Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone, as I look forward to the year ahead I like to think of a word that will help me make the most of the coming days and months. My word for 2017 is

I have already signed up for the #organisedsewingspace2017 which is being run by Stephanie over at StephJacobson, the first challenge is up on her blog and it is to tidy your sewing table. I'm hoping to get in my sewing room in the next few days and make a start. There are lots of opportunities to share before and after photos, get inspired by other people's sewing room and even win some prizes. So if you would like to join in just pop over to Stephanie's blog or IG feed. 

My sewing room isn't the only place I would like to get organised this year, we have lots of decorating to do as we had some building work done a few years ago and probably like many of you we never quite finished off all the small jobs and some things need proper homes rather than me just moving them around from place to place! 

I'm also hoping to organise my time more efficiently, I'm easily distracted by Pinterest and social media and since Mr Madaboutbags took early retirement I don't have quite the same routine as before. Our days have become more relaxed and whilst this is good in lots of ways I do have a tendency to put things off until tomorrow, especially when it comes to housework! 

I'm looking forward to trying out time blocking and have found a printable over on Pinterest that I am going to use from Just A Girl And Her Blog

and I've also printed off a free 2017 calendar from landeelu.com and will transfer all the important dates across tonight. 

In an effort to organise my time more efficiently today I closed my Facebook page as I want to do more sewing for us as a family and for swaps. As much as I love the challenge of custom makes they can take up a lot of time and I'm not very good at making lots of the same things. I also felt that running the page is just another social media distraction and rather than spread myself too thinly I want to concentrate on my blog and IG.

Finally I want to organise and take part in more swaps this year, I took part in some super ones in 2016, (lots more posts to come about these yet) they really take me out of my comfort zone when it comes to my sewing and I have also received some beautiful and amazing goodies from around the globe. I designed myself a swap organiser a few months ago which will help me keep track of all the swaps I'm involved in. 

So who wants to start the new year off with a swap? This is usually the time of year that I organise the Send A Little Love Swap so keep an eye out for my next post if you would like to take part.