Crafty New Year’s Resolutions
So, this post is a bit late, but I’ve been trying to organize things—including thoughts—so it’s timely, in a sort of untimely way. I made most of these resolutions at the beginning of the year, although some are newer. I’m trying to get out of my manic crafting cycle of going nuts creating, then doing nothing for a month, and so on. I’ll try to keep updating this as the year progresses.
1. Make 10 quilts in 2012
Ten seemed like a good number, although I need to get to work if I plan on succeeding.
1812 Quilt Challenge Quilt—Finished!- Organic Spins—Started
Tula Does Up the Walls in Pah-ree—Finished!- Miniatures Heart Nine-Patch—Started, progress stagnant
- Drunkard’s Compass–Started
Tula Leftovers—Finished!Baby quilt for niece/nephew—Finished!Flamenco Pinwheels—Finsihed!- Sister quilt?—Conceptualized
A tenth quilt—Cyclist, Finished!
Numbers eight and nine may lose out to something else that catches my eye this year instead, but they’re on my mind at the moment. Organic Spins has the advantage of being handwork, if I get around to placing the applique so that I can carry it around. I’d hoped to finish Drunkard’s Compass by the end of April, but that’s not happening.
2. Stay out of Bees/Quilt-Alongs/Deadlines for a while
This one started as “Finish up all the 1812 stuff, then you can take on other deadline-based projects”, but I’m thinking I should modify it to “don’t agree to anything more than a very loose deadline”, which is completely unrealistic for me, because I always find something I want to do, but I’ve come to realize that when it comes to creative endeavors, deadlines squelch my desire to work on them, a lot of times.
I already did a challenge this year (more on that soon), which started as being a really cool project, to becoming me barely finishing a block to submit. But, I need to remind myself to have some restraint.
3. Sort out the stash and scraps, start the long-term projects
My scrap bin has pretty much everything in it—from usable scraps, to itty, bitty pieces that probably can’t be used for even the tiniest sections of paper piecing (which, I don’t actually do). My stash has a lot of gems, and a lot of stuff that I’m “meh” about. I’d like to get it all organized.
Part of that process involves starting some very long term projects I have in mind (which I talked about a bit in my quilting bucket list post.
I want to make blocks representing trips we’ve made (that include stops at quilt shops). I have some fabrics from LA, OH, and MO to that effect, so I want to make those blocks this year and free up the fabric that remains for other things.
I have an idea for a meta-quilt representing my quilting journey, that involves scraps from quilts I make. I have some of the scraps set aside, but need to search for others. I should start making those blocks now, so that I don’t get overwhelmed.
I have lots of t-shirt fronts and backs from HS and college. I’d like to at least get them fused to interfacing, cut down, and organized (some may or may not have been used as packing materials for the house move…).
And I kind of need to learn to let go. The world won’t end if I get rid of scraps of dress fabric that I hated sewing with and would never use in a quilt, right?
So, those are my resolutions. I’m already coming up with more for 2013, because I know there are things I want to do that I won’t get to this year. Like, make a corset with this lovely silk/wool blend I bought in New Orleans a year and a half ago. Or, actually sewing those t-shirt quilts. And so on…
How are your resolutions going?

2 Responses to “Crafty New Year’s Resolutions”
Lynette
9:28 am | 04/17/12
Do hope you will make a quilt for the Great Lakes Seaway Trail 2013 quilt show – Beauty of the Byways – based on New York Beauty pattern! Not due here until early March.
Rachael Arnold
10:17 am | 04/17/12
It’s on my list of quilts to start, Lynette! The above 10 are just ones to finish this year 🙂