Monday, January 4, 2021

Looking Back at 2020 Quilty Accomplishments

Well, we're finally here at 2021. Whew! It's been quite the slog hasn't it? Frankly I am amazed to see so many quilts reach the finish line--17 in all! Somehow my expectations were that the entire year was a total dud, but maybe not in regards to quilting. I've been having so much fun checking out everyone else's 2020 makes, that I almost forgot to do my own end of the year wrap up!
2020 finishes (1)

I don't like to post the final year wrap up as a boast or a 'look at me' thing, but rather as a marker for scrutinizing where my quilt making is headed as compared to past years. Is my voice still managing to shine through? Am I creating unique and interesting quilts or am I just phoning it in these days? It's also my way of encouraging forward momentum. Seeing all of the completions together in one place reassures me that the previous year wasn't wasted effort. 
2020 finishes (2)

And on a side note, personally, I don't feel that anyone present with their quilting during last year was 'phoning it in', no matter what they made. At least it happened! Just maintaining a regular routine of playing with fabric kept many of us in the game and sets us up for more creative adventures in the future. That's a good thing. Creative flashes of brilliance are something to be treasured. Lets pave the way for more opportunity whatever our resources or limitations!
2020 finishes (3)

Could I have challenged myself more? Sure. If I would have had the mental reserves to actually push myself. Ha! As it was, I'm so very grateful to have had a hobby and craft where I could consistently lose myself in the mediation of hand work. Even if it was on the most simplistic quilt ever! I've talked and talked and TALKED about how important using my hands is to my overall {mental} health and well being. This past year brought that message home to me in spades as if it needed further underscoring...

So sad, depressing, irritating? to read back how wonderfully optimistic I was going into 2020 and know now that it would be more about surviving.*sigh  Are you tired too? I'm just exhausted. Clear down to the bone. Maybe my quilts will turn dark and scary as I work through so many emotional roller coaster rides, disappointments, and missing out on basic, ordinary human interactions. Nah... We're a resilient breed, us quilters. Gonna make all the cozy, cheery looking quilts that I can possibly churn out in the next 12 months! Count on it!

Here are the 2020 Quilty Folk details that probably only matter to me:
  • 5 Bed sized quilts finished up
  • 9 Lap size quilts
  • 3 Baby quilts
  • 8 of these quilts were completely hand quilted
  • 1 of these quilts was completely machine quilted
  • 8 of these quilts were a combination of both machine and hand quilting
Like always, there are quilts that grow tired of hanging out in the quilt stacks here and decide to go live somewhere else. 9 quilts were given away this year, some of them finished up or made especially for a special someone. I whittled down my 'completed' quilt top list to 22 {it was 23 last year}, and then one of my sisters handed off two older quilt tops that she was intending to drop off at Goodwill. Yup. I caved. Honestly, it doesn't feel like added pressure though. I'll get to them whenever. Without any sweat equity involved I could even potentially use them as quilt backings. 

What's 2021 gonna be like? Well, no promises of tutorials or anything like that. I'm usually doing pretty darn good to get in a post once in awhile here on the blog. Still going to be doing deep dives into the stash totes challenging myself to make something, anything? cool with the old stuff. Turns out that I love doing that, and the more it happens, the more interesting it seems to get. When I'm having a particularly unmotivated day, making a new fabric stack is a huge draw. Nothing lifts me up faster than an hour or so lost to digging for the absolute perfect fabric combination. Though I rarely find perfection, it's the tactile {and visual} hunt that thrills.

Applique has gotten fairly out of control around here lately. I'm literally shaking my head so much your screen is probably vibrating. Do I have any self control? With 9 open ended quilt projects in the works {totally normal for me!}, 8 of them involve applique elements or I'm currently scheming about how to work them in. gah! Who has the time? Oh, and 2 of those 'completed' quilt tops from earlier? Don't be surprised if a couple of them end up with more applique added on too. I continually keep pulling Big Kiss and Ormes Inspired in particular out, pondering the very best way to get the look that I keep thinking they need. It's my process. Guess I might as well own up...

So yeah, I'm not giving up nor am I giving in. Just gonna keep going with all the quilty stuff that blows my skirt up whether it makes sense to you or not. We'll probably be seeing more tulips and baskets on quilts, more series work, continuing efforts at a utilitarian and improv. sorta vibe, the occasional weird color palette, and yeah, lots and lots of other applique and hand quilting. Feel free to come along for the ride. I'll try not to bore you too much....

33 comments:

  1. Oh Audrey, the last thing that you could ever be accused of is boring! Wonderful to see all of this past year's work in one place - it must give you a great sense of accomplishment. Happy New Year!

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  2. What a wonderful quilty year! I just love your style. I am slowly making my way back to my machine.

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  3. You are definitively NOT phoning it. You keep diving into those tots full of scraps because you always come up a winner. Your quilts are really your own design and it's always interesting to see. All the best in the new year. ;^)

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  4. isn't it wonderful that we have quilting to keep us busy while coping with the virus and isolation - what would we do without it - you have wonderful quilts - you accomplished a lot and I can't figure out what one I like the best - there are so many!!

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  5. You are truly a MAKER! I think if you can step away from 2020 (maybe with time) we might see the positive. It was a different kind of year, but maybe not all bad. Your quilts still reflect your independent and free colorful spirit. Can't wait to see what you create this year.

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  6. A visual delight coming here today! Lovely to see all of your finished quilts, all very unique and all very you! Looking forward to what 2021 brings!

