Monday, December 23, 2019

2020 Planning Post

I am a list-maker, a planner, and always set goals, be they minuscule or lofty. So even though I didn't manage to do this formal post last year, I had goals for the year. Today I'm taking some time to formally write down some thoughts for 2020, and I'm joining in with Yvonne at Quilting Jetgirl for the party that she hosts each December.

2019 Planning Party

First of all, let's see how I did in 2019.




Sew for fabric companies
Last year I continued being an ambassador for Island Batik, and this furthered my growth as a blogger and designer, something I'd wanted to do for the year. Lifelong learning is always an over-arching goal for me, and learning always comes through challenges, something I've always done in my life.

  • I tried out a couple of new products: the AccuQuilt die-cutting system, and a product I bought a few years ago, Texture Magic, over the course of the challenges.
  • I tried a new technique: facing a quilt.
  • I uploaded a video of me unboxing the Island Batik Box #2 to YouTube. Although I have uploaded quilting-related videos to YouTube before, I haven't done one for Island Batik that I knew a lot more people would see!
  • I participated in two of their blog hops in 2019.

I sewed throughout the year for Benartex again.

  • A new experience this year was doing a digital assignment for the January ezine.
  • My quilt Ladder Links was featured in the July issue.
  • I was asked to participate in a 'Autumn is in the Air' blog hop for a new line of fabric.


Hosting/Promoting activities and learning

  • I hosted the 30 Quilt Designs Challenge for the third year, and this year I did it through a private FaceBook group. Although that made the designs secure, it didn't have the number of participants as in previous years, so I'm thinking on this...
  • I also ran, for the third year, a Quilt Along using one of my own designs, Beothuk Star. I had a new sponsor for providing the fabric for the QAL quilt, Needle & Foot Fine Fabrics. I had 18 participants finish a quilt or quilt top!
  • I posted three tutorials this year.
  • I hosted two monthly linkups again this year, DrEAMi! and Throwback Thursday.


Participate in the Community

  • I participated in the year-long Rainbow Scrap Challenge, and I'm hoping to get my Arrows quilt done before year's end!
  • I participated in Tish's, The Madd Quilter, first mystery QAL.
  • I had planned to participate in Cheryl's Meadow Mist Quilt Designs one, since I didn't in 2018, but it just didn't happen.
  • I participated in the Sweet Star QAL hosted by Jessica Dayon.
  • I participated in the 2019FAL, which helped to get a few outstanding UFOs done.


Personal Quilting

  • This year I got the last two of the four niece and nephews quilts done.
  • I hoped to get Brady's football quilt done this year and that happened, as did making a quilt for Brianne, fabrics for which I'd collected for a few years.
  • I sent a quilt I'd made last year, Twinkle Sprinkles, to my cousin in England who lost her husband at a much-too-young age in a tragic traffic accident.


Giving

  • I participated again in Sarah's Confession of a Fabric Addict Hands2Help challenge. I completed two quilts for kids/teens that I'd pledged to make, and sent a quilt top to Victoria's Quilts Canada, one of Sarah's featured groups in need.
  • Blocks to New Zealand, makeup pouches, and comfort quilts were all part of my giving this year.


Business

  • I expanded my Etsy shop, adding in a few more items and patterns.
  • I published two new patterns this year, not even half of what I'd hoped to publish.
  • I did not finalize a logo.
  • I was published in two magazines, Modern By the Yard, and McCall's Quilting.
  • I was the featured artist at my local library, quite the thrill.
  • I quilted a quilt for a customer, something I've wanted to do for some time, but not actively pursued.


Looking Ahead to 2020

Sew for fabric companies
I am happy to announce that I was chosen as an Island Batik Ambassador for 2020, so you will see me rising to 12 more challenges, new tools, and even more blog hops this year. Although there are some online changes at Benartex, I still plan to sew for them from time to time.

Hosting/Promoting activities and learning
  • Host the 30 Quilt Designs Challenge.
  • Host a Spring QAL.
  • Write a guest post on two other bloggers' blogs.
  • Post 2-3 new tutorials.
  • Continue to host DrEAMi! but discontinue TBT, though I will write up the quilts I still have left from pre-blogging days.
Participate in the Community
  • Participate in the RSC.
  • Participate in a mystery or QAL.
  • Participate in the 2020FAL.
  • Participate in a blog hop that is new to me.
  • Enter at least one quilt show.
Personal Quilting

  • Complete three outstanding family requests (library bag, cat and dog beds) as well as a family member's quilt for whom fabric has been bought.
  • Make another big quilt for Brady.
  • Finish a two or three more UFOs.

