Happy New Year! Do you make new year resolutions? I’m currently reading the book “Finish” by Jon Acuff and it is very enlightening about goal setting. This is a very appropriate book for me since it is time to set my One Monthly Goal.
Over the past few days I have read several “year in review” blog posts, thought about writing one, but ultimately decided my year was not worth reviewing. In 30 years of quilting, 2017 was probably my least productive. I contribute this primarily due to travel and burnout. We took a number of trips that were not conducive to hauling along a sewing machine. I don’t enjoy hand sewing so do as little as possible. Instead, I use the time to catch up on reading since I will never live long enough to read all the books I would like to.
Toward the end of the year, I felt overwhelmed with quilting stuff—too many books, patterns, UFO’s, kits, and notions and WAY, WAY too much fabric. There are even too many quilts in our house. If I want to make more, I have to make room and get rid of some. It was even stressing me out trying to find places to donate quilts. For the first time in ages, it wasn’t fun to spend time in my sewing room. I had to take action to get things under control again. It will be a long process, but I am slowly wading through boxes, bins and cupboards trying to sort out what I want to keep and getting rid of the rest. One thing is for sure—what was appealing 10 or more years ago is no longer appealing.
Oh, but with the new year comes renewed optimism and I’m ready to start sewing again. The new year also brought a forecast of frigid weather for the foreseeable future so I’ll be spending lots of time doing indoor activities. I want to redecorate a bedroom and plan to use the Points of Interest quilt on the bed.
This quilt was started at the retreat I attended last August. The blocks are all pieced and most of the border units are cut so I think I can complete it this month. Anyway, that’s my One Monthly Goal for January. Of course, I would like to finish other projects, but even this one would be a worthy accomplishment.
Please stop by Elm Creek Quilts to check out other goals for this month.
I understand. We bought a new house and it is full already! Quilting isn’t as much fun as it used to be, but it will be back. 🙂
Very pretty quilt. Same here with the cold. I expect to stay home a lot this month.
It will be a stunning quilt when it is finished! Good luck with your goal
What a great quilt! Good luck with your goal!
Well, it is worth of a finish indeed. It is lovely!
That’s a beautiful quilt! Sometimes so much becomes more of a distraction than an inspiration. I hope you found places you wanted to donate things. Best of luck with your January finish!
Those are great blocks. Thanks for linking up with Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal and good luck with your project.
That is a great one monthly goal, and to remember that 1 thing at a time is still progress – so you don’t get overwhlemed. But I am so with you – 10 year old things , some just aren’t appealing any more.
I understand your feelings – I started cross-stitching because I was so exhausted in December and quilting just seemed like too much work. I feel like we have too many quilts too, but my kids keep squirreling them away in their rooms – sometimes my husband and I can’t even find two of them at night when we are watching TV in the family room (and I know there are at least two dozen floating around). I’ve got a couple of pregnant friends and it’s fun to have people to make quilts for suddenly!
Hope you find your mojo again — tidying and thinning is high on my beginning of the year list, too!!
Looks like you are off to a good start in the New Year. What a beautiful block and color combo. Here’s hoping you find excitement and solace again in stitching in the year to come. And good luck on your goal(s).
I can understand after 30 years the shine will not always be there! I have only been at if for a couple of years and its still fresh. I love reading too so we match there!
This one is so pretty! I don’t think slumps like that are uncommon among us, and neither are the returns at some point. 🙂 This is a perfect January project.