Let me be very upfront about this. I don’t like New Year’s Resolutions. I honestly do not think I have ever seen anyone, and I mean ANYONE, keep or live up to their New Year’s resolution. I see it only as a way to let yourself down.

However, I do believe in setting goals. In fact, to quote a well-known financial guru, “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Plans and goals are essential. Otherwise, you live day in and day out with no direction; and without direction, in 10-years, you’re likely to be exactly where you are now.

Very seldom does want you want come easy. It usually takes hard work and dedication. But what are you going to work towards if you don’t know where it is you want to be. Setting goals will give you that direction.  Your goals need to be SMART – specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-sensitive.  And goal setting can happen at any time, not just on the first day of each year.

So here are some of my short-term goals.

Quilting/Sewing related:

• Improve my free motion quilting skills.  I plan to follow the examples provided by The Free Motion Quilting Project at http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/.  I will likely do something similar to her Batik Beauty Quilt.
• Design at least 12 new fabrics through Spoonflower
• Design, make, and write patterns for 12 new quilts
• Make several projects that have been posted by The Fat Quarter Gang
  • Jewelry Pouch – http://artgalleryfabrics.typepad.com/weblog/2012/11/fat-quarter-gang-jesss-jewelry-pouch-by-create-kids-couture.html
  • Wellen Tank – http://artgalleryfabrics.typepad.com/weblog/2012/06/fat-quarter-gang-wellen-tank-by-luvinthemommyhood.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+artgalleryfabrics%2Fweblog+%28Art+Gallery+Fabrics-The+Creative+Blog%29
• Make a tree skirt.  I have a picture of one in my head that is ice blue and white, with embroidered snowflakes.
• Write up patterns for past projects
• Design a men’s apron
• Determine what I plan to make to take to the fair.  I enter projects each year in the NC State Fair.  The challenge, and the competition, is thrilling.
• Complete my UFO’s – Goose Tracks, Hoopsisters mystery quilt, Mexican Stars wall hanging, Autumn Blossoms quilt, Stars quilt (started this one 10-years ago maybe)
• Clean up my sewing area
• Start a couple of new quilting projects.  I believe I will do
  • Scrappy Quilt Along – http://www.flickr.com/groups/scrappytripalong/
  • Skill Builder – http://www.pileofabric.com/post/2012/12/28/skill-builder-block-of-the-month
• I would be very interested in a quilting challenge now that the monthly challenges through Art Gallery Fabrics have ended.  However, other than the Hoffman fabric challenge, I can’t find one that isn’t already so far along.   I’ll look again closer to summer time.
• Make pie block hotpads  I can mark these off already as I just finished them last night

Other goals:

• Spend more time with family and friends
• Make a photo book for 2012
• Plant, expand, keep up with my garden this year
• Lose weight – isn’t this on everyone’s list?  I need to lose at least 40 pounds this year.  60 would be better, but we’ll keep it real at 40.  In order to meet that goal, I will need to:
  • Stay away from sugar and simple carbs
  • Exercise 5 hours a week.
• Stay on a budget every month.
• Work with monkey #1 on Pre-K workbooks
• Do Financial Peace Jr. with my 12-year old