Projects & Plans for 2026
Happy New Year, Dear Readers! I was planning for this to be my first post of the year, but since I was sick last week I put up a more “evergreen” post. Today I thought I’d share some of my creative projects and plans for 2026.
Are you a planner? Do you like to set New Year’s goals? I love to create goals each year, and while I don’t usually accomplish all of them, the process of evaluating is a good practice. And last year was actually a rare year where I did achieve quite a few of the goals I set! Not only was that a great feeling, but it’s made me excited to set some new creative goals for this year.
So, lately I have been…
Working on:
The project at the top of my list for 2026 is an album of our family’s historical photos. This was on my list last year, but I didn’t complete it, and I realized that I really, really, really want to finish this project this year. I have a couple of antique photo albums, so I have been scanning family photos in order to get them printed, and then once I have them printed, I will be arranging the prints into those albums, using photo corners so they’ll look more “historic”. It’s a big job that I have been putting off, but it’s one that I will be so happy about when I finally have the finished albums in hand…so until then, scanning and editing a couple of photos a day, and I will get there before too long.
I would also love to work on my scrapbook albums of my childhood photos. This is more of an ongoing project, and not one with an end date, but I didn’t spend as much time scrapbooking last year as I would have liked, especially considering that I was given a lot of new scrapbook supplies, and I would love to put them to use!
Finding:
Which leads me to another goal: spend less time mindlessly watching videos or checking updates and find more time to intentionally focus on work or craft. I have 24 hours in the day, but if I don’t plan out those hours, they slip by so quickly and I’m left feeling like “I don’t have time”. I do. I just don’t always use it wisely.
I’ve also marked in my planner “quarter one”, “quarter two” etc, like businesses do, in hopes that it might help me remember what my plans are, so I don’t get to December and realize that I haven’t worked on anything all year!
I also realized I could use Trello for my To-Do lists. I use it for work, and had never thought about using it for my own personal lists, but it has been really useful so far. The ability to have different lists for different categories is so helpful, as well as the ability to “archive” tasks as I complete them. I have lists for “creative projects”, “sewing projects”, “blog post ideas” etc. It doesn’t bother me to have lists sitting there, but rather gives me a place to dump my ideas and come back to them when I have time.
I’ve also been hearing a lot lately about an app called Milanote, and so far it’s been super helpful for organizing my ideas about sewing projects. I always see pictures on Pinterest and blogs, or Poshmark and I save screenshots here and there, but then the photos are all over the place, so the ability to put them all in one place, with notes etc. is very handy.
Making:
I was sick last week, so haven’t gotten to many creative projects yet this year, but I’ve found a few fun videos to share. Found while mindlessly scrolling, but useful nonetheless! haha.
First up, this little box made out of a cardboard paper roll, which would make a sweet gift box.
And for the next time I make a drawstring bag, I will definitely use this technique. Why are drawstring bags so deceptively difficult to sew? They seem like they’d be so easy to whip up, but they aren’t. This video seems like a much easier process.
I have also made a goal this year to sew one garment. That might seem like a pretty low bar, but I haven’t sewn very many garments in the past few years- mostly I’ve done quick things like wrap skirts, finished up projects that were halfway done, or sewn non-apparel projects like tote bags. That combined with having to draft a new sloper, means that a goal of one new “from scratch” dress is a realistic goal. I think it will be so nice to have that Milanote board to look at when I finally get to sewing.
Reading:
I started the year off strong with two Agatha Christie’s. First up Nemesis a Miss Marple mystery which I thoroughly enjoyed, and halfway solved. Next was The Mirror Crack’d, also a Marple, and I did solve that one!
Instead of a book challenge this year, I have curated a smaller list of the books that I am really excited about reading, many of which have been on my TBR for years and I haven’t read because I have to request them from the library, which can take several months to get in. Having this smaller list means that I can begin requesting them and hopefully always have something to read. Some of the books on the list are Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, The Pendragon Cycle Series by Stephen Lawhead, Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton Porter, The Encyclopedia of Ugly Fashion by Karolina Zebrowska and Jeeves and Wooster by P.G. Wodehouse.
I’ve also decided to re-read Jane Austen’s books this year. I read Persuasion last fall, and realized it has been quite a while since I read Pride and Prejudice and Emma, so this will be the year of reading Jane Austen too.
Loving:
These adorable miniature teapot and teacup magnets that my sister gave me for Christmas. Don’t they look so sweet on my bulletin board?
Watching:
While I was sick I spent a lot of time watching YouTube, and I have been loving these vintage Barbie restorations. This will actually come in handy as well, as I have a vintage Barbie that has seen better days and needs some rescuing!
Eating:
Nothing in particular at the moment, but this brings me to my last creative goal for this year, which may very well involve food: following Mrs. Sharp’s Traditions by Sarah Ban Breathnach. I love this book, but I don’t think I have ever followed it month by month for a complete year. My plan is to read each section at the beginning of the new month, and plan for any holidays and occasions that occur in that month. I’ve written it into my planner, so hopefully this will be a year of lovely seasonal celebrations and occasions!
And one final link to share today with you: the adventure of the swan pavlova by Liana of Finding Femme. I laughed so hard at this story she shared about her Christmas pavlova.
And that is all for today, Dear Readers. I hope your new year is off to a wonderful start!
Did you accomplish any of your goals for 2025? Have you made any new goals or plans for 2026? What project are you most excited to work on this month?
