New Beginnings

Me: I hope this year is a new beginning
Paul: All beginnings are new, by definition
Me: Unless it is old wine in a new bottle
Paul: Wine does not get old
Me: It becomes vintage?
Paul: Absolutely
Me: I am going to add some wine to the beef stew
Paul (with anticipation): You are making beef stew?
Me: After I finish writing this blogpost
Paul (naughtily): I can help you finish.
Me: BRAT.  Just help me take pictures of this big quilt top, will you?

When Via (not her real name) a dear friend/co-worker shared that she was going to be a first time grandma (her first grand baby) it was most definitely a new beginning. The baby is due in February 2021.

Sketch Design & Calculations

Boy or girl, I asked.
They chose to not find out, Via replied.

This reminded me of Peter Sagal on one of the episodes of NPR's Wait Wait Don't Tell Me.

SAGAL: Back in the day, you'd reveal a baby's gender by waiting till it grew up, joined the workforce, and then you see how much it gets paid. But these days, apparently, parents have these gender reveal parties. Some people make a cake that are blue or pink inside. Some people release blue or pink balloons. And one couple used a, quote, "pyrotechnic device" that started a wildfire that is currently burning down most of the forest east of Los Angeles.

Now, what's weird is, after all that, we don't even know what the gender of the baby is. Congratulations, proud parents. It's a disaster.

Although I am glad that Via's son and daughter-in-law avoided fireworks, it would have been helpful (for a quiltmaker) to know whether she should use princess fabric or truck fabric.

Layout

All Blocks Done

So I made a very conscious effort to keep the quilt gender-neutral. No trucks, no fairies but cute animals. Personally I believe that babies don't care about specific colors but bright colors are better for stimulation and cognitive development. So here is my first finish of the year - Hop and Skip.

Hop and Skip at 40" by 40"

Is it too Christmassy?

Avoiding all blues and all pinks I stuck to green and red. I found some cute animal prints on light background. Framed in bright red they would form the perfect stimulation for a baby's eyes. Alternated with calming green 16-patch blocks. Does it look Christmassy?

Ester Bunnies

Cute Cows

Puppies and Snoopy

Cats and Dogs

Giraffes and Monkeys

That Frog is so cute!!!

Tiny Bees, Big Cat

Being in a quilt is such an equalizer. The tiny bees have as much say as the mighty tigers. 

This is a democracy and not the jungle :-D

Cool Cats

I have had this cute winter cats fabric in my stash for a while. It was part of a scrap bag (they really are a mixed bag) and although I like it, it didn't really go well with any other fabric line. Not suitable for fussy cutting either :-(

Pieced Backing

Combined with this leftover picnic plaid from Our Property Values it makes the perfect backing.  I may be just a bit more fond of the backing.

Perfectly Matched

Simple walking foot quilting.  Same bright red binding brings it all together.

Labelled

Cats - Fierce and Cool

Ready to Nap

Rolled

Ready for a Cuddle

I will mail it to Via by the end of the month. And then I will have to wait patiently for the baby pictures. But please don't make me wait for your reactions :-)

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January also marks the beginning of a new Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC).  I have been participating for two years and I am completely hooked to this warm and loving community of scrap happy makers. In the hopes of finding inspiration for 2021 RSC, I started looking and came upon this tutorial by Rachel Hauser of Stitched in Color.  She does gorgeous work and I highly recommend that you check out her blog.

I loved the block for two reasons

1. It does not rely on a background color. The background color can become a challenge when you come to yellow or beige/neutral colors in the RSC. A white background won't work well and using a different/darker background may throw your quilt layout.

2. I could play with values :-) This would be fun.

But something wasn't clicking. I bookmarked the page and went about organizing my scraps and such.

I came across these scraps (came in a scrap bag) and then it clicked.  

Cut from a Panel

Dreami in Process

First Block

Taking Off

I immediately knew what I had to do!!!! This was a huge AHA moment. I dropped everything and made it.

