I thought I would spend today happily sewing away but in my early morning ponderings I realised I really wanted to put some more thought into my yearly planning instead.
It's been very disappointing to me that I haven't started or finished all the millions of quilts (maybe that's an exaggeration, make it hundreds) that I would have liked to over the last couple of years. My first 2020 planning post highlights how important it is to me to be a little more productive.
I know, I do lead a busy life (as many of us do!) and I wouldn't miss out on anything else that I do for anything.
Believe it or not, I do actually enjoy doing this —
And wouldn't swap times like this either —
So instead I need to put some thought into how I'm going to achieve as least some of what I want to achieve.
A lot of people have been posting and sharing their word of the year lately; a word to guide them in this year's sewing. I haven't felt the urge to do one before but I'm feeling like I need one this year.
Plan I need to plan my time better, think ahead, prepare better, plan for the interruptions.
Focus Focus on my goals, focus (concentrate) on what I'm doing (already while writing this I've jumped up to stick a photo I just found to the wall. I'm good at getting distracted).
Play To me playing is just enjoying what I'm doing, but of course it's a very important aspect. To keep my creative soul happy I need to have the freedom to play as it suits me. Play keeps the excitement there. It might be my current project, it might be a completely spontaneous sew session, to experiment, learn a new technique or jump on board the bandwagon when I see other friends doing something cool.
If I plan and focus efficiently I'm setting myself up to both meet my goals and play at the same time.
That's the theory anyway.
Next to display these words somewhere so they will guide my year.
And now for my One Monthly Goal for January. I'm delighted to see that Patty of Elm Street Quilts is running this for us again in 2020.
There have been a few babies born over the last little while that I haven't made for. And I'd really like to do that.
A good friend of both my daughters had a wee boy in December.
I've had a think about the design and colourway for his quilt. Above is my initial fabric pull from what I have on hand but will top it up with some more childlike fabric at my lqs next time I go in.
My number one aim is for the top to be pieced by the end of the month but I'd really like to think it can be quilted and delivered as well.
With some planning and focusing, I'm sure this can happen. And I think I'll enjoy the process too😃
Patty's link-up is *here* if you'd like to join in too.
It's been very disappointing to me that I haven't started or finished all the millions of quilts (maybe that's an exaggeration, make it hundreds) that I would have liked to over the last couple of years. My first 2020 planning post highlights how important it is to me to be a little more productive.
I know, I do lead a busy life (as many of us do!) and I wouldn't miss out on anything else that I do for anything.
Believe it or not, I do actually enjoy doing this —
A lot of people have been posting and sharing their word of the year lately; a word to guide them in this year's sewing. I haven't felt the urge to do one before but I'm feeling like I need one this year.
Haha the silly thing is that I'm having trouble narrowing it down to just one word.
I have three.
They're sort of all related so I'm going to go with them all!
Focus Focus on my goals, focus (concentrate) on what I'm doing (already while writing this I've jumped up to stick a photo I just found to the wall. I'm good at getting distracted).
Play To me playing is just enjoying what I'm doing, but of course it's a very important aspect. To keep my creative soul happy I need to have the freedom to play as it suits me. Play keeps the excitement there. It might be my current project, it might be a completely spontaneous sew session, to experiment, learn a new technique or jump on board the bandwagon when I see other friends doing something cool.
If I plan and focus efficiently I'm setting myself up to both meet my goals and play at the same time.
That's the theory anyway.
Next to display these words somewhere so they will guide my year.
👏
(See how I fiddle and lose focus. Now I've just discovered I can insert emojis in my blogpost!)
There have been a few babies born over the last little while that I haven't made for. And I'd really like to do that.
A good friend of both my daughters had a wee boy in December.
My number one aim is for the top to be pieced by the end of the month but I'd really like to think it can be quilted and delivered as well.
With some planning and focusing, I'm sure this can happen. And I think I'll enjoy the process too😃
Patty's link-up is *here* if you'd like to join in too.
'til next time,
Happy stitches,
Good Luck with your FPP - Focus Plan Party...slight change in the order but easy to remember...
