Goals

[Sibille Kreideweiss]

I work with goals - can't help it, but every time I pick up needle and thread I set myself a goal for this hour, hours, day or weeks. I also have some principals, which help me to move things along a bit faster. Because I always have different projects on the go, I do this with every single one.

For example: When I'm close to finish stitching for that day or the hour, or have to interrupt, I never put a design away without finishing the thread I'm working with. Even if it is still 3/4 to go.

Or, depending on the design, I set myself a goal to finish a certain area, be it a Hardanger motif, a part of needleweaving, a certain colour in a cross stitch design, e.g.

Is that a weird thing to do? Or are others doing just the same.

I myself found this goal setting much more helpful. I'm not obsessed, so if I see I make too many mistakes I just stop for the day and do something else.

Happy Stitching

[Linda]

Hello Sybille, I admire you for the strength of your convictions. I think perhaps I have more time to stitch than a lot of ladies who visit SF, and can drift in and out of it most days. Maybe that's not a good thing. I do like to have goals too though, but I could not stick with the one whereby I'd finish this, this and this before I put it away for the day, as my life here on the land often dictates that I rush off [literally dropping needle and thread] to help with vehicles etc., and sometimes the day is a write-off as far as stitching is concerned. Other days, I would see nobody and talk to nobody and could stitch all day..................... I have taken pride in one goal I set for myself late last year, ie to embark on a needlecase for each month of 2010. As December draws ever closer, I've only that one to go [I have documented my journey via my blog]. I used to do dressmaking from home, some days a lot, some not so much, and despite not having 'goals', I never missed a wedding day, race day, or valedictory dinner.........LOL........ I suppose what I'm trying to say is simply that we all approach our goals in a different manner. What works for some seems positively disjointed to others. You've obviously been doing something VERY well indeed as I see so many of your gorgeous pieces in E&CS.

[Elizabeth Braun]

If it's weird, I'm weird too! I too like to have a goal to work for the session/day/week/whatever and a completion date. I'm like that with almost everything as it happens. If there's no 'pressure', I simply won't do it!

[Sibille Kreideweiss]

Well, I'm happy I'm not the only one. Thank you for your lovely words, Linda, I appreciated it. The problem is that sometimes I work on deadlines, not always. But for example I had to finish a cross stitch before December for a special magazine, and now I've to do the Christmas stuff for 2011, but I also need to finish other designs in between.

So this really is my only way to make best use of what little time I've to stitch. Now that it is earlier light in the morning I often stitch for an hour outside. I've about 10 designs sitting there waiting to be finished, which means I'm doing less designing now and more stitching, until I've caught up a little.

I think it doesn't matter what goal you've, and you've to be prepared that it doesn't always work. Just to have that thinking helps.

[sharonb]

I set goals too and keep most of them.
I even have a slogan on my studio wall
"A dream is a dream
A goal is a dream with a plan"
One thing I have noticed is that many people make a to do list a goal but really goals need plan so that you can carry them out. So I set a goal then figure out how it can be done. Work out what I need to do it. Set about organising that and then do it.
I can be slow however. Much of my stitching goals are associated with hand processes so they can take time but I do chip away at it.
I have found the net is very stimulating and can help keep me focused on key interests in my life, but needs to be controlled a little.

[Sarah J]

sharonb said:

"A dream is a dream
A goal is a dream with a plan"

This is great, I am going to put this up on my wall too!

I have to have a goals or I get nothing done. They are loose goals though and are usually in my head and is decided at the beginning of the day or at the end of the previous one. "Today I will do this this and this".

A friend of mine had spread sheets for evey minute of her life! Problem was she spent so long doing the spreadsheets she never did anything on the spread sheets...

[Sibille Kreideweiss]

That sounds like the completely organised person to me - I know some of these people too. Can she make changes as they come? Or is she so stuck she can't do a thing without consulting or putting it in her "life map". Yesterday I decided I will finish the kangaroo for the assisi embroidery I'm working on at the moment. And I did it. No, I was not drifting away doing other things. Now I've to decided what new project to start.

I love Sharon's saying too.



Sarah J said:

sharonb said:

"A dream is a dream
A goal is a dream with a plan"

This is great, I am going to put this up on my wall too!

I have to have a goals or I get nothing done. They are loose goals though and are usually in my head and is decided at the beginning of the day or at the end of the previous one. "Today I will do this this and this".

A friend of mine had spread sheets for evey minute of her life! Problem was she spent so long doing the spreadsheets she never did anything on the spread sheets...

[Raphaela]

This is a very interesting discussion and it made me think. As far as my every-day-life is concerned I do always plan and I feel that I should be more spontaneuos sometimes. But when it comes to stitching I usually do not set goals. I make a certain amount of stitching time every day. The more stitching time I can make, the better the day, of course. I enjoy the freedom of doing what I feel inspired to do. Very often I do not have a plan for a specific design but just 'go with the flow' and I like working that way, with the design developing during the process of working. When I do not know how to proceed I take some time, look at the work again and again until I know how I will go on.
But on the other hand I have experienced how useful a goal can be: sometime ago I have made some beaded pieces which I gave a presents - so there were deadlines, the need to created someting the person who should get the present would like and I had to be satisfied with the work, too. To be honest, I would never have created these pieces of work without that goal.
I think, what I need is a goal/a plan with enough 'spare' time to follow instant inspiration.

[Janet M. Davies]

I plan also. I can not allow myself to go off on tangents or I would never get a project finished. To many thoughts/designs running through my head so I have to make a plan and stick to it.

 

Sharon I love the "A dream is a dream. A goal is a dream with a plan". I just put it in my facebook. That is one I'm going to print out and put on the fridge for freinds and family to read and absorb.

[sharonb]

Hi Janet the other quote I have on my wall is 

Mile by mile, life’s a trial.
Yard by yard, life is hard.
Inch by inch, life’s a cinch.

 Breaking goals down into small pieces and chipping away at them consistently helps too. 

 

[Janet M. Davies]

Mile by mile.... I like that one too Sharon.

 

"A diamond is merely a lump of coal that did well under pressure."\

 

This reminds me that some times a piece of stitching (turns into coal) does not look that great while in the process.... but if we do some reverse stitching or similar then it can become a diamond.

[ANNA KOUSI]

This is a really interesting discussion! As an amateur stitcher the only goal I have set to myself is "allways finish what you have started!" Everyday I try to make time for my stitching and I focus only to what I am doing. Allthough sometimes I want to try something new e.g. a new stitch etc. But I really don't like unfinished work!

And that's how I am at work and at my obligations at home!

[Jacqui]

How I envy you!

I never seem to have a goal, but I wish I did. I am just happy to sit down and do some embroidery, but even when I promise myself that I will do some today, I find that the day has gone and I've done nothing! When I eventually do get on with it I just seem to drift along. It's almost as if I don't want to finish a piece. I love thinking about it and dreaming of the threads and looking at them (and buying more) but it takes me along time to actually complete a project as I'm not the sort of person who can just grab a few moments here and there. I like to sit down and know that I have the day ahead to spend on my embroidery.

I drive myself mad really!