2018 Goals

This is the 3rd year I am sharing my goals with you. It is nice for me to have them written down and public so I have my quilting friends holding me accountable. I come back to the post often to motivate myself and to remind myself of what I am suppose to be working towards.


2017 Goals

First a review of the goals I made for 2017

1) Publish 8 patterns - I feel like I need to keep growing, but if I don't hit 8, I'm going to be OK with that. I'm a wife, mother and family child care provider; giving myself a little slack is important.

"X-Squared"
All words and no pictures make for a boring blog post.

Published Patterns: X-Squared, Softly Circled, Against The Grain, Gradient Stars, Criss Crossing and Quilt Crush )published first in McCalls Quick Quilts and now digitally by me), The Border Quilt, Broken Panes, as well as blocks in Quiltmakers 100 Quilt Blocks Issue 15 and Issue 16, a free pattern for the BU Quilt Along and twelve mug rug patterns for the Muggamo series.

"Softly Circled"

2) Schedule 1 trunk show. - See what I did there? Hahahaha! Well, I still want to do these, but I'm going to have to figure out how. So lets start with 1, shall we. 

Still figuring out logistics of this, but I did vend at my first quilt show.

"Jubilee" block Quiltmakers 100 Quilt Blocks Issue 15

3) Get published in a different magazine - I've already had a rejection from a different magazine, but I'm hoping to get picked up by another one. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. 

I was published in Quiltmakers 100 Quilt Blocks this year.

Block in "Here A Square There A Square"

4) Step out of my comfort zone and video a couple of tutorials - I've got nothing to add to that. Scary! 

I did this! It wasn't pretty, and I don't know if there are more in my future, but it was good to try.

"Muggamo" pattern with the most love.

5) Contact other distributors and stores - It's time to get those patterns out there! 

Still working on this.

"Against the Grain"

6) Grow my readers! That's you! What do you like to see in a blog? Do you like email lists? Share your thoughts in the comments! 

I think this one is just a constant goal, and one I will continue to work on.

"Gradient Stars"

Well, not too bad if I do say so myself! I didn't realize that I had actually published 8 patterns this year. Granted, two of them were in Quick Quilts last year, and one of them this year, but I'm excited to see growth. I have four patterns already tested just waiting for me to get cover quilts going, I just need to figure out my 2018 goals and where those patterns fit in.

2018 Goals

1) Take care of me. I'm changing it up a bit this year. I've been struggling since July to find a good balance in my life; family, child care business and pattern business. I've enjoyed it all, but found myself constantly feeling behind, and that is an awful feeling. While I am planning on publishing more patterns, I'm going to step back from the pressure of publishing them and try to go with the flow a bit more.

"The Border Quilt"

2) Grow relationships. I'm finding my blogging/social media world a bit quiet, so I'm hoping to get more involved and "in touch" with those who understand the nuances of the quilting world. I think that will help with goal 1 as well, because support goes a long way in helping keep the burnout away.

3) Distributors. I need to contact distributors again and get some feedback.

"Broken Panes"

4) Teaching. I'm getting a page ready with information on workshops/trunk shows/lectures. I'm excited to get that "published" and get the information to you.

What do you think of my pared down goals? I think they still work on what I feel is important for PBJ, but give me a little bit more room to relax and enjoy the process.

"Cartwheel" block Quiltmakers 100 Quilt Blocks Issue 16

By the way, I am starting something new this year! In place of the Muggamo series; I am having a 2018 Monthly Color Challenge blog hop/quilt along. It starts tomorrow! I hope you join us!

Happy Stitching!

Jen

Linking up with Quilting JetGirl for the 2018 Planning Party

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for daily sneak peeks and updates.

2017 Goals

Last year I posted a list of goals for 2016. I want to revisit those goals and then share some new ones for 2017 with you.

2016 Goals

1) Publish 6 patterns -

The Picnic Quilt, Star Light, Star Bright Sampler, Criss Crossing, Frayed Edges, Winter Cheer, and even though Seaside Steps is in the Feb/Mar 2017 issue, it did technically come out in Dec 2016.

I think we'll call that good.

2) Schedule 4 trunk shows - 

Ummmmm, nope. Not a one. That is totally on  my shoulders, since I didn't even go out and try. 

