July 09, 2016

2016 Mid-Year Review

Here we are, past the half-way point of the year already! This seems like a good time to check in with my goals for the year and see if I'm on target.

So, these are the goals I shared for 2016:

 * Host a mystery quilt along. It's something I've been wanting to do for a while, but I've hesitated because I worried my following was too small. In emailing with Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs, though, she pointed out that a small following might be a good thing for a first quilt along. So, the quilt is designed and I'm ready to pick out fabric and make my test version. I'm thinking maybe a late winter/early spring start. Anybody interested???

Definitely on track for this one! The second-last set of instructions were posted two days ago and it'll all be wrapped up the first Wednesday in August.
 Just the Basics Units | DevotedQuilter.blogspot.com
I've really enjoyed seeing pictures of people's progress each month!

*Submit designs to at least two new magazines. So far I've had designs in Make Modern (affiliate link) and Fat Quarterly. I have also sent one design to another magazine, which I haven't heard back about yet, but that one can't count toward my 2016 goal, even if the quilt becomes a 2016 project! I'd also like to continue working with the ladies at Make Modern as I've found they're great to work with.

Hmmm...Not so much progress on this one. I have designs ready, but haven't submitted them yet. I even know where I want to send at least one of them, so I just need to buckle down and write the email.

As for the project I had already sent to another magazine...that one came back as a no. I do have another project in the works for Make Modern magazine though, and that will be published in their September issue. Plus, my design 'X Marks the Spot' was in the May issue.
X Marks the Spot Quilt Pattern | DevotedQuilter.blogspot.com


*Release a new pattern or tutorial every other month. I was going to aim for every month, but I'm pretty sure that's setting myself up for failure, so I'll cut it in half. I can always exceed my own expectations if I'm extra productive, right? I will allow myself to count the mystery quilt as one of those new patterns, when I release the final instructions. You can see my current patterns in my Payhip and Etsy stores, and my tutorials are all on my Tutorials page.

I'm very pleased with my progress on this one! So far, I have released my Rainbow Ripple pattern (pattern in my Payhip and Etsy shops)...
Rainbow Ripple Quilt Pattern | DevotedQuilter.blogspot.com
and tutorials for...

a Travel Tic-Tac-Toe Game
Travel Tic-tac-toe game | DevotedQuilter.blogspot.com
a Denim Heart Cushion Cover
Denim Heart Cushion Cover | DevotedQuilter.blogspot.com
Denim Log Cabin Placemats
Denim Log Cabin Placemats | DevotedQuilter.blogspot.com
and how to Machine Bind a Quilt.
Machine bind a quilt | DevotedQuilter.blogspot.com
So that puts me at 4 tutorials and 1 pattern release so far for the year. Since I was only requiring one every other month, I'm 2 ahead of my goal!

*Get back into a regular Bible reading habit. Last school year I did really well getting up a little earlier to have that time for prayer and Bible reading and I really enjoyed it. This year, though, one of the boys I babysit is dropped off almost an hour earlier than I had last year. I tried getting up early enough, but it just doesn't work for me as I was exhausted all day. So, I've been back to my old (bad) habit of sporadic reading, and that doesn't work for me either.

This one still needs work, but I have figured out a system that (mostly) works. I have to ice my back every day for 10 minutes, so I've been using that time for Bible reading. I say it mostly works for two reasons. 1. I sometimes skip icing my back for a day (or more) and so that means I also skip reading and 2. it's only 10 minutes, which means I'm not reading a lot. It is better than none, though, and I haven't abandoned it when school ended, which I had done in previous years. So I'm calling this one a work-in-progress.

*Have fun exploring (some) new ideas. Quilting is what I do for fun, after all!

The whole Denim Days series I did in February falls into this category. In addition to the 3 tutorials I linked above, you can also read about doing EPP with denim. I've also been playing with my quilting, as seen in my Friendship Galaxy mini quilt, and a wholecloth mini mini quilt. I am definitely having fun!

All in all, I'd say I'm pretty well on track for my goals for the year. How about you? Did you set goals for the year (quilting or otherwise)? If so, how are you doing with them?

*This post contains an affiliate link, which means if you click the link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission. This does not affect the price you pay.

7 comments:

  1. It's interesting to see this Leanne. You've done a great job of meeting your goals. I've been thinking of doing a post like this myself. I think I will and I'll see how far I've come.

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  2. I think you are having a great year. I really enjoy getting to look back with you. :) I did set some goals for myself; this is a great reminder to review them.

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  3. I am following your QAL but a family illness has stop any sewing.

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    1. I'm so sorry! I hope the illness is resolved quickly!

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  4. I think you have done a great job on achieving your goals Leanne, and it sounds like you have been good at keeping things real too!

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  5. You've done a great job in realistic goal setting, and achieving them. It's good that you recognized that maybe releasing a new pattern every other month was too ambitious this year, maybe not in the future, and you'd rather not set yourself up for failure. It would be better to exceed your expectations.
    I am a part-time librarian. And we recommend various book to emerging children who are growing their skills. We tell them and their parents about the five finger test to help them to determine what is too challenging TODAY, or too easy and would result in boredom of reading. Whenever I do this, you noticed that I said, maybe too challenging TODAY, but maybe not in a month or so, because you're working so hard on your reading.
    I think doing a QAL in February, March or April is a great idea. I could be wrong, but I don't see quite as many beginning during those months, as I do see many starting in January or over the summer. Good luck with the rest of your goals.
    You're doing great!!

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  6. Great goals, and I love your projects, esp. those log cabin place mats. Going to look at your quilt-along right now :)

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