Happy new year!

I’ve never been one to make new year resolutions. I’ve never enjoyed the unnecessary pressure I feel I put on myself. Instead of it being a positive thing that can be the turning point in creating positive change in my life, to me, resolutions can quickly become a drudgery. I choose to approach each day through a positive mindset and be excited to think about all the wonderful things I will get to do that day rather than include things on the list that are uninspiring and don’t make me feel like I have a choice. And as I know very well, what I focus on expands.

As I become older I have started to approach the year in relation to the seasons anyway. It works so much better for me. I know I feel and work differently with each season and I don’t have to think so far ahead. Littler chunks of time. Less pressure.

But after writing my last post, and as January is the beginning of the first quarter of 2025, I felt the need to come up with a general list to help guide me through the year. They are more like core values really. They provide me with more of a framework, something to help set my intention. To be honest, all the guidelines I’ve come up with can be transferred from one year to the next. And that’s not a bad thing.

I’ve also come up with my first budget. Now that I’ve been doing this for a few years and I am aware of the regular expenses that are incurred, I like to be prepared and know what I’ll need to save up for. Courses aren’t cheap. Neither is Adobe every month. So I like to be prepared as much as I can and avoid having to dip in to the household budget when possible. I am really trying to keep Green Acre Designs pay for itself. If only I could stop buying all those gorgeous books!

Selling fabric and a few PDF sewing patterns through my Etsy store has really helped. And knowing that my first collection with Phoebe Fabrics will be out in July/August this year will hopefully mean a few extra dollars at my disposal. I can start dreaming of my ultimate wish – a backyard studio all of my own to play in.

So however you choose to set yourself up for 2025 I wish you all the best. I hope you achieve all that you are hoping to. I know I’ve already accomplished the #2 item on my list – spend my days making patterns. And it feels like I am just where I need to be.

Ever heard of a SheShed?