3) Get published in a magazine

Yes and Yes! Twice! McCall's Quick Quilts Aug/Sept 2016 issue and McCall's Quick Quilts Feb/Mar 2017

4) Find more testers-

Yes! I'm thrilled with the help I've had. My testers are amazing.

5) Blog once a week -

Well, that didn't happen, did it?

Where to go from here...

2017 Goals

1) Publish 8 patterns - I feel like I need to keep growing, but if I don't hit 8, I'm going to be ok with that. I'm a wife, mother and family child care provider, giving myself a little slack is important.

2) Schedule 1 trunk show. - See what I did there? Hahahaha! Well, I still want to do these, but I'm going to have to figure out how. So lets start with 1, shall we.

3) Get published in a different magazine - I've already had a rejection from a different magazine, but I'm hoping to get picked up by another one. If at first you don't succedd, try, try again.

4) Step out of my comfort zone and video a couple of tutorials - I've got nothing to add to that. Scary!

5) Contact other distributors and stores - It's time to get those patterns out there!

6) Grow my readers! That's you! What do you like to see in a blog? Do you like email lists? Share your thoughts in the comments!

I'm excited to get 2017 started!!

Happy Stitching!

Jen


PS. Check back tomorrow for the first in a series of Mug Rug tutorials. By the end of the year you will have a set of 12, perfect for keeping your drink of choice and a sweet handy. 

Fine me on Facebook: Patterns By Jen
Instagram: @patternsbyjen

2016 Goals

I plan on sharing my business goals with you each year, and hopefully, I will be able to come up with a better name for each post. Though, short, sweet, and to the point isn't a bad thing. I hope by sharing these with you, I will keep myself on track, and maybe someone might even have some insight for me. Or encouragement, encouragement is always good. :)

Goal 1: I will publish 6 new patterns this year. 

I feel this is a low number, though it triples what I've done in the last couple of year. I have to remember that this isn't my full time job, yet, and my child care takes a lot of time and energy. And a mom of 4 isn't exactly a quiet "job" either. So hopefully I'm not selling myself short with this number, and at the same time, not setting myself up with too high of a number. It's a fine line isn't it?

The last party favor. So sad.

Goal 2: I will set up 4 trunk shows this year. 

This goal is a bit scary. I don't mind speaking in front of a group of people, but doing the whole one-on-one and talking up my stuff  thing freaks me out a bit. That little voice starts talking about how my patterns aren't good enough, I only have 4 out in print, etc, etc. But... the year is long, so I have time to get a few more patterns out, and a plan together. 

I still love a good, write-in planner.

Goal 3: I will get published in a magazine.

Putting myself and my babies out there, that's a big step. I'm not sure what to expect, but I have a pattern that is done and ready to be submitted. So submit it I will, and then I will see where that take me. I'm just a long for the ride after all.

Goal 4: I will add another distributor.

It seems to me that more distributors is a good thing. I know that I need to get more patterns published to pick up other distributors. Which takes me back to Goal 1. 

The start of 2016 is gloomy and windy in SW Minnesota.

Goal 5: I will find more testers.

I know, in order for me to get these patterns published in this time frame I'm going to need a larger range of testers. This is a tough one, as most testers I haven't even met personally. This can set you up for patterns not getting tested, because they aren't reliable, but having never met them, you just don't know that. I've had that happen a couple of times, which means there is even more pressure on me to make sure these patterns are correct. I have also found some awesome testers along the way, though. And by awesome, I mean AWESOME. They are reliable and always have good information for me. I'm so thankful for their time, work, and thoughts. 

Goal 6: I will work towards blogging once a week.

Blogging is time consuming. Wow! And yet, necessary. So my goal is to get to consistently blogging once a week by the end of the year. Breaking that down into smaller goals of: making a list of possible blog titles, playing with which days are good days for me to plug in blogging time, and which day of the week seems to get the most traffic, and can I fit that in my schedule. 

Sub goal: Scan fabrics for pattern instructions *before* cutting them up.

These are for the cover quilt of Pattern 6: Star Light, Star Bright. Aren't they scrumptious?

I think this list is going to be doable. I have added to my calendar to read it on the 1st of every month, hoping that it will keep me working towards these goals. I also think that if I keep my focus on these goals I will get a better idea of what I am working towards and if these goals benefit that. What should I be doing differently and what is on track. 

I am excited for 2016 and what it holds for PBJ! 

Happy New Year!

Jen