End of 2012 Challenge to Myself

Way back on January 3rd of this year I posted my listed my 2012 Challenge to Myself Goals. Let's see how I did with my 12 Goals.

Quilting

1. Join a Bee - I joined a great online QCA Bee and will continue with it in 2013. My February scrappy log cabin blocks were made into a bright and cheerful quilt for a very sick local mum.

I also joined a Paper Piecing Bee called Wombat Stew with 6 other girls and am having so much fun.

2. Join a BoM - I was doing well with the Craftsy BoM until the June hexagon blocks were posted. Then I hit a wall and never got back up. I am not in love with the blocks or the fabric choices so I totally scrapped the second half of the year.


3. Use Real Patterns - I did plan on making a few quilts with some real patterns but neither the Civil War or Castle Peeps quilts happened. However I got plenty of practice reading patterns when I joined the fantastic Zakka Style Sew Along in April. Using the book, and a supportive blogging community, I made plenty of great items with these patterns. You can find them all here.

I also learned how to do foundation paper piecing using some great patterns created by Kristy of Quiet Play.

Sewing

4. Zippers and Pouches - I finally got past my fear of zippers and then went on to make plenty of pouches and even more challenging pouches during the Zakka Style Sew Along.

5. Amy Butler Skirt - I totally forgot to make this. 

6. Pillow Cases and Cushions - I made 6 Halloween pillows but sadly no cushions.

Organisation

7. Family Budget - Still to do but I kept a track of our spending.

8. Household Notebook - I have four great notebooks now.
  a. Everyday list of jobs
  b. Finance
  c. Online ordering
  d. Blogging

9. Moving Boxes - Moving house 2 weeks ago forced me to address the unopened moving boxes in our garage. I am pleased to say that I have purged what was in them and then thrown away the moving boxes for the first time since 2007. Happy days. I think I have about 8 moving boxes to unpack still though. Mostly formal dinnerware and my tea sets.

Computing

10. Creative Memories - I did not even touch this program in 2012.

11. Blogging Tips - I have learned how to host a linky party and write (though not too successfully) in HTML to create a button. It helped that I joined a Facebook Group called The Blogging Library, search for tips on Pinterest and have the Wombat Stew girls close by (esp. Alyce)

12. Photography - I have enjoyed improving my skills with my digital SLR this year. I would still like to do a course so I can learn more about the features of my camera.

Reading

I managed to read more than my hoped-for book a month and finished 2012 with 17 books read. I love using Good Reads to keep track of my progress.

Some of my favourite books this year were - 

Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper - Patricia Cornwell
11.23.63 - Stephen King
The Hungry Ocean - Linda Greenlaw
The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien

For my non-Zakka Finishes for 2012 check here.