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  7. Love your quilting style... and 2020 was challenging, but we made it :-)
    Love the quote with the burned house ;-)

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  8. Every day I am glad that I have quilting and other hobby's to keep me busy and sane in this pandemic.
    I love reading your blog and seeing your quilts, I love the finished ones but also to see the proces from diving in your stash to adding a bit more applique.
    Warm greetings

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  9. I'd love to hear the story about the pink house burning down. I made a little driving map for my sister once with a BDH (Burned Down House) on a crucial turn, not knowing the rubble had been cleared away. She got lost. Oops. I still hear about that, lol

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  10. You accomplished a whole lot this past year--we are heartily sick of having to isolate and be so careful--good thing I have my hubby to exchange hugs with. Hard being a "touchy-feely" person these days...
    I mean-- not even being able to see a smile!!-(If anyone is doing that anymore s i g h ).
    But I used my quilting, diamond painting, embroidery, and journaling to
    motivate myself to get UP OUTTA my chair and stop pouting!! Hahaha

    I enjoyed your 2020 blogging and you really inspired me to do my own thing...thanks so much hugs and stay safe Julierose

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  11. NEVER boring - never! I love your posts, your process, and your quilts. (and as an introvert, I have actually enjoyed the stay-at-home more than many folks who are extroverts) My hope for 2021 is that we see more kindness, gentleness, patience, and gratitude instead of so much caustic polarization.

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  12. Good for you...we survived 2020 and we will 2021...sigh...all your quilts are delightful xo

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  13. I love seeing what you have accomplished! And we are a resilient bunch of people! We will survive 2021 no matter what is thrown our way!

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  14. A good year, under difficult circumstances. As we go back into total lockdown I am going to try to follow your example and keep going this time, instead of grinding to a halt.

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  15. Well, it may not feel like it to you, but I'd say you have accomplished quite a lot. Not to mention that you have inspired creativity in others. Not picking a favorite this year, just enjoying them all! I must say, I am looking forward to seeing the Ormes inspired one emerge again. Oh how I love that one! Enjoy the day.

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  16. Glad to hear you aren't giving up on tulips or baskets. Look forward to seeing your new creations in this coming year. You never disappoint.

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  17. Beautiful finishes! Who's to say staying at home more is such a bad thing?
    By the way, state governors have no legal right to close anything down and neither does the msm. Be careful who you believe, dare to think for yourself.

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  18. What a treat to see a year of your quilts together. Such lovely colors. And your applique shows up beautifully on the quieter backgrounds - something I need to consider.
    I'm trying to sketch and make a pdf of mine for the QAL. Thanks for inspiring me to try tulips and get back into applique. It really adds unique aspects to every quilt.

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  19. Hi Audrey, Thank you for another entertaining and inspiring post. Your voice does shine through. You nail the lovely folksy feel. The scrappiness and soft drapey look are wonderful. How unique and cuddle worthy Thank you

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  20. Audrey Felicidades!!! tus edredones siempre son divertidos y llenos de estimulo,.
    Gracias por compartir
    Cuídate

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  21. Impressive work and inspirational. Thanks for sharing.

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  22. Dear Audrey, what an accomplishment. So many beautiful quilts and a lot of them handquilted. I am in awe. Congratulations, your quilts are all eyecandy.

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  23. Yes, your voice still definitely shines through! And that's a very good thing! (I had to look up the phrase "phoning it in" because I had never heard that before, silly me!) You are right about mental health...if only everyone had a hobby they enjoyed to keep those endorphins sparking during difficult times...
    Looking forward to a new year of your voice shining through!

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  24. Thanks for sharing your quilts from 2020! They are lovely and unique. I have to laugh when you say that your “appliqué has gotten out of control” because I just realized I’m facing a “tsunami “ of appliqué in my 2021 projects! Thank goodness we enjoy it!🙂. Looking forward to seeing what you make in 2021!

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  25. The last thing I would call your blog is boring! It's fun to revisit everyone's quilts at the end of the year, even though I'm too lazy (or tired) to do a post myself and just add a photo to the page at the top of the blog. Anyway, your design and color sense is always evident in every quilt you make, and always fun to see how you get from point A to the finished quilt.

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  26. I especially love your WORDS quilts!

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  27. 17 finshes - what a heck of an achievement! You have an amazing collection of beautiful quilts there Audrey and yes, they are definitely unique and interesting, long may you continuer with your way of making your quilts. I'm looking forward to this year to see what you come up with next!

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  28. This is the start of my tulip quilt from your applique pattern! Thank you, so much!

    https://appliqueandpatches.blogspot.com/2021/01/time-for-tulips.html

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  29. I’m glad you replied to the incorrect Sandi because it sent me back to your wonderful blog to check out your finishes for the year. Wow, I’m impressed I was more a starter, continued with only one true finish for the year. But as you said stitching was done and progress made.

    Here’s hoping I keep it up along with my blog which was ignored most of last year.

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  30. That’s an amazing number of finishes - well done you!! You know I so enjoy reading your posts and seeing your work so you’ll never bore me! Looking forward to seeing all that appliqué and appliqué additions to quilts......bring it on!! X

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  31. What an incredible year !
    I admire your creativity and originality so much.
    Thanks for sharing your year end stats and accomplishes.

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  32. Such a wonderful variety of quilts ~ well done Audrey! I would love to see all your quilts on display...you know, all hanging on lines flapping in a gentle breeze. I think, a one woman virtual show is in order.

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