Looking back and looking forward

Over the past 2 years I have made quite a bit of forward progress on my huge pile of ongoing projects. The Making Forward Progress Challenge was productive for me, and at various points for some of my friends, but I have decided that it is not going to continue after it wraps up the current year at the end of January 2019.
In 2016 I did an inventory of unfinished projects and identified 30 of what my Mom called "pigs" (projects in grocery sacks).  Looking back at the list there are only 7 left unfinished and significant progress has been made on 4 of the remaining 7.
Earlier this year I was not feeling especially inspired to sew anything and wasn't doing much. I think the focus on unfinished projects might have been part of the problem. I came across the Log Cabin Loonies project at JulieKQuilts and was inspired to jump in and start making blocks out of my huge pile of scraps. This new project, which I worked on nearly every day for a few weeks, reminded me of how fun creating new quilts can be.
For 2019 I am setting some goals that I hope will build on this lesson.

1. I want to focus on making quilts that use up my scraps. I may do some more log-cabins, I have an idea for a string quilt that I may try, and I will be keeping an eye on the Oh Scrap! linkup for additional inspiration.
   
2. I am going to start (today) participating in 15-minutes-to-stitch at Life in Pieces. The idea is to stitch for 15 minutes each day and track your success rate. I am going to define "stitching" as anything that involves a sewing or needlework project, selecting fabric, prepping scraps, actual sewing, or working out a design all count. There is a linkup for this each Sunday and I will try to update at least twice each month. My goal is to get this habit to at least a 50% success rate this year.
   15 minutes stitching 4 days/week = 57% success rate
   15 minutes stitching 16 days/month (assume 31 day months) = 51%
   15 minutes stitching 183 days/year = 50%
   
3. I want to participate in One-Monthly-Goal at Elm Street Quilts. Instead of mapping out the whole year's projects I will pick one thing each month and set a goal to work on that. I need to set each goal the first week of the month and then report on it the last week.
   
4. I want to make more quilts to give away. My quilt guild's A Quilted Gift project, the Carolina Hurricane Quilt Project, and the NHPTV Auction are all causes I want to support. 

Forward Progress January

Welcome to the January 2019 link-up for the 2018 Making Forward Progress Challenge. This month's project is number 2. Please write at least one post about your project and share with us:

• What your project for this month is 
• The status of the project at the beginning of the month
• What the very next step you need to take to move the project forward is
• The status of the project by the end of the month
• Whatever details you want to share about your work on the project during the month
• Pictures included in your post are awesome, but not required

This can be a post at the beginning and a post at the end of the month, or it can be one post at the end of the month with all the info on how the project went for the month. Do what works best for you. 

All posts related to your January project (#2 from your list) should be linked below. For help on linking Facebook posts check out Lisa's Linky Tips. 

“We should strive to welcome change and challenges, because they are what help us grow…We need to constantly be challenging ourselves in order to strengthen our character and increase our intelligence. ” ― H.G. Wells, The Time Machine

Let the progress begin!

Forward Progress December

Welcome to the December link-up for the 2018 Making Forward Progress Challenge. This month's project is number 12. Please write at least one post about your project and share with us:

• What your project for this month is 
• The status of the project at the beginning of the month
• What the very next step you need to take to move the project forward is
• The status of the project by the end of the month
• Whatever details you want to share about your work on the project during the month
• Pictures included in your post are awesome, but not required

This can be a post at the beginning and a post at the end of the month, or it can be one post at the end of the month with all the info on how the project went for the month. Do what works best for you. 

All posts related to your December project (#X from your list) should be linked below. For help on linking Facebook posts check out Lisa's Linky Tips. 

“A man learns to skate by staggering about and making a fool of himself. Indeed he progresses in all things by resolutely making a fool of himself.”
― George Bernard Shaw, Advice to a Young Critic

Let the progress begin!

Forward Progress November

Welcome to the November link-up for the 2018 Making Forward Progress Challenge. This month's project is number 5. Please write at least one post about your project and share with us:

• What your project for this month is 
• The status of the project at the beginning of the month
• What the very next step you need to take to move the project forward is
• The status of the project by the end of the month
• Whatever details you want to share about your work on the project during the month
• Pictures included in your post are awesome, but not required

This can be a post at the beginning and a post at the end of the month, or it can be one post at the end of the month with all the info on how the project went for the month. Do what works best for you. 

