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It’s time for my annual post with my Best of 2019 + a giveaway. 2019, what a year! Where did it (and the last decade) go?
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Every time I do this, I’m like “that happened this year?” and “oh yeah! I’d forgotten about that!” The year goes by in a blink and yet the start of 2019 feels like forever ago at the same time. It’s weird like that. If you haven’t taken a moment to reflect back on your own year, do yourself a favor and do it. I love how a look back–big or small–inevitably helps me move forward. It can bring excitement, inspiration and clarity. Plus, it’s pretty fun to take a look back at the recaps from years prior. (See them for 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014.)
2019 had plenty of challenges for me as well as plenty of good experiences too. Professionally, I’m delighted to have enjoyed several teaching adventures in Napa, Nashville, NYC, and Sisters, as well as trips to Kansas City and Houston for Quilt Markets.
On the fabric front, I had more releases than usual with Instead, Collection CF and Jetty. I’ve loved seeing Instead and Collection CF show up in your projects, and I’m eager to highlight more of Jetty and see what you start making(!) when it starts hitting stores in a couple of months.
The new patterns I produced this year are all projects that I can’t stop making; Arlo, Hearts, and Rye. I also have new versions of Sunrise, Bartow, and Eads–all personal favorites that I’m happy to have been able to explore in new ways. My on-going Hunt quilt for the Hunt QAL has been a relaxing project for me and also a fun way to quilt along in real time with many of you. I finally finished this knit that had been sitting in limbo for far too long. That feels good! I really wanted to finish out 2019 by finally quilting my last-finish quilt of 2018. That didn’t happen, but I’m hoping to get it tackled this month. (Fingers crossed!) Of course there were many more makes and misses, but I’ll stop there. 2020 is a new year, and I’m excited to see what it will bring.
Thank you for following along, supporting my work and for sharing your thoughts and makings with me. As a special thank you, and because I love hearing from you–I’d like to do a giveaway for 4 special bundles that I’ll put together with new fabrics, patterns and stuff from 2019. To enter leave a comment below letting me know of a special highlight, success or challenge for you in 2019. Giveaway is now closed. Thank you to everyone who participated!
Winners will be randomly selected on Friday, January 10, 2020 at 5PM EST.
Happy New Year!
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2019 was a great year for me. Not only did I get to go to Sister OR, with my mom but I had the opportunity to take two classes with you!!! I also got to take the most fantastic trip of a lifetime and visit Bhutan. Can’t wait to see what 2020 brings, hopefully the opportunity for more quilting as I didn’t finish nearly as many quilts in 2019 as I had hoped š
We moved this year, fixed up our home of 40 years, sold it, and sold my mother in law”s house in just 4 months, then moved her twice, before she passed in December. It”s been busy, stressful, sad, yet rewarding because we moved closer to our kids and grandkids and had more family time. While few projects were finished, they did move forward, so I count that as a win.
My highlight was publishing Patchwork USA with Lucky Spool, such a special project for me. On the home front, it was amazing to see my 3 daughters make the transition to preteens this year…amazing & a little nerve-wracking. But I’m so grateful for all the blessings that 2019 brought to us. You are always so inspiring to me, Carolyn!
Wonderful recap! A great challenge was moving from Oregon to California, a logistical challenge, however itās also my great new opportunity to have more sunlight and time to work with my fabric to make! Happy 2020!
2019 was a new start year. I retired from a job had for 30 years. The freedom is somewhat overwhelming. Spent time deciding what project deserve to be finished and now looking for new quilt challenges .
2019 was awesome! I met you at Quiltcon! I also started a new relationship which has been challenging as new relationships can be but also so amazing!! Quilt-wise I made my first king sized quilt which is one of the biggest quilting challenges I have taken on! I look forward to 2020 and more quilting š Thank you for being such an inspiration!
Felt successful in branching out from my usual quilting color/styles and loving the outcome. Hereās to pushing boundaries in 2020!
2019 I met the challenge of creating a quilt for my oldest grandson who went off to university. Explored with hand quilting using big stitches and I loved the results. I also followed your lessons for needle turn appliquƩ and used it on a baby quilt. Love slowing down and savouring those stitches. Wonder what I will learn in 2020. Thanks for being an inspiration!
