I am not very good at planning things to do – I am much more spontaneous than planning usually allows me to be. I rarely follow a plan that I make, which can leave me feeling like a bit of a failure. I learned long ago that for me, a plan is usually self-defeating, so the best thing to do is to have an idea of what I’d like to accomplish but set no time frame for when it should be done. Unfortunately, this also leads to self-defeating behavior … primarily the inability to complete any project in a timely manner. Either way, I sometimes end up feeling like I have failed in one way or another. I am, quite frankly, my own worst enemy. I also happen to be my biggest critic. Nice combination, isn’t it?

However, I realize that in order to accomplish my goals for the new year, I do in fact need a plan of some sort which will allow me to at least outline in broad terms what I would like to get done this year in the studio. I’m not sure how detailed the plan has to be, but I think something with a general idea of what I’d like to get done is in order. Let’s take another look at my sewing-related resolutions …

Sew more garments – 1 every month
Learn to machine quilt
Take an intermediate/advanced quilting class

So, really, I only have three main goals I want to accomplish in studio this year – this may not be as bad as I thought. I do have a couple other goals I would like to see through, even though they aren’t part of my NY resolutions – I have some UFO’s I need to complete, and I have a couple of quilts I haven’t yet started that I would like to get done. I think maybe the key to a successful plan to get all of this done would be to set quarterly goals. If I can break this down into smaller pieces I might be more likely to follow The Plan.

1Q2011
January
Finish quilt #1 (a Christmas gift for someone who wasn’t able to be with us this year)
Make a pair of lounge pants for DS
Start new quilt #1 for DH
Begin planning for 2011 handmade Christmas gifts

February
Finish quilt #2 (to be put away for future gift giving; no intended recipient at this time)
Make a pair of lounge pants for DD
Continue working on new quilt #1
Start working on 2011 Christmas gifts

March
Finish quilt #3 (I am embarassed to admit that I started this quilt for my DD ages ago, misplaced the top and only recently found it)
Make DH a pair of pj’s
Complete new quilt #1
Start new quilt #2

2Q2011
April
Finish quilt #4 (another one to be put away for future gift giving with no intended recipient)
Make garment for me
Continue working on new quilt #2

May
Finish new quilt #2
Check into a quilting class (I’m putting this off till 2Q because we will be moving, but I’m not sure when or where. Move should be completed by this time and I can decide on LQS or online then)
Make a garment for … someone

June
Take quilting class
Make a garment
Start new quilt #3?

Seems a bit ambitious, doesn’t it? Hmmm … but really, it shouldn’t be too bad. It takes only a day or so to make the pj’s & lounge pants, and finishing up the quilts shouldn’t be difficult – they need only to be sandwiched and quilted, then bound. As for the new quilt, it usually doesn’t take me long to make the top; it takes much longer for me to get around to sandwiching, quilting and binding them.

I will continue working on 2011 Christmas gifts throughout the year, if things go according to plan … I already have ideas of what I want to do; I just need to firm up the plan and start pulling all the supplies together.

The main thing here is, I will not beat myself up if I fall of the wagon or don’t get everything accomplished. This is just a rough outline, and if it doesn’t all happen in this timeframe I will survive. The one thing I would like to see happen is the one garment every month. If everything else slips I can deal with it, but I really would like to complete one garment a month, since that’s one of my NY resolutions.

I think I might need a calendar to keep up with all of this …