Friday, January 8, 2021

2020 Quilt Distractions

 2020 - the year I made quilts!

Little did I know that there would be lots of time during this unprecedented year
to cut up perfectly good fabrics and then sew them all back together again.
That's what quilting is - right?

On January 1, 2020 I started on this Bear Claw pattern
with the intention that this one is for my dear childhood friend, Nonie.
She visits regularly from Banff, Alberta with her sister and I'd always
wanted to make a quilt for her - this was the year.









Also made this Bear Claw pattern
in navy and white for myself.

These are both lap size so they were quick projects.

By the time Covid-19 lockdown hit
us in March, I had them done and 
ready to be taken to the long-arm quilter.












Nonie's quilt was sent to her in the mail.
I wanted her to have it and not wait for "who knows when" I'd ever get to see her again
during this Covid year with travel restrictions!
As it turned out, I am so very glad this got to her just before her unsettling diagnosis.
This quilt was meant to be - she is in my prayers every day.

My "Tree of Life" signature block




The Antique Lace pattern by Missouri Star was started in the Winter of 2019.
This full size quilt was for our own bed.
I fully expected this one to take me several years to complete.
2020 gave me all the time I needed to work on this quilt.
It has been long arm quilted and I'm saving it in hopes it will look fabulous on our new bed
that is on order - for our new house!
We move in March 2021. I still can't get my head wrapped around that fact.




While these quilts above were being worked on,
I was also using tiny scraps to make Kathleen Tracy's 2020 Mystery Quilt.
A mini quilt - 30" X 30"
Every month from January to June a new pattern arrived.
It was such a fun project and challenged my sewing skills.
I had scraps from several quilts so I made two ...


These two quilts also gave me free motion quilting practice on my little machine.















Debi, if you see this one
it's made from the scraps
of your quilt.
You may be getting this one?






















Spring and Easter arrived - still in Covid-19 lock down,
so this little tulip runner just had to be made for my granddaughter.
Once again I used fabric scraps.
 These were from the quilt I made for her big girl bed - so fun!
This "Totally Tulips" pattern was from a tutorial by Missouri Star Quilts.
The best part - she recognized the fabrics.



On one of my trips to my favourite local fabric store I came upon this panel.
Another project in the making? Yup ...
I just added the star blocks to the panel and a few strips of matching fabrics
from the collection.
It was beautifully quilted by a friend on her long arm and awaits a future bed somewhere?
I have no idea why this fabric grabbed my attention - maybe because I love and
long to be on a beach somewhere?





I signed up for a 2020 "Wish You Well" Block of the Month quilt
by Gail Pan that started in January.
This quilt challenged me to get out my old embroidery hoop, tomato pin cushion, and floss.
I was determined to use up that floss ... however,
I ended up purchasing a whole new kit of floss - oh boy!
(the colours were so pretty and I just couldn't resist)





Every month a new patterned came in my email and I set out to do the
embroidery patches (about 3-4 per month).
My camping friends thought I was crazy, I think, when they caught me
embroidering in our dining tent on occasion.
This was so much fun - and I love the end result!
Still needs to be quilted (hopefully by hand this time).

Here it is airing on my washline ... it's another small size (only 40" X 53")
The farmer wondered where I'm going to put THIS one - I really don't know.




2020 was also a very busy time around this old farm.
The laneway Ash trees came down (they were dying from the Ash Borer disease)
and the wood piles grew.
Perfect backdrop for some of my 2020 quilts!!


Wood Pile Quilts of 2020


Well, if nothing else was a positive from this very strange year,
at least I have a few quilts to show for it.

Thank you dear readers for bearing with me on this post.
I know you have seen many of these pictures throughout the year on this blog
and on my instagram posts. Sorry for all the repeats.
It's my attempt at documenting the Covid quilt making year.
This may never ever happen again - so many in one year??

I won't even allow myself to look at the latest Missouri Star tutorial that
just popped up - "Sunshine Shoofly" - it's so pretty!



Today, I will pack up my sewing machine, fabric stash, quilting gear, junky/happy corner, and 
have it ready for the move ... I'd better get started before the day ends!
It could take me more than a day - yikes!
And, yes, I think I will have a sewing/craft room in our new digs - one can only hope!?
We'll have to wait and see.




My happy corner

Take care everyone .... stay healthy and safe
2021 will be an exciting year for this old girl.



Till next time .... packing, packing, packing!

Update - progress ...




6 comments:

  1. I enjoyed your quilt recap from 2020. Now all those quilts are a more tangible and lovely thing to show than a lot of jigsaw puzzles! :) They are all so lovely and I really enjoyed seeing the embroidery embellished one! Thinking of you while you pack and pack and pack. OYE! Looking forward to seeing where you will end up! Blessings!

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  2. Such a beautiful happy corner! My! You accomplished so much in 2020. I am amazed. Your dear friend must feel your love and concern for her. My friend sent me a lap quilt and I used it every time I went for treatments. It was very comforting.

    March is just around the corner. You have many more happy times ahead.

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  3. Wow! That is just amazing. I agree with Ellen...those quilts are a much better use of time than labouring over jigsaw puzzles. Have fun packing!!!

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  4. Woah, your quilts are fabulous!! I especially love the bear claw pattern! Aren't you grateful to have a hobby you can do at home? Especially over the past year!!
    P.S. I've been updating old posts with new photos and tips so you're not behind on any news. Same ol' stuff at our house (which is all good!). xo

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  5. Awe.. packing up that pretty, cozy corner, but it will be so nice to set up again too! You sure know how to make good use of that machine! I think my favorite is the one on your blog header. Happy Packing!

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  6. Your quilts are beautiful! And you made so many!

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