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!!!

Sacred and Abhorrent

Last month I volunteered at the Sacred Threads Quilt Show.
There were two separate exhibits.  The first smaller exhibit was titled - OURstory Quilts - Human Rights Stories in Fabric.

I am sharing a small sample of the quilts from each. The picture of the quilt is followed by the maker's description.

Anne Smyers is in my quilt guild.  I remember when she was working on this quilt and mentioned that the base fabric was just two colors.  That is such an inaccurate representation of us because we are not just black and white. So she dyed the individual faces to create all the complexions. It is like the International Sisters are dancing in the Garden of Humanity.

I do still believe that most people are good at heart.  Only if we listened to our hearts...and not the hate.

If we know now that 1957 was a huge mistake then how can we sit quietly as the current prejudices are perpetrated?


Forgive the poor quality of the pictures. It is difficult to see properly through tears or hold the camera steady while sobbing.

The main exhibit had 240 quilts is six categories - Joy, Grief, Inspiration, Healing, Spirituality, and Peace & Brotherhood.  In addition there was the Eye Contact exhibit. I took several pictures but the link shows a video of the exhibit.

Here is a small sample of quilts from the main exhibit.

Just like Ann Bertorelli, I am horrified by those who perpetrate such torture on innocent children. How is this not a human rights violation? 

This quilter was also inspired by the movie Coco.  Such a fun quilt and so very different from my simple interpretation in Poco Loco.

This must have been such a difficult quilt to make. One does not just remember the abuse one relives it. I find it remarkable also because Arlene Wagner chose to display it not under GRIEF but under HEALING.

Of all the quilts I saw that day this one haunts me the most.

Between the time I saw this quilt and the time I could share these pictures with you, there were mass shootings in El Paso, in Gilroy and in Dayton and we need to make more hearts.

How can we make hearts when our hearts are breaking?

I know how I feel. I feel extremely saddened. I feel angry and I feel violated.
I don't know how to process it all. I don't know how to put it to use.

Paul: You can donate to the cause
Me: Already done
Paul: You can make a quilt
Me: I am thinking about it
Paul: Don't you have to sketch it?
Me: Yes, I will
Paul: You can send it to Sacred Threads next year
Me: I looked up. I stared at Paul.

Yes. Yes, I will.  I need to make a quilt to honor the victims and make sure they are not forgotten.
I will send it to Sacred Threads exhibit.


Quilts have to be made and delivered and there are works in progress.

work in progress

And I will get back to the Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks.

Blues for RSC 2019 - August

For now, I am tidying up my fabric room. I hope that as I sort fabric and arrange them by color, I'd be able to sort my thoughts too.
I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.
I'd feel so strengthened to hear from you.