Before setting goals for a new year, I always start by reviewing my goals for the previous year.
2022 Goals
- Host the Planview Quilt Along. – Complete!
- Teach at QuiltCon 2022. – Due to the Omicron surge, I made the very tough decision to cancel. It was the right choice for me and my family, but it was an excruciating and difficult decision to make.
- After QuiltCon, expand virtual teaching options and begin to host my own virtual workshops outside of guilds. – This goal is temporarily and possibly permanently on hold. Moving complicated this goal as did uncertainty on what my internet connection and stability would be living inside a hangar.
- Continue to blog 1-2 times a week as content arises. – Complete! The only time I was not consistent was in the few week period at the end of July when we moved.
- Release 6+ new Quilting Jetgirl patterns and continue designing. – Partially complete. I released 5 patterns in 2022. Due to moving and the enormity of the Diatom pattern (it is a 90-page pattern!), I’m still quite happy with what I was able to accomplish.
- Sesen – Released!
- Planview (full pattern at the end of the quilt along for those who were not interested in participating in the QAL) – Released!
- Frost Filigree
- Star Map
- Meringue – Released!
- Finial
- Next Quilt Along – Diatom is released and we start sewing our first block on January 6th!
- Not anticipated but also released: Playful Partial Seams Mini Quilt
- Maintain technical editing clients and grow new opportunities as time allows. – Complete! I still love working as a technical editor and enjoy helping others achieve their pattern writing goals.
- Take time off. Take weekends off. Some weekends I know will need to commit to teaching, but I do need to cultivate some down time so that I can come back refreshed. – Partially complete. I was able to take more time away, especially on weekends, but as a result I did not complete as many quilts or publish as many patterns. Everything in life is a balance, and I’ll expect to continue to try to find the right mix of time in my studio every day, week, and year.
- Remember to seek rejection, have fun, and try new things! – Some big relationships came to an end this year, some new ones are just beginning, and I continue to try to write “bonus” patterns to use up the scraps from my designs, which I am really excited to continue as I move forward.
- Note to self: the fact that I am releasing patterns with “bonus” designs is fabulous but a contributing factor to the number of patterns I can realistically release in a year.
2022 Quilting Jetgirl Income Review
Overall, I made less money in 2022 than I did on 2021, mostly as a result in the decrease in teaching income. Full disclosure: I don’t make a lot of money in a year (I’m hovering around $20k net income), but my goal is to bring in enough income that I can pay for our health insurance. This is the second year I was able to earn enough to meet that goal, and now that my husband has transitioned to being self-employed, I’m glad I had time to build up confidence that I can pay for our health insurance.
A notable income stream difference for 2022 is the addition of the category of affiliate sales. This is mainly for my participation in the Quick Quilts Pattern bundle earlier this year. When I started my quilting business in 2014, I envisioned making and selling quilts. Boy has that changed! This year I sold one quilt, which at this point is a rarity for me.
2023 Goals
Diatom – Star Setting Twin
Business Goals
- Host the Diatom Quilt Along.
- Continue to blog 1-2 times a week as content arises.
- Release new Quilting Jetgirl patterns and continue designing. I don’t want to put a number on my goal for next year, but I certainly have a few patterns at the top of my list that I know I will want to work on.
- Night Garden
- Cloudy Night Sky
- Frost Filigree
- Next Quilt Along
- Maintain technical editing clients and grow new opportunities as time allows.
- Continue to explore the balance of time in the studio and my need to take time off and creatively recharge. At the very least, I’d like to join my local library and start reading books again.
- Remember to seek rejection, have fun, and try new things!
Life Goals
- Get back into a regular rhythm with doctor’s appointments. The past few years I have been good about my mammograms (I’m on a 6-month schedule) and COVID shots and boosters, but this year I want to get back to taking care of everything else. Specifically, I need to schedule a visit with an optometrist and dentist. Due to an injury as a teenager, it will also be good to find and maintain a regular appointment schedule with a chiropractor to keep me as pain free as possible.
- Maintain a regular exercise schedule. I’ll be participating in a 30 day yoga practice in January. I also like to incorporate strength training via Sydney Houdyshell, take daily walks with my husband, and go on weekly walks with my good friend Traci.
- Give myself grace and lean into patience.
- While running my business is important, my husband is starting his own venture into self-employment which has an interesting yin-yang relationship with my time. We will need to travel to support his work, and I look forward to seeing him continue to grow and flourish.
Linking up with the #2023PlanningParty.
“Give myself grace and lean into patience” – I am going to borrow this one, Yvonne. I love that you are willing to share so fully how you have met/not quite met your goals every year. I find it extremely interesting and it encourages me to articulate goals for myself (if not to anyone else).
Thank you for sharing your goals, those both met and not met. Also for sharing your sources of income. Continued good success to you in the year ahead!
A very thoughtful list of goals for next year. When I retired earlier this year, I wanted to start yoga to improve my flexability (age isn’t kind to that skill), I started using one of Adriene’s work outs. It does help. Thanks for the link to her January month of yoga. It would be a good way to get back on track after all the skipping on work outs I did over the holiday. Good luck with your goals next year.
I love that you set such measurable goals. Its encouraging to learn and see how you do it… good luck to your husband and you guys figuring that all out too – exciting times!
Awesome recap of a successful 2022. I wish you tons of happiness and well-being in 2023!
Considering your move and all, I think you accomplished a lot well. As always, I appreciate your thoughtfulness in every area. Wish you the best as we move in to 2023!
You are amazing! What with moving and the Covid resurge, what you have achieved is exceptional.
There’s an old Success Motivation Institute saying that goes something like: If you aren’t making the progress you think you should be making, it is merely because your goals aren’t clearly defined. I applaud you. BECAUSE your goals ARE clearly defined, you are making SIGNIFICANT progress. And you are too hard on yourself about the number of patterns produced per year. I’d wager a guess that creating those bonus patterns equates to creating the original pattern. Did you know that at least one of your readers likes the bonus patterns better than the originals? Have you considered offering the bonus patterns separately as stand-alones? Just a thought. (Would probably take extra work but might increase pattern sales. Some of the work is already done.)
I loved reading your recap from this year and your plans for next year. You have accomplished so much. Covering health insurance while being self-employed is so important. I wish you the very best.
You’ve had a great year Yvonne and I look forward to following along in 2023. I’m also excited to hear more about all that space you have and what you’ll do with it (assuming it’s not a plane). I just keep thinking how amazing that area would be for quilt photos 🙂 You could have all these different IKEA showroom-like scenes set up and photo quilts in them. Heaven!
I love how your goals are very succinct and yet contain a variety of aspects in life. Good luck with all your goals in 2023! And with that big move, I agree that you accomplished a lot. Celebrate 🙂 xo
Happy New Year to you and your family. Congrats for everything you accomplished this past year.
Good to add some health related goals, too. We’ve been playing pickleball and have way more exercise weekly now than we did before covid. Your designs are always uniquely you, lovely and can’t wait to see the next one.
Thanks for sharing your income breakdown pie chart! I loved seeing all the diverse revenue streams you have. And thanks for hosting the Planning Party! This inspired me to document my goals for the new year, too!