The Bucket List

I went home to visit my family this past weekend and at one point we were discussing Bucket Lists. (If you live under a rock, a bucket list is a list of things you want to do before you kick the bucket.) My dad mentioned something that for the life of me I can't remember, but it was fairly vague, something that would be hard to actually check off a list. I struggle with Bucket Lists for this reason. I'm list-checker. I need a point at which I can say "it's done". For example, I want to learn French, but at what point could I check Learn French off my list? There's not one. You can always learn more, become better.
However, the idea of a Bucket List is still a great one and so I have compiled a few things for my list.

1. Knit the Clara dress.

I am completely obsessed with this little dress. I think it is one of the most beautiful dresses I've ever seen. As of now the pattern is only available as a kit with the yarn, but I'm hoping someday they'll release the pattern alone. The kit can be found here for only $23.50. It just might be worth the splurge.

2. Learn to Tat.

Tatting is a technique for creating lace. It can stand alone, as a piece of art, or be added as a lace edging to something. I love how delicate they look, but how sturdy they are. I inherited several tatting shuttles, the instrument used to tat, from Aunt Mae's collection, so I'm halfway there.

3. Learn to Decorate Cakes.

Decorating cakes is an art form. My mom and I took a Wilton class years ago, but I was in middle school and don't remember much of it. I want to learn to make cakes like this one. There's no smooth frosting to worry about, it's all hidden! That's brilliant.

4. Host a Ball.

In 1966 Truman Capote hosted a Black and White masquerade ball at the Plaza Hotel that was considered the social event of the century. While I'm no Truman Capote and I don't have the Plaza Hotel nearby, I won't let that stop me. Extra points if I can make it a masquerade ball and/or raise money for a charitable organization.

5. Learn to Quill.

Much like tatting, quilling is a lost art. It's a method of curling small strips of paper and gluing them together to create designs. I just so happened to find this beautiful H and it's a perfect example of why I want to learn. The finished product is just gorgeous.

6. Knit the Hush-hush Slip.

Another dress I fell in love with the minute I saw it, but luckily this one is for grown-ups. This is a free pattern, thanks to Knitty.com, so the only thing stopping me is about 6 skeins of yarn and the patience to knit with size 2 needles.
7. Learn Embroidery.

I attempted to learn embroidery years ago, before I had the patience to do it right, and failed miserably. Now that I can appreciate the importance of reading the directions and actually following them, I think it's worth another go. There's a website I'm itching to try, SublimeStitching.com. They have some amazing, unique patterns that would be right up my alley. 

8. Finish my Hogwarts Cross Stitch.

I fully intend on finishing my Hogwarts cross stitch someday. It's a work in progress for sure.

Sneak Peek: I've gotten this far. It's moving very slowly, but I'll get there.

9. The Viking Hat

This bad boy's a new addition to my list. I found it on Pinterest.com and after a surprising amount of support from friends, immediately bought the pattern from Etsy. Want your own pattern? Now I just need to work on my crocheting skills. Luckily I already have a tonnn of gray yarn because it's my favorite.

10. Host a Family Olympics!

No clue who these people are, but they've got the right idea! This one won't be on my list long. I have somehow managed to convince my family to let me host a family olympics after Thanksgiving dinner this year. I'm keeping all the games secret so there's not an unfair advantage anywhere, but it's hard because I've come up with some GREAT challenges. If it goes well, maybe it'll become a new family tradition. Who couldn't use a few more family traditions?