My 2017 Life Planner

I can hardly believe that I first started planning my days way back in July 2015 and am now nearly at the end of my eighteen month Life Planner. Gosh, it's been sooooo much fun!! I am really happy with the way I've learnt to make my planner do what I need it to do for me, and that these pages really do work. I have a daily and weekly planning routine and honestly it's one of the best things I've ever had for keeping me organised (well, within my own scattered limits that is). I also really enjoy being a part of the creative planner community where I get to feel inspired by others and play around with colourful stickers and washi tape. Oh, how I love love love the stickerating aspect of planning!! It's a hobby that has had a very positive impact on my daily life, and I am so grateful for it.

For the past 18 months I've been using an Erin Condren Life Planner  and as you can see from the above photo, my planner cover may look familiar to you. I used a photo of my Colourblock Cushion to create a custom cover for my planner and I can't tell you how much pleasure that has given me over the months - I absolutely love it to bits.

You can see more pictures of my planner and read about my planner journey on my blog here.

If you would like to know more about the EC Life Planners, you can look at the Erin Condren Website here. And if this is all brand new to you and you haven't a clue what I'm going on about, there's a little two minute video which gives you a lovely visual overview of the current Erin Condren Life Planner - find it here.

With my 18 month planner coming to an end, a few weeks ago I began to think about what I'd like for my next planner. EC Life Planners come with removable and interchangeable covers, so I could have kept the ones I already have......but where's the fun in that??!! Nope, no sense in keeping it the same when I can get all giddy over creating something new! So I formed a plan in my Creative Mind, gathered together some oddments of Drops Karisma DK from my stash (a pure wool yarn in lush, rich colours), and got busy hooking up some stripes......

....yuuuuummmmmmmmmm!! Stripe-tastic!! These are single rows of UK treble stitches, the colours worked at random as I went along. The actual piece of crochet is about the same size as a sheet of A4 paper.

Now as lovely as these stripes are unadorned, in my mind I had pictured stripes and flowers. Because I remembered about the woolly flowers that I had sitting in a little bag just waiting to come out and play......

The above image is something I created for Yarndale, a simple arrangement which I photographed so that the image could be used for the Yarndale Calendar*. I designed the flower pattern myself and loved how they turned out - they are quite simple and graphic if you get what I mean, and photograph really well.

I also remembered that I had a little crochet bee tucked away somewhere - it took an age to find it (it was nesting in the Shelves of Doom), but eventually out it buzzed......

......and so my visual idea began to come to life. Colourful Stripes + flowers (and the little buzzzzy bee)....

......oh yes!! Just as I had imagined it!

I photographed the above image to use for the front cover....

....and then had another little play and made a second image to use for the back cover.

I placed my order on the Erin Condren website the weekend before last and then had to endure the wait while it was printed and shipped all the way from the US. The waiting part wasn't all that easy!

But it all happened quicker than I expected, and exactly eight days after my order was placed, there was a loud knock at the door and a nice UPS fella stood on my front step with a pretty pink patterned box in his hands.

Gosh, I have to tell you I was so nervous to open the box, my tummy felt like it was suddenly full of moths.

Eventually, after much flapping around in state of nervous excitement, I managed to open the box to stare at the blue tissue paper packaging inside.

I desperately wanted to see my new covers, but felt worried in case I might feel disappointed in some way. There is nothing worse than excitement and anticipation followed by a thudding disappointment, is there?

I'm ready to look now.

Would you like to see?

Ok....

....lets upwrap the tissue.....

....and take a peek.....

....

...

..

.

...................Ta-dah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, I am THRILLED with my new cover!!!!!!!!!!!!! The stems and leaves have come out a little bit dark in the printing process, but the rest of the colours are beautifully vibrant and it really does look fab.

 

And here is the back cover (I LOVE seeing my spotty crochet hook there!)

As I did last year, I've uploaded both these images to my Flickr account and am more than happy if you wish to use them for personal use. Download the full size images and use for journals, notebooks, cards, or whatever tickles your fancy.

{ATTIC24 FLICKR PHOTOS}

So now I'm all set to continue my planner journey into 2017 - can you believe there are less than six weeks left of this year???? 

I thought that perhaps you might like the pattern for these flowers, in case you might need something floral to pretty up something woolly. Stitch them to bags, hats or cushions, string them into garlands, make them into brooches or gift tags - they are very versatile little adornments, quick and simple to make.

