Reflecting on 2018 and welcoming 2019

The end of one year and the beginning of the next is a wonderful time to reflect on goals accomplished and to set new ones for the upcoming year.

2018 was a year of firsts for me including my first quilt in a show, first magazine publish, and my first commissioned quilt!

I am very pleased with how I did with my 2018 goals (post here).  My Perfectly Imperfect quilt  met several of my goals.

• Sew a quilt by hand - Sewing this quilt by hand hooked me on hand piecing.  (See information on Hand Piecing QAL which starts in January.)
• Be bold in my choice of color and design.  Step outside my comfort zone (a bit!) in my color choices. -  I fell in love with the bright color palette of Alison Glass's fabric line set against the gray - used it to make another quilt as well - see Encouragement - as well.
• Create a new quilt for submission to QuiltCon 2019 and other shows - I created two quilts for QuiltCon.  Perfectly Imperfect did not make it but another one - Briar Rose - did get accepted!

I really wanted to be published.

• Submit quilt designs to magazines for publication - It was exciting to see Sequence in Make Modern Magazine.  I've another quilt which will publish in March!
• Finish the novel - Does getting stuck somewhere in the middle of the 2nd draft count?  I put this project on the back burner once summer hit and have yet to get back to it.

One of my keys goal in 2018 for my Elm Street Quilts blog was to grow and improve and create a space for inspiration and encouragement. 

• Grow participation in One Monthly Goal - There has certainly been a slight increase in number of goals linked-up plus a whole new group of people have discovered the link-up.  OMG is returning for 2019 - see the sponsor announcement!
• Collaborate with other quilters / bloggers on a project - I am thrilled with the progress here - from my collaboration with Frances and the patterns for her quilts supporting her novel Friendship Album 1933 and working with Kristin on our Hand Pieced QAL which starts in January.  Collaboration is just so much fun!

My final set of goals in 2018 were the 'exercise more' version of goals - improve my FMQ and practice my photography.  I feel progress was made but certainly have a way to go!

Scrappy Celebration

For 2019, I've chosen the word balance.  (My word for 2018 was bold and for 2017 was brave.)   I want this to apply to physical things (think removing clutter) as well as to how best to focus my day and time.

• Balance my day with writing, exercise, quilting and family
• Find homes for finished quilts
• Deal with my scraps - plan a project or find a home - and buy fabric only to support a project 

For 2019, my goals are:

Create

• Develop and teach a quilting class or guild workshop
• Create a new quilt for submission to QuiltCon 2020
• Submit new quilt designs for publish
• Improve my design skills through practice
• Keep pushing my boundaries on color

Motivation and Inspiration (my blog tag line)

• Collaborate with other quilters/bloggers on a project
• Encourage participation in One Monthly Goal
• Develop a social media approach
• Publish tutorials at least quarterly

Improve my skills

• Practice and perfect a new FMQ design
• Develop a better curated Instagram
• Practice my photography and improve the flat shot
• Do more with the fabric I already own

I'll be linking up with Yvonne's 2019 Planning Party!

All the best to you and yours for a happy 2019!









Have a wonderful day! Patty