Why 26 Goals for 2026? 

I am a goal oriented person. Do I always follow through with everything? No. Have I, in the past, not followed through with ANY OF IT? Yes. Lately that’s been getting better though. For 2026, I’m setting 26 creative goals. From quilting and sewing challenges to personal growth ideas, I believe this will be one of my most intentional and inspired years yet.

I think one of my major problems in the past has been setting non-specific goals (sew more vs sew 2 items a month; lose weight vs lose 20 lbs). I’m super excited to get started on these goals! Some of them overlap with each other, and not all of them are sewing related, but I’m actually pretty confident I can cross every single one off my list this year. 

Let’s get into it!

My Creative Goals

1: Read 35 Books

This one should be fairly easy since I read 30 books by September in 2025. My reading journey has been pretty interesting. I started tracking my reading on GoodReads after I graduated college in 2018. My highest reading year was 52 books in 2020, where work was so slow that I was just reading books from Libby on my computer every day. Then from 2021 through mid-2024 I had the World’s Worst Reading Slump. I read maybe 5 books in those years combined? June of 2024 I reignited my love for reading and have been back ever since! 

2. Lose 30 Pounds

This one is probably the only one I’m worried about. I have a really hard time losing weight, and in reality I need to lose about 60 pounds… but we’ll start small. Even when I’m on track with my weight loss method, the weight does not come off easily. I’m hoping that I can lose 30 pounds (1 pound for every year I’ve been alive) over the course of this year!

3. Go to an Art Museum for Inspiration

We have a great art museum in Northwest Arkansas called Crystal Bridges. I’ve been there several times, but it has been a few years since my last visit. I’m hoping to find some funky, off-beat pieces of art to get inspiration from!

4. Participate in Me Made May

This one is for the garment makers! I’ve participated in previous MMM’s in the years past, but this year I want to actively participate… Every day if I can, but I’m not holding super tight to that. I’ve made myself a list of all my me made’s so I can hopefully have a good list to work from!

5, 6, 7, 8. Enter something into the County Fair, State Fair, Local Quilt Show, & the Folk & Fiber Exhibit at the Local Art Gallery

I’ve entered items into the County Fair when I was in middle school, and again last year! I got 1st place on my backpack that I quilted. 

I’ve never entered anything into the State Fair, and 2025 was my first entry into our local quilt show (The Ouachita Quilt Show). I got first place there as well on my bag! I also entered a table runner!

Our local art gallery does a Folk & Fiber exhibit every year, so I’m hoping to get at least something in there, even if it’s just a small item like a mini quilt or a quilted bag. I’m wanting to make the item for this entry a unique one.. We’ll see what I come up with!

9. Make a Mini Art Quilt

Even though art quilts aren’t my niche, I’ve been wanting to try my hand at a collage quilt or something unique that’s pieced differently than my quilt style. Maybe this will be the one I enter into the Folk & Fiber exhibit! I have a few ideas, but I’m still fleshing out exactly what I’ll do. 

10. Dye Fabric & Use it in a Project

I have a super cool idea for this one. I will be posting a blog post for all my dyeing escapades and the final project whenever it’s done! If you know me, you know I love unique and one of a kind items, and this will definitely be one. 

11. Publish my first pattern

This one is going to be super exciting! After everything I’ve learned in the Quilter’s Candy Quilt Pattern Writing Course, my goal is to have my first pattern out sometime in 2026! More details to come, so stay tuned. 

12. Make (and Get Help Making) all my Wedding Decor

On November 15, 2025 (my 30th birthday), I got engaged! It was so sweet and perfect, and I’m so excited to start planning a wedding! The theme is National Park / Campy goodness with some quilty fun thrown in there. I definitely plan on making some Big Quilty Bows from LindseyGraceCreates.

The most special thing I have is an unfinished double wedding ring from my grandma who passed away in March of 2025. I had dreamed of having a double wedding ring quilt as my backdrop for the ceremony, but I knew there was no way I would have the time or sanity to make one. So, when I was going through all of her sewing room, I got chills when I found this unfinished double wedding ring. It is the perfect size for a table runner, so I will finish it by facing it instead of binding, and then use it as a table runner for my “those who have gone before us” table. What a special way to have her still be at my wedding. 

13. Submit an Idea or Pattern to a Magazine

I think this would be a great way to get my name out there even more. I have so many ideas that are somewhat seasonal, so getting published in a magazine would be so cool!

