Artful Advice

New Year Hopes & Resolutions

Personal and professional 2018 goals from Papier pals.

As we turn the first pages on the new year, we naturally start thinking about the things we want to do differently from the previous year, the things we hope will happen and the things we'd like to achieve in the upcoming year. A few of our friends and The Fold contributors from 2017 have given us their personal and professional New Year's resolutions, or, their hopes for the 12 months ahead.

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Matthew Williamson, designer
I'm not great at keeping resolutions as a general rule but next year I'm looking forward to creating more time in my diary for myself. Top of my list will be to take a weekly walk with my dog. When in London, I'll go to Hampstead and Parliament Hill and when in Spain, I’m looking forward to walks along the coast of Deia in Mallorca where I have a house.


Fran Cooper, author
My resolution for 2018 is to be a more honest time-planner. I’m forever saying yes to things, and not taking into account how long they take/how much I have on/how chaotic life is, then feeling bad when I have to bow out last minute. I’ll be getting myself a pretty diary to help with this, I think!


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Jade Fisher, illustrator
I don’t really make resolutions but I do get very reflective around New Year, and every New Year’s Eve I tell myself to be a little bit more fabulous in the coming year! It started one year when I wanted to wear this ridiculous feather cape but I was too worried about what people would think of it. I’m quite introverted and I find it a hinderance, so I just take a moment to remember I should push myself, and treat myself! Wear a ridiculous outfit if it makes you feel fabulous! Speak up if you have something to say, be bold and a little indulgent every now and then. It’s terrible to look back and wish you had done something – just do it!


Pandora Sykes, podcaster & journalist
That I have a happy and healthy baby daughter and that The High Low goes from strength to strength.


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Dolly Alderton, podcaster & journalist
I hope I continue to create work that I find fulfilling and I hope that I learn to drive (finally).


Chiara Perano-Sotnyk, calligrapher at Lamplighter London
2017 has probably been the busiest, craziest and best year of my life. I’ve got married, done a full house renovation, my design studio has grown, and of course my exciting collaboration with Papier! My hopes and intentions for 2018 are to start putting my plans to action–serious goal setting. I have been talking about doing things with my business for years and then everyday work takes over and what I planned to do slides by… I’m sure I’m not alone on that one! So for me, next year is about making things happen, giving the business some much needed attention, and trying to grow my small team into a successful creative atelier. I am working on my second book at the moment and 2018 will be a big year for that. My other work related intention is to network more and meet more inspiring creative business people.


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Send us a postcard, Mark!

Mark Sperring, children's author of All The Things I Wish For You
I’ve never really made New Year's resolutions, so, my hopes for 2018 are to write a bit more, eat a bit less and to revisit Iceland at its most snowiest!


Susie Young, wedding planner at Knot & Pop
I’m not one for making personal New Year's resolutions (when I get started it can grow into a never-ending list!) but my hope for 2018 is that it’s a kinder, more humane year. On a personal level, it’s therefore about the things I can do to give more to others.


Danielle Kroll, illustrator
My New Year's resolution is to not buy any more plants and to keep the ones I have alive and happy until the end of the year.


Holly McCulloch, illustrator at Bow & Arrow Press
My New Year's resolution this year will be to fill a sketch book a month, to keep note of inspirations and new ideas for designs.


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Alex Stedman, stylist and blogger at The Frugality
I'm due to have a baby in March, so I think that's all the plans that can be made at this stage! We'll have a lot of adjusting to do but it's an exciting year.


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