I was never fond of New Year’s resolutions. I always thought they are pretty much good for nothing. (Hands up – or write a comment – if you were ever able to transform one into a habit which still lasts!)
However, this year I had a different feeling, and I’ve decided to make not one, but several of them.
![plans_for_2016_diary](https://beadingschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Diary_1_1800pix.jpg)
I started to write two diaries. The first is for personal stuff. The diary I bought has a great layout, with five sections below each other. Every one of them is for the same day but in different years. So I will use the same diary all over 2016-2010. I’m sure it will be fun to see, what happened on the same day a year or two earlier, and to remember all the big and small adventures.
The second notebook is for my work-related stuff. It’s pretty much like a to-do list, where I sign up in the morning the tasks for that day and mark the ones I’ve done.
Also, I try to write down every day, where should I improve
and to remember the things I achieved.
![storytelling_jeweller_beadwork_tutorials_atelier_studio](https://beadingschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Atelier_1_1000pix.png)
If you have ever seen me beading, you might know I’m not the Cinderella-type, who is gladly sorting the teeny-tiny things day and night. Usually I work on more projects at the same time and tend to use at least two or three beading boards. And well, accidents happen a lot, so the beads usually end mixed together even before I get close to finishing the project. And than I decide that I will surely return them back to their place a day or two later, and put them aside. For a long time. Or forever. This year I would like to sort out all the ziplock bags I put aside earlier, and do not create any new ones.
If there will be unsorted beads in my studio 1.1.2017, I will host a giveaway, so stay close 😀
![storytelling_tutorials_beadwork_jewelry](https://beadingschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Bicycle_1_1800pix.jpg)
I decided to start to move again. Since I moved to Amsterdam, I successfully managed to avoid using public transport (it’s three months now!), thanks to my turquoise companion on the roads. As it is nearly 14 years from the time of my last excercises, I would like to move more regularly and intensively. Luckily I found not one, but two cool studios in the very close neighbourhood, and after a bit of Ashtanga Yoga I am now learning Pole Fitness and Irish Dance. I constatnly have blue and violet marks (or rather a single HUGE one) on my calves, but I enjoy the classes a lot and already became more flexible and strong.
![storytelling_tutorials_beadwork_jewelry](https://beadingschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Dutch_houses_1_1800pix.jpg)
When I started to learn Dutch some 15 years ago, no one understood why, not even myself. Thanks to some happy coincidences I am now here in Amsterdam, and even if everybody speaks here very good English, it would be nice to know the language. Unfortunately during my high school years I had to decide to quit after a year and a half learning, when my teacher got more serious with her religion-like believes and was trying consistently to persuade me to join the sect – and not even in Dutch 😀
Recently I started anew, and would like to get to a B1 level by the end of the year.
![storytelling_tutorials_beadwork_jewelry](https://beadingschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Notebook_1_1800pix.jpg)
I work a lot, but I also tend to be quiete inefficient and inconsistent sometimes.
This has to change.
![](https://beadingschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/P1010015_1800pix-1.jpg)
As I decided to design and teach beadwork for a living I felt the need to upgrade my tutorials (also was pushed by the Husband, for which I am grateful). This meant to switch from the free, open-source vector-graphic program to a more serious tool. So from now on I use Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, and I am going through a very thoroughful training program, which promises to get me on intermediate level when I finish all the chapters and tasks.
![](https://beadingschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/books-1082942_1920.jpg)
During my university years I read a lot. Really. Studying for a double-major in art history and philosophy, literature and linguistics meant reading in the morning, during lunch and late into the evenings. When going to the school and when coming home. In the bus stop and on the tram. And while waiting in whatever line. There are books I never want to see again (for example La Princesse de Cléves and Tristram Shandy which are suitable for torture I think.), but most of them helped in my carreer even if I have never worked as a teacher or a linguist, and I never become a writer as I wanted.
This year I would like to read more, and balance my free time between beading and reading better.
![plans for 2016 plans for 2016](https://beadingschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/dates-1021055_1920.jpg)
After the things I decided to improve about my lifestyle I would like to tell you quickly about the plans here, on The Storytelling Tutorials page.
I will start a series called “A bead to love”. The first article is coming Friday!
I would like to start to teach again. So if you happen to have a bead shop or are a member of a cool bead society (and happen to like my work :D) – get in touch with me! I would be happy to visit you and show you a thing or two.
I have a third, very big plan, but it has to remain a secret for now. It envolves another beadwork artist, and we are already working on something cool for you. You will love it, I promise.
Tell me: did you make any new year’s resolutions for 2016?
What about them now, nearly a month into the new year?
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