Time for a Resolutions and Revolutions check-in
Somehow it’s August and I haven’t written a blog since January! Oops… It’s probably time for an overdue check-in on those New Year’s resolutions (and revolutions) and see which I’ve actually stuck to…
Resolutions
Continue to shop from my stash
Aside from magazine commissions, I’ve mostly kept this one up! Over the year so far I’ve brought less than five meters of fabric - and that’s even after the temptation of Festival of Quilts so I’m feeling pretty pleased with myself!
More quilting for joy
I keep trying…promise! Transitioning to being a full-time artist in June necessitated a bit more of a focus on magazine commissions and technical editing while I adjust to not having a fixed salary every month. Despite that, I have been working on both a purely joy-focussed piece and trying very hard to schedule in time for experimental and playful sewing too.
Process scraps as they’re made
I’ve kept this up and it makes it much easier to shop my stash! My current project is almost entirely scrappy, so rediscovering all these pre-cut scraps has truly been a joy.
Make an art quilt
Making an art quilt is harder to quantify as what ‘art’ means is so personal. I would call my current project an art quilt - I’m doing it for the beauty and meaning rather than complex techniques. It’s not quite finished yet…but it is in progress!
Post cats on quilts
I did do this weekly for a few months, but I was so busy with things that I couldn’t share yet that it felt like my entire instagram turned into cats on quilts, so I gave it up. Maybe it’s time for a renaissance now that I’m posting more actual quilts…?
Overall, not bad! Now on to the revolutions, or things I wanted to try and stop doing…
Revolutions
Play less bobbin chicken
This hasn’t happened in the slightest! I guess I just love living life on the edge. Who says quilting isn’t an extreme sport?!
No more restricting myself by making myself focus on just one thing at a time
I actually have done this! I’ve been carving out time for my own personal sewing and have been focussing on making for fun, rather than because I want to improve a particular skill or technique, or have to get a project off my plate.
No judging myself for wonky points
I’ve definitely been judging myself less for any wonky points. “Perfectly imperfect” has become my mantra! After all, my quilts are handmade and it doesn’t have to be a bad thing that people can see that.
No comparing myself to others
I think having a ‘Quilty Crush’ in each of my newsletter has helped me to stop comparing myself to other people as much. Now when I see something incredible I get excited to share it with my Quilty friends, rather than wishing I had made it.
Not be overwhelmed by deadlines
Well, that was a distant dream even when I wrote it. I can always try again!
A mixed bag, but there’s still 3 months left in the year, right?
How are your Quilty resolutions going?