Okay, after this post I’ll ease up on spring topics!  Lately when I think of spring, of new beginnings, it has made me think of what I’d like to accomplish this year.  Sort of in the same way you think about what goals you would like to have at the start of a new year, but for me the spring time feels a lot more like something is actually beginning.  New Years always disappointments for me, a sort of fizzle-to-smoke burnout at the end of holiday craziness.  And it never really feels like a new year has begun, just more of the same… winter.

So, I started thinking about what new skills I’d like to learn this year, or what classes I’d like to take to further my knowledge of a certain area.  I’ve decided that if I had a magic wand (and a bottomless bank account) I’d love to take:

1.  A bread making class.  I started making my own bread about 2 years ago and deeply enjoy it.  There is something very basic and satisfying in making bread.  I’ve made many good loaves, but with plenty of bad loaves.  I admit, my Kitchen Aid has helped me too many times with kneading (I know, hand kneading is best), but I want to further my knowledge of bread making and make hearty loaves completely by hand.  (*for amazing bread making books, check out at Peter Reinhart)

{image shown belongs to Martha Stewart Omnimedia, Inc.}

2.  A calligraphy class.  I love good calligraphy and wish I could master pen and ink, or at the very least know how to use them.  I tried to learn on my own last summer and  bought supplies and borrowed a book from the library.  I ended up with a sketchbook full of ink blobs and lines that ran out too soon.  It just seems like one of those things you really need to learn from someone in person and watch how their hand moves with the pen.

{images shown belong to May+Bell}

3.  A sewing class.  Thank god for Home Etc. class in middle school, it’s the only way I’d know how to sew a button or hem a pair of pants.  I never had anyone teach me how to sew and am secretly jealous of those who can make their own clothes or other crafts.  I sort of know how to use the Singer sewing machine my Mom has, but not really.  I’ve made a few things with it, but recently tried to hem jeans on it and could not figure out what I was doing wrong.  It made me realize I really need to learn from someone else and know the in’s and out’s of sewing, not just the very basics.  Plus, I have fabric and half-finished (or half-started, for that matter) projects in my closet with no knowledge of finishing them.

{image shown belongs to SouleMama}

If you could take three classes or learn three new skills this year, what would they be?