This year I am working to focus my life on what is most important, what brings me joy and pleasure, both personally and professionally.
Quilting
Quilting is my passion.It is who I am, and it is my way of life; and so it fits into both of these categories; so well, that I sometimes do not know where one starts and the other begins.
I chose flourish to be my word of the year for my quilting life, endeavouring to grow and develop my quilting skills and techniques, as well as making more quilts, and/ or quilted items, than the year before.
After making flourish my ‘quilting’ word of the year, I decided I would like to apply it to all aspects of my life.
But what does flourish really mean? The Oxford Dictionary definies the word flourish in three ways, the first of which is the meaning I was looking for:
- v. 1. grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way
So how do I plan to flourish this year? How do I plan to achieve this ‘goal’?
I think there are a few things that need to be done before I can trully flourish.
Like a plant, I need nourishment, ‘food’ to nourish my creativity and my skills. I have been working on feeding my creativity a lot, these past months, trying out new crafts and getting inspired by the people who have followed their creative urges and done so successfully.
I have been following various blogs, as well as podcasts and of course Instagram.
To improve my skills however, I need to do a bit more work.
In order to feed my hunger for new skills and techniques I will be looking to the professionals and studying their books in my personal quilting library.
Some books that I am really looking forward to reading more of are:
- “Quilts! Quilts! Quilts! The Complete Guide to Quiltmaking” by Diana Mc Clun and Laura Nownes. After using this book for my questions about fabric preparation I am totally convinced that this book has many of the answers to questions I have been asking myself on my journey to learning to quilt and to do it well.
- “Quilts Galore! Quilt Making Styles and Techniques” by Diana Mc Clun and Laura Nownes. The follow up from their previous book. I am particularly interested in designing my own quilts and so the chapter on Drafting and their how to’s for each of the traditional styles of quilts in this books is extremely interesting.
- “Making Welsh Quilts The Textile Tradition That Inspired The Amish?” by Mary Jenkins and Clare Claridge ( my Christmas wish and pressy from Yves)- This book I want to read back to front. It is full of the history of Welsh Quilts, something I have been inspired by, for a long time.
- “Amish Quiltmaker From Small Projects to Full-Sized Quilts” by Bettina Havig. Another book I would love to read back to back! It is so informative and inspiring!
- “Loving Stitches A Guide To Fine Hand Quilting” by Jeana Kimball. Full of eye candy, I will definitely be attempting to read this from back to back!
Then of course, to become a good, professional quilter, I think there is a lot to learn from today’s contemporaryartists, and so I will be trying to do as many classes as possible. I have already started a few with Creativebug and will be revisiting some from Craftsy and maybe taking some more there too.
Most importantly, to make my quilting something I can make an income from, I will need to revisit machine quilting. So that is one of my main quilting skills I need to learn this year.
Personal
In my personal life I will also be aiming to flourish.
My health and wellbeing has become increasingly important over the last couple of years, though I still am working on finding work / life balance.
I am doing everything I can with my health, learning to eat more well balanced meals, which has also lead to a growing interest in sustainability and eating more wholesome foods, organic and/or foods that are made or grown with care to the environment and the animals well being.
Where health and wellbeing is concerned, it is hard not to consider the environment I am living in, both here in Switzerland and in Bermuda as well as the world around us.
Aside from wanting to be successful in achieving my personal goals their are many professional goals that I have made over the last couple of years.
Professional
Back in February, I completed these worksheets again on “Goal Setting ” which I had also filled out last year. I found them extremely helpful to focus my goals for the year and see really where my heart is and what I need to focus on. You can get the 2016 version of this on Kathy’s This Cherished Life website by signing up for her newsletter.
Since I started my blog back in November 2013, I have been working to improve the content of my posts, the quality and design of my blog, and making it more professional.
Home Sweet Dreaming has been a platform for me to share my experiences and my creative journey and I am convinced that it will lead me to more clarity in what I want from my life professionally. Every day, I feel I am getting one day closer to a business plan and one day soon, announcing what it is. Taking that running leap into cold water!
So what about you? What are some of your most important personal or/and professional goals that are guiding your life at this moment?