A very special highlight of 2019 for me was attending Quiltcon in Nashville with my daughters and granddaughters (the 13 year old had a quilt hanging! ) so proud and fun to show them around the modern quilting world!
A special highlight for me was making quilts for my two beautiful grandsons. Seeing them snuggled up in those quilts at Christmas made it all worthwhile! Thank you for the giveaway and for your wonderful fabrics and patterns! I have a CF quilt in my future.
This year I finished a long time wip in time to gift to my niece for her 8th birthday.
In 2019 I decided to get serious about finishing up some quilt projects, while still taking on some new ones–especially those involving hand sewing.
This is such a lovely recap – I canāt believe it all happened in a year! Itās a neat reminder of whatās given me inspiration and my wip pipeline … This past year, Iām thrilled to have met some quilting friends through workshops in NYC (including one of yours š) and made five quilts while finishing my dissertation proposal! Excited to end 2019/start 2020 with a new sewing machine and develop my machine quilting skills
Most of my creative time this year has been sewing rope bowls and selling them locally. While that was good Iāve decided to close that down for the most part and go back to school! I do hope to spend time this year using all the thrifted clothes Iāve been collecting and to make quilts.
In 2019 I made my first pair of jeans and a swimsuit. Both were on my bucket list. I also had the wonderful experience of taking your Eads and Wainright classes. It was fantastic to get that opportunity.
2019 brought many challenges for me. I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and had to have surgery and while it took most of the year to recover (wrapped in my favorite quilts, so not all bad) I am now cancer free! I hope to use this year to catch up on all the quilts I dreamed of making last year. Thanks for making such beautiful fabrics that kept me comforted through my recovery.
I decided in 2019 to touch fabric daily. I have a young family and an incredibly demanding job that had tremendous opportunities in 2019. This also meant there was a real possibility of me getting sucked into a vacuum of work and family with no trace of what centers me. I started quilting in 2009 but had not finished a project in over 5 years. I opened an Instagram account and used that to hold me accountable. Looking back this year was incredible. It was stressful, but also incredibly rewarding. When I look back I have work accomplishments that are hard to believe. My daughter’s bring me endless joy. Most importantly my creativity has exponentially grown. I have started new projects, finished quilts (one that I started in 2014). Learned new skills. I have pushed my creative soul further than I have in over a decade and even though 2019 was full, it has made me incredibly fulfilled. I am so excited to see what comes next!
Thank you for this post, I’m not sure I would have verbalised this or recognized the year for what it was. I’m really glad I put what was lurking in my brain into words.
I entered a quilt show for the first time, it was such a thrill to see my quilt hanging with lots of inspiring makes from quilters that I look up to.
I made three memory quilts for a good friend. It was emotionally draining, but very rewarding.
2019 has been my first full year of complete retirement from being a professional quiltmaking teacher. After 35 years of gearing most of my makes to sell something – a product, a pattern, fabric, a book, a class, or me – it’s been both freeing and puzzling to find piece and quilt just because I want to do it. I’m a work in progress!
Last half of 2019 was challenging! I moved my folks to assisted living in my town, got my 92 year old dad to give up his car, got my husband through hip replacement, had a hip replacement myself…then broke my ankle on the other side. I topped all that with a pulmonary embolism. It put a damper on my sewing plans! On to better things in 2020! PS…I love your fabrics and patterns!š
I got divorced in ā19 and making kept me sane. I was counting down the days for the Collection CF. Making was quite literally my therapy, thank you for being a part of it!
My challenge this year was finding time to sew! I did successfully manage to sew a few small projects, but one quilt still awaits its finish.
A challenge for me this year was starting a new job after being at one firm for 12 years. A definite highlight was going to my first QuiltCon in Nashville!
Moving and creating a new sewing room was a challenge for me in 2019.
Another year of time enough to create and make, shared with new friends and old. Thanks for the continued inspiration! Happy New Year!
The highlight of 2019 was retiring from my long time job and then going to work at my local quilt store part-time! I’ve been having a wonderful time being around people who sew/quilt a few days a week. I also teach classes! Love to share the quilting/sewing world via teaching. Thanks for the giveaway, have a fantastic 2020!
I always love your recaps! Last year was productive quilt-wise for me, but the most exciting thing was that my oldest left the nest & joined the Air Force. I have high hopes for 2020!
