First things first: happiest of happy birthday wishes to my husband today (this is his 40th birthday)!!
I realized that I had better sit down and write down my goals for 2019 before I missed linking up with my own hosted #2019PlanningParty! Before I jump into sharing my goals for 2019, I want to look back on my 2018 goals and see how things have gone this year.
2018 Shorter Term / Actionable Goals
- Make 3-4 bed quilts for us!! – I am planning on 3, and I am currently a little over halfway through with the goal. If I’m lucky, I’ll have 2/3 complete by the end of the year.
- Quilt 1: Kaleidoscope Plus – Complete!
- Quilt 2: Wholecloth: Playful Foxes – In work!
- Quilt 3: Bubbly – To be made in early 2019
Quilt 4: TBD
- Take time for self care!
- Pick one thing each month – reading, baths, walks outside, gym or yoga time, etc. – I did these things but not in a focused way each month.
- Repeat: “Time expands when I need it.” – I am good at remembering this mantra when I need to use it.
- Repeat: “It is OK to plan for and allow myself me-time.” – I am not very good at this. I very rarely have any down time. Between Quilting Jetgirl, Wabi-Sabi Overland, biking and walking with my husband each day, gym time, and keeping the house in order, my days full to overflowing and I fall into bed exhausted every night.
- Mail something – a note, postcard – to my nieces each month. – I did not meet this goal at all.
- Write a blog post 3 times a week. – On average, I posted more than 3 times a week.
- Be online less (this is an evolution of some big picture goal setting, see #4 below). – Adding in Wabi-Sabi Overland as a blog and Instagram account really did not help with this goal. I don’t think I was online any less at all; in fact, I was online probably even more.
- Continue to focus on pattern writing. – I also focused on teaching and technical editing, which I have learned that I love to do!
2018 Big Picture Goals
- Remember my overarching life goal of seeking mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual balance. – I do remember this, especially when things get really out of balance as it helps me re-frame my priorities.
- Continue to embrace the “seek rejection” philosophy. – Adding teaching and technical editing to my offerings has definitely continued this!
- Be gentle with myself. – Maybe?
- Continue to work on big picture goals while being open and flexible to what life has in store. – I had to be very flexible this year. I have wrapped up all but one remaining magazine project.
2018 Quilting Jetgirl Income Review
Qulting Jetgirl Year End Review
I started my Quilting Jetgirl business in 2014, and I thought I would share what my end of year statistics have looked like since I have been in business. In 2014 my expenses far outweighed my income, making my total income for the year negative (I bought a longarm, ha!). Since then, my income has grown year over year, my expenses hover around the same amount, and so my total income has slowly increased each year as well. The big positive difference for me this year was adding teaching and technical editing to my offering.
I have removed values from the chart. I have had a very high paying job that was way too stressful. I now have a “job” that I love that makes a little bit of money. On the whole, this is better as long as bills can be paid…
2019 Short Term Goals
So, with big changes afoot in my life, here are my short term goals that I have for through the end of April 2019.
- Complete obligations
- Fox Wholecloth Quilt (by the end of this year, if possible)
- Complete 3rd bed quilt for Wabi-Sabi Overland (Bubbly)
- Complete final magazine project
- Be on the crew at QuiltCon
- Teach at QuiltCon
- Teach in March in Los Osos, CA
- Teach in April in Hot Springs, AR
- Continue to blog 2-4 times a week, as content arises
- Continue to focus on pattern writing, technical editing, and teaching
- Prepare for living in Wabi-Sabi Overland
- Make bags for safe storage of identified items
- Make dinette seat cushions
- Purchase mobile wifi hotspot and begin testing out remote access functionality
2019 Longer Term Goals
These goals are purposefully for once my husband and I begin traveling in Wabi-Sabi Overland, which will hopefully begin at the very end of April/early May 2019.
- Finish any remaining projects; these are not obligations like the list above, so they will likely fall to the backburner
- Make baby size version of Wonder quilt
- Finish Aurifil BOM blocks and quilt
- Finish Modern Plus Sampler QAL quilt
- Finish Splendid Sampler 2 blocks and quilt
- Finish Aurifil/OLFA project
- Have fun and make new projects!
- Continue to blog as content and wifi are available
- Continue to focus on pattern writing and technical editing
- Release 2019 Patreon Pattern (Bubbly)
- Full reveal of 2019 Patreon Pattern
- Release Wonder
- Release Flight Path
- Release Precession
- Release Mirage
- Learn what it means to be online much less often (!!)
2019 Big Picture Goals
- Remember my overarching life goal of seeking mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual balance.
- Continue to embrace the “seek rejection” philosophy.
- I hope to stop in at quilt shops along our Wabi-Sabi Overland journey and, who knows, maybe I can find the opportunity to teach along the way??
- Be gentle with myself.
- There are lots of changes in store this year, and not everything is going to go smoothly. I hope I remember that it is all going to be OK.
Linking up with the #2019PlanningParty.
