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!!!

Raspberry Swirl and Trinket SAL

It is said that every end is a new beginning. Well, I have both a finish and a start to share with you. Plus a bit of bragging :-)

1. Raspberry Swirl
2. Trinket SAL
3. Meet Cute is on QI

First the finish.  Meet Raspberry Swirl.

Raspberry Swirl

Raspberry Swirl is the finished quilt resulting from my workshop with Debby Kratovil.

First quadrant

Two done, Two to go

Completed center

This was my first workshop and first time working with my Dresden ruler.  I am sure the ruler was feeling bereft and was thrilled to come out and play :-)  I completed the four quadrants in class.

Corner Squares pinned

Finished Top

Quilting

The center circle is a bit wonky but I still love it.

Faux Piped Binding

Labelled

I used invisible thread for appliqué and quilting in the dresden blades. In the corner triangles with paisley fabric, I switched to my normal ivory thread for quilting.

Hearts Backing

The red of the paisley corner triangles matches the red solid perfectly.
And the faux piped binding adds a nice touch.

Yes, I am happy :-)

 And one last look...because it looks like a spiral but it is really a circle!!!

Hello Wonky - I love you!!!

Since I am no longer a Dresden virgin, I will try more Dresden blocks/patterns.
What is your Dresden experience?

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I have decided to join the Trinket Sew Along with Alison Glass.

Pattern Booklet

Trinkets

Inspiration

I bought the pattern from Fat Quarter Shop.  There are 97 blocks and each one of them is paper-pieced. I know I know, paper-piecing is not my thing, but I am sure this is the only way to get rid of my PP fears. One small block a day, progressing from the simplest to complex.

Suggested Fabrics 

Although the sample quilt uses Alison Glass' Kaleidoscope fabrics, we can use fabrics of our choice.
There are prizes to be won and the sew-along suggests that blocks are made (and posted to IG) every day. Yes, Every. Single. Day.  I plan to.

Kaffe Fassett Shot Cottons

Here is my fabric pull.
I had bought these Kaffe Fassett shot cottons in 2014 and I am thrilled that this TrinketSAL will be the perfect way to use them and show them off.  They do not match exactly with Kaleidoscope fabrics, but I am sure we will do just fine.

Can I really cut you up?

Too lovely to use?

Oh but I must...

I know I got a little too carried away with photographing my fabric pull.   But then there is no such thing as too many photographs, especially when it comes to pretty pet-worthy fabric :-D

40 Fat Quarters

Which picture should go on Instagram?
All of them :-D

Pattern - check
Fabrics - check
It is time to print the templates.  Nope

I am going rogue..FP rogue!

I have chosen to go the freezer paper route. No sewing on paper, no pulling paper, no mess and no waste. The reusability of FP templates is a huge plus for me.


The sew along begins March 10 and ends on May 20, 2019. I will be posting regular updates.

Promise, this is the last one!

Are you sewing along?

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Meet Cute was one of the several patterns mentioned on Quilt Inspiration's Jelly Roll Quilts.
That my pattern is on Quilt Inspiration makes me want to rock and roll. Pun intended :-D
The complete tutorial is on Moda Bake Shop.

And with that I complete my bit of bragging.

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Hope you are staying warm and keeping busy. As usual, I'd love to hear from you.