The New Year's Come

It's a new year! I wish you all the best and brightest for 2014 - nothing but lovely things and lots of happiness. And I hope you celebrated New Year's Eve exactly as you wanted. I know I did - my reenacting bestie Sarah (of the immersion event and St. Louis ball fame) came for a visit. We went out for Chinese food, then stayed in and watched movies with hot toddies. I am proud to say that we made it past midnight, though it was touch-and-go for a while.

Cruikshanks "New Years Eve"

Since the new year is a time of setting goals and making plans, I'd like to share with you some of my goals for living history in 2014. There are some other ones, smaller and/or more private, but here's a smattering:

• Attend more events "just for me". I do a lot of events during the year that involve me demonstrating, teaching, or presenting. I like these events and I think they get best at the heart of why I do living history, but I had a lot of fun last year at events that I went to just to enjoy myself. I need to keep that balance in mind.
• More undergarments. I say this every year - "This year, I'm going to sew more sets of undergarments." Maybe this is the year it will actually happen.
• Branch out. 2012 and 2013 were the years I branched out into Regency. I'd like to sew more Regency outfits, and actually have the opportunity to wear them. I've also been itching for an 1830s dress for no particular reason. I'd also like to work on 18th century things too - I have the linen for a dress, and drill for stays. Which leads me to...
• Supportive undergarments. I'd like for 2014 to be the year I conquer my fear of corsets and stays. I think I'm ready for it.
• Travel to an immersion event. There are a couple contenders, and I'm not sure if any of them will pan out (time and money are a huge factor, naturally). But I'd like to go some place new, meet new people, and try out a new impression. Which may mean...
• Working impression. I do a lot of things in the middle-class and upper-class end of things. I'm happy and comfortable there and I enjoy creating a really good interpretation of that. I do think it would be good for be to branch out into a working impression, both researching a persona and creating the clothing. I may have the opportunity to test out a working impression this year. More on that later.
• Blog More! In 2013, I got back to blogging, and I have so enjoyed it. I love sharing my experiences and getting comments from those who follow me, and having a place to share some of my thoughts. It's also been fun to look back on things and have a record of where I've been, what I've been thinking, and what I've been doing. So, here's to more blogging in 2014!

To help me achieve all of these goals, I am hereby throwing my hat in the ring for the Historical Sew Fortnightly 2014! I hope this will give me some interesting new directions in my sewing. Feel free to join me!

What sort of goals do you have? Any projects you're planning? Share in the comments!