It happens every year, on December 31st we ring out the old year and ring in the new one. People make resolutions that are usually broken by the end of January. It's a annual cycle that is steeped in tradition and lore.
2020 has been a trying year for many of us. Many of us are happy to ring in a new year. But I don't think 2021 is going to bring the changes everyone hopes for. I believe that we are in for more of the same as last year. What can change is our perspective.
I was chatting with a co-worker. She commented that she's made black eye peas every year but it doesn't seem to work for her. I then mentioned that we at least were still working and many had been laid off or their business closed due to the pandemic. She brightened up at that. Her perspective had been changed. She told me that she was going to go ahead and make the traditional new years meal. For those of us in South Georgia that means black eye peas, pork of some kind, greens, and corn bread. Right now those things are cooking in my kitchen.
I am not a native of the south and I don't think we really had New Year traditions growing up. Well, beyond staying up to ring in the New Year and watching parades and football on New Years Day. But it is fun to adopt some the cultural traditions of the places where you live. That is as long as you keep things in perspective. I don't believe that what I eat on New Years day is really going to affect my financial outcome for the next year. But it is a fun tradition here in the south and I don't have to come up with a dinner plan for that day.
One New Years tradition that I do believe in is reflecting on the past year and making goals for the upcoming year. Last year and again this year, I did a Facebook post on 15 little things that make me happy. Interestingly enough Quilting related activities took 2-3 spots in that list.
Since I have been a little lax on quilting this year and my studio has been a complete disaster, I have been a little down on myself and my quilting. So I decided to see if I can come up with 15 quilting related activities make me happy. Maybe change my perspective a little bit.
Here is the list.
1. Piecing - the very act of sewing is a stress reliever for me. I love to run fabric through the machine.
2. Cutting - I like using the rotary cutter and ruler. I like getting things prepped for a project. If I am without power for any reason, cutting is something I can do as long as there is natural light coming in. Cutting is the first actual part of the construction the quilt.
3. Folding new fabric (or any fabric) Silly as it sounds, I enjoy folding fabric to store. It gives me a chance to look at the fabric, to see the patterns and colors. It is a time to dream of what I could do with the fabric.
4. Finding a new quilt shop - This usually happens when I travel. The first real quilt shop that I shopped at as a quilter was Mom's Crafts and Fabrics in Delta, UT when I lived there. She had a huge array of fabrics and no matter when I went in or who was working at the time, I felt like I was part of the group. I currently don't live close to a real quilt shop. But just about every quilt shop that I enter, I feel like I did at Mom's. Welcomed and part of the group. Part of the quilting community.
5. Trying new techniques. I love to learn and am always willing to learn something new. Even if it is not my style. It is knowledge I can use at some time or another.
6. Using fabric from my stash. This year I made a couple of flimsies from fabric that had been in my stash for years. It is very satisfying to use fabric that has been laying around. Especially fabric that I have had for a long time.
7. Binding a quilt. I guess it's because it's the last step. Finishing a quilt makes me happy.
8. My quilts actually being used. My son has the quilt I made him on his bed. My granddaughters use theirs and really do love them. I would rather the quilt be used than sitting in a cupboard some where.
9. Sharing my projects with my daughter. Tatianna is a great supporter of my efforts and a good critic. I always look forward to sharing my projects with her.
10. Actually quilting the quilt - Since I've gotten my long arm, I enjoy quilting the quilts a lot more than just tying them. Quilting on a domestic machine was not fun for me but my machine did not have a large enough throat nor a stich regulator. I just couldn't get the hang of it so I tied them.
11. Quilting with others. I enjoy doing a quilt project with the women at church. I like to have company when I sew. I don't mean all of the time but once in a while it would be nice. I guess I need to join a guild and go on retreats.
12. Good deals on fabric. I like hitting the clearance section at quilt shops. I also like to hit the sales on discontinued fabric. I generally buy 2-3 yards of fabrics I like. Getting a bunch of pretty fabric for a good price puts a smile on my face.
13. My husband's support for my fabric/quilting addiction. I have found that I will spend more money at a quilt shop if my husband goes in with me. He buys fabric that he likes and I buy fabric that I like and it generally all goes with something in my stash. Also when I bought my long arm, I didn't have enough to buy the computerized system. My husband encouraged me to get a loan and get the computerized system. Then a couple of years later he used his bonus from work to pay off that loan.
14. New quilting gadgets - I love gadgets. One of my favorites is my slotted ruler. Another is my binding tool. Still another is the 1/4 inch ruler. I have a bunch of rulers and gadgets, some which I haven't used, yet that is.
15. You tube Videos and tutorials. I learn a lot from other quilters. Since I haven't joined a guild or found quilting classes that jive with my work schedule, they have become sanity savers for me.
It took a little more effort to come up with 15 quilting things that make me happy. Maybe because I haven't been doing enough of these things this year. That is one resolution I intend to make and keep this year. Quilting more regularly.
What makes you happy? What's you resolution?
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