Resolutions for the new year

I can’t believe this year is over. It certainly was an eventful one for me, with the launch and pretty startling growth of Colette Patterns, my move to Oregon, and a pretty much wholly different life from the one I was leading a year ago. Last December, I was working in a big company in silicon valley. It was an overall interesting job with people I liked, but I spent most of the hours of any given day in meetings, writing reports, and commuting. It was not creatively fulfilling, and that is what I needed to be happy.

I’d spent over a year planning the launch of Colette Patterns, writing a business plan, developing my first patterns, and figuring out all the details. In March, I made the leap, left my job in the middle of a recession, and moved to Portland, OR. I have never looked back, and I’ve never been happier! Portland is amazing and running a small business is the most intense, challenging, and rewarding thing I’ve tried yet.

My main goal in starting Colette Patterns was to share my love of sewing, and that’s what will continue to drive me this year. With that, here are a few of my resolutions for Colette Patterns in 2010:

Collaborate with others

This is one I’ve been thinking about lately. I really like collaborating with other people, both creatively and on the business side. I’d love to find a way to work with other indie pattern designers* as well as other designers & artists. I just haven’t figured out how quite yet.

*A local business person referred to this the other day as “coopertition,” I love that.

More tutorials and free stuff!

I like to share stuff. I’d love to publish some free patterns here, along with more and more tutorials for techniques and projects. It’s hard because it can be extremely time consuming, but I’m planning to make it a priority.

More frequent pattern releases

This is a big change for the coming year that I’ll elaborate on a bit more later. This year, I had two big releases. Next year, I’m planning to do smaller releases more frequently. I think it will be so much better this way. You’ll get to see new designs all the time and I won’t have insane workloads twice a year!

Explore new platforms

I’d just like to find other ways to share the love of sewing. I have ideas as far as this is concerned, but they’re just ideas right now.

Share more about running a small business

I have learned such a huge amount in the last year, and have really found what works for me and what doesn’t. There have been unexpected hurtles as well as great opportunities. And of course, my business is very young so I’m learning more every day. I’d like to share more about my experience and help others of you who might be starting (or thinking of starting) your own business.

Take time off

Oh dear, this is a big one for me personally. I have never been one of those “live to work” people, but frankly running a small, growing business out of your home has a way of turning you into a workaholic. Big time. The upside is that I work so much because I love my business, I love the work I do, and I’m passionate about everything I do. The downside is that this could lead to major burnout if I don’t start pacing myself.