Plans for 2012

Every year I set goals, some of which I achieve, and others I don't.  Typically, I don't announce them, but this year I thought I would.  I'm also hoping to hear your feedback on my plans, as well as hearing about your plans too.

Here are my plans for 2012:

While I'm far from being a free-motion quilting expert, I am happy to have set the goal to learn FMQ in 2011.  I attacked it with vigor, where it was clearly my priority.  I took every FMQ class I could possibly take, and a minimum number of other quilting classes.  I watched as many FMQ DVDs and  YouTube Videos, and read as many FMQ Books.  I spent as much time as I could at quilt shows admiring beautiful FMQ work, as well as reading blogs that share insights on FMQ .  And, I practiced, practiced,  and practiced FMQ as much as I could.  While I'm impressed with what I learned in a year, I'm also now obsessed with FMQ and plan to continue improving my FMQ skills in 2012.  I definitely see taking more classes, watching more FMQ DVDs, reading more FMQ Books, and spending more time practicing!   

I plan to continue to make charity quilts for a variety of charity projects.

I want to continue to grow my skills with EQ7 and would like to achieve a level where I can design in EQ7 and others may actually want what I share! 

Like my research in FMQ, I plan to see if an old quilter like myself can significantly improve their piecing skills.  As I do fear I've fallen into many bad habbits, I'm going to research precision piecing with the same focus that I attacked learning FMQ.  And, I hope that by the end of 2012, I can be one of those quilters that can be proud to show the back of their quilts, just like they show the front of their quilts!

I want to spend more time drawing.  While I've never been good at drawing, I do find it to be relaxing.  And,  I am confortable with the thought of "learning" to doodle.  And, doodling is the theme of the 2012 Sketchbook Challenge.   Sounds like a perfect challenge for me in 2012.  





It seems like every year I have a goal to be create a more organized sewing room, but I haven't ever been able to achieve it.  I was inspired by a recent post on Bonnie Hunter's blog (Quiltville) where she spoke of "Fabric Herding" and raised the question are you a hoarder or a herder?  So, my goal is to develop my Fabric Herding skills, get new flooring in my sewing room, which means I need to organize everything and get rid of stuff I'm not using.

• Warning:  no current state picture provided as I don't want you to think less of me than you already do, but I hope you'll keep after me as I'd love to be able to show you a picture of my sewing room by the end of 2012.  A picture, that exists only in my mind, of a very clean and orderly sewing room.

I also plan to continue with my exercise program, as well as trying to eat healthy (no, or minimal processed foods), to spend more time gardening.

To continue to grow my skills and expertise in Social Media Marketing and offer consulting to a limited number of quilting businesses.



As SewCalGal, my plans for 2012 are:

Continue to research and share insights on topics of interest to those interested in quilting, sewing & embroidery.  Likewise, help to increase awareness of those in the business, to try to help survive during our economic challengs.

Fun Fridays are planned, where I hope to showcase a variety of sponsors and host weekly giveaways.


I have plans to host the 2012 Golden Quilter Awards whereby quilters from around the world are invited to nominate, for a variety of categories, for those that help make our world of quilting so wonderful.  You'll be hearing more about this very soon.

Complete at least one quilt pattern evaluation and one machine embroidery design evaluation each month, whereby the samples will be given to charity. And insights on the designer and design will be shared on SewCalGal.

Host blog hops and other fun activities, to increase awareness on ways to use various Modern Quilting Tools.

I'm on a Mission to make the US National Quilt Day a World Quilt Day.  Of course, I could use your help to make this happen.

I will continue my search for  Quilters that don't win giveaways/no reply bloggers and try to set them on a path to increase their chances of winning in giveaways.

Sadly, I realized I had to say I couldn't do it all in 2012.  I've decided I can't host the Pets on Quilts Show in the future, but I'm happy that Jacque (Lily Pad Quilting) will be the host of this fun event in the future.  For similar reasons, I've also concluded that I can no longer host the annual Christmas Quilt Show and I'm hoping a fellow blogger will come forward to volunteer to host this event, in the future, vs letting it die off.

What do you think of my goals for 2012?  Do you have any other recommendations?  Did you make any goals for 2012 ?  Do we have any common goals?

What ever you do in 2012, I hope you have a very happy & healthy year and find time to enjoy and create!