It's that time of the year when we're all starting to shake off the winter hibernation blues and look forward to the [hopefully] bright sunny spring. It's that time to start working out what to do for this year, craft wise. Do you specialise in a certain craft? Or do you vary what your doing so that your always learning new skills? Either way is fine, so long as your crafting. The trouble is, that at this time of year we often want to try something new or get different ideas.

Well here's the answer, Get Together. If your a crafts person who sells their wares, then get in touch with sellers from the previous year and see what their up to or make those first craft fayre bookings for the year ahead. It always amazes me that every year, there is always something new to the scene, whether it's fashions, or skills or new crafts. Get together and have a social evening, see what everyone's up to, you could get opinions from others on the work you've already been creating. Now I'm certainly not saying to go round and pinch others ideas, that's not good. But we can all draw inspiration from what others do, or have done, and take that onboard to inpire us in new ideas.

The same can be said for those that see crafts as a hobby. Why not get together with your friends for a coffee morning, or travel as a group to visit some craft shops or exhibitions. The good thing about exhibitions and shows is that you can learn so much, and come across so many new ideas, especially if they are new to market. For example, Mrs Leafy Lion is visiting the Craft, Hobby and Stitch International Show in Birmingham in February, with a group friends, some of whom make to sell and others that make to enjoy. [Well at least this is what Mrs Leafy Lion has told me!] They'll go up for a couple of days have a good laugh and find out all the news, tips, products and skills in the Craft world. And knowing Mrs Leafy Lion, she'll be back with a million and one different and new ideas she wants to get started on as soon as possible. So take this time of year to get some new inspiration and get together with some good friends.