One of my biggest fears with starting my own business, is doing it ALONE! I know it is the right thing for me, and I know I will need the guidance with financial stuff from my husband Yves, but it is such a huge responsibility. The one thing that I don’t like about doing it this way, alone, is that I don’t have anyone, beside my working hubby, to bounce ideas off of, to say, : “No, Jodie, that is : stupid, unrealistic or impossible.”
If you are in the same position as I am and are dreaming of being self-employed and running your own business, what advice would you give me or others in my position?
If you are simply a blog reader or fellow blogger, what subjects do you most enjoy reading about on blogs? Is there a common topic you especially like reading about on my blog? If so, what is it.
I appreciate the time you have spent here with me today and I would be grateful for any responses or comments.
Have a great weekend and enjoy the weather!!
Jodie
Home Sweet Dreaming 
Hey Jodie! I love your blog. I love your passion for quilting and your honesty in your posts. I think that’s what draws people in. I totally understand your fear of starting a business. My advice would be to get started, start small and you can always change as you go. Nothing is set in stone, but you’ll never get there if you don’t get started.
xoxox
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I totally agree Robyn! You are right absolutely. I think I know what I want and that I can do easily without making any huge commitments. Thanks so much for all the encouragement! I needed that! I wish I could talk to you more and throw ideas at you.
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Hi Jodie! Like you, I want to be self-employed and it IS scary but I think the most important thing (or one of the most important) is to BELIEVE in yourself. That’s been my biggest obstacle. I know my family considers me talented but none of them, besides my aunt, ever really say, “Jodie, you CAN do it” and it’s discouraging. Until I realized the belief needs to come from within me 🙂 So now I say it.
Working from home is vital for me because creating is what feeds me, nourishes me, as you’d say. Sewing, wood working, making soap, gardening, cooking, baking, it all gives me such immense joy it makes sense to channel that into earning an income. If other people can do it, why can’t I?
If we nourish ourselves, we’ll flourish as a result! You’re very inspiring and I’m looking forward to following your progress.
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Oh Jodie, it is so nice to hear these words and to hear someone else is suffering the same issues. I love what you said about creating being what feeds you! I think slowly my husband is coming to realize that that is my way, that I am on the right way. It makes so much difference when you hear others say positive things to you and encourage you than just the negative all the time as you mentioned. I can’t wait to get my ass moving! Faster I mean as I am moving it, believe me!
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Hello Jodie! I have made the leap from IG to visit your blog! It is a brave move to become self employed, I can understand your concerns about being isolated etc. I am sure there are many groups and associations for small businesses, or sole traders, that you could perhaps join, enabling you to meet like minded people who are also self empolyed. Self belief is a big part of self employment. If you don’t have self belief you tend to undercharge your customers, and end up working long hours for almost nothing. (Sadly I know this from personal experience!) Be bold, be brave, and charge accordingly. If people want your services, they will pay. Good luck! I look forward to following your adventures! X
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Hi Penny, Many thanks for the lovely comment. I appreciate you taking the time to check out my blog. I am doing many changes on the layout etc. It is great how IG has brought me closer to the people I follow whether it be podcasters, bloggers, IG’ers, as well as good friends and family members. I am so greatful for all the interesting people, like yourself that it has put me in contact with. It makes me feel a lot less isolated. I know self belief plays a huge roll. Where I am living in my corner of Switzerland is rather backwards and old fashioned. It has only been quite recently that people might be on FB or Instagram or Blog. Though blogging for a living is basically unknown. It is amazing how different it is here culturally. Go an hour west towards/in Zurich and they are so much more open and modern and international. I joined my local quilt club, I am half of the age of most of the members, and at least 10 years younger than the others. I have offered to make the group a blog, they hardly understood the concept, needless to say none of them have a FB page. Oh what they are missing in the quilty world. They are however fabulous quilters and sewists amoung them and a lot of valuable friendships and skills that can be learned. I feel more and more like I am part of the online community and this is for me enough in regards to blogging. I had something really fantastic happen to me this week I would love to tell you, but it all too soon. Hopefully, next week I will have good news. Thanks so much for your support!!
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It’s good to catch up with you, Jodie. And that you are doing well and enjoying your passions such as quilting. Be well!
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Thank you Cynthia, yes, it is difficult to keep up with things, these days I am so much on IG that I often forget about WP and it is so much better, I just forget about it. Sad I know. It is like Ok I write my post and then that is it, but I can actually follow people easily on WP too! I am trying to improve on that note.
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