Okay. If you’ve seen this page in the past you would have seen a list of things I saw in various places that were great ideas. Things I wanted to do. They were things like not buying fabric just to buy fabric. Or finish 6 quilts. Use xx # yards of fabric. Practice FMQ! I want to do all of that and more! I want to go through my Craftsy Classes and do what Sandi did (See Sandi’s page for inspiration at Quilting for the Rest of Us) and I want to go through and do stuff from the myriad of quilting books and magazines that I’ve got. I want to crochet and knit – and actually make socks and sweaters and hats because they all look so pretty and warm. I want to read because I miss reading.
But really, I think I’m setting myself up for failure.
I’m a big planner, goal setter, resolutions writing person. I live by them and I break every goal into daily attainable tasks to help me achieve the things I want to achieve. But I also tend to overplan, over set, and basically have a daily to-do list that is impossible for anyone to ever complete. So I wrote down everything I wanted to do this year. Well, everything in regards to quilting, and other hobby/craft things. Then I went into my calendar and just for January started putting in the dates of my BOMs when they come out and when I’ll work on them, other things I wanted to get done in January. And I realized that I do not have any more available time to do any more. That’s it. If I want to do a Craftsy class project, I’ll have to remove one of the other things I’m working on. If I want to crochet or knit, I’ll have to not quilt. 🙁 (that is not an option) If I want to start a new project, I have to stop working on a current project.
While one part of me just wants to let it all go to heck and just continue life as is, another part of me still wants to do the things I want to do. Because if I just continue life as is, I’ll never do the things I want to do. That is the conundrum that is my life.
… (interrupted… as I have to take the girl to Cheer practice)
~Melanie, 1/16/2014
Later:
My goal this year is to have a short list of projects at any one given time. Finish what I’ve started and not start anything new. Surprising since I started a new project (Tell It To The Stars) last week. But that’s it! I’m in 5 BOMs right now and it’s way too many. I should limit myself to 1 or 2 each month. So my goal is to not start new projects until I’ve got something finished.
I think a perfect schedule would be:
- 1 or 2 BOMs at any given time
- 1 NEW Project
- 1 UFO Project
- 1 Hand Project
and that’s it. Then I’ll be able to fit in a Craftsy class project here and there. A knitting project. A crochet thing. Whatever. I think I’m overthinking things. I like to do that. But I’m a little overwhelmed – in my quilt life, my home life and my work life. And so I’m looking at simplifying what I’ve got.
~Melanie, 1/16/14
This entry really bothers me. Some days I think that I shouldn’t have too many goals because I KNOW that I do not have time to complete them. Then other days I think – everyone is in the same boat and the only way to accomplish anything with purpose is to have a list of goals. Even if it means not accomplishing them. /sigh. Today I’m all in for a to do list or a bucket list. I can’t say goal because I’m not planning on working to achieve them. But if I do find free time here or there I do want something on the list for me to pull from. There’s something else too… something I cannot fully grasp floating around just at the corner of my tired brain. I know it’s something profound but I just can’t put it to words.
I created this blog to help me document my quilting and crafting life and progress. The purpose was also to help me finish projects and stay accountable to the things I say I’m going to do. I feel I’ve done that for 2013. Before this blog I never finished a quilt. I was able to finish 3 in 2013. I wouldn’t have done that if it weren’t for the Get It Done posts and the WIP Wednesday posts. In order for me to post something – I needed to do something. And so I’m happy with what I accomplished last year. Am I a failure because I only got 3 done instead of the 5 I originally set my goal to do? No. Am I beating myself over it? No. So – who cares if I have a huge list? If I get 1 or 2 or 10 things on that list done… that’s 1, 2 or 10 more than I would have had I not had this on my list of things I wanted to get done.
Do I want this blog to change in 2014? Is the purpose of this blog different now? No. It is still my place to document my quilting and crafting life and progress. I’m still using it as a tool to help me finish projects and stay accountable to do the things I say I’m going to do. Those things may change periodically and I’m okay with that. But I still want to finish stuff.
So here’s the plan –
6 finished quilts
1 crochet project
1 knit project
1 craftsy class
50 yards of fabric used
1 book/magazine project
1 bag
And that’s my list and I’m sticking to it.
~Melanie, 1/17/2014
Here’s how I did in 2014… from my recap posted on 1/6/2015
For 2014, it changed early in the year but here is what I ended up with:
- 6 finished quilts
- I ended up with 4 finished quilts which was 1 more than I finished in 2013
- 1 crochet project
- I ended up not doing any crochet projects and I’m fine with this. I’ve been more intrigued in knitting this year than crochet.
- 1 knit project
- I finished 3 projects this year. The last one I keep forgetting to take a picture of it and post it in my library but it’s Kayla’s Cowl finished around October or November.
- 1Craftsy class
- I finished at least 1 class. I probably finished more but I wasn’t really keeping track. I know I finished the first couple of knitting classes I took.
- 50 yards of fabric used
- I only ended up with 22 yards used.
- 1 book/magazine project
- I ended up not doing this one at all.
- 1 bag
- I finished a couple of little make up pouches which can be classified as little bags.