Stash Report and other things

Home from MQX and time to tally the damage. I think I did great! I only bought 8.5 yards. Aside from the convention I also went to 2 quilt shops; one in Massachusetts and Keepsake Quilting. I made it out of Keepsake with NOTHING!

We will not talk about the thread though. I bought lots and lots of thread but you can't beat getting Superior threads at wholesale. I don't have a wholesale license so these shows are the only times that I buy thread. They keep coming out with fantastic colors.

Judy recently set a specific stash reduction goal for the year. I laughed at her until she talked me into doing the same. I suppose she needs someone to be there with her on December 31 when the goal isn't met! Her goal is to have a net reduction of 150 yards. Ha! Not a chance that I'll set such a lofty goal. I'm going to set mine at 100 yards. Remember I'm just doing this for moral support. It will be a miracle if I actually do it.

• This week IN: 8.5
• This week OUT: 0
• YTD IN: 53.5 yards
• YTD out: 68.5 yards
• NET OUT: 15 yards (Goal 100 yards)

I don't have any fiber photos so I'll share a couple of photos that I took out in the yard last week. I was hoping to have updates from the bird boxes today but it's raining. If we get a break in the rain we will do a quick photo inventory.

In other news.....it's great to be home! I love going to quilt shows but I always really love coming home to my own environmental bubble and my bed. While I was away this week I used some of my time to re-think some of the things I am working on. As I work on preparing my list each week and always have more to do than time to do it in. I needed to reprioritize. 

I decided that I have 3 primary goals:

1. Make more advanced quilts that I can enter into shows and that will develop my quilting and design skills
2. Spend more time developing classes for my LQS and possibly develop more articles for publication
3. Make more community service quilts, especially QOV quilts

I also want to have time for:

• Making gifts
• Quilting for my Mom, Anne and Kim
• Learning more about color theory and dyeing - which could play into primary goal #2

What have I been spending my time on lately? I have been doing some community service quilting but I haven't worked on any of my quilts for a few months. I have been working on 2 classes for the LQS and an article for F&S but they took a lot longer to develop than they should because I didn't have time to devote to them. I still haven't quilted my Mom's Stack and Whack (which would feed into primary goal #1) and I haven't worked on my color theory posts since October.

What else? I spent a lot of hours on the MQResource triptych challenge in January and February, I took the Monoprinting class in March and didn't have time to get through all of the lessons and I've been spending about 20 hours or more each month on the Take It Further Challenge. I also an signed up for 3 days of classes with Laura Cater-Woods at the end of this month.

Some things are going to have to give. Going forward, if I take any classes I will only take those that will support one of my goals or that will focus on technique/skill development rather than just starting yet another project. Aside from the 2 postcard swaps that I belong to, I am not going to participate in any more exchanges or challenges and I am going to drop the Take It Further Challenge. I enjoy the challenge and developing ideas for the challenge but I am spending way too much of my time on those projects.

I really hate to give up on things but you can't do everything and I don't need to get frustrated over a hobby! With that, here's my current list:

• Load and quilt the Guild baby quilt
• Work on samples for the MQS machine quilting class
• Get my materials together for the LC-W classes that start Saturday
• Paint more of the black feathers from the MQX class.

What are your tips for setting and managing your priorities?

Comments

[Vicky]

A great report considering you were surrounded by temptation all week! I also had to drop out of all challenges/groups because with working full time, my quilting time is limited. Getting so much more accomplished now.

[Cheri]

I'll state up front that I don't always follow my own advice, but keeping a running list IN A NOTEBOOK (otherwise I'll lose it) that I check regularly and also working just a little every day are my two best strategies for keeping on top of things. I have tried more complicated systems than that, but then I tend to spend a lot of time on the system itself. Good luck! I am *so* impressed by all you accomplish -- I think the advice needs to come from you to us, not the other way around.

[Allison]

As long as you are following your inner voice, you will be doing what you are supposed to do! And it sure is a lot, Vicki....so commendable. Your class with L-CW is going to be very, very special, I just know it...

[Allison]

As long as you are following your inner voice, you will be doing what you are supposed to do! And it sure is a lot, Vicki....so commendable. Your class with L-CW is going to be very, very special, I just know it...

[minou]

You already sound pretty organized to me!I had one entire year of no new challenges/projects/classes and just finished UFO's...it was wonderful! Of course I still have UFO's, but doesn't everyone? That year helped me realize what I really wanted to be doing (landscpaes/Pictorial/Art quilts and retro clothing) in my quilting/sewing and not get caught up in the current fun project.

Suzanne

[Terri]

Glad you had fun last week. You better get crackin' if you plan to get rid of 100 yards of fabric from your stash. Do you have a deadline for that?

[Judy L.]

Great post, Vicki. I'm with you on re-thinking priorities.

[Mary]

You did great to just come home with under 9 yards of fabric!

I've always wondered how you manage to get things done with all the things you juggle. I find it easier to do what you're doing now and limit myself to certain goals/projects.

My priorities are my donation quilts through HeartStrings, continuing to quilt for family as needed, and taking more time to work on my own projects.

I don't have a desire to make really complex quilts or to enter shows but I do like to *grow* in my quilting. Although I had planned to resist the postcards and doll quilts, I've enjoyed those projects I allowed myself to do this year.

As far as using stash, as I unpack all this fabric, I have a renewed goal of using what I have. Last year I think I used about 150 yards but as I only count what's in a finished project and didn't subtract what I purchased from what I used - I don't know what my *real* bottom line was.

[Paula Hewitt]

I can relate to being overwhelmed by a hobby -Im rethinking a lot myself at the moment. Also I liked your remark yesterday about some quilts shops having so much fabric you walk out with nothing - there is a shop in Brisbane like that - I am so completely overwhelmed by choice I struggle to find anything!

[Lori]

You have goals and are organized. Some great ideas on how to focus.

[Ruth Lane]

Lofty goals for fiber reduction - and you are one of the most organized people I've seen in cyber fiber world. Just go with your heart.

[Carole Meier]

Sounds good to me! Focus on what you like! You know, I'm always amazed at how much you get done. Keep well!

[Summerset]

Your refocus sounds like a good idea. There are so many genres to the fiber art world, and I really don't think one person can do them all! Focusing on what you like will help define you as an artist. Not to say that techniques can't cross over from other fiber art genres, but there is a sense of making it all your own.

[cathie]

Setting goals, reorganizing goals, and ultimately accomplishing goals -- that's the difference between success and failure. I hear ya loud and clear and I think (not that it matters) that focusing in only on projects, classes, etc. that are going to assist you in accomplishing your elite list of personal and professional quilting goals is fantastic. You are amazing Vicki -- both in your work and in your centered, diligent approach to life and achieving inner chai!!