Friday, January 02, 2015

Look both ways...

Happy New Year! It's that time of year again... time to look back on 2014 and look forward to 2015. This is one of those sorts of posts that I write more for myself than for you, dear reader. Please permit me a few a year! ☺


2014 Achievements (If you'd like to compare them to my goals for 2014, check out last year's post!)
  • Purchased no quilt magazines and I don't think I bought any books. I did purchase a few digital downloads (Good Old Hockey Game, Big Butt Baby Pants, Preppy the Whale), but have made each and every one of them!
  • Finished these items from The List - Starburst QAL, Christmas pillow cases & pillow covers, Good Old Hockey Game.
  • De-stashed when I moved my studio - still working on sending some things to new homes!
  • Made two twin-sized quilts to be donated to the Choices program at the IWK (one needs layering and quilting).  I donated a number of baby quilts as well.
  • Completed 5 projects as part of The Library Project! Check 'em out here!
  • Made lots of items to welcome Double Trouble into our home
  • Completed all blocks of the Pile o' Fabric SkillBuilder BOM up to October
  • Made blocks for my virtual bees (ModQImprov finished in May and Global Scrap Bee finished in August)

And moving on to this year's quilting goals. Though I'm not going as hard core as Adrienne over at Chezzetcook Modern Quilts, I am simplifying this year. I'm keeping it to three guiding ideas: #1 - The List, #2 - Use my resources wisely, and #3 - Make time



#1 - The List
Every year at this time, I update my UFO/WiP list. It involves much poking into closets, shelves, and bins in search of WiPs. This year, when moving my studio, I lost the paper list. Oops! Here's a portion of the 2015 version. It's already printed and up on the bulletin board - ready to cross things off as I go!

Improv Herringbone (ModQImprov blocks) - make more blocks & piece top
Toes in the Sand - Layer, quilt, & bind
Underwater - Appliqué, layer, quilt, & bind
Warm/Cool HST - continue making blocks
Selvages - continue making blocks
Sochi Diamonds - Bind & add hanging sleeve
Batik Strip - Layer, quilt, bind, & donate
Skill Builder BOM 2014 - Finish blocks (October, November, December) piece & bind
Honey - Add hanging sleeve
Charm Pack Cherry - Layer, quilt, bind, & donate

#2 - Use my resources wisely
I have a considerable stash of fabric and I enjoy the odd FART or trip to my LQS (please refer to the Alphabet Soup tab if you are mystified by this sentence). I'm not saying I won't buy fabric... I'm just going to work from my stash when I can. It gives me an odd sense of satisfaction! And as for my magazine/book/pattern resources, I've likely got enough inspiration on my shelves to last me well into another decade! That said, my new copy of Patchwork City arrived today! Nothing wrong with the occasional treat! Time is a resource too... so I'm not going to be making big quilt-y commitments this year. The QALs will just have to go AL without me for a while!

#3 - Make time
This is could be tough to achieve this year. Life has changed a lot in the past seven weeks and there doesn't always seem to be time for quilting and blogging. That said, this isn't just a hobby for me - it's a creative outlet and a stress reducer. I'm going to make a conscious effort to get to as many MMQG meetings and Sew Ins as possible and to get into the studio each day and make something that brings me joy, even if it's just for half an hour. Stress reduction is no less important than laundry or vacuuming... there it is...
Quilting is joy for me. I'm going to keep on blogging about it! Happy New Year everyone... here's to a joyful 2015!

J

P.S. I'm linking up with Yvonne @ Quilting JetGirl who is hosting 15 Quilting Resolutions for 2015 link-up. I've far from 15... but I bet she'll let me link up anyway! :)

15 Quilty Resolutions for 2015

11 comments:

  1. Good luck for 2015: it's hard to find time with a little one in the house (mine is now 10 months old so 2014 was a learning curve for me) and you have two beautiful little ones. Sewing for me was exactly the same - stress relief and outlet for mummy time. I look forward to following your new adventures. Happy New Year. p.s. I couldn't resist Patchwork City either!

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  2. Happy New Year and best wishes for 2015! I agree with discussing joys. I hope that you are able to find enough time to keep your cup spilling over with goodness this year.

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  3. I'm hearing ya! Bring on the joy!!!

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  4. I know you can do it! I can't wait to see all those finishes! For the first few months when my newest daughter was born I sewed about 30 minutes a day- in 5 minute increments. :)

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  5. You may think a post like this is more for you than your readers, but I for one thoroughly enjoyed it. Congrats on doing all you digital downloads - I was not so diligent but you have reminded me to go back and look at them. And I love that you have to poke around to find UFOs - I do, too, so I do not feel so disorganize when I read that others are in the same boat. I resonate, too with working from my stash as much as possible and de-stressing with quilting. This was a great post. Personal yet I for one could really relate to it. In 2015 I will talk about joys, not problems. Unless they are quilty problems looking for a solution. Those are a joy to discuss and solve with others!

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  6. I'm trying to do a lot of projects from my stash as well this year. I realized I have a lot of fabric and it was all bought because I love it or it served a purpose. Between Stuff Your Stocking and Christmas gifts, I have almost $300 in gift certificates to fabric shops. So I'm going to try to work from my stash but I'll definitely be buying some new fabric this year. I can't wait to see what you make in 2015 :)

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  7. Looking for joy is certainly the way to go. If you ever find it difficult go back to the pics of projects you have already completed - my Yoga bag, Jonathan's rink and any other quilt you have done for Kimberly and Jonathan, our wall hangings etc. They all bring joy to their owners every day through their beauty and thoughtfulness. Stay calm and keep quilting.

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  8. 2014 was a marvelous year for you. You certainly inspired me a few times and helped make 2014 my best year ever! Keep bringin' the Joy!

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  9. nice
    love the sentiments and the words at the end. Have a great year of creativity. It's not just a hobby for me either, it's creativity! Enough said!
    LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color!

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  10. You accomplished a lot in 2014. There will be time for creativity with DT -- you just need to use your resources wisely......

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  11. Everything on your short list feels relevant to me too.
    My 2015 looks like the year of finishing things or finally getting around to those projects I bought the fabric/zippers/buttons for but didn't start. Maybe in 2016 I will start looking at the patterns I bought and have not made and the books full of ideas I already have.

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