Year in Review - 2012!

Happy New Year everyone! At the end of every year I like to reflect on what I accomplished during the last 12 months, and think about what I want to do over the next. I had a very busy 2012. And this isn't even all of it. I seemed to enjoy making pillows and bags this year too.

I will be honest, as the year comes to a close, I am really, really exhausted. Last year I wrote out some goals for 2012 and looking at them, I think I had a lot more energy then!. I thought it'd be fun to see how I did.

Goals from Last Year · Spend an entire month only using solid fabrics - Well, no I didn't consciously do this, but I did make several solid quilts, some you've seen and some you haven't seen yet! Here's a couple of my favorites.

· Spend an entire month focused only on improvisational quilting - No, but I did do a bit of improv sewing

· Read at least one classic novel a month - No...wow, I'm on a roll. LOL I did read a lot of fluff and trash though, that counts, right?

· Finally make that zigzag quilt - No zigzag!

· Develop at least 3 new quilt patterns - Yes! I spent a lot of time creating new patterns and tutorials for my blog, my shop, the Art Gallery Fat Quarter Gang and various publications. I am really proud of all of these.

· Host another quilt along - Yes! This year I hosted the Solstice Stars Series and made this beautiful quilt.

· Keep up better with my Google Reader - No, major fail here.

· Participate in at least one handmade swap - Yes! I participated in the For the Love of Solids swap.

· Attend the Sewing Summit again - Yes! And I even got to teach. And it was amazing. Recap here.

· Check out the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild - No, but I have been attending the Naperville Modern Quilt Guild since it started up this year, and have met some great people including Svetlana!

Looking ahead to 2013, I think the one goal that really comes to mind is to try to take on less. I have a hard time saying no to people and opportunities (and I'm so grateful for all of them!), but I will be honest when I say I'm a bit burnt out. I would really like to take the first 6 months of 2013 and just be creative, do some selfish sewing and just relax - and of course blog about those things. What do you think? I hope that doesn't sound boring, I promise I have some pretty exciting stuff coming up for this year as well and I can't wait to share it all with you.

Here's to a great new {relaxing} year!