Sunday, December 30, 2018

2019 - Setting Some Goals

It's that time of year.  I kind of resist actually putting my goals down on paper, I think that it makes it too real - like a checklist I need to make sure I check off.  But I guess that is what a goal really is, isn't it?  Something you want to accomplish.


2019 Planning Party
The last several year, I've been choosing a word to focus on - I don't know if I shared mine last year, but it was RELEASE.  I had a lot of emotional things I needed to let go of - one of them being the feeling that everything that happens in my family is my responsibility.  It was really good for me to let go of that idea, and allow things to develop without feeling that I needed to intervene in every situation.  I have felt much less anxiety and more peace by just not trying to always fix things, or even figure out how to fix them!

In the same vein, this year I am choosing REDUCE as my word for 2019.  I want to reduce the amount of possessions I own, the amount of sugar I consume, the amount of screen time I am just aimlessly using....and just be more mindful about my life.  It seems like kind of a negative word, but I've really been thinking about it, and it's what I need to do right now.

I've also been setting some quilting/business related goals.  One of my best accomplishments of last year was getting the Honorable Mention for my Solar Flare quilt in the Northwest Quilt Expo, so I'd like to enter quilts into 4 shows this year.  So this will need to be budgeted for as well - between shipping and entry fees, I'll need to set aside some money for this part of my goal.

I've also been thinking about where my business is going.  I realize that, at least for where I am right now teaching needs to be limited to my local quilt shop.  The travel thing is just too complicated to deal with at this point, so I am not going to make teaching a huge goal, I am going to aim to do two classes a quarter at the quilt shop, and not worry about reaching out to other places right now.  I will continue to submit to magazines, and want to design 3 - 4 new quilts each quarter.  I do not want to vend at shows, but I do want to see if I can get my designs in with a distributor, so will work on that as well.

Craftsy has made a major change in their marketplace, and even though I was allowed to keep my patterns there, they only left 5 out of 54.  Which means a lot of work for me as far as deleting links that no longer work and figuring out how to accomplish my Quilt Block of the Month so people will have access to the previous patterns.  And making a place for my tutorials to live as well.  This will delay the start of my SeaSide project, but I will get there shortly!  I've decided that between all the changes on Etsy and Craftsy that maybe it's time to spread my wings and create my own place for people to buy my patterns.

I had a major time crunch in December with projects, so I think it's also time that I budget for some long arm quilting when I have too much to do.  I plan on reaching out to a few places to see what their time frames are and make some back up plans for getting things done when needed!  I really do enjoy the fact that I am the sole maker of my quilts, but I think it's time to allow for an exception for some projects.

I think my biggest goal is just to keep having fun making quilts!  Lots of them.  And believe me, I think it is the best sewing fun of all :)

So, with all that to chew on, I think I'm about ready to ring in 2019!  Thanks to Yvonne at Quilting Jet Girl for hosting the #2019PlanningParty!  It's been fun reading everyone's posts with their thoughts and dreams for the coming year, I hope you will join in as well.

2 comments:

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

Tour goal to reduce is one that really strikes a chord with me as well. I hope that you have a lot of joy as you work on your quilts in 2019, and thank you so much for sharing and liking up with the Planning Party!

Kathleen said...

I love your words for 2018 and 2019. Your feelings about not taking responsibility for everything in the family resonates with me. I, too, have had to let go of some of that, although I know I could do more. I, too will reduce some this year. As we downsized, I got rid of many things - it felt good - more will go this year. Wishing you great success in the new year!