Coming & Going
I'm the reflective type, so evaluating, setting goals, detailing out those Big Ideas - awesome that there's a time of year when this nerdy stuff is so legit!
Looking back, I feel that I made a good amount of progress in 2012 in the way of developing Stitched in Color as a business. I also had fun doing it, which is key. Okay, there were stressful weeks trying to meet my own deadlines, but it was all totally worth it. At the beginning of the year I decided not to write a book and to teach classes instead. Many times I also opted out of submitting my work to magazines, in favor of developing free quilt-alongs or working at those classes. It all felt very "low profile", but comfortable too. In fact, when I needed to explain my job to folks, saying "I'm a blogger and I also teach online classes" totally made sense. I've found my groove.
Going forward, I want to focus a little better on doing fun stuff together outside of class. I have 3 ideas for quilt-alongs at the moment (mercy me! (and, does anyone have Farmer's Wife blocks that they might want to convert into a new quilt-along? Because that could work with my idea...)) and a 2013 Scrap Attack/Festival of Scrappiness event on the table. I also like doing those Mosaic Contests and Scrap Challenges. But, what else? I think that as I progress as a quilter, it's easy to leave behind the basics. I wonder how I can best help you who are new to quilting. Feel free to tell me!
As far as projects go...
1. Reupholster an armchair. One that lives in my sewing room in very sad condition. This image has been taunting me for ages, "Are you a quilter? Come on, proove it!"
2. Finish my Alabama Chanin dress. It's about 3/4 of the way embroidered and would be totally done but... well... I did this thing called Handstitched class which took some time. I haven't cut a single of the reverse applique shapes to sneak a peak at the reveal. That's my carrot.
3. Develop a fantabulous new class. Haha, I can't tell you what the subject is yet, because then I'd feel all this pressure. But, I'm excited about it! And, I'm sketching!
4. Make Anna Maria Horner's Art Student Tote, ideally before Quilt Con. I even bought some Field Study ribbons to sprinkle on the tote, if they like the idea.
5. New sofa pillows! Badly needed. I kind of hate our living room sofa set, but we're not replacing it yet. Crossing fingers we do later this year. Please?
6. Make lots of quilts. But that's a given!
And other goals...
1. Know when to use a collection and when to mix my own fabric concoction. Sometime I move too fast and end up regretting my choices. One reason is I can't gather a fabric stack without feeling duty-bound to sew it up. Need to give myself more fabric playtime.
2. Work tiny. I don't mean really tiny, but smaller. I've realized that smaller catches my eye, but bigger appeals to my lazier side. I don't really want to quilt smaller (haha, I'm a rebel!) but I do want to piece smaller. Hmm... this also involves going slower in general. Hard.
3. Remember why. The bigger this gets, this sewing thing, the harder it is to keep my reasons why in focus. Also, I may (just may) be prone to work too much? Maybe? But no one tells me this, so I'm not sure.
4. Keep ENJOYING it. In our productivity-oriented world where being in the right places and having the right friends is so oversold, I do get distracted sometimes. So often I have to say "no" so that I can say "yes" to the things I really enjoy. That even includes projects. And good opportunities! I'm pretty darn lucky to enjoy my job, but that doesn't just happen without trying.
5. And in that veign, don't neglect the Scraps or the Improv piecing. Both are so perfectly delightful! In fact, while I love to design complicated quilts, I love to sew scrappy improv the very most.
Here's to a wonderful 2013 for us all! Thanks for joining me and do feel welcome to share your ideas on what you'd like to see Coming in this space.
Looking back, I feel that I made a good amount of progress in 2012 in the way of developing Stitched in Color as a business. I also had fun doing it, which is key. Okay, there were stressful weeks trying to meet my own deadlines, but it was all totally worth it. At the beginning of the year I decided not to write a book and to teach classes instead. Many times I also opted out of submitting my work to magazines, in favor of developing free quilt-alongs or working at those classes. It all felt very "low profile", but comfortable too. In fact, when I needed to explain my job to folks, saying "I'm a blogger and I also teach online classes" totally made sense. I've found my groove.
Going forward, I want to focus a little better on doing fun stuff together outside of class. I have 3 ideas for quilt-alongs at the moment (mercy me! (and, does anyone have Farmer's Wife blocks that they might want to convert into a new quilt-along? Because that could work with my idea...)) and a 2013 Scrap Attack/Festival of Scrappiness event on the table. I also like doing those Mosaic Contests and Scrap Challenges. But, what else? I think that as I progress as a quilter, it's easy to leave behind the basics. I wonder how I can best help you who are new to quilting. Feel free to tell me!
As far as projects go...
1. Reupholster an armchair. One that lives in my sewing room in very sad condition. This image has been taunting me for ages, "Are you a quilter? Come on, proove it!"
 |
| from Hidden in France |
2. Finish my Alabama Chanin dress. It's about 3/4 of the way embroidered and would be totally done but... well... I did this thing called Handstitched class which took some time. I haven't cut a single of the reverse applique shapes to sneak a peak at the reveal. That's my carrot.
3. Develop a fantabulous new class. Haha, I can't tell you what the subject is yet, because then I'd feel all this pressure. But, I'm excited about it! And, I'm sketching!
4. Make Anna Maria Horner's Art Student Tote, ideally before Quilt Con. I even bought some Field Study ribbons to sprinkle on the tote, if they like the idea.
 |
| bags and pattern by Anna Maria Horner |
5. New sofa pillows! Badly needed. I kind of hate our living room sofa set, but we're not replacing it yet. Crossing fingers we do later this year. Please?
6. Make lots of quilts. But that's a given!
And other goals...
1. Know when to use a collection and when to mix my own fabric concoction. Sometime I move too fast and end up regretting my choices. One reason is I can't gather a fabric stack without feeling duty-bound to sew it up. Need to give myself more fabric playtime.
2. Work tiny. I don't mean really tiny, but smaller. I've realized that smaller catches my eye, but bigger appeals to my lazier side. I don't really want to quilt smaller (haha, I'm a rebel!) but I do want to piece smaller. Hmm... this also involves going slower in general. Hard.
 |
| small scale blocks in this Blue Ribbon Quilt |
3. Remember why. The bigger this gets, this sewing thing, the harder it is to keep my reasons why in focus. Also, I may (just may) be prone to work too much? Maybe? But no one tells me this, so I'm not sure.
4. Keep ENJOYING it. In our productivity-oriented world where being in the right places and having the right friends is so oversold, I do get distracted sometimes. So often I have to say "no" so that I can say "yes" to the things I really enjoy. That even includes projects. And good opportunities! I'm pretty darn lucky to enjoy my job, but that doesn't just happen without trying.
5. And in that veign, don't neglect the Scraps or the Improv piecing. Both are so perfectly delightful! In fact, while I love to design complicated quilts, I love to sew scrappy improv the very most.
Here's to a wonderful 2013 for us all! Thanks for joining me and do feel welcome to share your ideas on what you'd like to see Coming in this space.