An Unexpected Year 2020

I waited till after the year was over to join the "Best of 2020" Linky Party hosted by Cheryl of Meadow Mist Designs. Gosh, who knows what might happen on the last day of the last hour of this unexpected and unprecedented year?

The quilts/posts chosen for this recap have one underlying theme - Unexpected. 

At Home with Scraps

1. Meanwhile -  I love this quilt because it was, for a long time, just a bag of flannel scraps languishing behind the bag of batting scraps. I had no expectations from this bag of soft, pre-washed and frayed strips. That is why this transformation from a bag of unwanted flannel bits to a darling quilt (chic and modern and minimalist) is one of my top picks for 2020.

Meanwhile

Meanwhile - Backing

I did not have a recipient in mind when I made Meanwhile. Sometime thereafter I had a meeting with Vinny - our investment advisor. He mentioned that his wife was expecting a baby girl. This was thrilling news because they had been trying for a few years. Meanwhile made its way to Baby Saryna.  Last week when I chatted with Vinny over Webex, he was working from home, holding the baby who was happily sucking on her bottle. Vinny mentioned that they use the quilt all the time. I almost wept with joy.

2. Quarantina - I agreed to pattern test not because I love paper-piecing (I don't) but because I love Mell and wanted to support her foray into pattern writing. 

Quarantina - Flimsy + My toes

Quarantina - Detail

In the end, it wasn't so bad. Unexpectedly, I am now more open to trying paper piecing projects. The diagonally divided layout (white and black) elevates this quilt for a top 2020 pick.

3. Pandora's Box - In times of strife and unrest we seek the comfort of familiar and avoid difficult things. Trying to fit together blocks of various shapes and sizes into a cohesive whole was neither simple nor straightforward. With coping strips and filler blocks, the flimsy was completed.

Pandora's Box

Pandora's Box - Detail

I knew it could be done but that it would also look good was a pleasant surprise. With several fun blocks, Pandora's Box has earned a place in notable quilty projects of 2020.

4. Playing with Fire - It was absolutely unexpected to receive an email from a total stranger - Barbara Cline but I happily agreed to particpate in the blog hop featuring her new book - Diamond Star Quilts. I had never attempted a Lone Star Quilt before and I learned that I need more practice (something to consider for RSC 2021). 

Playing with Fire - Diamond Star Quilt

I did not expect to make a mistake but when I discovered the faux-pas, I chose to leave it in. It seemed fitting to mark a topsy-turvy year.  

5. Our (Property) Values - I was just having fun with the houses and their inhabitants, inserting puppies, girls on scooters and children at play. Of course I also poured all my feelings into the post, as I sometimes do.  

Our (Property) Values

Homes for All

Gal on a Scooter, Gal on her toes

Kids at Play

I do love the quilt but the fact that 68 different readers left comments (an unusually high number for a post without a giveaway) makes this quilt the top pick of 2020.

Now Cheryl said five, but I am breaking some rules here. Expect the Unexpected!!!

6. Stars of Solace - With 3,475 views at the time of writing this post, this quilt deserves to be in the Top 2020 Picks. Sent to Bernie for Mercyful Quilts my only wish is that it provides solace to the family.

Stars of Solace for Mercyful Quilts

7. Picket Star Quilt Block Tutorial - The only post in 2020 that exceeds "Stars of Solace" in the number of views is the Picket Star Quilt Block tutorial with over 6,500 views at the time of writing this post.

Picket Star Quilt Block Tutorial

8. Hunting for the Hunter - Who knew that whining about a color could win you so much comment love!!! I was very pleasantly surprised by the response on this post and it was not even a quilt!!! 

Just a wee bit

Hunting for Hunter Green

If you haven't, I suggest that you read about my colorful griping about Hunter Green.

Do I have plans for 2021? May be. Do I have to-do lists? Kinda. But lists are not eye-catching.  Pictures are. So here are a few pictures showing projects in progress. 

Baby Quilt in the works

Chasing a Squirrel

More Picket Star Blocks

Many more Picket Star Blocks

More to come. So much more. Won't you rather discover one blogpost at a time? Me too :-D

If you like my quilts but don't care for my politics, you can stop reading now.

Unprecedented and Unexpected are just two terms that will be used to describe the year that was 2020.  The year of the unexpected pandemic was also the year of rapid unprecedented vaccine development. 

The year of racial strife was also the year when our eyes were opened to the racial injustice in our country.

The year of intense political drama was also the year of unprecedented public engagement. 

This year was so many things - unexpected and unprecedented. But it has reaffirmed my belief that the existence of good and bad side by side cannot be denied. The human body produces antibodies only in the presence of the antigen. Our world is no different. 

It occurred to me that America is like a crime scene and the pandemic year was like a beam of ultraviolet light. It highlighted our failings in stark terms. Although Covid-19 does not care whether you are black or white or brown, rich or poor, the death rates among the Black and Hispanic/Latinos people are much higher than whites in all age groups. 

The rich got richer, the poor got poorer. The well-to-do significantly increased their savings while many families used up all their savings. Those who kept their jobs and could work remotely chose to buy bigger homes away from the city while the service industry workers are on the brink of foreclosure and evictions.

What does it say about us as a society?  That we cannot take care of each other? That we do not believe in "Live and Let Live" but rather live and let die? We will be searching for answers and solutions for a while. The work has only just begun.

If you have come this far, I thank you for your support. I feel loved. I will be sharing with Angela's Linky Party and all other linky parties; see full list on the sidebar.