I like your planning style. Especially “be gentle with yourself.” So far I have heard of 2 people – one a child, the other over 50, having serious flus. If you are sick, go see a Dr. even a night clinic Dr. Resolve to get tested for the flu because each flu needs the right PRESCRIPTION medicine.
It looks like 2018 was a good year full of accomplishments, I wish you continued success for 2019.
I’ve enjoyed reading this post, Yvonne. I think you do a great job of putting your goals in writing, along with the honest look at how your past year went. Learning to give yourself me-time can be a challenge, so I think it’s wise that you remind yourself to be gentle with yourself. You definitely have some big (exciting) changes on the way, but I think you’ve done a good job at making some realistic goals. I’m excited to see where this year takes you!
Great post and a good set of goals for 2019. Where do you plan to travel to once you hit the road?
We plan to head north and visit Western Canada and Alaska over the summer. After what we hope will be a 6 month trip, we will decide what comes next. 🙂
it is good that you can do what you like and quite the high paying job as you were not happy – I too wonder where will you be traveling when your camper vehicle is done
I’m looking forward to reading about your big changes in 2019. Best wishes for a wonderful year.
I have really enjoyed your blog and generally getting to know you one the past four years or so. It has been so interesting to watch as you honed your focus and took steps to develop your business – writing goals such as these is likely a strong component of your success. This year holds so much adventure for you and your husband. I really look forward to reading about your travels.
Finally – being on-line less – – that is something I strive for but it is so hard with an on-line business. I know it is the social media that sucks me in and I need to find a way to limit it. If you have any tips – let me know!!
Trying to figure out the yearly income and income notations on your chart, guess I am missing something.
Good to know that you can finally see a profit after the long arm purchase.
Total Income = Income minus Expenses
The accounting term would be “net” income. Income minus expenses equals net income.
I’m excited to be vicariously following along with you on Wabi Sabi Overland. Have a great trip!
your graph is so encouraging for you. And long travels, I am sure that some teaching will happen along the way.Summer time in a motor home or caravan is a lot easier, laundry drying for one, and no road closures with ice or snow.What a great opportunity to combine the photography, the quilting, teaching and maybe a little time for relaxing.
Excited to see your travels! I love being online less. It’s the best. 🙂 You can do it!!
You are always such an inspiration to my Yvonne. You are so good at coming up with and articulating goals. Mine are stewing around in my brain. I am looking forward to sharing your 2019 journey with you. I hope you learn what spending less time on the internet means.
You have a wonderful plan, great balance of more measurable and more abstract goals.
Wishing you the best in 2019. It sounds like it will be full of great adventures. I find it fascinating to learn how people quilt from the road or sea in limited space. It’s hard for me to imagine. Where does that longarm go in the mean time?
You did great with your goals. And hopefully 2019 is all that you dream it to be. It will be fun to hear about your travelling adventures. Happy Birthday to your husband.
All the best in 2019 to you!
Hello Yvonne, I have learned so much from you during the years that I have followed you. You are an excellent blogger, instructor, designer and quilter. I look forward to reading your posts until the end of the year and throughout the New Year while you and your Husband travel to wherever your hearts lead you. I also wish you the best of luck at meeting each of your goals. Thank you so much Yvonne for sharing and caring in so many ways. You always inspire me! Have a spectacular day!
It IS all going to be OK! Obviously different but good! Good luck with your goals. I’m been thinking about some, but am nowhere near as focused as you are…..we’ll see.
That’s an impressive list! I think you’re going to have an exciting 2019!! I’m joining in and hope I can keep on track 🙂
Yvonne, thank you for sharing the details of your 2018 plans and your overview for 2019. I too have taken a huge step back in this past year from a job that was way too stressful, so I really relate to your journey. I’m so glad you are building in goals to care for yourself. The Playful Foxes quilt is coming along so beautifully — I am excited to see the finished project! Good luck with your pre-April goals, and I’m curious to see how Wabi-Sabi Overland goes for you two. Best wishes for a happy and peaceful 2019!
Great post Yvonne! I’m hoping your new life as a travelling quilt teacher works well for you! I’ve enjoyed reading about how you’ve changed your focus over the past year to include technical editing in your business. Hope you have a great 2019!
What a great year you had! You did get a lot done and really got quite a lot accomplished. It sounds like the technical editing was an unexpected addition and that is terrific. I love that you focus and will continue to on “Seek Rejection” – it is a really interesting approach. You are very realistic about the changes, and, being kind to yourself is one of the most important things in a year of change. Wishing you a terrific new year and look forward to following along (when you are able).
Great job identifying your goals and separating them according to before and after you start traveling. Good luck accomplishing all you hope!
Congrats on your achievements for 2018. The stuff that didn’t happen will always be part of our goals, if it’s meant, it will eventually happen (I really wish our corporate goals were this way). Wishing you all bets in 2019!
wow, what an amazing 2019 it will be for you – I can’t wait to hear about traveling and all other experiences and creations you will do! I really love your style of setting goals and learned some on how to set mine… without setting myself for failure. Still working on my 2019 Planning Pary blog post, hope to finish it tonight!