Best of 2020

Cheryl Brickey of Meadow Mist Designs is hosting a linkup for favourite posts of this crazy, year we have experienced.

For most of us our time in sewing spaces was increased by the Pandemic we are still experiencing. Along with more time, some of us experienced lack of inspiration and less motivation at times. some of us contracted Covid-19 or had to deal with losses of family and friends while trying to adjust to life in isolation.

I had bouts of all of the symptoms, lack of motivation, lack of inspiration and Covid brain fog which made it so hard to think or do math. I also had the fun of testing patterns, reading and gleaning inspiration from the blogs I follow, taking part in some fun blog hops, and had one visit from my daughter after she was tested for Covid and being clear came to see her old Mom. I took Zoom classes, attended on line and telephone Guild Meetings and learned how to navigate through communicating via social media. I also discovered I have a penchant for rearranging my sewing space when I have no motivation to sew. I keep thinking I will find the “perfect set up” one day. 😉

My year was filled with the joy of meeting new quilters and forging friendships on line, reading blogs and joining in on hops as I tried to stay sane in my little bubble.

One of my favourite Blog Hops this year had me doing a traditional block, the Log Cabin in an updated version and laying it out in a fun new way. It was the Winter Blues Blog Hop hosted by Carla from Creatin’ In The Sticks. Just click on the picture to be taken to the post and a link to the pattern can be found on my Patterns Page or by clicking the link. This was so much fun to make, entirely scrappy from the scrap bins. Don’t you just love 2 colour quilts?

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March 22, 2020 was my day to post on the Qwilt Qwazy Queens Blog Hop. At the time we had just gone in to lockdown and really needed something to smile about. Robbie Robotix was a fun little quilt and my Squirrel wall hanging is so appropriate for my sewing space because those squirrels do visit me so often. Read about it HERE. Both of these projects were part of fulfilling my yearly goal to improve my appliqué technique.

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In May I was able to participate in the Creating a Quilted Legacy Blog Hop. This hop was created to inspire others in memory of Paula Budinger. I have been inspired these past few years to do a lot of the traditional blocks and patterns.

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In September I took part in the It’s a Garden Party Row Along, hosted by Marian at Seams to be Sew. Unfortunately I didn’t finish my project since my world was turned upside down by the loss of my ex husband, a much loved aunt and a dear friend within a 2 week period. It’s on the UFO stack still I’m sorry to say.

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There were a few more hops I took part in this year. As well I had the honour to be asked to do some pattern testing for some designers I admire.

In October I tested a pattern for Sandra Walker of MMM Quilts. The fabrics were picked by my granddaughter. I just need to make this larger by adding/paper piecing some special borders that Delaney asked for. This quilt is going to her best friend in Alberta so that her best friend won’t forget her while my son and his family are living in Mexico (for now) and then various countries in Europe for a couple of years when the pandemic safely allows travel. It is nice to know that my quilt can be a special reminder for two “almost teenagers” that best friends can be life long friends.

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Another of my favourite activities this year was following Kim Lapacek from Persimmon Dreams and her Project Quilting Challenges. It stretched my imagination and inspired me to try new things. I’ll give it a go again this year and I did see that she has a QAL ready to go soon. 😉

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It was a good year with lots of inspiration and I even won some prizes; Gift Certificate from The Fat Quarter Shop from Carla’s blog hops (thank you again Carla. My goodies are somewhere en route to me), a bundle of Timeless Treasures fabric from Marian’s blog hop (thank you Marian. The bundle hasn’t yet arrived but I’ll keep checking the mail), and lovely bits of Island Batik fabrics from Emily and MaryEllen.

I am linking up with Cheryl’s post Best of 2020 Linky Party and then heading over to read what everyone else is sharing.

Thank you for stopping by. 🤶🏻 Carol