ReplyDeletea lot of us have other things going on besides keeping our projects going on like you say and it is hard to complete some of them. I like the OMG that I just started to follow last month and hope that one will help me to keep on track too
ReplyDeleteI like your 3 words and I think they can apply to most of us--
ReplyDeleteI am a fly by the seat of pants kinda gal--at least ways it has seemed that lately--
so I struggle too--
but you do have some really 'cute' distraction's there--and they need you and your attention and love--so go for it--
luv, di
good words to keep you on track.... I do find it helps to have things in line that I want to do.... not that I keep to them very well!! haha...
ReplyDeleteHugz
It seems Raewyn that we struggle with the same things. I have been trying to figure out how to reach goals also with little ones to spend time with and a part time job and excercise needs etc etc. Like you I need more time to play creatively. I'm hoping that setting aside a time each week to do that will make it happen. Let's see if I fill it up with busy work ha ha.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with those plans. I hope you are successful.
ReplyDeleteNice blues...
You've picked three good words there to work with, well it's not work really is it, our quilting is not a chore but a pleasure. It's always helpful to take time at the beginning of the year to plan, I won't be able to take care of that until next week but I'm formulating my plan mentally! Only hope by next week I can remember!
ReplyDeleteGood words.....nice to have time to ponder and work out what you need. I am still pondering! Lol! Enjoying your creativity is the important bit xx
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your plans for 2020, don't forget to allow time for those squirrel moments, good things can come from those 😀😀. Lovely photos.
ReplyDeleteGood luck. It is sometimes hard to plan ahead. There are so many little things that happen without planning. We thought last year was going to be a quiet one, but that turned out to be very wrong. I think I did the least sewing last year out of the last 10 years. I can't remember starting a year with so many UFOs.
ReplyDeleteYour idea to plan, focus and play makes a lot of sense.
Your words are quite inspirational. You’ll have to keep them where you can see them. I’m looking forward to seeing how the baby quilt evolves.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like it is always a balancing act. We need way more hours in each day, but then we would likely add even more UFOs.
ReplyDeleteGreat focus words. Mine is "balance" which I sometimes alternate with "average". Because I tend to go all out in one area and neglect everything else. So I need to do some things half-assed instead of not at all.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about needing time to play and letting yourself have that creative time. I think your three words are great and "focusing" on them will give you the freedom to enjoy your life. Also you hit the nail on the head about Frolic taking some serious sewing time. I'm on the fence right now if it's worth it or not.
ReplyDeleteI wish you well with your organizing and focus. For this year I think I just need to remember to breath! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely you enjoy your calves/cows and treasuring the little ones is wonderful so your THREE words are a good way to plan all you want to do..
ReplyDeleteI think you have marvelous ideas for trying to be more focused. But I wouldn't give up time with that mob of calves, or the littles either.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the PLAN! This is much how I see things as well... a little bit of allsorts to keep my creative soul and mental health happy, but also progress to keep my analytical mind happy also; and walking/sewing the fine line between the two.
ReplyDeleteI didn't choose a word this year. I like your 3 though!
ReplyDeleteGreat fabric pull. Thanks for linking up with Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal and good luck with your project.
ReplyDeleteYour three words are great. I still haven't chosen a word for the year---still thinking.
ReplyDeleteLike the colors you have chosen and I'm sure with your plan in mind, it will be done by the end of the month.
I too find help in your 3 words. I recently went to Craft Day and began sewing my 3 strips of 2 fabrics together mindlessly... in pairs! They were to be in 3 strips of 3 to make 9-patches, not 4-patches! I had to un-sew 2 sets to correct my error of NOT focusing! Correction made, and should succeed well now. Unless my mind goes off a wandering again!
ReplyDeleteI've made my list, and am checking it twice now! And this is a NEW project, not finishing off any UFO's which was supposed to come first! Are you scatter-brained? I sure am, and my brain is scattered all over the place!
As always, Raewyn, your post was delightful to read this morning. You are right about being overwhelmed with all the quilting one would like to accomplish. I am in that same boat, and I don’t have the busy life that you live. Good luck with your OMG and incorporating your three perfect words into your daily life!
ReplyDelete