2016 Goals

I’ve been thinking a lot about what I want to accomplish this year and I really like getting it out in public to keep me accountable.

2016goals

BLOG GOALS
Try Something New Every Month
I really loved doing TSNEM last year and I am so excited about the new direction it is taking. I posted my first project on Monday and there is a lot more to come this month. Read more about it here.

Continue Free Pattern Friday and also release one paid pattern a month
Free Pattern Friday is still going strong and will definitely continue in 2016. I have a backlog of patterns I’ve finished and haven’t released, and an even longer list of patterns I want to make. I’m going to aim to get one pattern listed in my Etsy shop each month.

Submit a project to a print magazine
I was going to say “Have a project published in a magazine” like I did last year, but that’s kind of cheating because I have a few projects already planned to be released in One Thimble this year. But I would like to do more research into craft magazines and submit to an issue that is in print.

Launch my newsletter
I’ve been saying for over a year that I’m going to launch my newsletter, but this year IT IS HAPPENING. I have the free pattern done and just need to finally get my act together. I’m shooting for the end of January, you can sign up if you haven’t.



Cross Stitch Tutorial Series
There will be more info on this very soon, but I have a plan for a series of cross stitch posts teaching different skills and then showing off ways to utilize the finished pieces.

Save the UFOs!
My goal of finishing projects really fizzled out last year and this is becoming more of a priority. I am going to be posting a full run down of everything I want to finish and then really keeping on top of it. Kristy from Simply This Life and I have jokingly started Project Starters Anonymous and it’s slowly gaining traction (Join us at #projectstartersanonymous on Instagram) I need to be just as good about finishing projects as I am about starting them.

No Scrap Left Behind Challenge
Alicia from Felt With Love Designs and I have a super fun idea for a yearlong scrap busting challenge. There will be more information soon but I am very excited about it.

PERSONAL CRAFTING GOALS
Stop signing up for swaps!
I did a lot of swaps in 2015 and generally they were a lot of fun, but I always forget how much they stress me out. I have one more swap that ships at the end of this month and then I’m taking a break. I have so many people in my life that I would like to craft for, I want to spend time this year doing that instead of for strangers in a swap.

Finish a quilt
This was a goal from last year that I’ve gotten very close to finishing. I have 4 quilt tops completely done and another in progress. One of them is even basted. I let myself get so nervous when it comes to the finishing of projects because I worry I’m going to ruin it, but I need to just jump in and do it. I also have an idea for a sampler quilt that I would really like to make happen this year.

Stop hoarding fabric!
I briefly considered setting a no fabric buying goal, but I know that’s unreasonable. What I need to do though is just make a decision on fabrics I have and use them. I usually get 1/8 yard which to a lot of people is a laughably small amount (seriously, quilt shop employees have laughed at me when I ask for it). But it’s such a perfect size for me and I don’t have any hesitation cutting up the fabric. It’s only about 5″ and I can just cut a strip off the end easily. When I have bigger pieces like a fat quarter or a half yard, I don’t know where to start. It feels like I should have a huge, grand project planned to use it in it’s entirety so I end up holding onto it. Whereas the 1/8 yards just feel destined to become a patchwork project. So I either need to get over this silly notion or stop buying anything other than 1/8 yard cuts. But I have gorgeous Heather Ross Tigerlily and a Lizzy House The Lovely Hunt fat quarter bundles that need to just get used!

1000 Crane Quilt
I have no intention of finishing this but I want to make some real progress on my 1000 crane quilt this year and I want to start joining them.

Do you have any big plans or goals this year? I’d love to hear about them!

Comments

  1. says

    I love the idea of the Save the UFOs! I am great at starting projects, but unless it has a specific purpose, I suck at finishing them! I may have to join in this challenge! #projectstartersanonymous

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