And so we come to the end of 17 for 2017. December has seen a flurry of activity and so, although I didn’t do everything on the list, I did achieve a lot. Here’s my illustrated review of the year:
Seventeen… little random yarny/sewn gifts. The final ones were sent this month and so this goal was completed.
Sixteen… batches of homemade biscuits. This goal was complete by early June.
Fifteen… cheeses. This goal was completed in October.
Fourteen… pairs of knickers. The end of the year has been totally pants! I’ve made eight pairs in December, thus completing this goal. At the risk of lowering the tone, I’m going to show some of them off:
Thirteen… mends. Target reached in May.
Twelve… letters to friends. Target reached in June.
Eleven… new items in my Etsy shop. Completed in September.
Ten... plants given to good homes. Target reached in May.
Nine… we’ll talk about nine in a moment
Eight… meals using only our own produce. Target reached in September. Sorry, there’s a poor show of photographs here as I kept remembering after we’d finished eating that I was supposed to be taking pictures!
Seven… visits to see “social media” friends. Target reached in September.
Six… Pairs of socks knitted, using at least three different patterns. The final pair was completed this month and over the year I did use three different patterns.
Five… book chapters written. None, and this is why I’ll be blogging less next year.
Four… blankets for charity; knitted or crocheted. Target reached in February – all crocheted.
Three… sessions in the loft, sorting out some of the accumulated ‘stuff’ up there. I completed this last month.
Two… patterns published and on sale. I failed to complete the second pattern, but I’ll probably manage it now I’m not feeling under pressure to do it!
As you can see from my spreadsheet I had two total failures, and one half failure:
I gave up even thinking about the nine games of Scrabble a few months ago. The problem here was that it was a ‘target’, so every time I thought about playing a game, I was put off because it felt like I was doing it to add to the list. In the end this became so much of a barrier that we didn’t play at all in 2017. I think spontaneity rules for having fun, so don’t make it a goal!
The second of my two patterns didn’t get published because I just didn’t have time. It’s actually well on its way to being done and I hope it will be available soon. One of the reasons I didn’t prioritise it, was that the first pattern hasn’t sold particularly well. I plan to look carefully at my marketing and market places in the coming months.
My final failure was my book-writing. I have to confess that I slightly sabotaged this one myself. Right at the beginning of 2017 I privately set myself another goal for the year. I wanted to average at least 100 hits on my blog every day in 2017. In order to do this, I knew that I would have to write regularly, and I knew that I would have to boost the figures by writing new posts if visits started to decline. This meant that in 2017 my writing was all directed towards the blog (and some letters) and so I didn’t get going with the books. I have, however, spent a lot of time thinking about them and I’m hoping that the ideas that have been swirling about in my head will make their way onto the page soon. By-the-way, I achieved my aim with readership of the blog, so now I need to put aside my obsession with reader numbers and move on… hence deciding to drop Three Things Thursday, for example.
As you can imagine from the above, I’m not going to be doing 18 for 2018. I’ve enjoyed doing this in 2017, but I think these sorts of targets can be rather restrictive if you keep trying to adhere to them. I would recommend giving it a go for a year, but probably no more. The thing that I have really got out of this past year is that it helped me get into the habit of doing certain things: baking biscuits and listing things in my etsy shop being the two most useful habits to have acquired and the number of times I have done these things (and others) has far exceeded my original goals.
So, that’s it for 17 for 2017. Did you do it? Did you do everything? Did you do anything after January? Will you do 18 for 2018*? I’d love to know everyone’s thoughts.
-oOo-
* If you are planning to do the 2018 version, I have a blank Excel spreadsheet if you want a copy. I made it for a friend who wants to give it a go; just drop me a line if you want one.
The Snail of Happiness 
Ann Pole
/ December 31, 2017Wow you did well! I shall miss your 3 things Thursday as it gave me food for thought, but look forward to what ever you have planned for 2018. As for me/us… some things got replaced with others, but generally I’m very pleased. Will send a pic. Wishing you both a lovely ’18, & would love to have a real life get together at some point. 🙂 XX
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 31, 2017Dog permitting, we will come and see you in 2018! I loved your mindmap.
