If you’re looking for the String Challenge Link up, come back this afternoon…I’ll have it then. In the meantime…Happy New Year!
I’m not big in “celebrating” the new year but I am really big on slowing down to take stock of my life at this time of year….I’m not a “new year, new me” kind of girl but I am a “what can I do better” or “what do I want to consciously try to change”. That doesn’t really mean a resolution where I expect radical change…Let me explain.
Since I had cancer in the spring of 2016 I’ve shifted down to a slower gear. I’ve learned that I love little things….I’ve learned that I don’t really like big things…or big changes. For example-I don’t love to travel and be away a lot. I do love to go with Hubby for a day and get away though. Sleeping in my own bed is always best. I used to beat myself up about that and now I’ve accepted it. Thankfully Hubby and I are on the same page. He’s a homebody too.
One thing I am working on in the new year is to notice and appreciate the little things. Some women swoon over their husband getting them jewelry…I’m not that girl. In light of that the other night Hubby was in the chair watching TV sleeping. I decided to go upstairs and sew for a bit as long as he was sleeping. As I walked past the front door I noticed that he had shoveled the walk. That’s usually my job but I was so busy in the house with the childcare kiddos I forgot all about the walks and shoveling. I do it as Hubby works outside most of the day and doesn’t need to be out in cold weather any more than he already is. I SO appreciated that he did the shoveling!
I love that WAY more than jewelry. WAY!!
I often don’t take time to be thankful and appreciative of it though. I look quick, I think cool…I move on. I don’t stop and take time for a sincere thank you….I think I’m too busy or have to do something else first. My goal is to make gratitude a priority.
My other goal is to be more present. I feel like sometimes I drift worrying about the “other” things I need to do and I don’t be “present” where I am at. I think it’s the scourge of a multi-tasker. In order to juggle all things I have to keep my eyes on the balls and if my eyes are on the balls, I’m not as present as I think I should be and want to be.
So those are my personal improvements….
I have quilting goals too…(no particular order)…Here they are.1- Complete my String Fling Challenge. I plan to make and finish all of the quilts in Bonnie Hunter’s String Fling book. I’m working on that every Monday here on the blog.   There’s a linky party so you can join in.
2-Complete the Block of the Month Challenge by finishing my Block of the Month. I’m working on that and will be posting about my progress the first Saturday of the month. There’s a linky party so you can join in.
3-I want to do some quilt project on my treadle sewing machine. It doesn’t have to be a whole quilt…just part is fine.
4-I want to expand my horizons in the type of quilts I make. I have a double wedding ring quilt planned. I’ve had it in my mind and have wanted to make it for a long time. It’s time. I want to make the cow art quilt I’ve showed you. It’s time for something more than simple piecing.
5-I want to expand and make quilts by a larger variety of designers. Becky at Quilted Twins has LOTS of free patterns and I want to make a couple!! (Find them here)  I have some Country Threads patterns here…oh the list goes on and on.  I’ll still be pulling some UFOs but I want some new things too!!
WOW! What a list. The wonderful news…I think I can do it! I think it’s going to be fun trying.
In the house…I want a dining room up-do…and a bathroom up-do. This includes hanging some things on the wall, painting the bath tub, and finishing a furniture piece. It too is do-able.
I’m a goal oriented person and thrive on goals…as long as the list of goals is achievable.
I guess that’s a little sneak peak on the things that will be happening around here over the next year on the blog. I’ll do what I can to share the progress…or lack of progress. It’s going to be a fun year!
Do you have plans or goals for the year?
HELLO 2018. Let’s be friends!
Good morning and Happy New Year to you and your family Jo! May 2018 bring you everything you want and dream of including ongoing good health!
We think alike in so many ways!
I also purchased that kit to make the cow quilt. I can’t wait to get started on it.
Here’s to a wonderful 2018!!!
Well said! Happy New year to you!
Happy New Year to you and yours, Jo! Make 2018 your best ever. Hugs!!!
A happy and healthy new year to you and yours, Jo. I, too, have a Block of the Month quilt to finish, but I’m the one who designed it! I slacked off on actually making some of the blocks and now that the temps have plummeted, it’s catch-up time. I also have a quilt to finish for my niece’s high school graduation. I haven’t touched it in ages. I also want to try a couple of designs from Jaybird Quilts. My son has expressed an interest in modern decor, so I thought I’d make him a modern quilt, even though I usually gravitate toward traditional quilting.
Happy New Year! Thanks for reminding me I also have Abilene do this year.
I tried to keep my 2018 quilting goals simple. I want to reduce (by sewing up or re-purposing fabric) kits by 10%. The BOM challenge here is a kit I have had for 10 years and will be pushing me out of my comfort zone with applique. I have determined that I need to work on scrap management at least 1 hour a week to try and tame the overflow. Last but far from least, mom and I have a personal challenge to finish 12 Bonnie quilts before the new book comes out in fall. Loser has to give up scraps AND buy the winner the new book. . .I am headed to the basement now.
Every night before bed, I write down five things I am grateful for that day. Some days I have more than five (hubby shoveling the sidewalk would have made the list) and some days I have the usual health, family, etc. This is my fourth year and I love looking back and seeing my grateful list! Some of my favorites are my hubby washing my car and filling it up with gas; fixing breakfast on the weekends!
Where can I purchase the cow art quilt? I grew up on a dairy farm and would love to make this!
Thank you
Charlene
I bought my kit from Red Roxy in Decorah Iowa. They have a website.
Happy New Year Jo! May 2018 find you and yours Healthy and able to spend more time with Friends and Family. This year I hope to complete 6 quilts (all queen size) that I have the blocks done but none of them are put together and quilted. I want them done, so that is my mission. I want to show my gratitude in the moment, not days later when I have the time.