Monday, December 31, 2007

Year End Reckoning

I made it through the year keeping track of my projects, the time I spent quilting and the money I spent on quilting. Here’s my 2007 results:

I started 2007 with 17 quilting projects, I added 36 projects and completed 23 projects for a net list of 30 WIPs for the coming year. I started stitchery this year and currently have 6 WIPs. I also have 5 projects I have the patterns and fabric for, but haven’t started and I just got my Butterfly Garden patterns today so tomorrow I’m going to pull fabrics and floss for it.

Over the course of the year I spent 411.25 hours quilting or stitching, that’s an average of 34.27 hours a month, or 1.13 hours per day.

OK, so I’m a bit of a numbers geek, but hold on there’s more.

I spent $2,318.15 on fabric, supplies and having 3 quilts quilted. That’s an average of $193.18 per month, or $5.64 for every hour I quilted. Not a bad investment in my book.

On to 2008. My goals this year include:
  • Spend less money. That shouldn’t be too hard since buying a house will put a dent in my disposable income.
  • Improve my appliqué skills. Making Butterfly Garden will help with that.
  • Learn how to machine quilt. If I’m ever going to decrease my UFO count I need to learn machine quilting.

16 comments:

Helen said...

Wow, that is quite a lot of money! I don't think it is wise that I check how much money I spend last year (2007). Love your goals for 2008. Hope you find your condo soon.
Happy quilting, Helen

Gail said...

Your goals sound admirable and quite reasonable and do-able. Good luck. Not sure I have the courage to add up the $$ I have spent. Good luck with the house thing, hope things are looking up in that area.

Quilter Kathy said...

Happy New Years Paula!
I wish I was as organized as you...I enjoyed reading your quilting stats!

Quilting Pirate said...

What a great goal to add to my list - keeping expenses on my hobby. I know I've spent a lot more that what you have, but I would love to have more to show for it.

Jeanne said...

Happy New Year!
Wow, I've seen lots of year-end analysis, but this is the only one I've seen that breaks the quilting down into $$$! I guess I mostly try not to think about how much I spend -- a denial strategy :)
Jeanne

Kim said...

That's a lot of math you're throwing around! I don't even want to know how much time or money I have into 2007. I'm already busy with 2008.

Tracey @ozcountryquiltingmum said...

I love that level of organisation but am worried that I may find out the egg money just aint covering it!!!!
I think it was worth every cent,
and love the valentine quilt lol Tracey

Shelina said...

That's wonderful that you were able to spend more than an hour a day on your quilting. And $5 per hour doesn't seem so bad. I am impressed that you were able to keep those kind of stats. I've always wondered, and maybe I should keep track like that too.

Shelina said...

Oh and Happy New Year. Good luck on your goals. I'm also impressed that they aren't just vague goals, but things you have already properly planned to make sure they happen.

Quilting Memories said...

I CAN NOT imagine keeping track of what I spend, nor the hours I spend sewing. I'm sure all that info would just depress me, this way I am happy !!!!! When I get my fabrics home, I immediately throw away the receipts. NO record keeping for me!!! DH is usually with me when I shop, so no secrets there and he has never said a thing about what I spend. Of course, I do know what disposable monies we have and definitely stay within that.
Hope you and yours havd a great 2008 and spend a lot of time Quilting Memories! J

Anne Ida said...

Happy new year!

Wow, you actually dare to calculate how much you spend on quilting! Not me!!! lol* Although Id'd love to be as organized as you!

Your goals for the new year sounds great and acievable! Way to go!

Leanne said...

I am impressed with your numbers I'm sure my husband would be also he loves numbers - Good luck with 2008.

Rose Johnston said...

Paula, i love lists, it keeps u in check, but i dare not think how much ive spent on quilting lol....well done for being so brave!!!

Meredith said...

Good luck on the home. I like your goals, I need to get better with machine quilting also.

Rhonda said...

My quilting group is stealing your idea about keeping up with our sewing time but we are afraid of keeping an account of the money we spend on fabric. It seems scary to see it in writing.....LOL

Carole said...

I should probably keep track of the hours I quilt! It might make my spending seem more reasonable. Last year (2006) I made such a calculation. I cannot say it was accurate as I do tend to spend cash also but it came to something like $6,000. So, dh nearly had a heart attack given that he only spent $2,000 on his hobby! My resolution, is to stay ignorant of the amount I spent! LOL Happy New Year!