What will you make this year? (Goals and machines)

Happy New Year to you all!

Do you have any sewing  goals for this year? Did you actually write them down so you don't forget?
Anyone put finish a few UFO's on their goal list?

I have spent several days in the studio, moving things around to sort and see what I have, and clear out some space for three quilt deadlines. I need to figure out how to get back on the exhibit entry circuit this year and take a class on how to use my new SLR camera for entry pictures. I also want to draw more, not to impress but to learn scale and shading. I want to use my books, do more beading, finish some started projects and start more. I want to look through my old quilting magazines and clear off the dining room table. (post on my magazine obsession click here!)

As if that will ever happen.

For me, there is a balance between cleaning up and putting things away, which gives me clarity and space to work... but...the other side of that is forgetting what I have and possibly not remembering where I stored it.

 I have many other goals as well. I finally bought a featherweight so I need/want to learn about the care and feeding of it, and use it to sew some scrap projects  in bee. Under the tree this year were two important black cases...

 One holds the SLR digital camera I need to take a class on digital photography. Hopefully that will lead to understanding of how to take a great picture for quilt show entries. The other case held this...

A 1951 centenial Singer featherweight.
I have wanted this machine for years, toying with the idea of getting a red one, but when a local woman approached our bee with the desire to sell her two I went over to see this one. It needs a tiny bit of adjustment, possibly a new belt and a bit of oil but it is so cool!! I am thrilled.
Now I must allow myself to use it. One of my goals is to learn the care and feeding from my hive mate Lynn and then start a sewin'

Each year I choose a word to explore for that year.
 Last year was ( enjoy another monk photo from last year)   ENJOY

Awe, here's my happy monk, the one who stayed on the mantle all year to remind me to enjoy the moments between the pain. This year he's joined by this year's Snowbaby. I try to get one each year, and didn't display them all this year but this one needed buying.
The gesture of love, the holding of the sweet bear close, the connection between them... had to have it.
Because
This year my word is connection, a verb or connections a noun and goal. 

When a person chooses ( or often a word chooses them)  a word to focus on for a year, it is surprising all that comes up.
 The universe kicked my butt when I chose RELEASE. I won't try to explain all I had to release that year but it wasn't easy. It was good, not easy. 

So this year I hope to explore connections in all forms, connecting to friends, myself, my work, my long term goals, the Earth and my spirituality, and not least of which my husband and poodle. I sure hope those of you here will consider being a part of my process this year!! I have made fantastic friends here. Friendships that can grow and blossom. 
A short story... we went contra dancing New Year's Eve.

  We met contra dancing in Tampa and have danced together in the greater DC area since we moved here about 20 years ago. We have gotten to know many people at these friendly dances but only a few that we see outside of the dances themselves. This year, during a break I bravely approached one of the couples we really like and told her about my word, and that I would love to set up a dinner date with them this year. I feared she would come up with excuses to keep a distance like so many people here do... but she didn't! She said, great! We'd love to. 

It's a start! 

I have written down goals in several categories. One of my goals is to start a link party of my own this year and I sure hope you will come share that with me. I spent the morning developing a quilt to use as the image for the link button!! It's really cool and I'm excited about it. 

What have you been up to and have you set any goals for yourself and quilting??
Thanks for reading and please stay in touch y'all!

Love, LeeAnna
linking to 15 sewing goals  as well as my other faves listed on links page