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Ann Pole
/ January 3, 2018Ooh, please do. That would be lovely. 🙂
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nanacathy2
/ December 31, 2017Congratulations you have achieved so much. I am currently reviewing my 17 for 2017. I have been doing it for 3 years now, but there wn’t be an 18 for 2018. I still love the foxy pants the most! Happy New Year and good luck with the book.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 31, 2017I have more of the foxy fabric, so now I seem to have got the pattern and sizing right, I’ll be making more.
I remember you mentioning that you weren’t going to do 18 for 2018. Likewise for me it has run it’s course… time to move on to different sorts of goals.
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Claire
/ December 31, 2017I’m just planning my 18 for 2018, doing this for the first time. I used my yearly targets and listed habits I would like to implement. I really liked your monthly updates on your blog, I guess it also helped make you accountable! Well, just 4 more targets to find.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 31, 2017The target that I struggled to find (playing Scrabble) was the complete failure for me. I wish instead I had chosen “nine computer-free days”!
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Claire
/ December 31, 2017I asked my boyfriend for help on the last one: guess what he suggested? 11 board games played! I will give it a try despite your warning… and will report back at the end of the year!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 31, 2017You will probably be much better at it than me!
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Patricia Collins
/ December 31, 2017Fascinating read. I can see the targets are a great spur to prioritising what one wants do and doing it and am sure that the ‘accountability’ of the blog helps. How do I find others doing 18 for 18? I’ve a paper and notebook to hand am ‘thinking about it’……
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 31, 2017Hopefully people will comment here if they are doing it. In addition, if you look at my original post (link in the first paragraph of this post) I think there are comments from people who did it this year and it’s probably worth checking out whether they plan to do it again.
I do think being public about it all has helped me with momentum – it’s certainly been good to get encouragement.
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Mags
/ December 31, 2017You did so much this year – congratulations! I’m going to take the 18 for 2018 challenge. You’ve inspired me to do so! Happy New Year!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 31, 2017I look forward to reading about it rather than doing it in 2018!
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katechiconi
/ December 31, 2017I think there are several reasons why I don’t want to do it. Firstly, that spontaneity thing with the Scrabble; secondly, I don’t want to make myself accountable to an artificial construct, a list of stuff I have to do because half a year ago I thought it was a good idea; and thirdly, if I stop wanting to do it because something more interesting has come along, I’d beat myself up for being a quitter. Much more conducive to creativity for me would be making a list of new skills I’d like to acquire/improve, rather than a list of numbers of things to do. We all work differently, and for others, your 17 in ’17 would have worked brilliantly well 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 31, 2017Yes, the not wanting to be a quitter was a bit of a problem for me… especially when there were issues with my milk supply and it looked like I would ‘fail’ with the cheese-making through no fault of my own. Next year I’m just going to stick with lists to remind me of inspiration I’ve had, with no obligations.
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katechiconi
/ December 31, 2017Sounds much more user-friendly and flexible!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 31, 2017Oh I’ve just realised… happy new year! You’re there already 🙂
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katechiconi
/ December 31, 2017Yes indeed, but we missed the event completely, having gone to bed at 8.30pm and got up again at 1.30am to get the Husband off to work. Yes, he’s working today, fuel tankers know no public holidays… A very happy New Year to you too.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 31, 2017hopefully he’s fully recovered from the pre-Christmas “excitement”
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katechiconi
/ January 1, 2018It’s had one positive benefit in that the ‘What to do in a fire’ instructions in the cab have been updated… Not that they weren’t already compliant but I think it’s a bit more ‘in yer face’ now… The Husband is fine, and I suspect is actually enjoying his 15 minutes of fame!
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tialys
/ December 31, 2017Fox knickers! Where have you been all my life?
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 31, 2017Life is too short for plain knickers… all the fabric comes from the brilliant Maud’s Fabric Finds.
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Murtagh's Meadow
/ December 31, 2017Very, very impressive. You reached so many if your targets and the socks, biscuits, blankets etc look great. Well done.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 31, 2017It gave me some very specific goals to focus on, which I think was good for one year.
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arlingwoman
/ December 31, 2017Wow, you really did it!!! I see my hat in there!!! And it’s coming in handy in the temperatures we’re having. I have some work to do this year. Feel very ready to stick with it.
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Catherine
/ December 31, 2017This is such a great summary of all your achievements this year! What a great year you’ve had. All the best for your goals for 2018!
