Not Off to a Great Start

New Years resolutions are generally forgotten way too soon. Great intentions give way to real life circumstances. Sometimes we hold out until March but usually we give up before the end of January. It is rare that New Years resolutions actually are followed through. Of course that doesn't mean everyone gives up, sometimes resolutions are replaced with more realistic goals, sometimes it takes us a little longer to get moving on those resolutions, and sometimes change just isn't worth it at this time and place.

I titled this post "Not Off to a Great Start" for a reason. Real life has gotten in my way of my quilting sewing goals. I have been at work for 10-12 hour shifts this past week because it was needed. I did not sew daily or even at all. I did work on the studio, though not nearly enough. But I have not given up on my resolutions.

My computer desk is cleared off and usable. I am struggling to keep it that way. It is way too easy for flat surfaces to be come dumping grounds for things. Especially if they don't have that proverbial place where they belong. Then too clear off that surface so I can use it, I too often dump everything in a box or basket or on another surface. So I need to find that mythical place for everything and everything in it's place.

Much of my studio time has been spent trying to figure out how to set up my studio. I look at wall space and think what can I put there. I looked at the space above the windows and thought should I put a shelf there? I have come to realize that I really need to draw out the space and plan out the storage. For example I want rulers I use all of the time easily accessible, but rulers I use only occasionally don't need to be in easy reach but still need to be accessible. Replacement blades should be near rotary cutters but don't need to be on a peg board next to them. I am finding myself rethinking storage and display ideas right and left. This may take a little longer than expected.

So where am I with my goals?

1. Complete at least 3 quilts for family - can be ones already started.  Not worked on but I do have a few started and planned
2. Buy a long arm machine before the end of June.   I actually have worked on this, I have signed up to go to an APQS road show in February, in Lake City, Florida
3. Organize my studio before the end of February.  I have worked on this but not as much as I needed too.
4. Sew/quilt at least 20 minutes a night. Did not do this at all this week. I hope to do better.
5. Work fewer unpaid hours at work so I feel up to quilting. This didn't happen at all this week. I am trying to work on that but training takes more time than I would like.
6. Write in my blog weekly. So far so good.
7. Document my quilts and who they were given to. I have never done this mostly because it is hard to give them away so I do it quickly. Like ripping off a band aid to avoid the pain. But I am going to do better
8. Start signing my quilts using labels. I have not finished one in the past week. I used to think that this was silly. But after Mom died, my siblings didn't know where a lot of things came from and while they would never discard something as valuable as a handmade quilt, they know it means more to some of us than others. Knowing that the quilt on my parents bed was made by Mother in Law let that quilt come to me and my family. It means more to me and my husband than it would to my sister.
   

I guess it isn't too bad for a week in. I have worked on a few things. Have I made the progress I want to? No, but any progress is better than none. Most importantly, I have not given up. Here is to next week and doing a little better.