Giving
  • Participate in the Hands2Help challenge, making a minimum of two quilts.
  • Make two other comfort quilts.
  • Make four more cat mats.
  • Other giving/comfort makes as they come up.
Business
  • Get a logo finalized.
  • Get my current patterns into paper print.
  • Publish at least four to five more patterns (I have the rights back for six; four more in the almost-there stage and I may have missed one or two.) See strategy below.
  • Devote a specific day/time to working on my patterns on the computer.
  • Submit my designs to magazines.
  • I've been asked back to be the Featured Artist of the Month at my local library.

This should keep me pretty busy! Also keeping me pretty busy, and being a factor in it taking pretty much all day to write this post, is this little darling, my granddog who's with us for the week while her mama and papa are out in Alberta:



Linking up
Quilting Jetgirl

17 comments:

  1. Oh, granddog sitting looks like it is going well (what a beautiful pup!). I hope the integration of granddog with your own pups went smoothly. Look at me off on a complete tangent. :)

    I think that setting up particular days of the week for certain tasks make a lot of sense. I certainly do that for housework (Monday is groceries, Tuesday is laundry, etc.), so thanks for the forehead slap I had when I read that idea in your post. I think it is very wise indeed.

    Congratulations on being an Island Batik ambassador again in 2020. I hope that you have a joyful, love-filled 2020.

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  2. You have a lot planned for 2020. It all looks manageable from the comfort of my chair. I have never been a list maker and I envy you the ability to be one. Happy holidays my friend!

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  3. Looks like you achieved most of your goals for 2019! Great job. And you have some challenging goals for 2020. Love the idea of a scheduled day for specific tasks; I still work full-time, so my blogging & design tasks must be squeezed in wherever I can make them fit. Merry Christmas & Happy New year to you!

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  4. Congratulations on all you achieved in 2019. Put down on paper, it seems a lot. And doing this around the house remodel, some much needed vacations and keeping up with the blog is something you should be proud of. I like the idea of setting aside specific time for some of the more intensive tasks. Looking forward to the next QAL. Congrats on continuing as an Island Batik Ambassador. Your quilts always are an inspiration.

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  5. Congrats on all you accomplished in 2019. I got a little tired đź’¤ just reading all you did. I’m looking forward to your QAL. I’ve promised myself that I would stop being a topper and get some quilts finished. I’m going to make a list of my UFOS and hopefully that will help me complete a few. All the best to you and yours in 2020.

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  6. Hi Sandra! Oh my, what a fabulous year 2019 was for you. I love how you laid out all the different areas of your quilting. More patterns . . . yes, please. And participate in community - what a wonderful header . . . and why didn't I add some of that to my list?! {{Hugs}} What a great 2020 you are going to have, and us, too, just following along with you. Merry Christmas Eve to you. ~smile~ Roseanne P.S. Love the granddog!! I hope he gets along well with Rufus.

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  7. Glad to see H2H 2020 on your list! Have a merry merry Christmas!!

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  8. Even though you casually mentioned it at the very end of your list, I think being a featured artist in your own community is truly special!! Congratulations on that neat invitation! :)

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  9. I'm gonna watch for what squirrels invade your pretty plans. Congrats on another year as an IB Ambassador. Merry Christmas.
    Pat

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  10. Great post and lost of goodness to remember in 2019 and wonderful new treats in 2020!

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  11. You really did accomplish a lot in all sorts of facets of quilting in 2019, didn't you? What is even more astonishing is that you managed to do all these things while your house was in an uproar and your sewing space challenging. All in all, you list is a tribute to hard work, determination and talent. Hope you're proud of yourself. Best of luck for 2020.

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  12. I love your plans going forward, and it’s fun to see you and others achieve their quilting goals. I hope 2020 is a great year!

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  13. Good luck with your goals in 2020 Sandra. I'm thinking of setting certain days for blogging etc but more to keep my head clear and off the computer at different times. You manage to accomplish a lot and that is a wonderful thing.

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  14. One thing I love about this passion of mine is how many different facets there are - your plans for the upcoming year illustrate that well! Good luck and have fun with them all!!

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  15. Your 2019 accomplishments are pretty impressive. Congrats on all that progress. Good luck with your 2020 ambitions. It will be fun to watch you meet each goal.

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  16. 2019 was a great year for you (renovation headaches aside!) and you have wonderful plans for 2020. I'm looking forward to seeing what you create in the new year :)

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  17. 2019 was quite a year, and 2020 looks to be another great year. I can't wait to see your new QAL. I'm taking an EQ8 class at QuiltCon next month, so hoping to be ready for the design challenge. ☺

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