Happy New Year and A List of Hopes!

Can you believe it?? We're in a new year! Happy New Year to everyone! 2012 was an amazing year for me, and I'm super sad for it to leave. Candy Skein was as successful as I hoped, and I now have a studio dedicated to working. My husband and I celebrated our 5th year wedding anniversary and moved into our dream house. The Los Angeles Kings won the Stanley Cup (I thought I'd never say those words). We were able to visit my husband's family a few times in Wisconsin. I could really go on and on why '12 was so good to us. It's really amazing. And of course, I have all of you who support me and WIPW/FO Friday thoughout the year. Your kind comments here, on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook make each and every day fun/exciting/loving. Thank you!

One thing 2012 wasn't good for was my resolution list I made last year at this time (click the link if you'd like to go back and read last year's). I only accomplished a few of them. That's why I'm calling this year's list a List of Hopes. It's what I hope to accomplish, more than resolutions that I feel need to be accomplished.

My 2013 List of Hopes:

1. To knit more from my stash- I know I said this last year and gave a percentage. I don't want this to be something stressful, or where I feel like I need to hit a certain goal. I just hope to use some of the gorgeous yarn already purchased. That doesn't mean I won't be buying more yarn! After all, I'm going to Stitches West in February!
2. To learn colorwork- This was on my list last year and it never happened. I hope to accomplish it this year.
3. To finish the two sweaters already started and start two more- I'm 90% done with two sweaters (the Abalone and the Featherweight Cardigan). I'm not sure what's stopping me from finishing them! 
4. To finish the Woodlands Sampler Cross Stitch and steampunk cross stitch- I signed up for the Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery's 2013 Woodlands sampler. I'd like to finish it within the year (you get a little picture each month) and also to start and finish the steampunk cross stitch pattern I purchased for my husband's music/computer room.
5. To learn how to sew (better) and feel comfortable following a sewing pattern- pretty self explanatory.
6. To post more here- I know I promise this a lot, but I really do want to post more here. I think with my studio, I'll have more time as my work is streamlined.
7. To double my sales with Candy Skein and aquire more wholesale accounts- In 2012 I hoped to triple my sales, from '11 to '12 which I did. I'd like to double my 2012 sales! We'll see how that goes.
8.  To make more time to read- I used to read on average 2 books a week, but now I'm nowhere near that. Most of my reading time has gone to my craft hobbies but I'd like to get back to at least a book a week.

That's it for my goals! I'd love to hear some of yours if you'd like to share them in the comments section or link to your blog if you've written a post!

 I'd also like to share one last thing. What a perfect time to unveil the January '13 colorway, Pink Champagne. This yarn is available starting today in Yummy fingering on the website. Here's the link!

 Have a happy and safe New Year! See you Wednesday, as I have a new project on the needles to share.

Tami

A Look Back and a Look Ahead to the New Year!

First off, happy new year everyone!!!!!!! It's New Year's eve and I hope you all have a fun and SAFE time celebrating the start of 2012. We have a pretty quiet night on tap, but I think after our trip, we're happy for it.

I wanted to write a year end post to thank you all of you for being so awesome. You've not only supported the blog through the past year and a half, you have encouraged me not only to improve (and take up) knitting, but you've also been a huge part of Candy Skein. Without all of you, I would have never dreamed that I could have opened up my own hand dyed yarn shop and been successful. You've let me live my dream, and I thank you for that.

As you can imagine, it's been a crazy year for me. A year ago, almost to the day, my husband and I were sitting in the Trader Vic's restaurant in San Francisco trying to think of a cleaver name for my company. That's when and where Candy Skein was born. Since then, he's done all of the artwork for me, I built the website, dyed a LOT of yarn (I was trying to figure out how much I've dyed, but that's pretty hard. Let's just say 100s of skeins) and opened my virtual doors to you. I've done two shows/fairs and will be doing at least 2-3 more next year. Candy Skein is growing each month, as all of you spread the word loud and wide. I can never thank you all enough for that. I have great plans for Candy Skein in the next year, and I hope that you will join the wild ride with me.

A year ago this month, I learned how to knit, thanks to all of you. You were amazing sending me videos and tips, as well as projects for me to try. Not only did I learn to knit, I love it way more than I could ever imagine. Sadly, though I still love crochet, I can't remember the last time I picked up a hook to do something other than catch a falling stitch. Knitting has become a part of me and my life, and because of it, I've met amazing people. I went out seeking a knitting group in my local area and found a group of amazing ladies that I thank my lucky stars for each day. They've not only become close friends, but I think of them as part of my family. Each Monday night, we sit around a table for three hours and laugh while (kind of) knitting. I never seem to get a ton done (this past week, I knit a total of 1 row), but I wouldn't give up that time to anything else. They've taught me so much about knitting, yarn and even life and I can't repay them enough.

I've come so far in my fiber arts endeavor in 2011 it's remarkable. I completed 25 projects this year, and have another few that will be finished in the next few weeks of 2012. I bought and used a LOT of yarn (though, not as much as I'd have liked) and survived a yarn diet. I have so many projects dancing in my head for 2012, I can't even believe it. I have a few 2012 knitting resolutions I'd love to share with all of you! I hope you make me stick to them, and it will be fun to look back in a year from now to see how many I've accomplished.

2012 Knitting Resolutions

1. To use at least 40-50 skeins of yarn from my stash. I know that will be hard, but I think I can at least come close!

2. To finish my first sweater, and make at least one more in the next year.

3. To learn how to make cables and how to do stranded/colorwork knitting.

4. To finish all the socks in my knitting group's Harry Potter sock challenge (one pair each month of the Harry Potter sock patterns on Rav by Erica Lueder.

5. To keep track of my stash better on Ravelry so I have some kind of idea of all that I own.

6. To sell at least three times as much Candy Skein yarn as I did in 2011.

7. To be better about blogging. I know I'm pretty good about WIPW and FO Friday, but I hope to have more regular posts, much like this one. I want to start doing knitting book and podcast reviews and more! Make sure you really keep me to this one.

8. Finish at least 10 more projects than I did in '11.


That's about it really. Oh, I know I haven't posted in awhile about A Year of Projects, but I am still following it! So far I've finished 7 of my 21 projects listed. A few I've changed to other projects/yarn as I've worked. I know that's not a ton, but I'm going to keep knocking them off. I have about half the year to do it in. Wish me luck!

Again, I hope you have a very happy and SAFE new year. Let's all toast to our knitting and crochet!!!!

Love, Tami