Goal-setting this time of year is the subject of much humor... New Year's Resolutions broken within the first two weeks of each year have made the tradition the laughing stock of January.
I enjoy setting goals each January, knowing new things are going to pop up throughout the year to sidetrack and/or disorient me. I like having a list, and I like being able to check off items on my list.
My quilting goal at the beginning of 2015 was simple... finish at least one in-progress quilt each quarter for the Ravelry challenge. Just a couple of months into the year, upon finishing my second quilt for a new baby in the extended family and third quilt for a family member in less than half a calendar year, I decided all the nieces and nephews (and grand nieces and grand nephews) needed quilts. By Christmas.
That took my quilting goal from four finishes to, choke, choke, 12!!! With the help of my husband (who whipped out rag quilts for the two youngest nephews to help take a little bit of pressure off me), 10 of those quilts have now been delivered. Two of the oldest kids were informed before Christmas I couldn't get theirs done in time to be under the tree. They are delighted to be on my list and don't care if the quilts didn't make it in time to sit under the family tree for a few hours.
As a result of my revised goal, I completed 13 quilts and one quilted bag in 2015!!!!! Talk about empowering!!!
I also finished at least 8 flimsies in 2015. That should make finishing a few quilts this year just a tad easier. (That's what enabled me to get so many quilts done this year! Get them to flimsie stage!!!)
In addition, I robbed finished blocks from two WIPs last month to finish a quilt that wasn't on my list. I might have to do that more often just to use up some of the WIPs that aren't likely to ever be finished in their current scheme. Hmmm...
This year's goal is to again finish one (or two) quilts each quarter for the Ravelry challenge. Hopefully, two of the finishes will be for my unquilted niece and nephew. Hopefully, one will be for their mom, whom I've been promising a specific quilt since about 2009. Hopefully, my next finish will be the cover of my next book, which I had planned to release last November, which is still missing a cover because the WIP is not done yet. Grrr. And hopefully, any and all finishes will be just as fun as my favorite three finishes of last year: July Special Effects, Turtle Sherbet and Orphan Vortex.
Thankfully, the first quarterly list of the year is actually shorter than my previous quarterly list!!! I'm making progress!!! Yippee!!!
My husband has finished 10 rag quilts in just the last few months. He's working on number 11 now, and he's ready to learn to free motion quilt now. I'm hoping we can work on quilt projects together this month while I try to teach him.
His most recent finish was for my Cowboys-loving nephew, who played Little League football for the Steelers. His team went to the Super Bowl in November!
Do you have any idea how difficult it is to buy any football fabric that doesn't say "Broncos" in Denver?
Here's my list for this new quarter and new year:
1. Hawaiian Compass
2. Snowflake Heartburn
3. Leaf Me Alone
4. Welcome to the Jungle
5. Blue Floral Leftovers, the Sequel
6. Long Forgotten
7. Blue Floral
8. Lizard Toes
9. Skinned
10. Under the Sea
11. ReSkinned
12. Hexie Booboo
13. Tickled Pink, the Sequel
14. Teal Shadows
15. Gemtones
16. Teabags
17. Goodbye Hollyhock Road
18. Snowflake Strip Bar
19. Charmed by Snowflakes
20. The Cool Edge of the Rainbow
21. Dreaming of a Lavender Christmas
22. Blue Christmas
23. Green Floral Batik Postage Stamps
24. Quilt of Valor
25. Blue Floral Trilogy
26. Lavender Sunrise
27. Giant Dahlia
28. Showcase
29. Heart Strings
30. One More Ticker Tape
31. Arctic Skies
32. Peacock Blues
33. Snowbike II
34. Autumn Splendor
Linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict here.
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Awesome when goals are met indeed. You sure get many met and keep on a trucking, way to be. lmao buying football gear from another team in any state may get you dirty looks, others may get you shot, I presume lol
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pat! I haven't been to your blog in a couple of days now due to internet issues, so I don't know if you've been teasing about resolutions, but I kind of expected you to make a joke about my goals today. So thank you for being so nice and for reading my blog every day, even though I don't get to visit yours as often as you visit mine. Happy new year!
DeleteBeautful items on your list!!!! I like lists too - and setting goals, and then checking in to see how it is going! Good luck - I know you can do it!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alycia! I love setting and meeting goals. I guess that's the competitor in me. I'm competing with myself.
DeleteIt's super nice to not have to do 12 quilts this year unless I want to or have time to! No more pressure!!!
A quilted bag... You must be incredibly patient. You know I could never do that.
ReplyDeleteHappy new year! May it be a good one :)
Perhaps a quilted shoe, Blue??? Sorry, couldn't resist!
DeleteHappy new year to you, too, and I hope you have a healthy one!
You do well with goals. Perhaps I can be your goal underling for awhile.
ReplyDeleteYou are so funny, Lizard! You're one of the reasons I've been able to stay on target! I should be your understudy!!!
DeleteWhat lovely looking items. Goals are great when they are met. I wish you all the best with yours and have a prosperous new year!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Blogoratti. I love setting goals. I love trying to achieve them. I'm not much of a competitor... except with myself. Can't resist a good challenge! May 2016 be equally as prosperous and happy for you!
DeleteMany of these quilts are my friends! Creatures I have known since block and patch. (LOTR adaptation.) But some of them are new to me. What a stunning collection!
ReplyDeleteYou are the Queen of Productivity, Deb. I have no doubt you will not only meet but exceed your goals for 2016.
P.S. Now I see where Phil got his quote. I think free-motion quilting is a bit like learning to make bread. It's all about practice; you just have to get a feel for the dough - or in this case, the machine and fabric. :)
I have been practicing for five straight days, Sue. Perhaps if the stars align properly, I will finish one tonight, FMQ'd in its entirety...
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