janestarz | Year In Review: 2016

Although I didn't do a Year in Review post last year, I really enjoyed the one I did in 2014. It's a great little post to look back on, so I hope to continue a little tradition this way, so that in the coming years I can browse back and look at what a silly git I was back then (which is, in short, the second purpose of this journal).

	January I declared 2016 "Year of the WIP" as it was a leap year, and vowed to finish a lot of unfinished objects floating around the apartment. I worked on several such UFO's, such as the Aragorn socks and the quilt I started in 2012 The Dutch Revenue Service charged me 1000 euro, based on my income of 2014, as an advance payment for my 2016 income (boy, will they be surprised!). Snorrepot invited me to her yarn party in Den Bosch. I knit my first ever pair of toe-up socks. Started on a school assignment for a men's wadded coat.
	February I started a temp job in Reusel, writing sewing instructions for a company that makes clothes for handicapped people. Eisirt worked a lot of weird hours, which made me feel lonely at times. I felt unfit and out of shape, coupled with a (mild?) depression. I started plans to change my lifestyle to battle these feelings. The Quilt from 2012 and Aragorn socks, both with their own unique challenges, were finished. I also finished another pair of socks, which turned out to be my favourite pair to date. We visited Ouwehand Zoo in Rhenen with Tim and Yava'in.
	March I felt pretty unhappy at my temp job because of varying factors, and had a successful talk with my job agency person and direct chef, which improved the situation greatly. I started a pair of mystery socks as a gift for Yava'in, and ended up knitting her two pairs of Happy Socks to help take her mind off things. Working out and riding endorfin-highs made for some pretty impressive wordsmithing. Visiting the Knit & Knot with HowlingMoon and WannabeKat was really a lot of fun! Started playing Armoured Warfare and pretty much stopped playing World of Tanks altogether. Sigunne and I visited an old Philips building that was being transformed into space for small businessess, and we started dreaming of having our own atelier there some day...
	April I finished the wadded coat assignment for school. Worrying about the future, my job, my income, probably earned me a couple of extra grey hairs. I relished Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell, a dark fairytale story of alternate history. Started drafting trouser patterns for Eisirt, for a school assignment. Visited the Knit & Crochet faire with Colorways and Zeven Katten. I heard my contract would not be extended, and the temp job at 4Care would end on May 1st.
	May I announced I would be starting up Dolle Griet again in the future. With no job to distract me anymore, I went full-time++ for school. I started on the blazer assignment, while still working on the pants assignment and drafting the men's shirt at the same time. I realised if I worked hard, I could still get some very nice grades, but I needed to work hard to get everything finished in time. I counted down the weeks and made several lists to keep everything straight in my head. My sewing machine went into the shop for maintenance, was returned with missing pieces and was probably switched with another machine. I turned 34 years old. I celebrated with a yarn party for my friends, which was really wonderful and lasted until well after a lovely dinner that anemoona had made.
	June I finished all my school assignments nine days before the exams, leaving ample time to study. We made a playdate for Doortje with a male kitten to see if he could come live with us. Visited Wol in de Wei in Dreumel and got a bit of a sunburn. I tried out at a possible new job in Oss, right in between all my exams. I finished my first ever big knitting project - a cardigan. Kwibus came to live with us! I visited the Booyah Larp event in Apeldoorn and had a blast!! I stopped eating most refined sugars, and realised this had a very positive effect on my hangry episodes. Started work at Rev'it in Oss, and my car broke down after my first day. I was stranded in Oss and left my car at a dealer there, going home by bus.
	July I re-registered Dolle Griet as a small business and made plans to set up a proper administration. Eisirt and I both invested into a new car: Baldrick. I sold Aurum in a broken state via the dealer. I graduated from the Modevakopleiding with an 8,5 for sewing and a 9 for pattern drafting! Went to the beach, visiting a friend in Zeeland, with Kat. I was invited to the babyshower for dolphirl, who gave birth shortly after. Sigunne and I signed the contracts for our atelier.
	August I hit a couple of speedbumps at my job in Oss, and talked with my chef about them. After moving my sewing machines to the atelier, we changed the livingroom a bit so we had more sitting room. I went to the Summoning larp at the invitation of J-Jochem. Visited kenshinichinyo and anemoona and had a blissful afternoon in their back yard. Things at Rev'it slowly worsened, and finally my chef and I decided to end my employment there.
	September After having a day out and eating Indonesian food in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel with Eisirt's parents, we drove to Soesterberg for a mini-break: single night in a hotel and a visit to the military museum in Soesterberg. I started a low-carb/Keto diet. October I visited the Moots larp event. My bookkeeper informed me of my first tax return for my business. I got my first big customer, which will be a returning thing (possibly 2 or 3 orders per year). We visited the Efteling with Bas, Floor and Amarant. I went away for a weekend with the Wildlings. I handed in my old Pfaff and bought a new sewing machine: a Bernina 350 Special Edition.
	November Christmas stress started early this year, but thankfully I recognised my horrible triggered reaction and managed to take a step back before going overboard and ranting to my family. I visited the second Knit & Knot fair this year, with Kat, anemoona and Howling Moon! I survived the Booyah winter event (unlike last year), and did a lot of awesome rituals. I started freelance work, which should cover all my business bills for the time being, leaving me free to create.
	December Two temp jobs and starting a new business, buying a new car and sewing machine depleted most of my financial resources. I worried about money and the future, but Eisirt stopped me from worrying and is supporting me every day. Eisirt's horrible work schedule leaves a lot to be desired and we canceled all Christmas celebrations with family. Eisirt urged me to go to Emphebion, which was the most fun I've had in years!

By the end of this year, I've started and stopped working out, stopped eating sugar and started a new style of eating. I have now lost 12 kilogrammes (since September) and hope to lose more in the coming year.
I have had a few surprising customers, happy customers, customers giving me three big kisses because they were so happy!
But above all, I have finally arrived at the "end" of the road - the road I started walking in 2010 when I started school again. I graduated, I have a diploma and I'm so very proud of myself for putting in the work and getting some excellent grades too. Even though it's not really an "end" -- it's a new beginning as well: the beginning of my business. I hope in the coming years it will grow into something that can support us and that will allow my creativity to flow freely.

Plans for 2017:
- Build up my business and start on the "Easy PZ collection" of simple larp items for people on a budget.
- Finish the last year of school.
- Be happy and content with Eisirt
- Go away for a weekend or week with Eisirt to recuperate from this stressful and busy year. Have a holiday together and enjoy.
- Knit a ton of socks!