It’s a new year here at amy a la mode. And I’m guessing it’s a new year for you as well, wherever you are.

The new year always creates an urge in me to clear out all the stuff lying around. The stuff in the closets. The stuff in the pantry. The stuff in my brain.

You know that stuff.

It’s that stuff that weighs us down and keeps us from making forward progress. Which is why I’m choosing not to do any kind of retrospective this year on the blog. No looking back at the projects I’ve undertaken or the new skills I’ve learned. No counting off my accomplishments (or failures).

I’m looking forward to what’s ahead, instead of looking behind me.

I’m going to be trying some new things for my business in 2011. After sitting down and running some numbers (now that I have some numbers I can run), I’ve decided that the main focus of my business can not be selling quilts. I would still love to sell quilts. But the current business model is not going to pay any bills around here.

While I do still plan to make quilts, I’m planning a shift in my focus that will hopefully be more lucrative and more productive.

1. Quilt patterns

I’ve had some inquiries about my quilts and whether I would consider making patterns. You know what? I think I will. More about this soon.

2. Small quilts

I’m planning to try out some smaller quilts that will come in at a lower price point to see if there is a better market for these.

3. Web design

Did I tell you that I created a web site in December? Check out Yellow Dog Pet Care. I’d like to come up with a business model for doing web design for small businesses at affordable prices. I think there is a real market need for that out there.

4. Fabric design

I have been really wanting to get back to this since the Heather Ross class last summer in Portland, and I got a Wacom Intuos4 tablet for Christmas, so now’s the time to think about working on that some more.

5. Teaching

I’ve always loved teaching, and I’m thinking about ways I might be able to do some teaching in more places than just at Bobbin’s Nest. If you have any ideas, please let me know!

Plus, I’m only taking one course this quarter (Graphic Design Studio II) in hopes that I don’t feel like so much of my spare time is sucked up by homework.

Last, but not least…

…I would love for my blog to be more of a place of inspiration for both you and me, and less of a record of the projects I’ve completed (though I’ll definitely still be showing you these!).

So, I’ll continue pondering how I’m going to achieve all of these things, and in the meantime, I hope all of your new years are getting off to a good start.

As for me, I started it off by sending my father’s quilt for hand quilting by a lovely Amish woman. Though I would have loved to have done it myself, I am content knowing that I have realistically assessed the situation and that it will be quilted beautifully. I’ll be satisfied with doing the binding.