In 2019 I finally survived the menopauze. Embracing 2020!!!
I finally finished my 3 oldest wip and it felt so good I listed all my unfinished projects and have been working to finish them. 2 of my projects were from classes I took in sisters from you. I will finish them this year. I have so enjoyed see all you new fabrics and cannot wait to add your new collection to my stash. Happy New Year to you.š
This was a great year, so many happy events, creative days with friends, completions of projects that I so enjoyed every minute of making and awards I did not expect. The best was the birth of my first grandchild,
also something I didn’t expect but so blessed! So much I would like to do in 2020
What a lovely photo recap of 2019!
Such an exciting and productive year for you, Carolyn!
In February, I was lucky enough to attend my first QuiltCon and meet up with my dear sewing sisters. The show was incredibly inspirational and I vowed to start using up all my coveted fabrics.
After surviving a medical emergency in May, I decided to focus on being more present with my family. Iām still sewing as much as I can but more so in 15-20 minute increments between work and kids! Itās a new way of sewing for me. šš¼
I wish you continued success in 2020! Thank you for inspiring makes and beautiful designs.
I both turned 60 and got my MBA this past year and am finally getting back to normal and back into quilting and knitting! Happy New Year to you and my 2020 be your best year yet!
How exciting! While recovering from a stroke (2 years ago), I haven’t been able to do much hand work, so have been exploring finishing projects with a walking foot! Have finished about 11 smaller pieces and still going! I so enjoy your success and your blog. Congrats to you!
I was inspired in 2019 by the babies of three friends to start and complete quilts for each of them. Nothing like a newborn to get me to the finish line! Happy to say, your fabrics made appearances in each of the quilts and I look forward to working with your new collections as 2020 proceeds.
I have a longarm business in Trinity, Texas and met you at 2019 Houston Market. You gave me a mini pack of Jetty (which I LOVE), and your booth was so pleasing to look at that it inspired me to revamp my entire studio including removal of flooring, polishing cement, cleaning up clutter and rearranging the items that I sell into modest, well-organized displays. Your booth and the conversation we had inspired me that much! I really enjoy your beautiful fabrics and thoughtful designs!
One of my highlights was visiting Gotham quilts and getting to take a class with you! It was awesome to meet new quilters, and learn some tricks to quilting in the machine. Thank you for the fabrics you design the patterns you put out and the fresh quilting we needed in this industry! šš¼Hereās to 2020!
I changed careers. I went from working in a hospital, under terrible management and high stress situations, to working as a school nurse. I just had my first “winter break” on the same schedule as my kids, and I look forward to spending the summer with them.
I retired! I could hardly believe it! It is truly life changing and full of adventure, challenges, joy, surprises and sooo much more!
A challenge for me in 2019 was an unexpected illness (Guillian-Barreā Syndrome) from which I recovered but which zapped my energy levels completely so not much sewing happened for a while. A highlight was finishing a round robin medallion quilt with my mom for my son. Iām really excited to see what 2020 will bring!
2019 was a year of experimenting and learning for me. I had more project āfailsā than usual and mostly because I took more risks than usual. I love this practice of year end review so that I have the chance to reflect and learn. Creativity and spirituality close partners which makes me look forward to 2020.
2019 was an extremely memorable year for me. On anew Yearās Day, we moved to a new state, and in June, I found out I am pregnant with a baby girl! Another highlight was an amazing 3-day workshop I got to take with Kim Eichler-Messmer!
After a very slow crafting fall, I was able to use the two week holiday break to start a few new projects. Most importantly, a new sweater and a new quilt (Babson).
Creatively, 2019 was an interesting year with new directions for all of the family in terms of crafting. My girls have become more excited about crocheting animalsā and I discovered a whole new approach to quilting through your patterns. Thank you.
Thatās a very impressive round-up, Carolyn! Iām continually inspired by your creativity. A big highlight of my year was taking three weeks to drive from Indiana to California and exploring about 30 Natāl and State parks and monuments on the way. So many beautiful and interesting places in this country! Happy New Year to everyone.
2019 was the year my husband and I paid off all our debt! It was a slow and a tough process (I had to pass up a lot of beautiful new fabrics) but we did it and it has been amazing for our family.
