2017: Bring it

I’m starting a new year with a new narrative.

2016 was a big year of self-reflection for me. In a lot of ways, I retreated to be by myself and work through things that made me feel uneasy. I said no a lot. I read a lot. I went to therapy. I made a lot of quilts.

What I learned is that I’m stronger than I ever thought I was. I just had to learn how to believe in my own competency. Anxiety was keeping me from doing things that I can absolutely accomplish. I just needed to know deep down that I can handle it. I committed to doing the work.

So, in 2017 I’m ready to bring it. I wrote a self-coaching script so that I can give myself pep talks when I need them and remind myself of what is important when I get distracted. I have my tools and I’m not afraid to use them.

It’s already working. I’m feeling ready to say yes, to engage, to speak up and be unapologetically me.

One of the tangible results of this is a quilt top that I really love using a process that was so incredibly satisfying. I’ll write about it in full when it’s finished, but I can’t resist showing Neighbors here.

I’ll talk about the process of making it, along with Rally, Mend, and my improv curves at a webinar that I’m presenting for MQG members on January 31 at 9 Eastern. I hope you get a chance to join or watch it on the replay if you’re a member. I’ll be talking about strategies for approaching design and improv in piecing in ways that make your process fun and fulfilling to you. I call it Planned and Unplanned. It’s going to be fun. The link to sign up is here.

There is so much other great quilting activity coming up! I’m going to QuiltCon in Savannah in February, where four of my quilts will be hanging. Then it’s Quilt Fest of NJ in March and Mid-Atlantic Mod in April. I also have a few projects in the works that I’m looking forward to sharing.

Bring it, 2017.