Thursday 28 December 2017

Goal Setting for 2018

 

 

     
     The last 7 months of 2017 were really difficult for me so when I reviewed my 2017 goals I found it ironic that my overarching goal was to have more fun.  It's a good thing I have a sense of humour!
      I thought I would reflect a little on the good things that I can remember from this year.  The best thing that happened in 2017 was that Elisha (rhymes with Elija) Luke was born and he is the happiest baby.  He laughs and smiles almost all the time and he brings me lots of joy, as does his older brother Gabriel. I did a lot of babysitting this year and looking after my grand kids was a lot of fun.  I also had a blast at Quilt Con way back in February.  Throughout the year I kept a gratitude journal so I could remember to focus energy on the small good things that occurred.
     I wasn't able to  make it to the Christmas party at my work but I do know that they had a quizz with prizes and one question was "Which employee would you be most likely to come across dancing in the store aisles".  The answer to that question my friends was yours truly.  I do love to dance so I think my overarching goal this year will be to keep dancing through life...the good, the bad, the ugly.

     Here are the goals.  They are very similar to last years goals.  I will continue to be busy with chairing the community outreach committee of my local guild and with my grand kids so I know that what I can accomplish is limited.

Quilting Goals
1.  Continue playing with colour and fabric and quilting techniques like improv and maybe some bias strips. Step one for this goal will to be to set aside a time each week to focus on this kind of play.  I've got some ideas I'd like to play with and I love this type of work so it needs space. 
2.   Continue to work on free motion and walking foot quilting techniques.  I'm planning on joining Jess of Quilty Habit in her FMQ QAL.  I'm not sure if I'll do a quilt as you go, or just work on the assignments.
3.  Complete at least three of my Craftsy Classes.  Since most of these are quilting classes, this will help me to work on goal number 2. as well.
6.  Complete at least 6 quilts. I've got two baby quilts to finish and I will be making a wedding quilt as well.

Blogging Goals
1.  Continue to aim for 2 posts a week.  This is a big goal given that I didn't manage even one a week last year. But my life circumstances have changed somewhat so it might be do able.
2.  Share more of the community outreach work on the blog. That should help with the goal 1 for this section.

Personal Goals
1.  Spend time with my sister doing fun things.
2.  Go to the Art Gallery in Toronto more often
3.  Figure out some better cooking, cleaning and eating strategies.
4.  Get back to daily goal setting and reflection.

      As usual I'm linking up with Yvonne of Quilting Jet Girl for her 2018 Planning Party.  Oh yes, and I would love an accountability partner if anyone is up for it.

Lisa

Sunday 17 December 2017

Hello out there

   


  Hello out there.  Are any of you left?  It's been so long since I've posted.  It's been a very challenging Fall and I've had a hard time squeezing in quilting let alone blogging, or even reading blogs.  My family has been dealing with health challenges with my daughter in law, and with my aunt.

    My daughter in law is on the road to recovery, however my dear sweet aunt passed away in her sleep in the early hours this morning.  My daughter was the last member of our family to spend time with her and was able to make sure that she was comfortable before she left the hospital.  Gloria was happy to know that Dwight and I were going to visit her today.
My last visit with her was on Friday I read her a few chapters of a book and sang her lullabies because she asked me to sing to her and they were the only songs I could remember the words to.  I planned to bring a song book in with me for today's visit.
    
     Gloria was a very strong and courageous woman.  She was an editor and writer by profession. She spent many volunteer hours writing letters for Amnesty International and volunteering with Chilean Refuges in the 1970s.  In her later years she did volunteer work for the Older Woman's Network. She had no children of her own but considered my sisters family and my family to be her family.  We are really sad to see her go and will miss her terribly.

     Gloria was supportive of my quilting and came to my local guild's quilt show.  She showed off my placemats that I made for her and really loved the quilt that I made for her which you can read about here.

     Most of the quilting I have done over the summer and fall has been done on behalf of the Outreach Committee of my local guild.  I've done mega amounts of cutting, planning, organizing and attending meetings.  The quilts in the photo above are some of the quilts that will be donated  to the Sexual Assault Domestic Violence unit at our local hospital in early January.

     I will be joining the Goal Planning Party hosted by Quilting Jet Girl and I'm hoping to resume more regular bloggin in the new year.