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2020 Planning

I recently learned about Yvonne Fuch’s (QuiltingJetGirl on Instagram!) #2020PlanningParty and I thought it was just the swift kick in the pants I needed to really think about my professional and personal quilting goals in 2020. Here are my thoughts leading into the new year.

Professional Goals
1. Teach new quilters. The wheels have been set into motion for an opportunity to teach a quilting 101 class in my community in the spring. I’ve spent the last several months developing a beginner sampler pattern and I’ll be wrapping it up in a few weeks. Here’s hoping there are a few people interested in learning how to quilt!

2. Print four of my patterns. A few shops and guilds have asked me about printed patterns for their stores or for upcoming lecturers. Currently I only offer patterns as PDFs so I have a goal of getting a small batch of four specific patterns printed in 2020.

3. Release three new patterns. With some of my other professional and personal quilting goals in 2020, I’m trying to be realistic with myself. When I look at the year on a quarterly basis, I have some time consuming activities in Q1 and part of Q2. Acknowledging that workload helps me determine what is feasible for releasing new patterns.

4. Knock out a “big dream” goal. I know which one it is. And I know likely when it is happening. But I can’t say anymore :) Know that it’s on my list and I’m working on it as we speak.

I do have a quarterly goals I’m working on and they get into the minutia of the business, so I’m sharing these top four big picture business goals for 2020!

Personal Goals
1. Finish the first of my #georgiaandjessicaquilt series quilt. If you follow me on Instagram (maeberrysquare), I shared recently that fear of failure has held me back from making progress on this quilt. I am designing a series of quilts inspired by my favorite quilt made by my Grandma Georgia (great-grandma that I called grandma). She hand-pieced and hand-quilted a gorgeous blue Lone Star quilt (possibly called Broken Compass by her layout of blocks beyond the Lone Star) and I’ve had a dream of making a quilt “with” her (as she passed 20 years ago, and I never learned to quilt until after she passed). I have all the Lone Star points made. I have an original sketch I made. However, I do not like it now and want to go a different direction, but I’m stuck on what best encompasses her and me. I already have a couple more in the series sketched but I need to do this one first - in 2020, I will move forward.

2. Sew scraps together. That sounds a bit too “easy” or “undefined” and the reality is, that’s what I need! I have soooo many scraps and they need to be used. Right now I have an undefined plan because honestly, I’d like to just sit and sew and eventually stop when it’s a quilt top.

3. Use up more of my stash. I’d love to hear from others how they calculated a goal related to using stash. I’m not sure what’s realistic or where to start, besides consciously making the effort to pick up fabric I own and sew with it.

4. Readjust my expectations. I know that may not sound like its related but I promise you 100% it is. I’ve overloaded my plate for far too long and I took the time to acknowledge that this year. I want to sew all the things. But I want to have a healthy balance of all the things I am required to do and like to do as a person. My friend shared a post with me recently – the author talked about her constant issues with “time management.” She asked her partner for help, who did by letting her know she didn’t have a time management problem, she had a time EXPECTATION problem. That hit home. Hard. My goal is to map out each week at the start of the week and evaluate it again at the end of the week. By looking at it with an honest open set of eyes, I can see where and how I get frustrated and that will help me grow by the end of 2020. 

Those are a few of my personal goals for next year.

Yvonne mentioned to include a note if you’re looking to connect with an accountability partner – I would love to connect with someone! Feel free to message me on Instagram (maeberrysquare) or email me maeberrysquare [at] gmail dot com.

What are you goals for 2020?! I’d love to hear them!

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Comments

  1. Karen's KornerDecember 16, 2019 at 9:04 PM

    Great goals set for 2020. I like the idea of just sewing of scraps together.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maeberry SquareDecember 18, 2019 at 3:04 PM

      Thank you, Karen! It's just - they just need to be used (or I just need to give them away), but I'd like it to be a fun process too!

      Delete
  2. RachelDecember 17, 2019 at 7:37 AM

    Your post reminded me that I want to sew scraps together too! I found a method in a book called "No Scrap Left Behind" that I really like -- you make 'fabric slabs' with scraps of a single color, and then the slabs are available to use for quilt blocks, other sewing projects, or whatever you need. I've been meaning to make some more but I keep putting it off.

    Good luck with your goals, and with re-setting expectations for 2020. I hope your plan to sketch out each week is helpful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maeberry SquareDecember 18, 2019 at 3:06 PM

      Thank you, Rachel! Oh I love the idea of the "fabric slabs." I have my scraps sorted by color so this "should" be easy for me to tackle :)

      And thank you! Trying out some new approaches for the new year is just what I need right now.

      Delete
  3. Yvonne from Quilting JetgirlDecember 17, 2019 at 7:40 AM

    Setting clear expectations is a really big lesson, and I know that for me personally my ability to do that comes and goes. I wish you a lot of success and joy in 2020 as you work on your goals!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maeberry SquareDecember 18, 2019 at 3:11 PM

      Thank you, Yvonne! It helps me to hear that setting expectations is likely to be a work in progress always. Thanks so much for hosting the planning party. I tried to look at 2020 in a different way and actually spent the time looking at bigggggger picture goals. I'm more excited about my 2020 plans now than when I started :)

      Delete
  4. Leanne ParsonsDecember 17, 2019 at 10:07 AM

    Good luck with your goals! I definitely have a time expectation problem, too. Have fun sewing all those scraps together. I really enjoyed the book Stash Statement for scrappy projects.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maeberry SquareDecember 18, 2019 at 3:13 PM

      Thank you, Leanne! Especially for the lead on the book too - I'll check it out. I think particularly "in this day and age" a lot of people have expectations that are sky high. There's that hint that you should be "doing it all, all the time" and it's just not realistic. Here's to doing what's reasonable in 2020!

      Delete
  5. Danice GDecember 18, 2019 at 5:35 AM

    Great goals. Time is always a factor it seems with me as well. Happy holidays wishes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maeberry SquareDecember 18, 2019 at 3:14 PM

      Thank you, Danice! If I knew the magic formula to optimal output for maximized input, I'd definitely share it!! :) Happy holidays to you and yours.

      Delete
  6. OliviaDecember 21, 2019 at 2:49 PM

    I think these goals are realistic and achievable. I like that this in itself is one of your goals! It's so easy to have grand plans in December that on reflection were never going to happen! Good luck with each of these in 2020!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maeberry SquareDecember 26, 2019 at 4:02 PM

      Thank you, Olivia! Realistic is a big priority for me! :) And thank you!

      Delete

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