Sunday, January 01, 2006

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2006
. A new year for new beginnings. Time to put aside the challenges of 2005 and focus on the year ahead. Things WILL be better. I WILL get a handle on some personal issues that made 2005 a pretty bad year. Some I can't change so I'll just have to learn to live with them. Others I MUST change for health reasons. And others because I want to be a better person. It won't be easy but I can do this.

I don't usually make "resolutions" because I know myself well enough to know I won't keep them and will end up feeling like a failure when I don't. So this year no resolutions. I do have some goals I'd like to accomplish. I might make it or I might not. But at lease I'll end the year knowing that I tried.

I've listed 5 items on my sidebar under "2006 Quilting Goals".

1. No new fabric except B's (borders, background, backing, binding) and cat fabrics. I collect cat fabrics like you might collect teacups or coins. So I do not consider them to be regular stash fabric. One resolution I can make and be sure to keep is that all new cat fabric I come across this year WILL follow me home.

2. Spend at least 15 minutes per day sewing. I feel bad so often lately that it's so easy for me to just veg out in my chair in front of the computer and not get anything done. I've found if I make myself sit down at my sewing machine for just 15 minutes I get so much accomplished. And usually I don't spend just 15 minutes but that's all I'm going to commit to right now.

3. Pick 3 projects and focus only on those. I have so much trouble sticking with a project until I finish it. I see something I want to try so I stop what I'm doing and start the new project. Then something else catches my attention and away I go again. And that's why I find myself with so many uncompleted projects. So no new projects until I finish at least 1 on my list so there are never more than 3 in progess projects at a time. Now a disclaimer here. I consider a project done when the top is complete. I have no liking or aptitude for machine quilting and can't afford to send tops out to be quilted. So tops it will have to be for now. I do plan to finish some quilts this year - but I'm getting ahead of myself. That's goal #4. :-)

4. Finish 6 quilts. I need to get a handle on my top stash too so I would like to finish 6 quilts this year. That's just 1 every other month so I think I can handle this.

5. No new UFOs. If I start it in 2006 then the top needs to be finished in 2006. This kinda goes with #3 but I felt it deserved a goal of it's own.

So that's it. My 2006 quilting goals. Wish me luck. I'm probably going to need it!


And finally a more current picture of me than the one in my profile (that was taken when I was 18!) That's one of the few pictures I've ever taken that I liked. I HATE to have my picture taken. Not photogenic doesn't even begin to describe me. And the 150 extra lbs. I'm carrying around just makes it worse. Another thing I'll be working on this year.

10 comments:

Evelyn aka Starfishy said...

5 quilting goals doesn't sound like much, but some are BIG items (like finishing the quilting on not one, but SIX tops!). If I hand quilted 6 tops in 1 year I would just amaze myself!

If you are trying to stick with working on just 3 projects at a time - make sure you throw a quickie into the mix along with a long term project. That way you can finish something and move onto another project so you won't get bored. I know that once I see how something goes together I am anxious to start the next new great pattern I have my eyes on!

Good luck with your goals - we are all cheering you on.

Cheers!

Evelyn

Nancy said...

LOl! Guess I should have made that clearer. Those 6 quilts will mostly be machine quilted. I don't enjoy it or have any aptitude for it beyond quilting in the ditch. But if I want completed quilts it's just something I have to do.

Finn said...

Good for you Nancy, it takes real courage to face what we don't like about ourselves..I'm so proud of you, and rest easier knowing I'm of the fluffy variety also..*G*

Your goals are admirable, and I think pretty much do-able. I guess I've never asked you about hand quilting..if you do or if you don't. I see nothing wrong with tying quilts..depending on the use. Done is good! Some don't deserve much more attention that to get them tied. If you hand or machine quilt is there someplace you can use a table to baste or pin them? Or maybe a church group that will do any of it for you?

I know I'm not up to machine quilting a big quilt on my little Pfaff. I am going to have a couple machine quilted, and beyond that I just don't know. Right now I have 20+ finished tops and 8 wall hangings and 3 table runners that need quilting. I can do the wallhangings and table runners, but not sure about the bigger tops.
Anyway, I think your goals will work, and you know we'll cheer each other on..right??? Hugs, Finn

Granny said...

Nancy: Good luck with your goals. Seems to me that you've set some very achievable goals for yourself. In fact, most all of our goals seem to be about the same to some degree.

We're here to encourage you and I appreciate the encouragement you give me!

On your #2 goal, it seems like so many people have a similar goal. With the longarm, someone once told me to set aside a certain amount of time that I realistically could spend quilting each day and commit to doing it. The hardest part for me is to just do it! Once I get started, I don't want to stop but I can find more reasons that you'd believe to keep from getting started. Pretty goofy, huh?

Glad you're part of our group!

Judy

Laurie said...

Nancy,
You can do it! Your goals are achievable and realistic! You were brave to acknowledge them! We're here for you!
Hugs
Laurie

Jeanne said...

Happy 2006 Nancy! I'm just getting caught up here on reading -- we'll encourage each other with our 2006 goals, OK? :)

The Calico Cat said...

Nice to "meet" you Nancy. (Thanks for sharing the photo.)

BTW I know a very reasonable quilter that does a great job, that is beyond just stippling. - if you need that kind of help with completing your goal of "completely finishing" 6 quilts.

Cat fabrics - I'm with you, but I saw a new one on equilter that doesn't do anything for me.... (This might be a first!)

Anonymous said...

Hmmm, your #3 sounds like me to a T. That's exactly how my UFO pile grows... Your goals sounds wonderful, and managable, and I'm sure this will be a great ywar for you!

Hunter said...

I'm with you, Nancy.

I feel with all my heart that 2006 is going to be the best year ever.

We'll make it that way together, OK?

Hugs.
Darilyn

Marilyn said...

Nancy,
Your quilting goals are great, but I just wanted to commend you for your weight loss goal. I know how hard it is to make that commitment. I'm in weight-loss mode myself, so I'd love to be your cheerleader. Go, Nancy!

Marilyn