Happy New Year to you, my friends!
Come on 2015!
I'm so ready!
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| Sneak Peek of my first finish for 2015. Sharing this Friday! |
Plans for the coming year include:
- Regular Drawing Sessions
- New Blog Subjects
- More Tutorials
- Plan Ahead & Schedule
DRAWING - When my mother had knee surgery this past fall, I spent a week with her at her home. No sewing. And no internet. But I did bring along a pad of graph paper, pencil and eraser. And during those few hours spent doodling, figuring and drawing - the Little Blooms and WoW-E! blocks were born.
I really enjoy sitting down with that pad of paper and just letting my imagination take me where it will. And I don't do it often enough. Or share any of those sketches here on the blog. But all that is going to change! I am going to make time in my weekly schedule to dedicate time to drawing and blogging about it.
BLOGGING - Blog posts have become kind of predictable. Fridays are, of course, reserved for finishes. I would like to start including more of the in progress shots and share more information on how I did this or that. Wednesdays are always fun. I love doing the Let's Bee Social posts and spending the next few days visiting with those who have joined the party. And then there are the occasional Sunday Stash reports. Of course I would LOVE to make that a weekly feature. Who doesn't love to drool over photos of fresh, new fabrics?
But I don't yet have any solid ideas for new topics to post about. This is something that will require some heavy brain storming sessions. I would like it to be a collaborative effort between myself and other quilting bloggers. Something that would help us to connect with each other and get our readers to branch out and discover some new friends. See some new things. Get inspired and feel like we are all a little more like family.
Do you have any ideas? Would you like to participate?
Let me know in the comments or shoot me an email!
TUTORIALS - Preparing and writing tutorials is a lot like writing and sharing a small portion of what goes into creating a pattern. And I find sharing ideas and tutorials very rewarding. And fun!
This coming year will be the year of sharing those ideas and tutorials on a more regular basis.
PLANNING - Schedules, to me, are boring and constrictive. And I have thought of myself as more of a 'fly by the seat of my pants' (or pajamas) kind of a girl. But since starting the Sew Fresh Quilts blog and now that it has become something more of a way to be creative and make enough money from selling patterns and advertising to support that creative process, I have a desire to start planning ahead and scheduling projects and ideas. Taking the planning from "What am I doing next?" to "What am I doing in the next few months?"
During my first year of blogging, I would just jump into a project. Make that quilt. And then plan how to write a pattern for that item. For the past year, I have been planning each project ahead of the jumping. I now write the pattern. Then make the item. But I wish to take it one step further.
Is this pattern something others will be interested in making? Is it something that will appeal to a wide range of people? Is it different? Is it interesting? Is it even a good idea? Perhaps sharing some of these ideas ahead of making them will help me to get the answers to these questions. With YOUR help, of course! Your comments are always welcome and appreciated.
During the coming months, I would find honest and straightforward answers to how you feel about anything presented in these planned posts invaluable. I know I can count on my friends to tell me just what they think! And I will need your help!
PS. A note for those who took the time to email me or left encouraging comments on my blog post about the VAT legislation that is effecting all digital file sales to the EU.... Thank you so much! And for those of you who took advantage of my sale on patterns that had been previously been listed in my Craftsy Pattern Shop.... Thank you ALL so very much! For those who took the time to visit my NEW Pattern Store.... YOU are a treasured friend. I truly appreciate your support!
Happy New Year!
Keep On Quilting On!
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24 comments:
Happy New Year, Lorna! Those sound like really reasonable goals for 2015 to me! I don't see anything wrong with more "in progress" posts. I find that when I think about taking more photos and trying to write up a post, sometimes it doesn't feel right so, no worries, I just have a few extra photos. And then sometimes I realize that I had been struggling with a technique so it turns into a fun (and hopefully interesting or helpful) blog post. Also posting progress for big projects keeps me motivated to keep going. Some quilts are just. so. BIG! (and time consuming)
Happy New Year Lorna! Best wishes for 2015! I love the sketches, they looks promising.
happy new year Lorna to you and yours. Certainly a very interesting blog so many plans you have and look forward to seeing all you are going to up to, I see another talent you have with a pencil, your drawing is going to be worth following too. Afraid I am a lady of little imagination or words so my blog is very much a photo and what I have done without many details
Happy New Year, Lorna!! :) Your 2015 goals are fab and I have no doubt you will attain every one and more! Your blogging goal of new topics and connecting bloggers is intriguing. I don't have any ideas off the top of my head (WAY to early in the morning for that! lol) but I will definitely give this some thought. And of course I will let you know if I come up with anything brilliant ;)
2015, looks like we made it! Great plans, Lorna! I am excited for the new!
See??This is why I like you.
I would love to be involved in the collaboration of posts. Let's talk via email or phone as I know together we could achieve what you mentioned. My word of the year for 2015 is connect so this is perfect for me right now. I couldn't be more excited girl! Thanks for writing a great blog, and providing a place for others to meet all year. I like all your goals, especially the drawing more often which is one of mine, but don't "improve" too much girl!! We like you the way you are! LeeAnna at not afraid of color and my email is leeannaquilts at gmail dot com
You never cease to amaze me! When my blog grows up…I hope it resembles yours! Keep up the incredible work! You are an inspiration to me and so many others!