A Finish & A Giveaway

One lucky reader (commenter) will get a free pattern - All the Diagonals, from Mell Meyer.
Just leave a comment, completing this sentence.  After the Covid induced coma is over, I will...

And now, let the eye candy begin.  You heard about Quarantina earlier and saw her glimpses on Instagram.  Here she is - my Covid Child (thus named by Rebecca of Cheeky Cognoscenti).

Paul is promoted to Model

You know when you cannot decide between cake and pie?
When you want both chocolate and strawberry.
When you don't want to choose between the ocean and the mountains...hold that thought.

Speckled FQ Bundle

Cool Ones

Warm Ones

The fabric of choice is Speckled by Ruby Star Society.
The cool blues and soothing greens were an obvious choice, based on Mell's pattern.

The first four blocks

21 out of 42 

But I wanted other half of the spectrum too. Why choose, when you can have both?
I made the remaining blocks in warm colors - pinks, orange, peach and yellow.

Almost Blocks

The choice of white background with cool blocks was easy. After mulling a bit, I decided on a black
background with warm blocks.

Design Wall

The exact layout - which blocks go where - took longer.  And the sashing was a bit of an issue due to the split white and black backgrounds.

Matching Seams

Trying to match seams

Matching seams (kinda sorta) took forever. I matched the border colors with the split layout. Flimsy was finished two days before the deadline.

Deadline Met

My toes :-)

Time to quilt :-O

Backing Fabric

Most fabric is 44" wide, except the wide backing that is 104" wide. Ikea used to carry 100% cotton fabric that was about 54" wide which was perfect for backing lap/throw size quilts. Used to. Not any more. Bummer.

Recently I discovered quilting cotton that is 63" wide. BINGO!!! The above backing fabric is from fabric.com (no affiliation). Look for STOF.

The quilting was straight-ish lines using my walking foot. The binding decision was the last but not the least.

I had matched the border to the split layout and wanted to extend that design to the binding.

Should binding continue the split?

Me: I am thinking that the binding should match the borders.
Paul: How so?
Me: White binding in the top and left and black binding in the bottom and right.
Paul: Can you do that?
Me: It can be done. Whether I can match it exactly may take a few attempts.
Paul: Why not do the opposite?
Me: Like white with black and black with white?
Paul: Yes. Contrast binding.

I hadn't thought of it. Now I was battling with two difficult ideas.
In the end I chose an easy way out - striped black and white binding.

Striped Binding

I am not fond of paper-piecing. But I do recommend this pattern. It is very detailed (including coloring pages), well written and the size recommendations are generous. Even when I made a mistake, the generous size ensured that it worked.

Incorrect orientation of the corner triangle - still within the paper limits

Quarantina was delivered on April 18, 2020.  She has excellent complexion and measures 53" by 61.5" .  The baby is doing fine. The mother is neglecting her to take care of other babies.
NEXT!!!

Hello Quarantina :-)

Quarantina wanted to play in the sun. I agreed. A few more pictures.

Quilting Detail

Split White and Black

Love the Backing

Picnic with Quarantina

Isn't she lovely?

Labelled - Mine :-)

And one last look

I will be linking with all my favorite linky parties.  See full list on the sidebar.

Don't forget to comment if you wish to win a free pattern.

Here is my response (to the comment question)...
After the Covid induced coma is over I will spend an entire day in the spa getting spoiled. Manicure, Pedicure, Massage, Facial, Microdermabrasion... whatever that is. Sure, you can microdermawhatever my big behind.

Your turn...

Update on May 8, 2020 - The random number generator chose #24. The winner is KiwiKid.

The giveaway is closed.

Our daughter Quarantina!!!

Paul: What is the matter babe?
Me: Cramps
Paul: Oh no!!!
Me: What?
Paul: I was going to name our daughter Quarantina.

New Pattern by Mell Meyer

Ten minutes later, when I stopped laughing, I had to ask...

Me: What if it were a boy?
Paul: I hadn't thought about it.
Me: How does Quarantino sound?
Paul: Nah, doesn't have the same ring to it.

Still laughing...


I was one of the pattern testers for Mell Meyer's new pattern - All the Diagonals.
The pattern is released today.  Her blogpost shows all the pattern testers' finished tops  plus a code for 25% off. A few ambitious testers completed their quilts. Not me. Not yet.

Backing for Quarantina

In honor of the superb conversation (with Paul) and the fact that this paper-pieced (not my favorite technique) quilt was made during the quarantine (a difficult time), I have decided that she will be named Quarantina.

Binding

As soon as Quarantina is quilted, bound and photographed, I will share all the process pictures from fabric selection to the final finish and a pattern giveaway too.

_________________________________________________________________

Rainbow Scrap Challenge's April colors are light and bright blue.

The Blues - Medium and Bright

I purposely stayed away from light blues, because light blue would be a poor contrast with the white background.  Using medium and bright blues instead.


Here are my blocks.

April Blocks

Ombre & Floral

Swirls and Robots

Octopuses that Shimmer

Juice Boxes

Do check out other RSC blocks on Angela's linky party.  I will be sharing with all my other favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.

__________________________________________________________________

Of course I made a mask or two. (It would be unpatriotic not to)

Paul, the model

Of course I am wearing a mask. (It is suicidal not to)

Masked

I am wearing a mask also to hide my now fully-grown bushy mustache.

Me: Paul, can I use your beard trimmer for my facial hair?
Paul: Babe, you need a lawn mower.

Guess I will keep the mask on.

But don't mask your feelings from me - reveal them in your comments. I am dying to connect with you, even if it is online.  Big Hugs from a safe distance.