I love the feeling of a New Year, it’s such a great opportunity to strategise what you want and how you’re going to achieve it. And while things never turn out exactly as planned (I’m no closer to being a yogi than I was January 1, 2012) I do think it helps you visualise the year so you can actively live it rather than passively taking things as they come. As they always say, failure to prepare is preparing for failure! Or something like that. Just in case you’re at a point where you too would like to strategise the coming year, I blogged about the process I use for making my New Year’s goals in a post last year (here). As part of this I talked about writing a plan for how you’ll achieve your goals, and having a notebook to record your weekly action items was a big part of this. I’m such a fan of Moleskine and other cute and fancy notebooks, but when you write lists and notes like a madman (I’m sure I’m not the only one?) you go through them at an alarming rate. Because of this I usually end up toting a schoolkid style notebook around which is soooo not in keeping with the whole chic and businesslike appearance I’m trying to cultivate! Recently I made a simple leather notebook cover – reusable and perfect for adding a bit of chic to your stationary, without having to splash out on expensive notebooks all the time. What could be a better way of staying on track with your new years resolutions?

And there you have it! I’ve been hanging by the pool in Thailand writing in this notebook all the things I want 2013 to be and how I’m going to make that happen. I know it may sound like an unlucky year, but I’m hoping it will be the opposite for all of us! Have you got any resolutions you’d like to share? I would love to hear what your goals are and how you plan on making them happen!

When I was in New York recently I had the pleasure of visiting the Garment District a number of times to sniff out the stores and offerings. If you’ve never been, the garment district is an area in New York where traditionally all the fashion and textile related businesses have clustered. My friend Jenni of I Spy DIY was my amazing guide on my first visit, and she looked after me so well – introducing me her regular haunts and to all the lovely people that work in them. I also managed to get back to the district in the second week of my trip and do some real digging in the side streets and alleyways, I simply started from the Subway stop at 34th street and walked up to 36th street and then zig zagged up between 6th and 9th along 36th, 37th, 38th, 39th and 40th. Definitely a full day of wandering!

From what I could see (correct me if I’m wrong!) the fabric stores appeared to be on 39th and 40th streets between 7th and 8th avenues. There were heaps of different places to visit, some smaller and some larger. I also ended up in a few stores with lots of Indian fabrics like sequins and silks on 38th street and they had lots of fun fabrics at quite affordable prices. For beads and trimmings I found lots of places on 6th Ave between 36th and 39th streets.

I fell in love immediately with the deconstructed leather garments in the Alexander Wang SS13 collection – but my eyes were immediately drawn to the accessories which appears oh so DIYable. Netted box bags and calf high leather strap sandals have my name all over them!