, bridal shower and 1st birthday) and today, in collaboration with Canon USA, I am so excited to share our New Year's Eve party invitations.
All of my guests already knew about the party. So my goal with these? To make my guests laugh. (This is pretty much my life goal every single day.)
I wanted to do something a bit different and decided to go with an accordion fold since with the large format Canon PIXMA iP8720 printer I had the option to go bigger than normal 8.5×11 paper.
I created a text heavy design (like always) that was 12×4 with line breaks every three inches for folding. I printed my invites out (three at a time) on matte poster board cut down to 19×13.
I wanted the emphasis to be on the 2015 so I went over the numbers with glue and then dumped on some glitter.
It turned out rad and this is a great way to add an extra ka-boom to a simple black and white invitation.
I used a bone folder and a ruler to score the folds and then folded each invite back and forth.
The best part though is the Friends reference which die-hard fans will surely catch.
Do you see it? 😉
The second best part is the checklist at the bottom which is part serious and part inside joke. I think I read in an etiquette book that all invites need at least one inside joke.
I had some square vellum envelopes on hand and decided to use those so I could tuck sequins inside and make this a party as soon as the mailbox was opened.
I cut down some 12×12 gold glitter cardstock to 5.5×5.5 (the size of my envelopes) and tucked it inside as a base. The folded accordion invite sat right on top.
These are my favorite ever. The only thing more exciting than this upcoming party is the realization that next time I need invites I get to try and beat these.
This post is sponsored by Canon USA. Project idea, Friends references, opinions, words and photos are all my own.
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Hooray! Sweater number two is off the needles and into my closet (yep, it's a late edition to the winter capsule for sure.)
This one was a win. I used Julie Hoover's Beaubourg pattern and I would totally recommend it. It was built completely different than my first sweater. Instead of knitting in the round from the top down and then adding sleeves, this was knitted in three different pieces. So first I did the whole back (started at the bottom and knitted up, increasing dramatically to add the sleeves). Then I did the front in a similar way. Last I knitted the collar in a round. And finally I sewed (with yarn) all the pieces together with exposed seams.
I realize that sounds sort of complicated. But just like last time, I took the steps one at a time and worried about how to do each technique as it came up on my pattern sheet. When I didn't know what I was doing I googled and found the appropriate youtube video. When I still didn't know what I was doing, I made it up and hoped for the best.
I had a bit of trouble because I used a different & slightly thicker yarn then recommended. (I knitted this with six skeins of Paton's wool roving in natural - which I found for a great deal on amazon.) I ended up making a 4×4 swatch and found that I needed only 13 stitches to the pattern's 16 and so I had to do some math to adjust and make this work. (Sidenote. You know in high school we always wondered "when will I ever use algebra?" I use algebra to solve for X almost daily) I think my adaptation was moderately successful… the sweater still ended up a bit larger than it should have been.
EDIT : It was brought to my attention that math might not be the best soution here and depending on what you're doing you may want to use a different size needle to achieve the corrrect gauge.
The only real issue (aside from some small holes where I think I was messing up how to properly turn before the end of a row) is that the neck is a bit too short. It's supposed to be 6 inches tall (which it is) but I think it's also supposed to start a big higher (which it would if my collar wasn't so big). Ideally, it would fold over and look great (just look at those ravelry photos!), but when mine is folded over it looks odd (too short and gaping). I should have kept going for another few inches. But I didn't, and that's okay. Still wearable and a fun look that fits my style.
how to knit two stitches and purl two stitches to create ribbing from elise blaha on Vimeo.
I'm getting better at my purling and this pattern gave me some great practice. I filmed a short video to share how to k2p2 (or knit two stitches, purl two stitches) which is a technique that was used here to create the ribbing at the neck. I struggled to get the yarn placement right for a very long time and hopefully this video will help if you're like me!
Yay for knitting. I'm so happy with how this one turned out.
enJOY it 