Isn’t it amazing how having an enforced break, whether through illness, moving or just needing some time out, can sometimes give you a fresh perspective on your projects and goals.
Case in point is when you are required to pack your entire studio up into boxes, ready for the family to move from one place to another. As you pack each item, as the mountain of boxes grows, you are forcibly taking stock of all your works-in-progress. All the fabric and paper and patterns and books and paint and canvas that you have collected over the last few years. Your intentions, your dreams and your aspirations.
I stopped counting at 25 boxes.
My hobbies include dressmaking, quilting and patchwork, cross-stitch, mixed media art, scrapbooking, Blythe dolls, vintage fabric and notions. Just for starters.
This is going to be the year of letting go. Of choosing priorities, as my time and energy are a valuable resource, and I’ll never make all these things in a million years.
Priority one is my quilting and patchwork. I have a large stack of unquilted tops and many projects in the planning stages. I love my quilting as much as my patchwork, and I will be pursuing this further during the year. I am also committed to 3 swaps and 2 bees currently, so I will be creating up a storm for those.
Priority two is dressmaking. I love having hand crafted clothes, opening up the door to my wardrobe and seeing my own unique creations staring back at me. I have a collection of fabric and patterns that I have gathered over the last couple of years, it’s time to sew them up. I will be aiming for 1 garment per month. I think that’s achievable.
Priority three is vintage book crafting. I love the feel of old paper, and the opportunity to breath new life into otherwise overlooked and neglected volumes. I already have several original creations for sale here, however I would like to look further into local outlets for my books over the coming year.
I am going to be winding back my collections of cross-stitch, art supplies, children’s sewing and Blythe dolls. Before we moved I gave away or sold several big bags of knitting wool that I knew I would never get around to using. Although these things have given me great joy, I will be spreading myself too thin by trying to do everything justice.
Here on my site you can expect more fabric goodness, tutorials, and sewing eye-candy. I have so many projects waiting to be quilted, and so much stashed fabric waiting to be cut up and made into something wonderful. As I shared in a post last year on my Quilt WishList, I am still hoping to make a swoon quilt, and coming up next month is a Hazel Hedgehog quilt-along which looks to be very colourful and a lot of fun.
I have a baby quilt in the planning stages that needs to be made soon, as the baby has already arrived! Then there is my growing stack of Joel Dewberry and my fat quarter bundle of Indelible, which are all screaming out to be made into something marvellous from John Q. Adams’ book, Beyond Neutral which I reviewed previously.
So, I think that’s enough to keep me out of trouble for the rest of the year now, don’t you?
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Raquel
I have been having similar thoughts. It’s not easy maintaining focus with so many new eye-catching projects flashing by on a regular basis, but I’m determined to try. Great inspiration! Thank you
Cassandra
Thanks Raquel! I’m really hoping that by writing this down, it will help me stay away from the shiny things and focused on getting some progress made!
Sarah Goer
Great post. Your goals seem totally reasonable. Your book is lovely. And Joel Dewberry… awesome! I’m a reformed craft-addict. 😉 When I got engaged and moved I purged a lot of craft supplies: candle making, cross stitch, knitting, paper marbling, book making, etc. The three that stayed were: quilting, scrapbooking and rubber stamping (which I’ve now mostly purged as well).
Cassandra
Thanks Sarah! I’m glad to have the support of so many people like yourself who know what it’s like to be multi-crafted lol…. it’s hard to make these decisions, but worth it in the peace of mind 🙂
Bendigo Lioness
Hello Cassie, my name is Fiona & I’m a Craftaholic. It’s been 10-minutes since I last touched a craft item.
Cassandra
10 minutes? That must be a record for you. Keep it up 😉