I have a lot of fun sewing projects on my table these days and I thought it was time to share them with you. But alas, the weather has been dark and gloomy all week and there’s no sunshine in the forecast for days (hello, hurricane!), and that means any pictures I’d take would be pretty crummy. So I’ll save that update for another week and instead, let’s look at our goals for 2015!
It’s the last quarter of the year, ohmygoodness how did that happen?!?! Only three months left in the year! Before you know it we’ll be in the holiday swing of things and ready to set new goals for 2016.
Yikes, no, I’m not ready for that yet either. So let’s focus on 2015, shall we?
Some of the goals I set for myself for this year were to:
• Network more (a lot more) with others in the creative community • Learn to use my DSLR camera on manual mode • Improve my free motion quilting through drawing and machine practice • Finish reading more books
And here’s my report on how I’m doing with them.
Networking
If I give my gut response to this one, I’d probably say I haven’t done as much networking as I’d like. But if I stop and think about it a little longer, I’ve actually made quite a bit of progress on it - probably more than I give myself credit for.
My Motherhood by Design series probably leads the list of networking - I’ve interviewed 40 women so far (actually 42 because some of the interviews are done but haven’t been published yet) and that’s been a great experience. I’m continually humbled by the warm reception I’ve received from some really big (and really busy!) women in the creative industry that have very generously made time for my questions. That has been really inspiring to me and I never really looked at it as networking, but it totally is.
My wheels of inspiration are turning now, figuring out how to take this project to the next level next year, since I only have twelve more interviews to post. The series won't continue in its current form, but maybe some kind of twist? I'm not sure yet.
I’ve also done a better job at reaching out to others in person and through social media to build relationships. It’s a slow process, but slow and steady wins the race (or so I’m telling myself).
And I can’t overlook the fact that I started up a whole new website, and thus, have a whole new network of connections to build! When I set my goals for 2015, I don’t think I ever saw that one coming. Never! But life takes funny turns and sometimes you end up where you never expected, and that’s OK. It’s more than OK in fact!
So now I’m working on networking in the surrogacy community as well. And honestly, it’s coming along nicely so far, better than I thought it would. I’ve found that forcing myself to schedule time for social media is the key. It’s hard for me to view social media as valuable work time, you know? But I’m working on changing that attitude and considering it part of my marketing duties, particularly because my book is now live on Amazon.
Nope, I didn’t see that one coming at me in January, either!
Learn to Use My DSLR Camera on Manual Mode
No progress here, none what so ever. But I’m not ashamed. I’ve done other things (reference my new website and new book mentioned above!) with my time. And I’m getting really good at iPhone photography. And editing photos after the fact. Win.
Improve my Free Motion Quilting
I’m satisfied with my progress on this goal. I’ve had the chance to do four commissioned quilts this year that pushed my free motion quilting skills beyond where they were before. Are they to the level that I’d like them to be? Absolutely not. Am I going to beat myself up over it? Absolutely not.
Earlier in the year I was on a kick of working on my free motion drawing skills pretty regularly and that really helped a great deal. But then I got sucked into a whole new set of technology skills to develop (reference my new website and new book mentioned above, yet again!) that has taken up a ton of my time and attention, leaving me little time for drawing practice. You win some, you lose some, I guess.
But hey, I taught myself to crochet, so that counts for something, right?!?
Finish More Books
Well, I guess I made progress on this one, thanks to being at the beach over the summer. I finished a novel there (The Rosie Project) which was a fun beach read, along with a couple of non-fiction books. But I have a lot of unfinished non-fiction books, too (nothing new there...).
I did, however, have one small breakthrough on this goal. I don’t have a Kindle or a Nook, but I do have an iPad mini. I finally downloaded the Kindle App for my iPad and I bought and read my first book electronically (who, slow to the party, not me…ahem).
And I really love it! I actually loved the experience of reading on my iPad, and I’m not sure why. Maybe it's easier for me to read in bed with the illuminated screen, rather than by the dim light on my nightstand? I read “Going Clear,” a book about Scientology, and I really enjoyed it. Since my daughter and I have spent so much time outside the Church of Scientology in New York City (she frequents a theater across the street from it), and I've seen the huge building they have at the University of Texas at Austin, I was really curious about the whole thing, so I read the book.
Yeah, it’s just as crazy as you’ve heard. No, scratch that, it’s crazier. Talk about serious brainwashing!
Anyway, I digress.
So I’ve finished some books, I still have a ton in progress, and hey, I wrote a book!
Nope, never saw that one coming.
So I guess it’s safe to say that the focus of my goals has shifted a bit to incorporate more writing, more surrogacy networking, and get this, more cleaning.
Gasp, I know, that one took me by surprise too.
But if you subscribe to my newsletter, you read about me recently reaching the tipping point of overwhelm with my supplies and recruiting my daughter to help me organize and get rid of stuff. And she’s been doing a great job, keeping me focused and urging me to throw things out or donate what I can. I’ve got a HUGE donation pile going so far with a pick-up scheduled for Oct. 13. The race is on to see how much more I can get rid of my then!
So how are you doing with your goals for the year? Are you still on track? Did you change course like I did? Did you forget about them? (it happens to the best of us)
What can you accomplish in the last three months of the year? Ready, set, go!