I’m looking back at all my progress during this past year, including my own favourite posts, as well as sharing some of my biggest goals for 2022.
2021 – Another Challenging Year
Happy New Year! Happy 2022! Though the world feels considerably less celebratory right now.
The past few years have been extremely challenging around the world as life as we know it has been turned upside down, and many things we’ve taken for granted have become challenging or impossible.
And the pandemic is not done throwing us curveballs. Where we live, cases are at record levels. The toll on physical and mental health continues for many people, if not almost everyone.
An Opportunity to Re-evaluate
While I feel all those things still, speaking personally for only myself, 2021 brought many new opportunities that may never have happened if it wasn’t for the pandemic. I was able to step back, reflect, and re-evaluate what kind of work I wanted to do.
That little bit of breathing space gave me the time and courage to pursue a dream that I had voiced aloud to very few people: having my own blog, and designing quilt patterns and quilt fabric.
Had it not been for the pandemic, I may never have taken steps to achieve any of those goals. While I am still just beginning, I’ve made a lot of progress throughout 2021.
I’m going to share some of the progress I’ve made this past year, not to boast or to make anyone feel bad in comparison. Rather, I’m sharing a small part of my self-reflection to hold myself accountable, and to encourage you to try your own new and scary things. As well, I’m going to reveal some of my favourite blog posts of the year, and some goals I have for 2022.
2021 – The Beginnings of Mix Measure Make
When the year began, I had just begun setting up my website and I was still finalizing my logo and similar things. The first few months of the year were spent learning many new skills related to website design and blogging. I took my time and explored and experimented as I set up my site. Some days I was exceptionally frustrated with not being able to figure things out. But with a lot of research, help, and patience, I got there in the end.
In April, I finally began publishing posts, and I publicly launched in May. It was so scary to reveal my hopes and dreams and put myself out there.
This year, I have published posts twice a week for a total of 67 blog posts. That rate might not be sustainable for 2022 with the other goals I have, but I do still want to post as often as possible.And of course, many of my posts involved a project/tutorial of some sort.
Each post was promoted on social media, and weekly newsletters were sent to my wonderful subscribers. I offered several free resources, as well as releasing my first pattern for sale in the fall – a felt embroidery basket pattern. That pattern has not been a huge success – yet – but I’ve learned many things from the experience.
I also dipped my toes into Youtube with 3 videos so far. And I have just started learning how to design repeating patterns on Adobe Illustrator for items such as fabric. In the photo at the top of the post, I’m standing beside the first fabric I designed.
It’s so easy to lose sight of how far I’ve come when I get bogged down in the minutiae of my daily or weekly to-do lists. But when viewed as a whole, I’ve accomplished so much and learned so many new skills over the year. And while there is much I would have changed about 2021 if I could have, I also appreciate it for the opportunity to take the first of many steps toward my dreams.
My Favourite Posts of 2021
I’ve enjoyed all the posts I’ve written so far, but some stand out more than others personally. I’m going to share a few of my favourite posts from 2021 in no particular order.
Barn Quilts
I think the barn quilts were my favourite crafty project and tutorial that I did this year. Though they took a bit of time, they were easy to make and fun to design. And I love the pops of colour they add to our house. I’m absolutely thinking that we need one in Christmas colours for next year. Which is really just an excuse to make another 🙂
Check out the barn quilt post and tutorial.
Tulip
Repairing and painting our giant plaster tulip is another project that I’m proud of, and it’s one of the biggest projects I’ve ever undertaken. It is also turning out to be one of my biggest failures learning experiences. I have not yet shared the disaster of what has happened to it since I finished it – that’s a story for another day. But I will share more and repair the tulip once again when the weather improves.
For more more about the tulip, you can read Part 1 and Part 2.
Quilt Block Resizing Worksheet
My quilt block resizing worksheet and tutorial is another one of my favourite posts. I just love incorporating math into the creative process, and also making it less scary for others who don’t love math as much as I do. Being able to resize blocks creates endless possibilities to create custom quilts from any block or pattern.
As well, this quilt block resizing worksheet is just one of the many free resources that I love to share with Mix Measure Make subscribers.
Read the Quilt Block Resizing post and get your free worksheet. You’ll also find links to the YouTube video, a free quilt block pattern, and tutorials for mini quilts and coasters.
7 Best Reasons to Buy Vintage Decor
Vintage decorating is such a passion of mine. I definitely think decorating with vintage has so many advantages such as being great for the environment, and helping to create one-of-a-kind style.
While I’ve enjoyed writing all my vintage decorating posts, one of my personal favourites is The 7 Best Reasons to Buy Vintage Decor. In this post, I share reasons to consider choosing vintage decor with my own personal examples and tips.
You can check out the post here.
Bifold Door
Another one of my favourite posts was one of my first posts. I shared a DIY project we did to turn a boring bifold door into double closet doors. This is such a simple project that anyone can do, and I’m really excited to share more easy DIY projects in the coming year.
Check out the Bifold Door Tutorial.
Blooming Along Release
And finally, the posts about my Blooming Along Basket pattern were also among my favourites, as I was happy to create and share something I was excited about. Though my first pattern has not been a huge success, I learned a lot about pattern writing. And I hope to continue improving as I release more craft patterns in 2022.
You can read about the basket pattern here (and find links to other related posts), or find the pattern in the SHOP.
What were your favourite posts on Mix Measure Make? Let me know in the comments below, or tell me what you’d like to see more of next year!
My Big Goals for 2022
I have many goals and hopes and dreams for my blog and business for the next year. It can be embarrassing to share them and have them on record, because what if I fail? But I do believe that sharing goals helps to motivate me and keep myself accountable. And even if fall short, at least I will have tried.
Here are some of my goals:
- Continue publishing blog posts as often as possible
- Release my first quilt pattern – I’m just beginning that now, and I’m so excited to share it with you all!
- Share more great free resources
- Create more Youtube videos
- Grow my subscriber list
- Release other patterns/printables/products for sale – I’m not quite ready to share those ideas yet, but I will
- Design many repeating surface patterns to improve my skills. Then create pattern collections to sell on print-on-demand sites such as Spoonflower
- Complete several DIY projects around our house to share
- Continue to learn new things
- Make time to create art once a week or so, thereby completing my personal 52 in ’22 Art Challenge. (You can join me in this art challenge – read all about it HERE).
- A “dream big” goal would be to sell art prints of some of my original paintings
It kind of seems daunting when I write it out altogether like that. But this past year has taught me that I can do all sorts of things that I could not have done 12+ months ago. So I’m really excited to see where I’ll be by the time 2022 comes to a close.
Thank You For Your Support
I want to thank you for being a part of Mix Measure Make and for following along with me in any form. Even just knowing that you’re cheering me on or enjoying my content makes it worth it. And I really appreciate the other ways that you help – by following, sharing, liking, or commenting. But perhaps the most beneficial action you can take to support me is just by spending time on my website and exploring.
I also want to encourage you to pursue your own dreams and goals – no matter how big or how small. And if that’s challenging right now, I hope you can at least take some time to create something – anything at all. It can be so relaxing and inspiring to do crafts or make art.
What About You?
I want to hear from you and celebrate with you! What is a goal you have for yourself for this new year? What’s something you’re proud of accomplishing this past year? Let me know in the comments below.
All the best,
Danielle
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