Sisterhood

I used the International Sister Quilt Block to make the Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks in 2019.

Ladies in Red

It was a year of ups and downs.

Feeling (Dark) Blue

You sent me hugs when I was feeling blue. 

Light Blue

Women of Color

You celebrated with Women of Color. 

It is Easy being Green

And you were with me when the sisters went to the dark side.

To the Dark Side

I shared new blocks month after month.

Shining Sisters

The Sisters were received with so much joy, it warmed my heart.

Passionately Purple

The Rainbow Scrap Challenge of 2019 resulted in enough blocks to make two quilts.
The first I made for Eva.

32 Sister for Eva

The second one was made for the Quilt Show.  All quilts bound for the show must be labelled, with a prescribed sleeve including the name, address, phone number and guild chapter name. After an online registration process, each quilt (accompanied with the print-out of the registration form) must be brought to the photo session for a professional photoshoot before they make it to the show.  Yes it is big to-do and I did all that.

Piecing in Progress

Piecing Diagonal Rows

Enjoying the Process

The corner blocks

In my mind, I had pictured myself at the quilt show, standing next to my quilt, with 50 gorgeous sisters. I would use that picture in the blogpost that I would write about the quilt - Sisterhood.

Finished Flimsy

Of course the quilt show was cancelled. The picture did not happen and the blogpost seemed too tedious to write.


On Monday I received an email from EJI. It was the receipt for the donation.

A few distracted clicks later I was reading about Julia Tutwiler Women's Prison in Alabama.  EJI investigated and exposed the widespread sexual abuse of women in this prison leading to a federal investigation. Although the Department of Justice found evidence of abuse there has been no meaningful reform.

Pieced Backing

On February 2, 2016, Alabama Governor Robert J. Bentley announced in his State of the State speech that Tutwiler prison would be closed as a part of a "complete transformation of the prison system," which would include the construction of new facilities. "The process" was due to start within the 2016 calendar year but, as of 2020, the prison remains open.

Sisterhood

Finished at 71" by 85"

Sexual abuse is disgusting and dehumanizing. It is particularly heinous when it is perpetrated by those who are meant to protect. Discussing sexual abuse is uncomfortable and unpleasant. I have struggled to write this post. Some of you may say "just stick to quilting"

Celebrating Sisterhood

I wish I could. I cannot unread. I cannot unsee.  Our ignorance bolsters the perpetrators and our silence further hurts the victims.

You are beautiful

Even if I could keep quiet, these fifty sisters will not be silenced.  How can I celebrate these gorgeous sisters while ignoring those who languish in prison - abused and unheard.
It was time to write this blogpost.

Walking Foot Quilting

Bright

Orange Binding

To those who want me to stick to "just quilting" I say - just look at the quilt pictures.
To those who ask - how can I help/what can I do, I say - check this link.

Sisters Forever

Six sisters remain with me. Please let me know if you want them to come to your home/studio.
I will pick a winner on August 29, 2020.

Ready to Travel

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties (see full list on the sidebar) and with Angela's So Scrappy Linky Party.

Best of 2019

It is January 1, 2020.  As I look back on 2019, I notice that there was a lot of pain and grief as reflected in the quilts from the Sacred Threads Exhibition.

For the Stillborn Bereavement Group

I made quilts for those who did not make it (Stillborn Bereavement Group) and for those who are trying their very best to survive (Soccoro Foundation Quilts) in hopes for a better life.

Soccoro Foundation Quilts

But in so many ways 2019 was a year of Badass Women. Whether it was the legendary spacewalk by the duo of Christina Koch and Jessica Meir or the more down to earth women like Fiona Hill and Marie Yovanovitch who spoke truth to power. And if Greta Thunberg and Emma Gonzales are a glimpse of women to come, I am very hopeful of our future!!!


Therefore if I had to pick one, just one quilt to signify 2019, it would be Celebrating Women.

Inspiration

Celebrating Women

When I made that quilt, little did I know that I would be celebrating (and making quilts for) four other women - all in 2019. Like the universe was giving me a road map for the year to come.

Enchanted Lake

Smiles Delivered

I made Enchanted Lake for Olive in UK whom I have yet to meet and A Quilt for Eva whom I have met only a handful of times.

A Quilt for Eva

I made Kinda Brave for Ashni who started college this year and Rainy Day for Kay who wants to get better to see her sons go to college.

Kinda Brave

Messages and Love Notes

Rainy Day for Kay

Scrappy Pouch for me

And yet my fondest memories of 2019 are of two other women that did not involve any quilts.

Clockwise from top left - Tired in Cologne, Happy in Hamburg, Windy in Vienna's Schoenbrunn Palace and Radiant on the banks of Danube

My Europe trip with Nina and the time we spent with Melanie in Hamburg was definitely the highlight of my year.

with Mell in Hamburg

I learned to make a Dresden Quilt resulting in Raspberry Swirl.

Raspberry Swirl

My greatest achievement was tackling tiny paper-piecing with Alison Glass' Trinkets QAL resulting in Comeuppance.

Comeuppance

But this blogpost about Perfection (or the lack thereof) is my favorite blogpost of 2019.

I am overcome with gratitude for all my sisters (quilty or not) who encouraged me, supported me, guided me and loved me unconditionally.

