2016 Goals and Thoughts

Happy New Year!!  2015 was a great year for my family and I’m excited to see what we do and achieve in 2016.  My goals for 2015 were pretty much met with the help of A Lovely Year of Finishes.  I did try to pull out those old WIPs and finish them.  Here are the quilts I finished from my WIP stash.  Some stuff did just end up back in my stash.  Maybe something fresh will come from it this year.

neptune baby quilt (3)

rectangles and squares modern quilt

habitat improv quilt

Over the last month I have been planning and thinking ahead for the new year.  With my grown up job I work with people to set goals on what they want to achieve.  One key part is how do you plan to achieve that goal?  Is it realistic, actionable, and measurable (SMART)?

Everyone says they want to work through their stash as a quilter, plus it was part of my goal last year.  While I do, I know that’s not completely realistic to only use my stash.  Instead, let’s put some parameters on that goal and make it a SMART goal.

I’m giving myself a fabric budget of $100 for the year.  Here is what is not included in the budget:  thread, batting, notions, and postage.  The budget is just for fabric.  Seems realistic correct?

Money that comes from selling fabric and quilts will be used to help with some of my personal financial goals.  It will probably help cover all the other incidentals of quilting that aren’t in the $100 budget.  I will update each month the money used towards fabric.

With this goal I hope it helps me some things I noted in Being Social.  Focusing on collaboration with others, connecting with other quilters, and expanding my network of quilters.

One quilt I have in mind will be a scrappy string quilt.  As I went through my scraps a few weeks ago I pulled out so many strips, mostly solids.  I think a strip quilt will be a great way to use them up.  Granted a string quilt isn’t new or trendy, but my main focus is using what I have.  The trash bag full of scraps has gotten out of hand.

Another goal for 2016 is to actually write more patterns and tutorials.  Remember that blog series I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, well I’m going to follow along.  Why not?  I’ve never written a pattern and I want to make sure it doesn’t come out complete and utter crap.

Throughout 2016 I want to create my own journey to share with you, inspire you, and well just have fun.  Quilting and sewing started out as a way for me to have a creative outlet.  That’s what I want to get back to.  Care to join me in 2016?

Do you have any goals set for 2016?  I’d love to hear them.  Let me know if I can help in anyway.