A Chilling Year

"You are exactly the kind of loud-mouthed, wise-ass, brown woman who will be made an example of."

Paul's fear for my safety was obvious. Partly at his urging and partly out of caution, my blog focused on "just quilting" in 2025. As articulate and courageous I may have appeared to you,  I was chilled into silence.

I kept my head down. A new job meant I had plenty to occupy my time. A long commute gives me time to meditate.

Not my most productive, but here are a few of my favorite projects of 2025.

1. Honi - A modern interpretation of Irish Chain, and made with Island Batik collection Fusion, Honi was a nod to our Hawaii vacation. Honi also won the Viewers' Choice Award.

2. Nirali - A modern interpretation of a Crazy Quilt, and made with the Island Batik collection Everlasting, Nirali was also the post with most comments.

3. Leader of the Pack - The greater the challenge the greater is the sense of accomplishment!

4. Hot Stuff (Oliso Cover) - An unlikely project but I love how it turned out.

5. Doblest - Doblest is the most meaningful quilt I made this year. Channeling my frustration, and honoring a nation, my work speaks when I may not. 

My patterns were published a few times.

1. Dreaming of Daylilies - Dreaming of Daylilies was published in Annie's "For Love of Precuts". I used the leftovers to make a baby quilt which was promptly gifted :-)

2. Joyful - Joyful was published in the Special Christmas Publication by Annie's Attic Quilting. 

3. Stella - Stella was published in the We Like Quilting digital/online magazine's September 2025 issue and she made the cover! I am thrilled.

Picture Courtesy - We Like Quilting

4. Milo - Milo is a layer-cake friendly quilt published in Annie's Perfectly Precut - Simple Quilts With Precut Squares - of Quilter's World. 

5. Let's Dance - Let's Dance was published in Quilter's World. Purple stars (secondary design) emerge when blocks come together and that makes me dance :-)

6. Trillium Trail - Trillium Trail was published in the January 2026 issue of American Quilter.

And I wrote a few new patterns.

1. Garden City (68" by 84") - Layer Cake Friendly Pattern

2. Westfield (67" by 81") - Layer Cake Friendly Pattern

3. Veronica (60" by 84") - Layer Cake Friendly Pattern

4. Yamini (60" by 80") - Jelly Roll Friendly Pattern

5. Niko (60" by 84") - Jelly Roll Friendly Pattern

In conclusion, Rosemary kept us occupied.

My friends kept me sane. 

Paul kept me. 

What can I say about 2026?

"Hope is the consequence of action more than its cause."

The events of this year have chilled me into silence. But I urge you to speak up, show up, and stand up for truth. All my positive energies are with you.

I will be sharing with Meadow Mist Designs - Best of 2025 and all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.