Friday, January 1, 2016

New Year's Wishes


Happy New Year! I hope your holidays were wonderful and that you are now all rested up and ready to take on 2016 and all the goals and challenges we always feel compelled to tackle whenever a new year rolls around. Some say a new year is like a new book, a clean slate. Speaking of new books . . . 



I will have a new book published in 2016. I realize it's probably way too early to announce it since I'm still working on it but I knew some of you would be almost as excited as I am about it so, there you go. The cat is out of the bag.



I hardly ever make resolutions anymore (too much pressure) but every year I still set goals for myself. Honestly, I do know it's the same thing but just the different wording makes me feel much better and more relaxed about things. If I don't complete all of my goals within a certain time frame I don't exactly feel as if I'm breaking a promise. I just push the deadline. Last year, I set a few goals for myself and wrote them down in a notebook; I think I'll do that again this year.  Every now and then, in the coming months, I'll check the list and ask myself - "How're you doing on those?" It seemed to work pretty well last year. In order to succeed, I always need to have a plan. 
                 
                             

In 2015, one of my quilting goals was to keep going on my Dear Jane journey and make at least one block every month. Not a lofty goal, just a small one that kept me motivated enough to complete 60 blocks within the past year. A lot more than I imagined I'd finish so I feel very good about that.  After letting go of some of the perfectionism that may have been holding me back I found I was able to push forward on it. I decided all of my imperfect blocks are good enough. So there.




Then there was that one other goal I wasn't quite sure I would reach but at least I took the first step.

Image result for journey begins with a single step

To answer some of your questions: 

Yes, my new book will be about small quilts (yay!). Yes, it will contain patterns for quilts that require the sewing together of lots of beautiful nineteenth-century reproduction fabrics. No, I cannot show you the quilts yet. Yes, some of them are blue. (Or, blue and brown or pink and brown or blue and red or red and white or  . . . there's even one with a chrome yellow binding just for fun.) Yes, it will include sentimental tidbits. No, it is not about sewing during the Civil War or quilting on the prairie (been there). Yes, it will for sure include beautiful photos of 15 little quilts. The quilts are not finished. The book won't be out until late this year, perhaps in December if all goes well.


I'm still in the "writing and making quilts" phase (but nearing the end!) and that's only the first part. The entire publishing process takes a long time. December 2016 seems far away. However, time flies and the end of the year will be here before you know it. And, you know me - I will probably blog about it excessively until it does come out so you will be coming along with me for the ride and it won't even seem like a year.


                     My Jane quilt has been put aside for awhile. I'll be back.

I took some time off to spend Christmas with my family but now it's back to work. Lots to do. And, as I told my husband the other day - if at times it looks like I'm just sitting here at my laptop eating peppermint bark and staring off into space, I'm actually thinking and working. Really hard.


I'll have another cup of coffee to go with that chocolate, please.






I hope you all have a successful and happy new year! 


                                             

25 comments:

Salmagundi said...

Congratulations on that new book -- will look forward to it. I know that excitement of starting a new book coupled with all of the work yet to be done -- so much fun ahead. I have to remind my family sometimes that there is a whole lot of just thinking involved in quilting and writing books. Sally

Anonymous said...

It will be fun to be privy to your book-writing process and I look forward to the final product! Think how extra happy next New Year will be when the book is 'out'!! :-)

Anonymous said...

HURRAH! HURRAH! ANOTHER BOOK IS ON ITS WAY! <3

just thrilled :
i wondered only last month if you'd given up on writing...
or if more lovely volumes were bubbling quietly in the works.

happy new year, kathy!
may it be full of creative joys & abundance!

j ::

Ingrid said...

That is very exciting!! Congratulations!

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year.
Glad to hear there is a new book in the works.

Darlis

moosecraft said...

Eating peppermint bark and staring into space is a HUGE part of the creative process!!! :-) Looking forward to your new book.... enjoy the process! Happy New Year!

Maureen said...

I am very excited to hear about your new book. I know what I will ask for next xmas. Love your books

Anonymous said...

I'm new to your blog and loving the size of some of your quilts. I think I will stay for a while now and see where your journey takes me. Congrats on the decision to write another book. Who knows I may even take a look at it too. Julie

Kathleen Tracy said...

Thanks, everyone! I'm looking forward to finishing . . .

Yvonne said...

Happy New Year. I love reading your blog. Looking forward to your new book! :o)

cahirasnana said...

Happy New Year Kathy. How exciting to hear that you will have a new book out may by by the end of the year.

cahirasnana said...

Whoops, think I may have deleted my comment when I was trying to fix a mistake.
I was wishing you a happy New Year Kathy and feeling excited to hear that you have a new book coming out. What great news!

Ann in PA said...

Kathy, What a great post about setting goals (something to work toward with allowance for exploration); not making resolutions (too rigid, aka setting up to fail). A new book! How wonderful! Blessings in the New Year!

Robin McGuire said...

Happy new year, Kathy. So exciting to hear about a new book and looking forward to sharing your journey.

Robin McGuire said...

Happy new year, Kathy. So exciting to hear about a new book and looking forward to sharing your journey.

Anonymous said...

Since I was new to your blog midway thru 2015 I am looking forward to the new year journey with you, especially the new book. This will definitely be on my Christmas list. Your little quilt challenges...also looking forward to these. My only serious resolution for 2016 is to use up some stash!

Candee said...

This is so exciting Kathy! I can't wait!

Margs Primitive Quilts said...

Happy New Year to you! I am very excited and can hardly wait for your new book to be published! Get a computer they said...Google a pattern...Not for me! I love to hold a book in my hand and read it and take a long lazy rest to gaze at pictures! Oh, I'm soooo excited! Take your time/but hurry!.i think your little blocks are awesome! Couldn't find one single " miss sew" I am in the throws of jotting down some goals in my book too !

Jackie said...

I'm looking forward to tagging along with you on the journey with your new book!

Susan M said...

Great post Kathy! You have included my two favourite quotes! I'm looking forward to seeing more posts about your new book.

Heartsdesire said...

OMG, a new book, how exciting. It's going to be hard to wait until December to see it. In the mean time, I'm going to try to finish some of my many, many UFOs so I'll have time to make those sweet mini quilts I know will be waiting for me in the new book. All you've described sounds delightful.

Jan D. from CA said...

Yeah Kathy, I'm so looking forward to your new book! I love that you "let the cat out of the bag" and gave us a few hints and will be sharing your journey with us! WOW, the anticipation!!!

Charlotte said...


I am excited for you. I have all your books and have made a fair amount of your quilts. Looking forward to your next book - it will be fun to see the end product and any teases along the way.

I am a goal setter too. Each January, I make a list of what I would like to accomplish quilting wise during the upcoming year. Of course, I add new thIngs to the list during the year. Despite that, I do accomplice a lot (helps to be retired) and feels so good to cross something off the list. In December 2014, there were only 3-4 things left on the list. Not bad since I finished more than 40 projects.

Happy New Year!
Charlotte

teresa said...

Very exciting news!! Congratulations

marian said...

Happy New Year Kathy! Some great advice and i must agree, i rarely make NY resolutions, instead, i prefer to set a few achievable goals,.. like finishing my Dear Jane quilt in 2017, yikes that's next year lol!
I'm thrilled at the news of a new book release.. how exciting, you're full of surprises!!