17 Things I Want To Do In 2023 – Week 33 of 52

17 Things I Want To Do In 2023 – Week 33 of 52

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

After selling 3 of the 6 sets of vintage coffee cans on etsy, a few days ago I decided they had been sitting around long enough and tossed them into the recycling bin. 

And so now it’s onto the next project. 

This week I’ll have the HH get the scroll saw out of the barn and have him set it up for me so I can get started on my driftwood wreaths.  I watched a short video online where a lady cut the driftwood in half lengthwise so it would sit better on the wreath form. So that’s my plan. 

Cut the wood in half, glue the first layer to the form and go from there. Wish me luck!

No movement on T-Rex.

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. If we go to Cape Cod though, I already know I’d want to stay at the Chatham Bars Inn again so I can collect pretty rocks and other finds along the beach. 

Send 52 Cards To 52 Different People. {24 of 52 sent so far}

This past week I popped 2 cards in the mail. 🙂 I wish I could have sent a cup of hot chocolate or tea in the mail to go with the card.

Make 12 Totally British Recipes In The AGA. 

Mary Berry’s  lava cakes are on the to-make list for this week {along with anothe one of her recipes}. I’m excited! I’ll have the cut the recipe in half though otherwise I’ll end up with 8 mini cakes. 

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

I finally finished dyeing / cutting/ bundling all the wool so now all I need to do is organize everything, move all the furniture to the center of the room and then give the walls a fresh coat of paint. 

After that… Flooring! Yee-Haw.

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 {58 of 100 done so far}

I finally finished the turkey rug! Now I just need to steam it and finish the edges before listing it on Etsy to sell. This is my 58th finished rug for this year! So more than halfway to my goal of 100 rugs for 2023.

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 3 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

This year’s garden is a total dud. But hey… The onions are doing well. Italian purple “spring” onions did beautifully in the kitchen garden this year. 

The vegetables in the raised beds {that were placed down in the religious family sized garden} are doing well. So well that I think we may actually be able to harvest some turnips from it this week. The stuff in the ground though… Forget about it.

Also, The Duck Lady sent me this photo… She was like 2 days away from harvesting her corn when something {a deer? racoon?} hopped the fence and ATE HER CORN! 

Empty The Canning Cupboard / Fill The Canning Cupboard

This past week we polished off a jar of ketchup, a jar of jam and a jar of pickled asparagus.

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

I have pretty much given up on selling anything at The Duck Lady’s place this summer. I am growing indoor herbs for myself though. I started this sage from seed and it’s doing beautifully. 

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. I have big plans to turn them into driftwood wreaths this week. 

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 

I updated my Cranberry Pineapple Jello Salad recipe to a printable format. 

26 Official Date Days With My Handsome Husband {18 down, 9 to go}

We went to Five Guys! Have you been there? I LOVE their burgers!

• 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
• Date #17 Cat Video Fest

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