Paul: Unconditional Love?
Me: Ummm Hmmm
Paul: On the internet?
Me: Yes
Paul: A heart emoji is not unconditional love.
Me: Neither is kissy lips but you send that to me everyday.
Paul: But that is from me. You are talking about random people.
Me: First, they are not random people. They are my readers and followers. Second, they have visited a single blogpost over 7000 times and written over 60 comments.
Paul (genuinely surprised): That is phenomenal, babe!
Me: Told ya. Love!!!

A big shout-out to all of you who made the International Sister Quilt Block and blocks, wall-hangings, runners and quilts. Thank you to Debbie, Mien, Judith, and Juanita for sending pictures of your projects with the International Sister Quilt Block.

From Juanita

from Judith

These are the links to the quilter/bloggers who have completed quilts based on the block.

Sue of KiwiKid
Karen of KaHolly
Diann of Little Penguin Quilts
Raewyn of Stitching Farm Girl
Wendy of Pieceful Thoughts
Cathy of Crazy By Design

Did I miss anyone? Please let me know.

Paul: Don't you have any goals for 2020?
Me: They are secret.
Paul: Secret? Why?
Me: Because when I share them they are likely to get sabotaged?
Paul (incredulous): Who would do that?
Me: Dunno. Life. Chores.
Paul: Do you have anything planned for 2020?
Me: Yes, I have already selected fabric for the quilt I am making for Chad's girls.
Paul: Oh yes, I see that.

Fabric pull for Chad's Girls' Quilt

Me: Now if you expect me to clean bathrooms or go grocery shopping, it will get delayed.
Paul (eyes rolling): So you want me to go grocery shopping?
Me: Unless you want to clean bathrooms.
Paul: Do we have to clean bathrooms?
Me: Only once a month, before our guests arrive.
Paul (incredulous again): And we are having guests every month?
Me: Yes, that is my new year resolution - once a month we have people over...
Paul (agitated): Why? 
Me (very calm): Because that way the bathrooms will get cleaned.
Paul: So when do our first guests arrive?
Me: On the 19th.
Paul: So we have time.
Me: Yes. Now only if you will give me the time to complete this blogpost...
Paul: BRAT

I deserved that.

I have a day job as a planner (that is my job title). That is exactly why I'd like to keep my quilty pursuits unplanned and spontaneous which allows me to chase squirrels and make whatever I want, whenever I feel like it.

Work in Progress

If I do not have a list of goals, there is no pressure of completing them and no guilt when I don't.
How is that for a 2020 goal - No pressure, no guilt!!!

Marked for Quilting

Trust me there is plenty going on in the studio.  Several (OK, two) finishes are coming up in January itself.

Star or Snowflake?

Angela just announced the RSC 2020 color for January. It is green!!! And here is my audition block.

Audition Block for RSC 2020

I made it BEFORE she announced it. Happy Dance follows. If this is any indication, I believe that 2020 will treat me just fine.

I want to end this blogpost with hope and healing.
I know that 2019 was marked with hate, anger and discord and therefore many of us are skeptical about hope and healing. Here is a story of sisterhood from NPR - a story of love and empathy from the most unexpected quarters.

StoryCorps: A Hateful Attack Led To A Forever Friendship 

https://www.npr.org/2019/12/27/789923839/a-hateful-attack-led-to-an-unexpected-forever-friendship

Some happy moments from 2019

Wishing you a Happy New Year 2020!!!  I will be linking with MeadowMist Designs Best of 2019 and all my other favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.

If you have any thoughts about cleaning bathrooms or inspirational women, please do share!!!

To the Dark Side

Paul: Are your sisters going to the dark side?
Me: No, they are shining lights in the night. Think Florence Nightingale.

Paul: But their clothes are dark
Me: Yes, it hides their stains

Paul: Stains?
Me: Blood, sweat and tears.
Paul: Whose blood, sweat and tears?
Me: Whomever needs comforting. I just said "think Florence Nightingale". You are not listening.

Paul (changing the topic): How many of these do you have?
Me: Plenty to make two quilts.
Paul: And who gets those quilts?
Me: Well, one will go to the quilt show next year and the other will be a lap quilt for a friend.

Paul: When do you finish?
Me: This year, over the Christmas break.
Paul: Cool.

I so enjoyed the process of making these sister blocks that a part of me is sad that it is over.
But I am thrilled that so many of you are making the blocks, sharing them with your guild members and completing these quilts too.

In writing and sharing the tutorial I invested a drop.
But the love and recognition, I received from you is an ocean.

By Sue of KiwiKid

Sue of KiwiKid
Karen of KaHolly
Diann of Little Penguin Quilts
Raewyn of Stitching Farm Girl
Wendy of Pieceful Thoughts
Cathy of Crazy By Design

If I missed anyone, please add them in your comments. Linking with Angela for ScrapHappy Saturday.

I got my flu shot. You should too.

In other news, I have accepted the fact that I need readers. Of course, Paul is amused.

Speaking of Paul, we celebrated our 12th anniversary by a long overdue visit to the beach at Assateague Island. We were fortunate to see some ponies.

I have finished another quilt and now that it has reached its destination, I am ready to show it to you. That blogpost will be next.

I will be linking with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.
As usual I'd love to hear from you.