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sparkscrochet
/ January 1, 2018You have had such a busy and fruitful year! It’s such a great idea to look back and see what was accomplished and the 1-17 style is so clever. I had read your goal of making batches of biscuits thinking it was a little odd to have it as a goal, but then when I looked through the pictures I remembered that your biscuits are my cookies! Lol! Silly me! It made much more sense then! Well done!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 1, 2018I think it was Winston Churchill who said that the US and the UK are two countries divided by a common language… so true!
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Jenni
/ January 1, 2018Hi Jan,
I’ve really enjoyed reading you updates over the year and it’s lovely to see everything together all in one place! Such achievements spread over the year! I’ve thought a lot about your gardening apron and can see one in my own future I think…
Missed you at the diploma gathering this year. Excited that you’re planning to write a book though!
I’ve had SUCH trouble commenting on your blog – I’ve tried over and over and my comments just vanish into thin air. Trying again, possibly for the last time…
Jenni x
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Jenni
/ January 1, 2018Goodness me, it actually posted!! Now if only I could figure out what I did differently this time…
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 1, 2018Yay for your comment appearing… I might manage the next diploma gathering, but I’m not sure.
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craftycreeky
/ January 1, 2018I think you did brilliantly! I’m trying 18 for 18 this year but I haven’t got a good track record for sticking to these things, my Make 9 challenge last year just quietly got forgotton!! I see it as something to aim for, rather than something to beat myself up with 🙂
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KerryCan
/ January 2, 2018It’s all very impressive! You did so much of what you set out to . . . and I can totally see why you aren’t doing it again. These public commitments to tasks are peculiar–they can be motivating but they can also suck the fun out of doing things we normally enjoy. And, as you’ve said, all the small goals diverted you from a big one–the writing of a book or two. I know you’ll get a lot done this coming year, even without 18 goals to juggle!
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Laurie Graves
/ January 2, 2018Happy New Year! Yes, impressive, whatever the results, and I can see how such a list would lead to a habit of doing and creating. As for me, lists just aren’t my thing, so I would never even dream of embarking on such an endeavor. But hats off to those who do!
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TammieLP
/ January 3, 2018I was wondering how your 17 goals were going and then, surprise, I saw the chart in your Twitter feed! Even if you didn’t make every target, you had an impressively productive 2017!!
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Nice Piece of Work
/ January 3, 2018You are the Queen of Homemade Panties 🙂 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 3, 2018In all sorts of silly patterns!
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Nice Piece of Work
/ January 3, 2018the sillier the better. I had a white pair with little blue owls on them, was very sad when they had to be put out to pasture.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 3, 2018I have decided that life is too short to wear sensible knickers!
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Nice Piece of Work
/ January 3, 2018definitely. When I was sorting out a box of fabric and patterns just now, I found a pattern for knickers – to suit all bums! I don’t remember buying it but I must have done – have put it to one side because you never know, this might be The Year of the Pantie.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 3, 2018We should have names for years based on sewing/craft/yarny activities… I’m considering “The Year of the Strokeable Wool”
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Nice Piece of Work
/ January 4, 2018Sometimes non-crafty activities take over! 2018 looks like it might be The Year of Packing/Unpacking Boxes !!!!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 4, 2018Oh, that sounds much less fun… is that left over from the move?
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MrsCraft
/ January 4, 2018Well done for all you’ve achieved! For similar reasons to you, I’m not planning on doing 18 for 2018.
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quietwatercraft
/ January 5, 2018Hehe I like that we both went for Excel to track our goals! I don’t feel quite so nerdy now
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 5, 2018I really would never have been able to keep up to date with them without the spreadsheet… I even put hyperlinks in to pictures and addresses for the letters’ recipients in a major fit of nerdishness!
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crawcraftsbeasties
/ January 6, 2018Wooooah, this is an impressive year’s work when you see it all laid out like this! I was toying with the idea of 18 for 2018, but having read this and the comments from your other readers, I think I might be better off keeping my eyes on the prize and just making lots of Beasties! Well done on reaching your blogging goals last year, and all the best for 2018! Happy new year!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 6, 2018And a happy and beastie-ful new year to you too!
I did enjoy 17 for 2017, but I think one year is enough.
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Wild Daffodil
/ January 18, 2018So impressive – what a wonderful record of so many achievements. Particularly the Cheeses!
Life stepped in last Spring and knocked me sideways for a while and then I had lost count of what I had done and what I hadn’t. I found it a great motivation the first year I did it and fun to do, but I won’t be doing any lists for 2018.
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