You can find the pattern here on my blog in the left hand side bar, I've named them {FLORA's FLOWERS}

*I used my woolly flowers to style the August image for the 2017 Yarndale Calendar, in fact, you may recognise quite a bit of Attic24 influence going on with the Yarndale calendar! The calendars are in the Yarndale online shop, £8 plus p&p, with worldwide delivery. There are 12 lovely images to brighten up your wall with a whole year of yarny goodness.

{YARNDALE CALENDAR}

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ps If you have any planner questions, please feel free to ask in the comments and I'll do my best to answer. And in case you were wondering, I went for the colourful/vertical layout. I'll write more about how I use my planner in a few weeks time x

EDIT to add >> Just to be clear about this post and the links - I'm not sponsored by Erin Condren, this is just me writing about my own planner journey and providing links to give you information if you wish to read more. I would let you know if I were being sponsored or paid for recommendations.

However, Yarndale is a for-profit organisation and I am one of the five organisers, so I do need to let you know that. You can read more about the Yarndale set-up here.

 

Comments

[eloise]

Love the idea of planning I do it to keep my wip's in check. I have a simular planner from a Swedish company called personal-planner, it ships to UK cheaply so no customs ( yay more money for wool lol). love the bumble bee design its so cute really clever idea to use it as a cover... I think your wave cal blanket is going in the planner as a must do next.. ;)

[Eleanor]

So disappointed. I ordered one of these planners and a matching phone cover and have been waiting patiently for it. They were sent in 2 packages, and UPS have charged me £21 per package for "custom fees". This makes this the most expensive diary I have ever bought and completely negates the happiness I might feel in owning one :-(

[Andrea Smedley]

The planner is brilliant. Do you have to pay customs charges with it coming from the USA?

[Charmaine]

Hi Lucy :)
I have been following your blog for years & have just started to crochet again after having years off. For now I am crocheting cotton dishcloths for Christmas gifts. I cant wait until those are finished so I can move on to making some wonderful blankets & other bits & pieces. I am wondering if you can share how you swap colours in your crocheting please? I would be eternally grateful :)

[Andrea Smedley]

I love how you've personalised your planner! I may need to look into this idea!

[Vicky]

I am extremely tempted by an EC planner but I think I am too wedded to my Bullet Journal now, which is keep in a pretty Azure Leuchtturm1917. I think I may have found planner peace. But OH I am still so tempted...
Must not buy another planner. (Not quite yet, anyway :D )

[Angie]

Annette you have a great blog so you deserve comments! Some are not more equal than others surely? Why is there held to be a hierarchy in blogging, it seems very divisive and unfair? I hardly ever read comments from a24 on other blogs either, they occasionally jump out as being as rare as hens teeth. Sad that there is inequality and that there are cliques even in the world of blogging. One of the things I don't enjoy about it.

[Annette My Rose Valley]

HI Lucy
Such a cute idea. Love how your cover came out. It has a great 3D effect, feels almost like you can touch the flowers lying on top of that stripe happy background. Well done girl.
I've done postcards from some of my photos before and struggle with the quality of the picture sometimes. It is because my pictures are saved in RGB colors (white gets greyish...) instead of CMYK. For printing it needs to be CMYK to keep the clarity and preferable 250-300dpi in quality. Just a tip if you didn't already know. The problem that I bump into is that I don't have photoshop so I can't change the RGB to CMYK in an easy process... Might be worth sending pictures off to a graphic designer to make them tip top for the process.

Also wanted to say thank you for popping in the other day. I was thrilled to see you had taken the time to comment. Keep up the good work you do and you are probably the most generous crochet lady I know. I hope we can get together one day, that would be a great moment. Maybe Yarndale next year. I'm planning to make my virgin trip over there.
Happy Fort Of Advent. I'm off to a big market in France with some girlfriends this early Saturday morning. Sooo looking forward to it.
Xxx
Annette

[Teresa Kasner]

I love your planner, Lucy! I'm retired now and don't have much to keep track of, but back when I was working and raising 3 kids that would have come in very handy. Enjoy! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[AnnieOB]

Your planner is beautiful Lucy and thank you for the flower patterns, you are so inspiring. I have been thinking about trimming up a boring plain jumper and a few crocheted flowers would be just perfect.