All posts related to your November project (#5 from your list) should be linked below. For help on linking Facebook posts check out Lisa's Linky Tips. 

“Pro and con are opposites, that fact is clearly seen. If progress means to move forward, then what does congress mean?”
                                      ― Nipsey Russell

Let the progress begin!

Forward Progress October

Welcome to the October link-up for the 2018 Making Forward Progress Challenge. This month's project is number 3. Please write at least one post about your project and share with us:

• What your project for this month is 
• The status of the project at the beginning of the month
• What the very next step you need to take to move the project forward is
• The status of the project by the end of the month
• Whatever details you want to share about your work on the project during the month
• Pictures included in your post are awesome, but not required

This can be a post at the beginning and a post at the end of the month, or it can be one post at the end of the month with all the info on how the project went for the month. Do what works best for you. 

All posts related to your October project (#3 from your list) should be linked below. For help on linking Facebook posts check out Lisa's Linky Tips. 

“We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done.” ― Alan Turing

Let the progress begin!

Making Forward Progress September 2018

Welcome to the September link-up for the 2018 Making Forward Progress Challenge. This month's project is number 9. Please write at least one post about your project and share with us:

• What your project for this month is 
• The status of the project at the beginning of the month
• What the very next step you need to take to move the project forward is
• The status of the project by the end of the month
• Whatever details you want to share about your work on the project during the month
• Pictures included in your post are awesome, but not required

This can be a post at the beginning and a post at the end of the month, or it can be one post at the end of the month with all the info on how the project went for the month. Do what works best for you. 

All posts related to your September project (#9 from your list) should be linked below. For help on linking Facebook posts check out Lisa's Linky Tips. 

“Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.” --Frank Zappa

Let the progress begin!

Making Forward Progress August 2018

Welcome to the August link-up for the 2018 Making Forward Progress Challenge. This month's project is number 10. Please write at least one post about your project and share with us:

• What your project for this month is 
• The status of the project at the beginning of the month
• What the very next step you need to take to move the project forward is
• The status of the project by the end of the month
• Whatever details you want to share about your work on the project during the month
• Pictures included in your post are awesome, but not required

This can be a post at the beginning and a post at the end of the month, or it can be one post at the end of the month with all the info on how the project went for the month. Do what works best for you. 

All posts related to your August project (#10 from your list) should be linked below. For help on linking Facebook posts check out Lisa's Linky Tips. 

“The rising sun managed to peek around the vast column of smoke that forever rose from Ankh-Morpork, City of Cities, illustrating almost up to the edge of space that smoke means progress or, at least, people setting fire to things.” ― Terry Pratchett, Unseen Academicals 

Let the progress begin!

Making Forward Progress July 2018

Welcome to the July link-up for the 2018 Making Forward Progress Challenge. This month's project is number 7. Please write at least one post about your project and share with us:

• What your project for this month is 
• The status of the project at the beginning of the month
• What the very next step you need to take to move the project forward is
• The status of the project by the end of the month
• Whatever details you want to share about your work on the project during the month
• Pictures included in your post are awesome, but not required

This can be a post at the beginning and a post at the end of the month, or it can be one post at the end of the month with all the info on how the project went for the month. Do what works best for you. 

All posts related to your July project (#7 from your list) should be linked below. For help on linking Facebook posts check out Lisa's Linky Tips. 

“We should strive to welcome change and challenges, because they are what help us grow…We need to constantly be challenging ourselves in order to strengthen our character and increase our intelligence. ” ― H.G. Wells, The Time Machine

Let the progress begin!

Making Forward Progress June 2018

Welcome to the June link-up for the 2018 Making Forward Progress Challenge. This month's project is number 1. Please write at least one post about your project and share with us:

• What your project for this month is 
• The status of the project at the beginning of the month
• What the very next step you need to take to move the project forward is
• The status of the project by the end of the month
• Whatever details you want to share about your work on the project during the month
• Pictures included in your post are awesome, but not required

This can be a post at the beginning and a post at the end of the month, or it can be one post at the end of the month with all the info on how the project went for the month. Do what works best for you. 

All posts related to your June project (#1 from your list) should be linked below. For help on linking Facebook posts check out Lisa's Linky Tips. 

“And a step backward, after making a wrong turn, is a step in the right direction.” ― Kurt Vonnegut, Player Piano

Let the progress begin!

