I decided that 2008 will have no rules, no daily practice, no constraints.  I am not the master of my time, my non-crafty work is, so I'd just be setting myself up for a lot of frustration.  But, as I looked through the links on iHanna's blog, I was inspired to write a couple of mission statements.

Futuregirl Craft Blog Mission Statement
To empower and inspire others to create by providing tutorials, creating patterns, and sharing my personal creative vision.

Futuregirl Creative Manifesto
I will endeavor to create things that reflect my personal creative vision ... the kinds of things that would make me squeal with delight when I saw them for the first time ... and to make them using the highest level of craftsmanship I am able.

Originally, I started my craft blog with the intention of sharing the stuff I was making.  Then it became a way to connect with other people and to pressure myself into actually finishing stuff.  Slowly, over the last two years, my focus has shifted from being directed inwards to being directed outwards.

This last year, I've really enjoyed hearing from people who were happy to find my tutorials and free patterns.  It feels good to be helpful ... no, it feels *great!*  I've also been deeply touched by the people who've bought my patterns.  I wasn't sure anyone would actual *buy* them. So, to hear from excited customers and see their awesome creations has utterly exceeded my expectations.  All that warm-fuzziness is why my Craft Blog Mission Statement this year mentions tutorials and patterns.

The second half of my Craft Blog Mission Statement is tied to my Creative Manifesto.  I want to make sure that I'm spending my creative time making things that would blow me away.  Well, I'm sure I'll fail miserably sometimes, but I want to at least *try* to make stuff that would make me dance around like a fool.

Sometimes when I'm walking down the street, I'll see a new handbag style or a scarf or something, and I'll think, "I could make that."  But before I start a new project, I want to make sure that I don't just take the challenge into consideration. I want to have an emotional connection with the stuff I make, regardless if it's from a pattern or something original I'm creating.  That's why I added the "personal creative vision" part to both statements.

I'd like to start posting about things that inspire and excite me.  Not only to share them with you, but to help me keep in touch with my creative core.  It'll be great to look through those posts occasionally, especially when I'm feeling creatively bored or stuck.

So there you have it, Futuregirl Craft Blog 2008 = all the normal crafty goodness, plus more tutorials, more patterns, and documenting what inspires me.  Sounds awesome to me!

p.s. The title comes from a terribly translated Kung Fu movie I saw on late night TV about 10 years ago.  During a fight scene, a heavily armed man starts to charge his opponent and yells, "Here comes me!"  It still cracks me up!  If you hear it while you're in our apartment, it usually means you're about to get creamed.