[Arlene]

Hi Lucy, your second photo actually made my mouth water when I saw the tin you keep your pens in. When I was a child my parents would by that syrup (Mum was from Liverpool) I have not had it since, nor have I seen it anywhere as we are in Canada... oh memories!

[Angie]

Dear Lucy, I want to send you a big thank you for your great wonderful heartful inspiration, I finished my first blanket with your help, my coulors and your yarn, and messure , and passion to explain the way to get a lovely blanket with a nice border. My tadaah after 7 month of hooking (paused in the summerheat)
Big hug and kisses from bavaria

[Patricia Ponte]

Hi Lucy, I realised that I wrote this comment in your April post so I copied it and ported again in case you don't see the original. :-) My niece is crazy about planning. She is studying and it helps her be organized.She also uses Erin Condren planners and she loves it. I am debating getting one because I don't know if I would use it. What do you think. Any words of wisdom for a non planner???
Love your blog Lucy and all your colorful blankets. I also love your yarn packs at the Wool warehouse and I have to tell you they are amazing, never had a problem on my orders. Have a great Christmas!!!!

[Angela-Southern USA]

It's fab! Thanks for the links. On a different note, I've been crocheting big mandalas (2 feet across) and attaching them to hoops to hang. As always thanks for the inspiration.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Maria João Machado]

Such a gorgeous planner! have a nice planning all the year long

[Vanessa]

Several years ago, when the older Bears were very small, and my life revolved around appointments for them, a filofax was my life! Then it became a fridge planner, and then smartphones made an appearance and everything got put on there. The trouble is, I get all these appt alerts, then I forget about them! I've been thinking for a while, that maybe a planner of sorts might be a good idea again, if nothing else just to help me sort my head out for the week with one glance. I do like the idea of being able to customise with your own images, that makes it so much fun..........and stickers.......oh be still my beating heart! I was thinking the other day to a time back in the 80s when stickers and scented erasers were the big thing. I had an American penpal who used to send me scratch'n'sniff stickers. we used to do rubbish ones here in the UK but they did a vast array of cool ones over there and she used to send them to me. I wonder if anywhere still does them. Oh my, a planner, and smelly stickers........I'd be transported to being eight again. I'd LOVE it!!!!!!!

I also wanted to say how awesome your latest blanket is. Urgh i've so lost my crochet mojo this past year. Goodness knows why, so you are giving me inspiration to get going again!

I hope the sun is shining for you today Lucy.

Take care

Vanessa

[Sue]

Lucy, love you sense of whimsy. I too use a planner but not quite happy with the store bought one I have. I will look into making my own and decorate the cover with my ornaments. Thank you for all your inspiration.

[CJ]

It's brilliant Lucy, I love the new cover. It must be great to see it your crochet turned into print. It hadn't occurred to me until I read your post that my planner is almost at an end. Good job you reminded me. The children had me focusing on other seasonal requirements! I love the Yarndale calendar as well, really beautifully photographed, and great to see plenty of your makes there. CJ xx

[manuela]

On which website can I buy it? thanks

[Rose McIntire]

Dear Lucy,

Thanks for the EDIT to add. Please, please I was not implying hidden agenda, I was talking more about which filter to put on when reading a product review. If it is advertising, I want to know.
You are very influential in my life and I purchase products you recommend and sell. If you were sponsored by Life Planner it would be great. I am sure you would do it because you love the product, but I would still love to know. I am not being capricious on this issue, it is important.

I am a long time reader and customer. I have politely and carefully commented on this topic twice over the past three years. You receive copious amounts of deserved praise, why would my one comment deserve this irritated response? You might be signalling that only praise is welcome on this page.

At this stage, I politely and respectfully bow out of the conversation and the blog.

[Rose McIntire]

Good morning Lucy,

you sell/recommend/link to so many products that it is difficult to know if you are selling something for a profit or simply recommending it. These distinctions are very important, not only for ethical reasons.

[Michele Morris]

Love it! Thanks to you I turned into a planner and sticker nutter too this year. Much fun.

[Kelly P.]

I just bought my own life planner thanks to you! Can't wait to get it in the mail!

[Lynda]

Love the spotty crochet hook, where did you get it from please?
The planner looks fab, very personal

[Rachel @ EBDUK]

Love it! Might just have a cover on the way to me too...😊
Also amused by how my slip of the tongue between 'sticker' and 'decorate' is now A normal word! Next step-get 'stickerate' into the dictionary....