While I know these little quotes won't change my life, they can change my perspective if I let them. I have used them all at one point or another to remind myself about what is important. Right now I find them helpful in making my New Year's Resolutions. Better yet my New Years Quilting Goals.
Let's start with - "If you are not growing, you are dying." It is easy to stay in your comfort zone. However if you don't ever stretch outside you limits you never progress. This year I am going to do at least one new technique. I have settled on paper piecing for this foray outside my comfort zone. I have several of the cake mix and cup cake mix cards and lots of layer cakes and 5" charm packs so this is where I will start.
Still with the growing - I am going to devote sometime each week to learning about quilt path and how to use it better. I expect this will be a Sunday afternoon process but could possibly be a week night. I am going to start with the Thread Waggle quilting blog. Hopefully I will get quilt path camp done as well.
Next let's move onto one of the 3 Essentials to Happiness namely "something to do" - I plan on sewing, quilting or prepping something every night. 20-30 minutes. It can simply be straightening up the studio or reading an article on quilting or studying something new on my machine. Just something to work on. Something that helps me grow and improve as a quilter
Let's pull another essential - "someone to love"; My Family of course. I am going to show love to my family by quilting for them. Goal is the same as last year 3 quilts for family. I am giving myself a little break here. I did 4 last year but I don't know how things are going to play out at work, 3 is a number I feel I can achieve.
Let's not leave the last essential out - "Something to look forward to". I am going to help a friend make a quilt for her daughter. I am looking forward to introducing her to the quilting process and making an heirloom for her only child.
How about "don't be so hard on yourself" - this one I struggle with. I see every mistake in my work. Fortunately I have a son who reminds me that I am the only one noticing the mistakes. And if some one is scrutinizing my work than they don't need to even see the quilt let alone have it.
Onto "Comparison is the Thief of Joy" - I really don't have much of an issue with this. Back when I was doing decorative painting, I would have students who were constantly comparing their work to mine. I used to tell them that they were beginners and I had been painting for x number of years. It is not fair to them to compare their work to mine. I am pretty good at judging my work on it's merits. That is when I stop and think about where I started and how I have progressed. Plus I have plenty of friends who encourage me along the way.
Live in the Moment - for this I am going with doing something that gives me a lift. doing a simple quilt to lift my spirit. enjoying the process of making something instead of forcing myself onto something I am not in the mood to do. I wanted to make a baby quilt for my soon to be born granddaughter. She is due in a couple of weeks. On New Years Eve, I started sewing together 5 inch blocks from some charm packs I had. It was exhilarating, it came together so nicely and I love how the top turned out. It was simple but enjoyable. I truly lived in the moment on this one. Now I just have to finish it.
Lastly "use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" - I have such a big stash that I don't even know what I have anymore. So for this year I am going to try and not buy more fabric unless it is to finish a project. I am also going to try not to buy supplies for any new projects. I have plenty to use this year. Bonus points for finding pink fabric in my stash to use for the back on my grand baby's quilt
So let's spell the goals out simply
- Three quilts for family - can be started, especially finish UFO (UnFinished Objects) or NSY (Not Started Yet)
- Complete three UFO or NSY - can be used for #1
- Work on something 20-30 minutes each day. Can be sewing, Cutting, Prepping, Quilting or Studying - a hold over from last year
- Use what I have and only buy fabric to finish a project.
- Document Quilts I have made, this is a hold over from last year.
- Read The Technical part of the Thread Waggle quilt blog.
- Try Paper piecing - use the cake mixes you have.
- Do an easy project now and then. Life isn't all about learning.
- Clean up after each project. it is easy to let things sit and then I don't get going on the next project.
Nine goals this year, some the same, some different. How about you? What are you working on?
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