I found time to make it to more AA modern quilt guild meetings which is great therapy. My proud finish was a zip together bag as I got the pattern years ago. Hope to have some quilt finished at our retreat this month.
2019 was a challenge in finding balance. I let my creative time slip and had to have some tough inner focus to remind myself that I have to care for myself too. Hereās to 2020 and all itās possibilities.
My baby boy went off to college this past August so I am trying to adjust to our new empty nest normal. I thought I would have more time for quilting but it hasnāt happened yet!
As always – thanks for designing such beautiful fabric!
So many wonderful new things for me…2nd year as an Island Batik Ambassador, first QuiltCon, new small long arm I am just adoring what I have learned and the direction Iām heading. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
What a wonderful recap. It always amazes me the volume of work when you reflect back on it like you did. My challenge in 2019 was limiting myself to not start too many projects! The shiny object syndrome…. and your patterns are always in the mix. So a highlight of 2019 is booking a ticket to Austin for QuiltCon 2020 and registering for your class. Looking forward to seeing you in February!
In 2019 I semi-retired, got a new puppy, went on two cruises and watched my Washington Nationals win the World Series while our in the middle of the ocean.
I took a chance on a new job and ended up at Market in the fall (it was nice to meet you). I also took a chance at a relationship that didnāt ultimately work out but I learned so much.
2018 was tough for me as I was on chemo for 10 months. For me 2019 was about recovery and rebuilding. I managed to get fit enough to do a 10 day walk in the wild carrying everything I needed. Plus I got a new job and did quite a bit of crafties. It was a fabulous year
Although I am first and foremost a quilter, this year I was really proud of myself for learning to crochet. I had wanted to for years, but just couldn’t get the stitches right, even after watching countless YouTube videos. I signed up for a class (live and in person) and it finally clicked! I’ve made some really pretty granny squares, a baby afghan that I gifted and a scarf with random stitches. I’m hoping this year to make amigurumi toys, hats and headbands. Thank you for the chance!
My highlight this year was a visit to Quilt National 2019 in Athens, Ohio. Something I had wanted to do ever since I started quilting in the late eighties. I combined it with visiting three of my U.S. friends in three states and a week all alone in NYC. I bought fabric in many of the the shops I had gotten to know via social media and many more, since it is considerably cheaper than here in Germany. And in an IG recap I was surprised to see that I had finished five quilts in 2019.
I dropped off 14 quilts at Women’s Shelter. That makes 24 for the year. I’m happy with that number. That’s a good highlight for me.
It was a big year in so many ways. I found peace and delight in nurturing my creative self. I made a ton of quilts this year, and my mum and I taught my 9 year old son to sew and quilt.
Congrats Carolyn. Canāt wait to see all the new fabric. My challenge this year was to keep on going. More sewing is planed this year
I visited Japan which has been a dream destination and we also visited China too which was fascinating.
I created my first quilt from scratch since being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis back in 2012. My quilting mojo has returned and my hands and wrists are holding up well. Thank goodness for Cath #cumbrianlongarmer to take care of the really heavy work of quilting anything larger than pillows and baby quilts. Looking forward to much more creativity in 2020
2019 was a great year for me, a family wedding, our first grandchild on the way and an engagement!
In 2019 I finally survived the menopauze.
Embracing 2020!!!
2019 was mentally one of the hardest years for me, but I made it through. And with the help and support of friends and my therapist, Iāve actually been able to reflect back on my progress as a person and I feel alive. 2019 also was a tough year for my dearest friend, and i was fortunate enough to be able to take time away from home and work to physically be there for her. Giving so freely of myself also helped me understand more about my capacity to love, something I thought I already understood and something that I do clearly am still learning about.
Great recap of the year. For me in 2019 I slowly got back into knit and crochet which had been replaced by quilting for the past 9 years. I also did a bit more cross stitch than normal. All fun and great crafty therapy and funš
In 2019 I finally made a Single Girl quilt, a quilt from my grandkids outgrown clothes and auctioned off 4 quilts for a local charity. It was a great creative year for me! Love seeing all your accomplishments!
In 2019, a dear friend from another continent took a new job, moved and is now only two
hours from me! I will be making him a quilt in 2020.
