The New Year starts whether we are ready or not, and this year was definitely a NOT for me! December was a busy, busy month (actually I’ll be honest, it was hectic from about mid October onwards!), but either way, January 1st rolls around and our thoughts go to what we are planning for 2025.
So may I (belatedly!) wish you a Happy New Year!
I decided I would choose a word this year, it can seem a bit faddish, but one kept coming into my mind (probably because of that afore-mentioned hectic end to the year!) and it is
A reminder to myself to stop and breathe…. to enjoy the moment… to perhaps not try and fit SOOO much into each day/month/year!
When I sat down and thought about what I want my 2025 to be, the words; breathe, rest, relax came to mind, and then exercise, energise and explore came too! If I tweak the word ‘breathe’ to be ‘respirate’ then I have R cubed and E cubed! The maths nerd in me got a giggle.
So what does this mean for Said With Love? Well, a little bit less.
Less year long sewalongs for a start! For the past two years I have done the Barn Star Sampler sewalong and then A Year Of Hearts, both were lovely and fun but such a lot of work and didn’t leave me much time to make other things. I think that shorter sewalongs are more fun and easier for people to keep up with.
Less patterns for a little while! Last year I released 23 patterns (21 blocks and 2 full patterns) and this year I am only planning three. There may be more that pop up as the year goes by, but at the moment just those three.
But there will be more of other things! Like more tutorial videos! I have so many wonderful smaller projects I want to share with everyone, so stay tuned to my YouTube channel for those! My jelly roll rug video has been so popular, I want to share more!
More sewing time – I have so many patterns from other designers that I want to make (and ahem, so much gorgeous fabric with which to make them!) that I want to spend some time making some of those.
And more finishing of my Works In Progress! I steadily worked through my WIPs over 2024 and brought the number down from 36 to 19, so I was pretty happy with that!
And in 2025 I want to get that down to under 10, so to that end I am joining in on a WIP challenge with @jandidean on Instagram
There is a sign up form to fill out where you specify the 6 WIPs you want to work on during the year. My six are:
Confection Batiks: my first EPP project is now a quilt top (made up of alternating background navy and background grey blocks) and ready for quilting. This should be a quick finish for the challenge!
A Country Block of the Month that I started back in 2002! Yes, this is going to be the year I figure out how I can finish it (with blocks ranging from 16″ to 18.5″ it isn’t going to be easy!).
The Ambleside Shortcake quilt – this is a finished quilt top and I have made the backing too, so a hopefully quick finish!
A Year Of Hearts – the final third layout plus all the individual blocks and layouts into one pattern. This one will take some serious amount of effort!
Sunsets – I got the blocks almost together during the retreat with Raylee from Sunflower Stitcheries and Quilting (and she is having another two retreats this year if you want to spoil yourself!). I am going to put some sashing between the blocks and then work out a backing.
I have made a Hideaway quilt (pattern by Camille Roskelley) in her gorgeous Nantucket Summer fabrics and it has a Patchwork Swoon as the backing! There needs to be some extra borders put on and then quilting and binding. Can’t wait for this one to be finished!
Reviewing all those WIPs has made me want to get into my sewing room and start sewing!
But before I do that there is some serious cleaning and tidying up to do. My sewing space becomes quite the dumping ground during Christmas as nobody goes in there so everything that needs to be ‘cleaned up’ seems to end up on my cutting table!
Are you working on WIPs or UFOs this year? Would love to hear which you are tackling, so drop me a comment below!
I wish I could work on all my ufos however hubby is on disability and money and time are very dear. Also the sewing room was being redone and that came to an end when hubby went on disability. I enjoy all your posts so keep them coming please.
I am so sorry that your sewing time is limited these days, finishing up some WIPs even making them into smaller projects than originally intended so you can use up your stash could be one way to still get some sewing time in without it costing too much. So glad you enjoy my posts!
You’ve inspired me to try to figure out how many WIP/orphans are lurking in my sewing room…hopefully I’ll be back soon to post what I’ve found! Love your site, emails, etc. Thanks for the monthly BOM projects, really enjoyed last years AYOH project. Hailing from Central Oregon.
Yay! I always think it is better to know what you are facing 🙂 And it gives you a chance to review them and make some decisions. Check out a previous blog post about doing just that https://saidwithlove.com.au/ufovember-lets-talk-unfinished-objects/
And thank you for the lovely feedback! So nice to hear 🙂
Hello and Happy New Year Jen! I can totally relate to the sewing room being a dumping room. OH my! Mine is the same at the moment. I aim to have it sorted by March (now that’s being realistic:- otherwise I would have stated February. I have a kazzillion WIPs and UFOs… name them what you will, but it is completely crazy how many outstanding projects I have as life ‘got in the way’ of my creative sewing side. I miss my sewing chair and Sapphire (my Bernina B720). I can feel it…2025 is my year to get on track again after so long. Thank you for sharing your posts as I love reading and ponder what once was when I was sewing. I hope to drive out your way one day this year with my sister. Happy sewing everyone!
Here’s hoping that 2025 is definitely a sewing year for you Kia! Time to prioritise YOU 🙂