Making Forward Progress May 2018

Welcome to the May link-up for the 2018 Making Forward Progress Challenge. This month's project is number 11. Please write at least one post about your project and share with us:

• What your project for this month is 
• The status of the project at the beginning of the month
• What the very next step you need to take to move the project forward is
• The status of the project by the end of the month
• Whatever details you want to share about your work on the project during the month
• Pictures included in your post are awesome, but not required

This can be a post at the beginning and a post at the end of the month, or it can be one post at the end of the month with all the info on how the project went for the month. Do what works best for you. 

All posts related to your May project (#11 from your list) should be linked below. For help on linking Facebook posts check out Lisa's Linky Tips. 

“A little here and a little there will always accumulate, so why be surprised when steady, small steps take you to great places?” ― Richelle E. Goodrich, Making Wishes

Let the progress begin!

Making Forward Progress April 2018

Welcome to the April link-up for the 2018 Making Forward Progress Challenge. This month's project is number 6. Please write at least one post about your project and share with us:

• What your project for this month is 
• The status of the project at the beginning of the month
• What the very next step you need to take to move the project forward is
• The status of the project by the end of the month
• Whatever details you want to share about your work on the project during the month
• Pictures included in your post are awesome, but not required

This can be a post at the beginning and a post at the end of the month, or it can be one post at the end of the month with all the info on how the project went for the month. Do what works best for you. 

All posts related to your April project (#6 from your list) should be linked below. For help on linking Facebook posts check out Lisa's Linky Tips. 

“Progress always involves risk; you can't steal second base and keep your foot on first.” ― F.W. Dupee

Let the progress begin!

Making Forward Progress March 2018

Welcome to the March 2018 link-up for the 2018 Making Forward Progress Challenge. This month's project is number 4. Please write at least one post about your project and share with us:

• What your project for this month is 
• The status of the project at the beginning of the month
• What the very next step you need to take to move the project forward is
• The status of the project by the end of the month
• Whatever details you want to share about your work on the project during the month
• Pictures included in your post are awesome, but not required

This can be a post at the beginning and a post at the end of the month, or it can be one post at the end of the month with all the info on how the project went for the month. Do what works best for you. 
All posts related to your March project (#4 from your list) should be linked below. For help on linking Facebook posts check out Lisa's Linky Tips. 

“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still.”  ― Franklin D. Roosevelt

Let the progress begin!

Making Forward Progress February 2018

Welcome to the 1st link-up of the year for the 2018 Making Forward Progress Challenge. This month's project is number 8. Please write at least one post about your project and share with us:

• What your project for this month is 
• The status of the project at the beginning of the month
• What the very next step you need to take to move the project forward is
• The status of the project by the end of the month
• Whatever details you want to share about your work on the project during the month
• Pictures included in your post are awesome, but not required

This can be a post at the beginning and a post at the end of the month, or it can be one post at the end of the month with all the info on how the project went for the month. Do what works best for you. 
All posts related to your February project (#8 from your list) should be linked below. For help on linking Facebook posts check out Lisa's Linky Tips. 

“Progress isn't made by early risers. It's made by lazy men trying to find easier ways to do something.” ― Robert A. Heinlein

Let the progress begin!

Forward Progress 2018

During 2017 a few of us challenged ourselves to make Forward Progress on a dozen projects and a great deal of progress what made! Once again I will be hosting this challenge and invite you to join in. Here is how it works:

• Between now and the end of January 2018 you will need to make a numbered list of 12 projects and publish it (on your blog, Facebook, anywhere it is publicly visible). The list should include a little info about what the project is and where you are with it now. Link that list to this post so we know who is participating and what they are planning. 
• Beginning on January 31 I will draw a random number between 1 & 12 on the last day of each month and that will determine the project from your list that you will work on in the coming month. The blog post that announces the number will include a linky where you will submit a link to your post (on your blog or Facebook) about that month's project -- where it is starting out, what you hope to accomplish, etc. and then you can post again at the end of the month to let us know how things went. If you prefer to link just once a month that's OK, but please let us know where you began as well as how far you got. 
• In January 2019 we will all (hopefully) have made a good amount of forward progress on a bunch of projects. 

If you need help figuring out how to link to a Facebook post, check out this post from Lisa. 

Let's see how much progress we can make in 2018!