Exploring my heritage and ancestry utilizing collectionCF and snippets of your original Architextures fabric to begin a map quilt in a course with Timna Tarr at Craft Napa next week!!!
In the spring I fell hiking and fractured my arm (in two places) and dislocated my shoulder and one week later we sold our house (made a big move out of state to NC). Somehow I did manage to get a few quilts completed with another in progress. Here is hoping that 2020 will be a bit slower for me so I can enjoy so quiet time sewing. Happy New Year to you Carolyn!!!
Oops left a comment on the previous blog post! Wishing you a very happy New Year!
I guess this is a ā2019 successā comment. I was co-chair of my quilt guilds annual quilt show. Everything went well. A wonderful array of quilts + vendors + QOV + demonstrations.
My personal show project was a special display of double knit quilts! The weather was beautiful so we are able to spread the quilts on the grass. Let me tell you everyone has a DK quilt story!
This year I have finished 3 of my UFOs. Even more exciting though was that I was able to do it with fabric I already had, only having to buy small amounts of what was needed. I was moving along pretty steadily until I broke my ankle in September. I had a lot of time to sit around and think. I thought a lot about my quilting and how I was often in a hurry to finish something, a time frame I put on myself. So, even though breaking my ankle wasn’t a good thing – I feel much more comfortable with my pace of quilting now – more quality and less quantity. For that alone, it was a good year!
2019 was good after a very rough 2018. I gained full custody of my older two kids and was able to move them to my school district which stopped me having to spend half my day driving and picking people up, and calmed my life down immeasurably. We sold our townhouse and moved nearby to a larger space with a great treed yard. I got to spend time with my family from overseas at the beach this summer. While my sewing space isnāt set up yet, I have more (and dedicated) space for that, and I learned to knit! I am on the final sleeve of my first sweater and excited to see it completed. Iām hoping to make and finish more things in 2020, but hope the general upward life trend continues.
One highlight was finishing 3 quilts to gift for Christmas. 2 were for my kids and have long been on my bucket list. It makes me smile every day to see the quilts on their beds and to tuck them under the quilts each night. One challenge (that also comes with a highlight) has been adjusting to having my daughter in Kindergarten as our daily schedule has changed…and with that, my sewing time each morning has been impacted. As she is now home with me before school, I do not have as much sewing time. The time I do have has become almost sacred to me. I created a space for my kids in my sewing room and my daughter loves to be with me in the mornings, crafting and creating along with me. The highlight of this – she has asked to learn to sew and we are (slowly) working on her first quilt together.
Hello- my highlight of 2019 was going to quilt classes and learning how to paper piece!! We had a bit of a scare with my husband having a heart attack, and joyfully can say it was the easiest health scare we could go through. I am so thankful for great medical care! i hope your 2020 is filled with joy, love, laughter and happiness. Thanks for all that you do!
Overall 2019 was good but challenging. We couldn’t sell our old house but love our new house. My son hates his new school but my daughter loves it. I did A LOT of sewing but also didn’t finish the WIPs I had promised myself that I would wrap up this year. Luckily, I get to try again in 2020!
Such a wonderful 2019 review, such an inspiring line up. Thanks so much for sharing your projects and inspirations throughout the year, always so encouraging. This year I was able to incorporate a number of embroidery samplers my husband’s maternal grandmother completed during her lifetime. It has been so gratifying honouring her work and creativity, stitching them into projects for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, to love and cherish. The projects included: throw pillows, a quilt backing and a tote bag. Wishing you another year full of creativity, health, joy and wonder. Thanks again.
What an impressive collection! The patterns, fabrics, garments, accessories AND knitting! So inspiring! And Aidy Bryant! Fantastic! Hereās to 2020!
I agree that it’s good to reflect on the year. I have been feeling glum but realized I had put together an amazing work event, won some quilt ribbons on the sewing front, and bought our first house! Plus navigated some anxiety issues. Congrats on all your beautiful work this past year!
I want to begin your Eads project this year–the paper piecing templates are all downloaded…
hugs, Julierose
Bought a new Bernina 770QE and broke my arm. Those 2 challenges were plenty, but I did finish 6 quilts!
I finally joined a quilt guild this year, and it’s been so creatively inspiring!
