17 Things I Want To Do In 2023 – Week 31 of 52

17 Things I Want To Do In 2023 – Week 27 of 52

Earn $1,493.04 {Last Year’s Grocery Expenses} Selling Totally Random Things Online

The wooden frames I ordered to make a couple of driftwood wreaths arrived! I wasn’t sure what size to make the wreath so I ordered 2 forms. The plan is to keep one wreath and sell the other. 

I’m excited about making these! I’ve seen the large ones go for $300- $400+ online and when done right, they look super cool. Here’s hoping I can make mine as nice as the ones that go for that much.

Sold so far

• 1 Box of “Native Organically Harvested Maine Driftwood” for $89.95
• 1 Box of 12 Heart Shaped Rocks for 24.95
• 1 box of 6 Heart Shaped Rocks for $22.95
• 1 box of 2 Folgers Coffee Cans for $29.95
• Set of 3 Brim Coffee Cans for $39.95
• 1 Martinson Coffee Can for $19.95
• 26 Dried Pumpkin Stems for $39.95

*Money earned selling random stuff so far $267.65

* At the end of the year I will deduct all the shipping/supply/selling fees from the grand total. 

Go On a Staycation/Craftcation With The Girl

Now it’s between Québec City during Christmas time or Cape Cod in the fall. It’s s tough one. 

Send 52 Cards To 52 Different People. {22 of 52 sent so far}

Like Mel said, I think I’ll be able to knock this goal off my list with Christmas cards {but I’m hoping I can do it sooner}. 

Make 12 Totally British Recipes In The AGA. 

No new recipes this week but since finding my copy of the Bouchon Bakery cookbook all I can think about is cookies and pastries. Maybe I’ll get back to baking once the weather cools down.

British recipes I’ve made in the AGA so far:

• English Muffins
• Currant Scones
• Sticky Toffee Pudding 

Turn The Craft Room Into a Proper Studio Space

We’ve had a ton of rain lately {did I mention that?} and so on the rainy days I’ve been dyeing wool. Lots and lots of wool. Now comes the hard part, cutting it all and putting it into bundles for sale.

Changes I plan on making to the space:

• Rip out the old gross carpet and replace it with pine floors {the HH wants carpet}
• Fresh paint
• A proper light fixture
• New serger
• New work table {I bought 3!}
• A sitting area with a spot to hook

Hook 100 Rugs {56 of 100 done so far}

I am currently working on hooked rugs #58 and #59.

I finally turned my hooked rug into a pillow. and was able to get it listed on Etsy last night. 🙂 I hope it goes to a good home. The design is by Lori Brechlin.

Create 15 New Rug Hooking Patterns 12 of 15 completed so far}

My latest rug hooking pattern is called Betty’s Big Chickens with American Flag. This is the 12th new pattern I’ve introduced for this year. Only more to go and I’ll be able to check this goal off my list. 

New patterns I’ve added to my Etsy shop in 2023:

• Betty’s Big Chickens with American Flag
• Fair Isle Sheep
• Olde Hares
• Antique Hearts and Flowers
• Fat Cat with Easter Eggs
• Fat Cat with Shamrocks
• Fat Cat with Hearts
• Horse and Hearts
• Valentine Kitties
• Little Chicken
• Hit and Miss Flower Basket
• Mable’s Kittens

Revisit An Old Friend.

I’m working on it! I’m nearly there. I’m just waiting for 1 more thing to arrive. 

Grow 1,000 Pounds of Vegetables In The Religious Family Sized Garden

The religious family sized garden is a BIG ZERO this year! Here we are at the beginning of august and my pumpkin plants are the size of soccer balls and the corn isn’t even knee high.

But hey, my first summer squash is nearly ready to be picked. Unless the deer get to it first. 

Empty The Canning Cupboard / Fill The Canning Cupboard

With the garden not producing much this summer, all efforts to eat down the canning cupboard are on hold. 

Now comes the big question, if we don’t get a bunch of tomatoes this year {which is almost 95% certain} do we have enough of our favorite Costco like salsa in the cupboard to last until next summer?

Make $500 Selling Plants, Flowers or Vegetables {I’ve made $92 so far.}

Last week I sold 2 rosemary plants over at The Duck Lady’s stand. I had hoped to make a fortune over there this summer with corn stalks, pumpkins and tomatoes, but I don’t see that happening now. 

I suppose I could bring over some bouquets of my endless summer bloomstruck hydrangeas, but they look so nice in front of our picket fence I don’t want to cut them. I think this goal might be toast.

So far I’ve sold:

{2} rosemary plants @$3.00 each = $6.00
{8} 6-packs of corn @ $3 each = $24.00
{4} 6-packs of basil @ $3 each = $12
{9} 6- packs of pea starts @$2 each {then I upped the price to $3} = $24.00
{4} Daffodil bouquets @$3 & $4 each = $14.00
{4} Chives @$2 each = $8.00
{1} Basil @$2 each = $2.00
{1} Mint @$2.00 each = $2.00

Buy 12 Handmade Items {From 12 Different Artists} 8 down, 4 to go

I purchased 2 wooden wreath forms from Etsy seller DavesWoodStudio.

So far this year I have bought:

• {2} Wooden wreath forms from DavesWoodStudio
• {3} Linen Aprons from BedCult
• {2} Charcuterie boards from FarmHillWoodShop
• {3} Fair Isle Hats Rachel of Barkland Croft
• 2 Quilts from ZoëDawn Shop 
• 3 Bread Bowls from ZoëDawn Shop 
• 1 Handmade braclet from a little girl’s lemonade/craft stand
• {2} Watercolor Palettes 
• {1} Fair Isle scarf from Mati Ventrillon

Update Every Single Recipe On The Blog To A Printable Format 

Did I tell you about the Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad recipe I updated? If you haven’t tried it yet, it’s really good!

26 Official Date Days With My Handsome Husband {16 down, 10 to go}

We didn’t have a date day last week but I have something planned for next week so I’m pretty excited about that.

It was a good day!

• Date #1 Thomaston Cafe for lunch. It was lovely. 
• Date #2 Rising Tide Co-Op
• Date #3 Oysterhead Pizza
• Date #4 Oysterhead Pizza 
• Date #5 Schanz Family Maple
• Date #6 Camden, Maine for lunch and candy
• Date # 7 The Quiet Girl movie
• Date #8 Rockport Farmer’s Market
• Date #9 LL Bean & Solo Pane e Pasticceria
• Date #10 Jameson Point Lobster
• Date #11 Marshall Point Light, Hedegrow Market
• Date #12 Bet’s Fish Fry
• Date #13 Moody’s Diner
• Date #14 Beth’s Farm Market
• Date #15 The Beach
• Date #16 The Craft Store

Goals already accomplished 2023:

Go On A Solo Adventure.  Done

A solo adventure to Fair Isle. I don’t think I could have picked a more unique, isolated and cozy spot to spend a few weeks. I’m already dreaming of going back. 

Take An Adult Education Class Done

The Girl and I took a 3 day British Baking Classics course at King Arthur Flour in Norwich, Vermont and had a good time. My favorite thing we made was the sticky toffee pudding. 

Set Aside 200 Items For A Yard Sale DONE!

The yard sale was a great success! The Duck Lady and I were both able to get rid of a lot of items we didn’t want and as an added bonus, I only had 1 box of stuff to drop off at the thrift store. Yee-Haw!

How about YOU? How are you coming along with your goals for this year? 

~Mavis