I look forward to seeing where you take this! I have thought lately that I don't sketch as much either! How fun it is to sketch and pull out those colored pencils! Bring it on Lorna!
Lorna, your blog is my favorite. I get so much inspiration from you, and encouragement. I am still kind of a novice at this blogging but would like to participate if I could get someone to show me hands on the ins and outs. I am a hands on learner. That is my goal for 2015, improve my blog and learn the ins and outs. I was amazed to learn you have not been blogging for years.
As for schedules, I am not very good with them. I try all the time to schedule my day but it doesn't last even a day. I think I am to much of a free spirit. Since retiring I rebel against "having" to do something or be somewhere at set times. Can you tell I am a child of the 1960"s? :)
Posting quilts in process would be interesting. I often wonder how long it takes others to produce a quilt. I found your post on new fabrics very inspiring and I love the anticipation of seeing what you will make with them.
May you have a blessed 2015
Debbie
Hi Lorna! Happy New YEar! I haven't got past the thinking stage of anything lately but know I'll be checking in and joining in when I can. SMILES! V
Happy new Year. 2015 got here, even in Pacific Standard Time. I like process posts, especially those that get into design decisions, that show alternatives and tell why one was chosen.
Happy New Year 2015 to you as well Lorna! I like all your posts and would love to participate in any way possible. Lately I have been thinking about my "journey" as a quilter--you know the progression we all go through. Everyone starts somewhere--and goes through a process to improve their skills. Sometimes this is challenging and "pushes" us--whether it is learning to mitre corners or doing something a little more sophisticated like micro-stippling for the first time doing free-motion quilting. Maybe we could connect by sharing what we're doing to "push" our skill level in our art. I know this year I'm going to do more ruler work in my quilts--which really (REALLY) will be pushing my quilt art. Maybe we could share how we're improving our quilt art.
A very Happy New Year to you Lorna!!! Love the idea of sharing drawings. I am looking forward to your Friday post - those concentric circles and oh so neat quilting has me completely charmed!!! I amhere to hear or help - whatever you need.
Happy New Year Lorna! Keep those upbeat posts coming!
Happy New Year Lorna! Hope you've been having a great time with family and friends :) You've gotta go with the drawings, but you'd guess I'd say that!!! You produce some of the best bold, graphic motif style quilts around (they really are soooo fresh!) and it's been wonderful seeing you, your designs and your blog blossom; it would be a privilege to see how you develop your designs too. Best wishes for 2105 x
Looking forward to seeing what you sew up this year!
In regards to blogging, the "Something that would help us to connect with each other and get our readers to branch out and discover some new friends. See some new things. Get inspired and feel like we are all a little more like family", I'm searching for that blogging idea too, and would love to participate with you.
As for drawing and tutorials, I've got those on my list for this year. As for planning--nope, I like the freedom of making a quilt when the idea hits me. I might think about writing a pattern afterwards!
Mmm ideas for posts. I always like when someone is making some project and they invite others to join in. Sort of SAL but I would rather keep it as theme of the month or something. Or technique to try as a month theme. You can do that with your tuts, encourage your readers to try and test them out. I hope you make some small projects too since I don't always want to make BIG = quilt project. I'm sure you'll come up with something.
I love process blogs! I would be very much interested in the process you use to,create. It may sound silly, but so many people do things so differently and it is always a joy to read HOW someone got their quilt or project together, where they had trouble, what they struggled with, etc. looking forward to a new evolution of blog posts!
Hi Lorna! Let's Bee Social was my very first linky party. And because you are such an interactive and enthusiastic blogger, you were my very first blogging friend. I love visiting and seeing what you are up to! Thank you for all the laughs and inspiration along the way!
My foggy brain can't come up with anything new this morning for interactive blogging ideas.
We are so spoiled by computers, that is fun to see you using graph paper. That used to be invaluable to me, but now it has been years since I've touched it.
I wish you a year full of creative fun!
Happy New Year ! How you possibly do more, your already amazing !
Solid ideas for new topics? Hmmm ... I might have something for you to think about - will email you :)
I am a continual sketcher. I don't go anywhere without graph paper, colored pencils, pencils and erasers. I love to practice FMQ ideas, sketch out quilting plans or even just block plans. I'm constantly doodling....in waiting rooms, in heavy traffic, while I am a passenger, while on the phone. Funny, I've got a quilt planned similar to your sketches above...for a baby quilt. I saw one similar online a while ago and liked it...or was it a fabric design? I forget now. I would love to see tyour sketches. I'm not sure you should plan a certain day to be a certain theme. It might hinder your creativity...unless you are structured like that and need the linearness of a set theme....then it could help, but leaving the ing open to flow as I see fit works best for me. I'm very grateful I've found your blog and look forward to following you in the new year.
Happy New Year! I look forward to tagging along in your quilting journey of 2015, your blog is wonderful eye candy and so inspirational.
I am completely smitten with your drawings and looking forward to seeing them come to life in your fabric master pieces! It's been great following you along and it will be even greater to see you from the start of the year to the end! Here is to another great year for you!
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