I finally finished up my Collection Quilt which I’ve been working on for several years!
After 31 years in the Netherlands, 2019 was our first full year back in France. Nice to be back š One of my quilts was in a French quilt book, a gift from the author, Katell Renon, le BeeBook. And I organised an exhibition of the 70273 Project in Ardennes, France in a home for disabled people, another gift of 2019!
I begin 2020 with the Gotham Quilts Project, your project!!! Happy quilting in 2020!!!
One of the challenges of 2019 was finding time to sew.. However in spite of the time challenges I tried to sew 10-15 minutes a day or at least prep for the next 10 minutes I had available. I didn’t do it everyday but I was able to complete many more projects with this tactic. I hope to build on that this year and make sure I also have handwork ready to go when I don’t make it to the sewing room.
We lost my Father-in-Law to Parkinson’s this year. The only positive thing about that has been the freedom that came with the loss. We could once again find time for date nights, cooking on weekends (besides blender food for him) and sewing! I have painted my daughter’s room with mountains and gotten to sew curtains, bedding and a tent for her. It has been a good end to a rough year. Thank goodness times of hardship don’t last forever.
A highlight from 2019 was traveling to Portland OR, my first trip traveling solo! Hoping it will make me bolder in my travels for the coming years š
Happy new year! Thank you for the chance to win your giveaway. A highlight of 2019 for me was attending A Gathering of Stitches Slow Stitching retreat in Maine. I attended on my own with the intention of not only stretching myself skill-wise (I am relatively inexperienced with quilting) but also socially. I would be mixing it up with sewers I did not know previously, and for this introverted woman of color, that felt brave. The retreat and the attendees did not disappoint! I learned A LOT, made new friends, and found in myself an ability to go solo.
In 2019 I started going to therapy which has helped me in so many ways. I realized that my demanding job has been slowly eating all my free time and leaving me with no time to sew and create, and that this is unsustainable for me. I’m currently repositioning myself to make a job change this year. I am so looking forward to being able to sew clothes and quilt again. Thank you for all the inspiration this year! Your work is so special.
Hubby and I moved in 2019, after 60+ years in Michigan we are now South Carolina residents. Thanks for your recap of 2019, there were so many pieces that I have on my pinterest board for future.
I tore my rotator cuff in June and had surgery in September. My challenge was to stay positive while the ongoing recuperation and physical therapy continues into 2020. It helped to have lovely quilting blogs to follow.
I enjoy following your adventures. My highlight for 2019 was attending Sewtopia in Seattle with a friend. Happy New Year.
I retired last June so Iāve spent a lot more time with my fabrics and sewing machine! Iāve made two big quilts! One about 80ā square and a king size (my first)!
2019 was the year I learned how to quilt! My gramma was the big quilter in the family and she sadly has dementia and I decided to learn to quilt so I could send her a quilt before she was too far gone to recognize it. I was able to make a beautiful quilt and itās currently in the mail for her right now! Looking forward to many more quilt adventures in 2020.
You had a very successful creative year! Congratulations! I’m so excited that you re-did some of the Architextures prints – I’ve bought almost all of them. I’m just looking for one that was sold out. I didn’t have a great creative year, but the highlight was going to the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham. It was a lovely trip to the UK.
I have a beautful well organized sewing room now, but the struggle is to spend time in there doing what I love. Any day spent in my sewing room is a good day, even if I also spend quality time with my seam ripper. One of the highlights of 2019 was that I made a new quilting friend (in a hospital waiting room) and we have cheered each other on while doing a quilt-a-long together…her first.
In 2019 I made grandson #1 his very first “big boy” quilt and got to welcome grandson #2! I am hoping in 2020 to continue destashing quilts to some very deserving charities.
I managed to finish my daughters baby quilt!!
I am so excited about quilting this yearāI finally finished a quilt for my son! Also I have been renting a long arm quilting machine. It is amazing to have made every part my quilt.
After some years of hard work we were able to completely pay off the mortgage on our house. It felt so amazing!
Happy New Year Carolyn! In Jan 2019 I started my first job post PhD. In December 2019 I started my first appliquĆ© project – your Hearts pattern in the wall hanging size! Planning on giving it to friends who just had their first baby.
