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!!!

Socorro Foundation Quilts

I will never tire of watching Simone Biles' incredible double double beam dismount and triple twisting double tuck from the US National Championships.
Have you not seen? Check out the link below. I'll wait.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWaQeUIjaSw

I take pride and pleasure in her success, even when I don't know her. I had no role in her journey. She is not from my city or my state. I am not a gymnast or a sportsperson. But as a fellow American, I celebrate her achievements. Can you relate? 

So when America is responsible for deaths of innocent children in custody, why aren't more of us filled with shame and disgust?  I am saddened and angered by the loss of innocent lives.
Just as Simone Biles' achievement must be celebrated, so also this meaningless loss of lives must be called out as a cruel mistreatment.

Picture from "Close the Camps"

When Sarah mentioned Socorro Foundation, I knew just how to channel my grief and anger.
I made six quilts, one each in the memory of children who died in the custody of Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Wilmer Josué Ramírez Vásquez, a 2½-year-old, died in May 2019 after being detained by Border Patrol in early April and spending about a month in a hospital, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia.

For Wilmer and Jakelin, I chose 9-patch blocks alternated with animal panels (bear hugs). And although they look similar the layout, the backing and the bindings are different.

Wilmer (left) and Jakelin (right)

Jakelin Amei Rosmery Caal Maquin, a seven-year old, died in December 2018 in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Jakelin died from cardiac arrest caused by severe dehydration and shock a day after she and her father turned themselves in to CBP on the U.S.-Mexico border in New Mexico.

Darlyn Valle, 10, died in September 2018, after entering Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) custody. The girl entered ORR custody on March 2018 as a medically fragile child with a history of congenital heart defects. Darlyn underwent a surgical procedure at a facility in Arizona and complications later left her in a coma. She was then taken to Nebraska, just three days before her death, in an effort to reunite her with her mother. She died due to fever and respiratory distress, ORR said.

For Darlyn, I used strips from a Moda Scrap Bag with Sundrops fabric line by Corey Yoder.

Once the top was complete, it looked subdued and I wanted to brighten it. A green border did just that.  A peach/coral binding brings everything together.

When making a pieced backing with two fabrics, I aim for a four patch rather than just two columns of fabric. It is one more cut and on more seam but the 4-patch layout looks better.

Felipe Gómez Alonzo, 8, was held in CBP custody for nearly one week before he died in December 2018. Medical investigators later determined the boy had been suffering from the flu while he was under the agency’s care.

Cute animal prints, cut into 5" squares with a bright yellow background for a Disappearing Nine Patch was my choice for Felipe.

A large four-patch pieced backing in shades of yellow matches the yellows on the front.

Juan de León Gutiérrez, 16, died of health complications under ORR care in April 2019
after officials at a detention facility in Texas noticed he was sick.

For Juan, I chose cute animal prints with white/neutral backgrounds.  That is why I chose bright red, blue and green for the other squares in the D9P pattern.

Carlos Hernandez Vásquez, 16, was taken into custody after crossing the southern border in Texas' Rio Grande Valley on May 13, 2019, among a group of 70 people. He was held at a processing facility for six days before being transferred to the Border Patrol station in Weslaco, Texas, where he died hours after a nurse determined he had the Influenza A virus.

For Carlos, I chose a starry pattern with turquoise and purple fabrics.

Darlyn, Juan, Felipe (top row),
Jakelin, Carlos, and Wilmer (bottom row)

After all the quilts were completed and photographed I was ready to send them.  But something was missing.  And then I knew.

Labels

Jakelin

Wilmer

Felipe

Juan

Darlyn

Carlos

I labelled them with the children's names, before sending to Socorro Foundation, hoping they would provide some measure of comfort to those who use them.

All my children

Be safe

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.  As usual I'd love to hear from you. A comment from you is like a warm hug and I could use some hugs at this time.