Hello 2014, I've Been Expecting You.

The start of a new year - it's that time again! I see all kinds of creative bloggers posting about achievements in the past year as well as glorious plans and resolutions for 2014.

At exactly this time last year I was also full of excitement for the coming year ,and made plenty o' plans to make lots of creative stuff in the coming months. And I did accomplish some of my plans! Last year I completely re-arranged my sewing space:




And I made some cool stuff:


But despite those accomplishments I still had plans to make and do and blog about it all even MORE!



However. I neglected to see how much free time I actually had, or to take into consideration my other responsibilities.

And.

I kind of burned out towards the end of the year. No one (without help from family or paid staff - which I only wish I had) can really do all that I was trying to do at once. That is, hold down a part-time work-from-home job, be a full-time stay-at-home mom, take on day-to-day responsibility for an elderly family member, be a full time housewife, AND also find time on a regular basis to be creative enough to produce consistent work. Still, I felt like I should have been able to do it all - and that I should have been creating MORE.

So.

This year, I am taking a completely different approach by making an effort NOT to make any grand plans for the year, or to put any big, serious goals on my creative time. This year I know that my creative time will come in small here-and-there chunks. Instead of pushing myself to make anything serious or big or daunting, I'm choosing to just make whatever I feel like at the moment. I've found that just finishing a small project here and there is enough to make me feel creatively contented at the moment. And I've also found comfort in the thought that my time commitments will be shifting soon enough when Fidget enters school full time.

On my short sewing to-do list is finishing up the vintage scrap quilt started last year, it's on my quilting table and I can do a little bit at a time until it is finished.

 
Also on my short list, a few more baby blankets for friends who are expecting a new bitty baby this year - one of the bestest reasons I can think of in the whole world to stitch some bits of fabric together!
 
On that note, I hope you are having a fantastic start to the new year, and I wish you all the best with your personal New Year's resolutions, proclamations, plans and goals. May the sewing-force be with you in 2014!

Comments

Dawn said…
This isn't exactly on topic, but I wanted to say: What a beautiful sewing room you have created! And holy cow, your creations are lovely!

Donna said…
We are so hard on ourselves sometimes. I like this attitude of yours and may adopt it! Did you mention your charity quilt on your 2013 finishes? I'm still bowled over by your designs and color choices. Sunrise over Austin? So beautiful. Peace to you in 2014.
Nanna said…
beautiful sewing room! lots of beautiful creativity going on !
Helen
mjb said…
This is so similar to how I do things in my creative life. I have a 1 and 3 year old and I'm pregnant, work full time, so time and energy for creative pursuits aren't always there. I like having ideas for what project I want to work on when I have a few spare moments, but there's no pressure of deadlines or things I have to get done (besides occasionally for gifts).
smazoochie said…
I'm sorry you had such a tough year. Horses in harness isn't such a flattering comparison, but we need to learn how to pull our load, especially when things keep being piled on us. Please try to find time -- or make time -- for yourself to do whatever -- sew, read, rest, whatever -- so that you can remain of value to those you love.
[big hug]

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