I realized that I can watch Netflix while I’m cutting or pressing (but not sewing), so I’m getting a lot more piecing done. On my Arlo quilt.
2019 was a big year for us. We moved into our new house and are currently living in my studio as we work on finishing off the rest of the building. Quilting took a back seat but I have managed to complete a couple of quilts…one for my 2 yr old grandson and a new one for the wall in our new space. Looking forward to starting Rin in 2020!!
2019 wasnāt my most productive quilting year, but I did fall in love with colorwork in knitting. I finished 2 sweaters and a hat for myself. We also got to travel to a few new national parks last year and saw a lot of beautiful sights. Iāve got a lot of goals for 2020 and Iām interested in seeing how they all play out.
I kept a tiny human alive for another year! Mostly that has been my big accomplishment, but I did make one very special nap/memory quilt for my son that makes me emotional every time I wash it.
Beginning the new year with a new fancy sewing machine. It took me a long time to accept that I deserve such an awesome machine. I have barely used it–it’s like I can’t believe it’s mine!
2019 was a year of ups and downs for me, but a highlight was definitely having my new pup Scarlett join me after having lost my Stella a few years ago. I have learned so much from her about stretching my heart to accept new love, and also patience as I adjust to having all that young energy around the house again. In the lead-up to the holidays, she finally figured out how to snooze in her bed while I worked on some Christmas gifts, so I am looking forward to many more cozy creative weekends together with her in 2020.
2019 – Gypsy Wife completed! Loved the process!!
2920 – going to be a stash buster year
Hiking in Japan was my highlight, carrying many WIPs into the new year is/was a challenge (but not a bad one)!
I’m pleased that after 8 years of motherhood i finally got my groove back for sewing and found the mental space to do an improv quilt! I’ve been taking photos of the layout as I go along so I can look at it if I have even a short window of time and keep it in my mind quite easily for making changes! I am so happy with the result.
We welcomed our second little one into the family in 2019, which was both wonderful and challenging. Our older son just turned 8, so it was quite an adjustment for everyone having an infant around. Largely due to that, it was also a slow sewing year for me, which I missed, but I’m excited to get back to it more in 2020. I’m also looking to expand on the work I’ve been doing to incorporate my professional work (editing) more with my sewing/quilting. Happy new year to you!
I love you Carolyn. You are always an inspiration to me. 2019 is history and 2020 is a clean slate! Let’s create!
-Jean
š
2019 started out with my first being born on Jan 3. I made several quilt tops throughout the year and enjoyed sewing for the joy of it. š
After having spinal surgery earlier in the year, I was unable to sew for many months. So i had to find something else to do. The highlight of the year for me, was re-discovering my love for knitting while recovering and waiting for my fine motor skills to return.
I’m 49 years old and I went back to school last year to get a degree in graphic design because I’m unhappy with my boring job. I think it’s the best decision I ever made (next to marrying my husband)!
2019 you went by so quickly. So many ideas and so much inspiration around. The list of things to make has quite a number of CF designs. There were 4 finishes this past year, all hand stitched and hand quilted gifts for friends. Plus a crochet blanket for my son. Looking forward to tackling the list and the pulling out the fabric stash.
Hi! I finished 2 quilt tops – which is really great for me! One had 100 blocks, the other had 16 large blocks with rings. I was thrilled to get them finished. Loved taking a class with you at Sisters too! Thanks!
Hi Carolyn,
I worked with my daughter on 2 sew-alongs and also finished 2 quilt tops. The Trinket Sew Along and the Free Wheeling Single Girl quilts. I would love to win a surprise from you! Love your new fabrics!
In 2019, my oldest graduated from high school, and my youngest started kindergarten . . . I’m counting that as a win!
My special highlight of 2019 was an eleven day trip to Italy! Since I have never been to Europe before It was amazing. We saw so many historical sites that came alive after learning about them all my life.
Highlights for me were the number of quilts I was able to finish while going through a lot of challenges with elderly in-laws. I was able to keep seeing through hospital stays and moving them to a care facility and cleaning out their house. I was able to finish some quilts that have needed quilting for years but I was scared Iād mess them up. I expanded my free motion quilting skills, my piecing skills, and picked up another client. I made more commission quilts this year. It was definitely a long difficult year on the personal front but a great year on the quilting front.