14. Go to a Quilting Retreat

I am actually about an hour away from the quilting retreat center that Belle of Seams Sew Me runs! I am making it a goal this year to go to a retreat, whether it’s there or somewhere else, whether it’s a group of friends, or me alone making new ones! I have also been listening to the Inappropriate Quilters podcast a lot, so I think it would be fun to go to one of their retreats in Oklahoma as well! Options!!

15. Get my Sewing Tattoo

Every other year for my birthday I get a new tattoo. This year I am planning on getting a pair of embroidery scissors, a needle and thread, and thimble on the back of my left arm! This will be my first (but probably not my last) sewing related tattoo!

16. Host a Creative Girl’s Night

I love girl’s nights, and I have never really felt like I had a group of girls to have girl’s night with. Except that I was just waiting for someone to INVITE ME to a girl’s night, instead of just hosting one myself. Hosting a creative night just sounds so much fun. We could either all do the same craft (like a paint & sip) or have our own individual crafts to work on and just do them side by side, enjoying one another’s company! Plus, it’s always a good excuse to make food! 

17. Start Working on my Book Idea!

I have an idea for a quilting related, middle grade book. Do I know how to write fiction? No, not really. Will I figure it out? OBVIOUSLY! I have a previous co-worker who is an author, so I’ll definitely be bothering her all the time, and I’ve found a few online workshops I want to take that claim to help me write a middle-grade novel in a month… we’ll see!

18. Participate in a Block of the Month Challenge

I have been wanting to do a BOM challenge, but hadn’t found any that I liked.. Until I saw Eudaimonia Studio’s Hand & Soul 2026 Block of the Month quilt. It’s gorgeous. I immediately purchased the BOM subscription and a quilt kit, and I’m so excited to work through this! One of the other things that drew me into this BOM subscription is that she will have journal entry and book recommendations each month. I think that is so cool!

19. Get into Projector Sewing

It’s very intimidating to me… but I know I will absolutely love it in the long run! I despise taping patterns together!

20. Launch my Website and Blog

Well…. I guess I can go ahead and check this one off! Read my Welcome post here!

21. Unplug for a Complete Creative Day Once a Quarter

Gotta figure out how I’m gonna plan this one! I need to get a brick or something to make it even easier. Since I work at a coffee shop, the day of the week will probably never be consistent, just whenever I’m off for a full day! I want to do this not only to just consciously get off my phone, but also to use it as a “creative vacation”. No phone, no chores! Just me and my ideas. 

22. Paint a Barn Quilt for my Studio

I think barn quilts are so cute, and I see them all the time in my travels throughout Arkansas! I think a classic quilt block would look so cute in my brand colors. I definitely need some decor on the outside of my studio as well!

23. Do a Fun/Trendy Reel Once a Month

I love watching the trends on reels, both the ones inside and outside the sewing community! I think it would be a good challenge for myself to start participating in the fun trends that go on, especially to get myself more comfortable in front of the camera. I’m still a work in progress!

24. Try a New Hobby

I’ve done so many creative things in the past. Sewing and quilting obviously. Embroidery, crochet. Little DIY things. I think I may want to try my hand at knitting (LATER LINK TO KNITTING), and I also bought myself a wood burning pen YEARS ago. Or maybe something non-creative as well like getting out hiking more often, learning how to paddleboard, or something else outdoorsy. 

25. Create (At Least) One Non-Sewing Craft a Quarter

I think this is the least specific item on the list, but I just want to get back to my child/teenage DIY self where I just do whatever inspires me. Jewelry? Cool. Making a backdrop out of fake florals? Gorgeous. Anything my heart desires, I just want to play again!

26. Dance Every Day

No skill required. I can’t think of a better way to pump myself up and get my day started than just jumping around and dancing. If you have any “must dance to this!” songs, let me know so I can add them to my playlist!

Final Thoughts: Setting Realistic Goals as a Creative

I’m super excited to get started on my goals for this year. What are your goals? Sewing or not, it’s great to have something to look forward to accomplishing throughout the year! I will be having monthly maker check-ins at the end of each month to keep track of my progress (and I might have something to share with you so you can keep track of your own!)

I’m tackling 26 goals in 2026—come along for the ride! Sign up for my email to stay connected.