Tuesday, October 9, 2018

2018 Ambitions: Uneven Progress, The Third Quarter Summary

Way back in December of 2017, I participated with Quilting Jetgirl's 2018 Planning Party by putting together a set of quilting ambitions for the year.  Now that third quarter is over it's time to assess how things have gone so far this year.  

Ambition #1: Shorten the UFO List


If you compare the above chart to the one I posted on the mid-year update, I've gone down by one.  So there's been progress, just not a lot of it.  I'm doing a good job of finishing my newer projects, but not so hot at finishing off my older projects.  I've been pulling out a new UFO a month to work on and there's been a lot of progress on each, but I've just not managed to get many to the completed quilt stage. 

Ambition #2:  Participate in select quilt along/mysteries

 Squared Away Sampler
designed by Mari (The Academic Quilter) and Angela (Soscrappy)
The 2018 Rainbow Scrap Challenge Project
            
I'm actually up to date on this year's Rainbow Scrap Project, Squared Away.  All but October's blocks are done, I just don't have an updated picture yet. 

I had planned to participate in the Meadow Mist Design's Plus Sign Sampler Quilt Along, but the sampler just didn't appeal to me.  So instead, I signed up for the Halloween Mystery quilt along at my local quilt shop.  

 Halloween Mystery
designed by Carrie Randall (Quilter's Hideaway)

The Halloween mystery was such fun, that I've signed up for the Christmas mystery as well.  That one isn't on my list, but it uses up stash (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it).  I'm also planning to do Bonnie Hunter's annual mystery quilt that should kick off at the end of October with the fabric requirements.  

Ambition #3:  Find 15 minutes to stitch each day.


      Success rate = 93.95%

This ambition is on track.  I'm hoping to end the year at 90% or better. 

Ambition #4: Stash Management
     Purchase less than 5 yards per quarter - nope didn't happen
     Organize the stash - a little progress
     Use only stash fabrics for any new projects - on track

Ambition #5:  Blog once a week
      121 blog posts for 40 weeks = 3/week

So I'm on track here. 

So everything is on track except for finishing quilts and stash management.  Areas to work on for 2019. 

Here's the project progress since midyear:

February Project: Magnolia Mystery - Done

 

April Project: En Provence - Done

 




June Project - Red, White and Blue Stars (blocks finished)

 

July Project - Inverted Stars (border blocks finished)

 


August Project - Twinkle Star Quilt (blocks finished)

 

September Project - On Ringo Lake (made more blocks)

 


So there were two finishes last quarter, plus a lot of progress.  So it's all good.  Hopefully there will be at least two finishes for the last quarter.  I have a graduation quilt to finish before Christmas!  

Good luck with your ambitions for the fourth quarter.  It's always a busy time of year.  

9 comments:

Barbara said...

Kate, you amuse me with your graphs and charts. You are obviously very organized regardless of what your stash says about you. I’m so with you on the finishes. I’ve finished lots of quilts, even this year, and even with our trip. The ones that aren’t finished are the oldest of the oldest. Is it because they are our least favorites? I don’t know. I do have one explanation...I reached a point where I said I couldn’t start anything new unless I could get it to flimsy stage within the month I started it.

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I love your charts! Certainly way more organized than I. Finishes have been sparse here as well - those darn squirrels are to blaim.

The Colorful Fabriholic said...

You are so organized! I love your graphs and charts. Give yourself credit for all your progress on all your projects, even if some haven't crossed the finish line yet. And have fun with all your fourth quarter projects.

piecefulwendy said...

Well, at least you aren't adding to your UFOs by finishing your new projects. I consider that a great accomplishment. I have tackled some of my UFOs this year, and I'm pretty happy with my progress. I'm now at the point where I need to make a decision on some of them; do I really want to finish them, or give/donate/upcycle them? Be encouraged with your progress; I think you are doing well even if you aren't reaching the goals as you'd hoped you would.

Angie in SoCal said...

I, too, have had progress, but not many finishes. Next year, I'm just going to have to not sign up for anything and get some of those UFOs to the done stage.

You've done well.

Donna said...

The Halloween quilt is adorable! What a great project that didn't take forever to make. I wish my LQS did smaller BOMs.

Julie in GA said...

You have made great progress on so many of your quilts! I think it's a good idea to have goals, but stay flexible when something new pops up like the Halloween BOM. Otherwise it can start to feel like work. I'm always impressed with your graphs--so organized!

Jennifer said...

You know I love your charts! Even if the numbers for UFOs don’t show it, you’ve gotten a lot done this year! And next round on the UFOs will likely see lots of finishes.

thea said...

I'm a little late to the party, but I love all the charts.