We don’t usually do too much for New Years.
Just lounge around and play games. Have some cheese and chocolate fondue. Watch movies. That kind of thing.
I get to lounge around in style though. I treated myself to a new pair of slippers this Christmas in linen and camel colored yarns. I actually did a pattern giveaway for this easy, easy slipper pattern last year. Go here to check it out. I seriously smile every time I look down at these things. They are so comfy and the colors are so me.
 I’ll probably also be playing with my new lens.
So many of you have recommended the f/1.8 fixed lens, and now I know why. This is one of the first pictures I took with it. It only took one picture for me to fall in love too. 🙂
 Oh and yes…that’s our Christmas tree in the background that’s still up. It’s dying like crazy but I was waiting until my husband was off work to help me take it down; which we’ll probably do today.
All right. Enough blabbing. It’s that time of year…to reflect on projects past.
I just put together a tutorials and projects page – finally. What a load of work! But it was a good time to help me review my favorite projects from the last year. And here they are…
 My kids use these all the time. They are so handy and even fun to make with your kids.
10. Sock KeeperÂ
I honestly use this ALL the time. It’s so nice to have a place to put all the loner socks until I find the match. And not just a place, but a place I can easily access and see.
This was one of those projects that turned out as good as it looked in my head…which is not as common an occurrence as I would like. 🙂
I crave this every time I see this picture. The slightly tangy, sweet cream cheese filling…hmmm soooo good.
This was an Earth Day project I did with my kids that I definitely want to repeat. The grass starts to get moldy after a month or so, so we don’t keep them around much longer than that. But they added a nice, cheerful pop of fun to our kitchen sink window this past April. It was fun to cut their “hair” from time to time because it keeps growing!
 I threw my oldest, Owen, a Lego Birthday party for his 6th birthday this year…so why not make this one number 6!
This party was so much fun. He still talks about it and he’s about to turn 7 next month.
 I loved making these bow ties for MADE’s Celebrate the Boy this year. It’s a tutorial for how to make your own pattern for a “real” bow tie. It’s much easier than you would think.
4. Best Bread
Just as the title implies, it really is the best bread recipe ever. I got it from my good friend Connie who is a magnificent cook. Everything she makes it always delicious.
The best way to make this bread – at least for me – is by hand. Mixers are handy for many things but I find that when I make this bread by hand, it turns out…well…the best. 🙂
 This was one of those projects that I kind of just came up with at the last minute. I needed a “green” project for my Color My Summer series I hosted with Kojo this last Spring. I wanted to do some kind of crocheted produce bag, but since my crochet pattern making skills are completely lacking, I turned it into a sewn version. I started with one green one, and then couldn’t stop myself before I had made a rainbow of bags.
I came up with this project for Cheri’s Refashionista series, but it was something I had been needing to do for a long time. I didn’t want to throw some of my sweaters out. I had long been in denial that they really were too tight and short to be wearing anymore…especially now while I’m pregnant, so I converted them into cardigans. Now I can’t stop wearing them at least once a week!
1. Lego Belt
I think I’ll make this my number one favorite because it’s probably my boys’ favorite. They love customizing their Lego belts every Sunday morning, and I revel in seeing them adore something I created for them. Plus it’s really cute to see how much Owen has grown from this picture. What a stud. 🙂
And that’s a wrap. I look forward to another year of creating with all of you!
Oh and let’s not forget we have a winner for the Holland Designs Crochet Calendar Giveaway!
Congrats to:
# 91 Jen who said…
Love the calendar!!
You should have an email from me in your inbox.
Please reply by January 7th to claim your prize.
And to all of my readers,
I want to wish you and yours a beautiful, joyous, HAPPY New Year!
Your New Year's plan sounds great.
http://www.thegirlieblog.com
That Lego belt is awesome! Even my husband would want that!
New Year's is never any fun for me when I try to "do" New Year's. It used to be fun when I was waiting tables in a bar, because it was one of the biggest money nights of the year, but now…bah. So we're just going to do what my parents did with me when I was a kid. Tell her New Year's is around her bedtime and at 9:00 go outside and bang pots and pans at the moon. Oh,
love #7 and #6 – my wife had a lego birthday party this December 6th when my son turned 7. She even made a lego block shaped cake – now that was hard to do since it was half icecream …
Love your new years plans. We have the same plans. 🙂
I remember almost all of your top 11. I found you around the time of your Lego birthday party. I'm definitely going to go back and check out that bread recipe. Nothing beats homemade bread!
Have a happy and healthy new year Delia! It's been great getting to know you. 🙂
I want your slippers! Can you please sell some?
Love your slippers…and have fun with your new lens….it's what is on my camera 99% of the time! It's a good one.
Best bread! Hmmmmmmmmm nom nom nom 🙂