It was a DREAMI!!!  

Blocks on the Design Wall

You can see Leela is languishing by the side while I put these blocks together. 

Leela waits patiently while I chase these animals!!!

Once the flimsy was completed, I quilted and complete Leela.  And then it was time to complete this cute and wild and dreamy quilt.

Finished!!!

Fun Green Backing, Striped Binding

Backing

I chose a bright, kid-friendly green backing. A striped black/white binding works for both the front and the back. 

The floral animals became the focus of the tunnel blocks.  The tunnel block no longer appears like a dead end or a blind alley. There was light at the end of the tunnel, in a manner of speaking.  

Of course you can get in their face - they won't bite :-D

Toucan in Yellow

Bulldog in Orange

I am MILD

I am WILD

Regal in Purple

Red is Royal

I prefer this side

Golden Yellow is my color

I'll be your pet :-)

Wild and Handsome

Fierce in Purple

Orange make me look good!

So here is my second finish of the year - Mild & Wild, because some of these animals can be pets but others definitely belong in the wild. Mild and Wild finished at 39" by 44".

Here are a few more pictures because I am so wildly happy with it.

Labelled

Playing with Values

Cool and Warm

Bold and Bright

My favorite way to show off a finish

Rolled Up

What about the RSC?

Oops!!! In chasing this Dreami, I almost forgot about the RSC.

According to Angela, the RSC color for January is pink. Pink is definitely the color of new beginnings, like newborn puppies :-) Yes, I have cute animals on my mind. I wonder why? 

I do have a good selection of pinks. I am still ruminating over what to make. Do you have any suggestions?

January is PINK!!!

Speaking of RSC, the second (2 of 3) flimsy for the Picket Star Quilt blocks is finished. Leela was first.

With 30 blocks, measuring 17" by 17" + borders, it finished at 88" by 102". 

Dwarfed by the Huge Flimsy

IT. IS. HUGE. So I have sent it to Rebecca of Rebecca Grace Quilting for some longarm quilting love!!! 

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This blogpost won't be complete without my big news. I was chosen to be an Island Batik Ambassador for 2021. I am thrilled although I have a feeling I am going to get my butt kicked. 

Check out all these 2021 Island Batik Ambassadors.

• Megan Best – Bestquilter

• Pamela Boatright – PamelaQuilts

• Elizabeth DeCroos – Epida Studio

• Jennifer Eubank – Archipelago Quilting

• Jennifer Fulton – The Inquiring Quilter

• Preeti Harris – Sew Preeti Quilts this is me :-)

• Joanne Hart –  Unicornharts

• Mania Hatziioannidi – Mania for Quilts

• Jane Hauprich – Stitch by Stitch Custom Quilting

• Connie Kauffman – Kaufmann Designs

• Emily Leachman – The Darling Dogwood

• Denise Looney – For the Love of Geese

• Leah Malasky – Quilted Delights

• Sally Manke – Sally Manke Fiber Artist

• Maryellen McAuliffe – Mary Mack Made Mine

• Claudia Porter – Create with Claudia

• Gail Renna – Quilt Haven Threads

• Brianna Roberts – Sew Cute and Quirky

• Michelle Roberts – Creative Blonde

• Gail Sheppard – Quilting Gail

• Andi Stanfield – True Blue Quilts

• Jennifer Thomas – Curlicue Creations

• Suzy Webster – Websterquilt

• Janet Yamamoto – Whispers of Yore

I have received two boxes full of goodies from Island Batik and I am dying to show you the contents. Do return on January 21, 2021 when I post the Unboxing Video.

January Finishes

Two finishes in one month is not new but my ambassadorship with Island Batik is definitely a new beginning :-) What is your new beginning in 2021? 

I will be sharing will my favorite linky parties (see full list on the sidebar) including Angela's and Sandra's (when it goes live). 

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.