Well, Hello 2015...

I think for many of us today is the start of the new year. Vacations are over, kids are back to school and it's time to put those 2015 plans into place.

I may be weird, but I actually love this time of year. I'm a very reflective person and it seems the right time to look forward, make life adjustments, and set some goals.

One of the things that has been on my mind is the blog. Have you noticed that blogging has changed over the past couple of years? Blog posts are less frequent, comments are fewer and, what began for many bloggers as a platform for journaling their creativity, has become a place to promote their business. I'm not implying at all that this is a bad thing - certainly the internet and a blogging platform have given many creative talents the opportunity to get noticed. They're now designing fabric, writing books and providing some fabulous products for all of us to work with and I love seeing that. How I wish all of this was available when I sat down to submit my first book proposal.

And I have to admit, my blogging schedule has slowed. The ease of social media sites like Instagram has created quite a shortcut for posting and commenting. In the past month, I've been thinking about stopping my blog and simply continuing to share on Instagram. I spent several evenings reading through my blog from the beginning and I knew pretty quickly, I couldn't/shouldn't quit. Even if it's for me only, I enjoy my quilting diary and I love that writing a blog post makes me stop, appreciate and reflect on what I've made. I recently read this book, a sequel to Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon.

This quote from the book really struck me:
"good work isn't created in a vacuum, and ... creativity is always, in some sense, a collaboration, the result of minds connected to other minds." ...page 11

Also:
Creatives are always "supporting each other, looking at each other's work, copying from each other, stealing ideas, and contributing ideas." ...page 11

So although I'll be posting regularly on Instagram - I'll be here too. A blog is a place to get more in-depth, share the process, talk about inspiration and peek a little closer into the work/life of the blog writer. And I don't want this to become a place of "here's a new finished quilt", which I think it has in the past several months. I've decided to go for a weekly post {maybe more some weeks}, which will certainly include my finished projects, but will also include what's happening that week in my creative world - good and bad. Hope you'll join me!

I also had fun this past week making a list of what quilts are on my radar. It a long one, but that's what happens with all this creative sharing and I couldn't be more excited about it!

In 2013 and 2014, I did a year long project. I so enjoyed that and feel I'd love another for 2015. I haven't bought the pattern yet, but I'm ready to hit the button and start Bring Me Flowers by Jen Kingwell.

I've wanted to do a Houndstooth quilt and was reignited when I saw Allison's from Cluck Cluck Sew. I'm think of doing mine scrappy with just two colors, probably white and aqua. There's a slick method on Youtube by Missouri Star Quilt Co that I'll try.

I browsed my quilty Pinterest board and found several I'm putting toward the top of the list:
Cracker
Fireworks
Flying Geese
Refresh
Diamond Ring Quilt

Have you seen the new book Vintage Vibe? I love several of the quilts, but I may start with this one:

I always like to try something new and I think it will be the Glam Clam Quilt. I love Clamshells and I'm excited to try this method.

And finally, I've admired this quilt at Urban Outfitters and really want to make it after seeing Rita's version. I'm going to need to make it my own and I'm thinking of some kind of ombre version like this.

I started drawing a bit in 2014 and I hope to continue that and make it a habit in 2015.

So those are my creative plans! I've been piecing here and there over the holidays and have a few things to get quilted first. I also finished up my Charley Harper quilt and will share a tutorial later this week.

I feel excited and optimistic for 2015! I wish all of you the same!