Happy New Year! It's officially 2015 and time to share Patch and I's goals/ambitions for the upcoming year. Last year this list was so easy to create. I was walking into unchartered territory with starting a blog. I wanted to do it all! This year I want to refine my goals and focus my energy. Therefore, this required so much more thought.
1. Find Balance.
Last year I started working out and blogging. It has been stressful adding two demanding hobbies into my life at one time. This year I hope to fall into a schedule that will allow me to feel accomplished without feeling stressed.
2. Charity Quilts.
I hope to finish a few charity quilts. This was something I had on the list for last year and never did. Well I have the tops done but not finished. Over the year I would like to get some finished and donated. Actually, I hope to get one done per quarter.
3. Zippers.
Zippers just look like a challenge, so it's about time I actually learn how to sew them in.
4. Curves.
At the end of last year I signed up to take a class on curves with my quilt guild. One of the ladies graciously twisted my arm. It was the jolt I needed to take the plunge into learning something new. Still nervous about taking a class with a professional.
5. Embrace the Process.
Many times I just share the end results and not talk about the process or take process shots. I have always wanted to share these moments but I get caught up in the moment and forget to take pictures. This year I hope to talk more about process and show more of how I work.
6. WIP Control.
Story of my life. Looks like I am officially down to 5 WIPs! This has been on the steady decline since summer. After the struggle to lose 15 WIPS (yeah it's as hard a losing weight!), I hope this year I can keep projects coming and going at a steady rate instead of collecting projects.
7. Purge.
Last year began en epic purge/fabric stash decline. This year I hope to keep using up the materials I already have before going and purchasing anything new. I have many scraps that still need to get purged. There are a couple scrap purge quilts I have lined up for the new year. Hopefully they will make a dent in the pile.
8. Diet Restrictions.
Over the last year I participated in a Fabric Fast. I did not hold true to my restriction, even splurging a couple times last year. On a good note, more fabric was quilted than purchased in the last year, yay. The experience was great to see how much fabric I really need on hand in my stash. This year I am not going to fast, but I am going to stick with purchasing just things I need.
9. Learn My Machine.
Black Friday specials were very good to me! I bought a Pfaff, surprise. Not sure I shared that information yet. More on that later. I did FMQ my sister's quilt, but that was a huge learning curve. There are so many bits & pieces that go with my machine I have no idea how to use. The machine came with 2 free classes. Now I just need to find the time and the arm strength to get it back downstairs and to the shop.
10. Lose Weight.
Weight loss isn't a quilting goal, but in my quest to find balance might as well put everything down in the same place. The theme this year is 15 pounds for 2015. In the last weeks of 2014 I started running again and got a gift certificate for new running shoes. It's going to be my year to look great!
11. Travel More.
My Best Friend and I are traveling to New Orleans this spring to celebrate our 30th birthdays. It's our Fabulous and Thirty trip. I have always liked to travel and cannot wait to get back out and see things. I also hope to visit my cousin in Denver this summer. No time like the present.
12. Be a Friend.
Growing up my father always said, "To have a friend you must be a friend." Last year I gained many friends out in the blogging community. This year I plan to keep my old friends and hopefully gain a few more friends.
13. More Tutorials.
Last year I started off strong and made a few tutorials, but then I got weighed down with blogging. In 2015, I hope to put out a tutorial ever couple months. In the last month I have been collecting some tutorial ideas to help me out when I find myself in a slump.
14. Enjoy the Moment.
In all aspects of my life I tend to be so focused in getting thing done I forget to enjoy the moment. In the classroom, I am always worried about the time and making sure we get everything done I sometimes forget to enjoy my students. Same thing goes for sewing, when things are going well, I need to celebrate those moments.
15. Keep Going.
With 365 days of blogging under my belt, this year I am excited to see how much more this year will bring. Every month I kept thinking, "It can't get better than this." Then it would. I am happy to have all you joining me in my quilting adventures this year :)
Cheers to another year,
-Patch & Chels
Michelle, over at From Bolt to Beauty, and I are doing another Charm Swap!!!! Last Fall we had a successful low volume charm swap so we thought we would change the theme this time and try something new. If you have never experienced Art Gallery fabrics you are missing out. They are such fun colors and patterns, and the softest fabric you will ever feel! It really is amazing.
This post was supposed to be a quilt ladder tutorial, but let's face it, every time I turned around I was lost. My father was doing some unexplainable thing, had some jig that just appeared, was using this crazy machine. It finally got the point where I gave up all hope of having a high quality tutorial to share. So unless you have a full wood shop at your house you just might not have the tools to complete this project. Here is my feeble attempt to accurately explain what happened as Dad completed 80% of the work and me with a camera desperately trying to put in my 20%. We made 4 ladders at the same time. Mom couldn't wait to get her's loaded on Christmas day, hence the photo. 
