A new look, a new schedule, a new year....
If you haven't noticed already I have changed up my blog. I am loving the new look of my blog and I hope you like it too. It feels a little bit more like me and isn't the "cutesie" blog from before. It's funny how our style changes as the years pass. One reason for the change was that I wanted to showcase pictures of my own projects. So, each of the quilts pictured above is one of my own - own meaning designed and quilted by me. The green quilting background was based on my free motion feather swirl, big thanks goes to Kristin who did a beautiful job creating my background and putting together my header. I am happy with how it turned out. I am still rearranging some of the side pictures, they were all shuffled with the update - so that is on my growing list of things I need to do.
Speaking of things to do, I have come up with a quilting/life schedule that works great for me. Actually, Clint came up with the schedule that I have been trying out for the past few weeks. Let's just say that last year was hard for me. I had to juggle a ton of things that I have to get done and quilting seemed to always take the backseat. I am grateful for patient customers, but I still feel guilty taking so long to get their quilts done. Along with that, I am happier when I have my own projects that I am working on. So, the plan is to make room for all of it, while not letting anything take over my life - creating unwanted stress. So, balance is the magic word. I am learning to balance everything that I need to do and when I have a strict schedule it is so much easier. I won't bore you with all the nitty gritty details, but I will tell you that I quilt 4 hours a day, 5 or 6 days a week. I wake up early and quilt from 6-7am before the kids get up, I quilt from 1-3pm during nap/quiet time, and finally I quilt from 7-8 pm when the kids are in bed. I have pretty much kept to this schedule for the past few weeks, and it has made a huge difference! I even had time to put together a quilt top, which I will show you when I am all finished. The beauty about this schedule is that I no longer feel guilty if I make time to make some of my own things. Designing, piecing and writing patterns has always been on my list of things to do, but without time management it wasn't happening.
So, long story short - this year is all about balance and schedules. I didn't realize that I have to have a schedule to make everything else work - I feel dumb admitting that, but it is so true. With this schedule I can walk away from what I have to do and be the wife and mom I want to be. I still have time with Clint in the evening and I have time with the kids during the day. It has made a huge difference. The other part of my schedule is that I can not bring my phone into the studio - no Instagram to distract me while I am quilting.
Well, thanks for listening - I have a lot of great things planned this year, I have designs I would like to get out and hopefully by the end of the year I will have "caught" up with the quilting. By then I will be quilting custom quilts every other month and hopefully adding room for some allover quilting during the other months, I think I need a break from the total custom every now and then so I don't go crazy ;)
One more thing - I have added quick social media buttons at the top right of my blog so you can follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Flickr if you want! See you there!
Speaking of things to do, I have come up with a quilting/life schedule that works great for me. Actually, Clint came up with the schedule that I have been trying out for the past few weeks. Let's just say that last year was hard for me. I had to juggle a ton of things that I have to get done and quilting seemed to always take the backseat. I am grateful for patient customers, but I still feel guilty taking so long to get their quilts done. Along with that, I am happier when I have my own projects that I am working on. So, the plan is to make room for all of it, while not letting anything take over my life - creating unwanted stress. So, balance is the magic word. I am learning to balance everything that I need to do and when I have a strict schedule it is so much easier. I won't bore you with all the nitty gritty details, but I will tell you that I quilt 4 hours a day, 5 or 6 days a week. I wake up early and quilt from 6-7am before the kids get up, I quilt from 1-3pm during nap/quiet time, and finally I quilt from 7-8 pm when the kids are in bed. I have pretty much kept to this schedule for the past few weeks, and it has made a huge difference! I even had time to put together a quilt top, which I will show you when I am all finished. The beauty about this schedule is that I no longer feel guilty if I make time to make some of my own things. Designing, piecing and writing patterns has always been on my list of things to do, but without time management it wasn't happening.
So, long story short - this year is all about balance and schedules. I didn't realize that I have to have a schedule to make everything else work - I feel dumb admitting that, but it is so true. With this schedule I can walk away from what I have to do and be the wife and mom I want to be. I still have time with Clint in the evening and I have time with the kids during the day. It has made a huge difference. The other part of my schedule is that I can not bring my phone into the studio - no Instagram to distract me while I am quilting.
Well, thanks for listening - I have a lot of great things planned this year, I have designs I would like to get out and hopefully by the end of the year I will have "caught" up with the quilting. By then I will be quilting custom quilts every other month and hopefully adding room for some allover quilting during the other months, I think I need a break from the total custom every now and then so I don't go crazy ;)
One more thing - I have added quick social media buttons at the top right of my blog so you can follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Flickr if you want! See you there!
