I wish I didn’t have to begin another post with, “it’s been awhile…”, but it surely has been a long dry spell without a post! I managed to have more commitments than time this fall. The outcome was that I accomplished a lot, but some of those deadlines were a bit stressful. So, I have been setting priorities and goals for the coming  year in hopes of avoiding that particular pitfall.

In reflecting on my work and personal habits, I see that deadlines help me create a sense of urgency and actually get things finished, but I need to allow enough time and flexibility in my schedule in case life throws me a curve ball. The Quilter’s Planner is the tool I’m using to help me get organized. I’m very excited to have something so beautiful to track my projects, quilt show deadlines, learning opportunities and business events.

It was helpful to look back at this year and to see what was accomplished.

2016 Recap:

Exhibited quilts at:

• AQS Quiltweek, Grand Rapids
• AQS Quiltweek, Chattanooga
• AQS Quiltweek, Des Moines
• NOFAF, Sequim

Vendor at:

• Irrigation Festival Arts & Crafts Fair
• Port Townsend Studio Tour
• Bainbridge Island Museum of Art Pop Up Art & Craft Fair
• Jamestown Annual Holiday Craft Fair
• North Olympic Fiber Arts Market
• Opulent Evening

Retail outlet at Molly B’s Salon, Sequim

Blogging:

• participated in 2016 New Quilt Bloggers group
• took a class on WordPress at the community college
• wrote a tutorial for the Cloud9 New Block Blog Hop

Giving quilts:

• donated pixelated heart quilt to Quilts for Pulse (Orlando MQG)
• donated 2 quilts for Project Linus (Vulture Peak Patchers)

Goals for 2017:

Learning:

• develop free motion quilting skills
• learn to use the HQ Sweet Sixteen midarm
• practice photography skills
• attend lectures at QuiltCon East

Exhibiting:

• exhibit at QuiltCon East
• enter new venues
• participate in SDA events

Selling:

• limit vending to 2-3 major events per year
• explore selling online

Creating:

• dye new fabric
• improvise a major piece
• hand quilt a major piece
• limit items to sell, providing time for personal art
• keep a better record of finished projects
• participate in my first mini swap, the 2016 MQG Modern Mini swap at QuiltCon East
• participate in my first virtual bee: @Molli Sparkles and the Honey Pot Bee

Sharing:

• post to Instagram and Facebook at least 2x per week
• post to blog at least 2x per month
• create some tutorials to share

Donating:

• continue to create giving quilts

Finding Balance:

• schedule time to develop healthy habits
• balance business and personal creating time

Now my goals are public and I aim to hold myself accountable! I’m linking up with Yvonne@quiltingjetgirl and her 2017 Planning Party.