Flower Power is the last finish for 2024! I finished up right before Christmas, but never could manage to get a decent picture before now.
It's a moody looking tulip quilt and I actually really love that. The deep blues just sort of try to grab all the energy from the brighter flowers while simultaneously making them almost glow.
It's a smaller quilt than a lot that I make. Definitely not a bed sized quilt at all. There is scraps of shirts from me and my son and also some of the last of a vintage floral fabric I bought years ago at a quilt show.
As I was working on the hand quilting for this quilt, I was struck, over and over, how much I love and appreciate the mixed fabric block backgrounds and outer border! For whatever reason, this affect just sort of thrills me on a deep cellular level.
And though I do have a very practical nature, always using whatever bits and bobs I can scrounge together for backing pieces.... This one is almost 'too much'. It's a retro looking piece of fabric I picked up years ago from and aunt {remember the fabric given to me that smelled horribly like mothballs?}. Yeah. After soaking and bleaching the gifted fabrics, they were finally useable, though of course very dated. Many of them have eventually found their way into a backing for one of my quilts. I mean, why not?
Anyway. That's enough about that particular quilt. On to the 2024 list of absolute completions!
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| 2024 Finishes--A |
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| 2024 Finishes--B |
Here's the data broken down like I like to see it every year:
2024 Finished Quilt Details
- 1 Baby Quilt
- 2 Lap sized Quilts
- 7 Bed Sized Quilts
- 7 Quilts Hand Quilted
- 1 Machine Quilted
- 2 both Hand and Machine Quilted
- Gifted 5 quilts, new or gently used
Definitely a very lean year for me when it comes to finishes. Just so much going on with a very ill and then slow recovering husband. We're still not at full speed there and wowsers, does the man blow up my plans, schedules and best intentions all of the time. Still very thankful to have him with us and if quilting has to suffer then, so be it!
I'm not a huge fan of making resolutions, but this year my mantra for quilting is to just go with the flow. Take it as it comes. Do what I can. Pick up a hoop and stitch. Or not. For whatever reason, I have been quite stuck in the hand applique groove when it comes to new inspiration. It's like my brain doesn't even hardly want to fire properly when I try to imagine any quilt without it. So I'll keep starting applique projects and keep my bag stocked for the quiet times of waiting. If I feel like I'm drowning in quilts that will never come to a proper conclusion, who cares? The hand work is worth the effort regardless, in just the self soothing alone.
Blogging at Quilty Folk has suffered in 2024 and I know that I've not been a good friend in reaching out and making comments--keeping up with everyone else's creativity. That's not likely to change anytime soon as there is even more going on behind the scenes here than I feel comfortable talking about. We'll just say that in life there are always seasons for every single emotion. For now, I'll just plan on checking in occasionally and do what I can to continue keeping an online diary of my quilty makes. I'm still deliberating about the third Bramble Blooms in the QAL, whether to give it up or try and forge ahead. I know what my heart wants to do!
sorry that you have so much going on behind the scenes and more that you don't want to share - I was like that last spring - there was a bit going on that I wasn't comfortable sharing family wise but pushed through. I really like the quilt that shows your feet !
ReplyDeleteAudrey! Happy New Year! I think you are doing a wonderful job being you!
ReplyDeleteYou are superb at encouraging and color inspiration, no one puts more into it than you. Flower Power is a great finish too.
If you experience opposition that just means you're doing it right!
Happy New Year! Flower Power is wonderful! The colors, the scrappy strips and the background blocks! I love it! It goes with my motto: More color to the people! :) Thanks for all your work that truly gives so many of us inspiration! Louise
ReplyDeleteYou have had quite a year and you made some beautiful things with fabric and thread. No pressure but it you do decide to do a Bramble Blooms #3, I am ready to have another go alongside.
ReplyDeleteYou are certainly industrious and productive. I used to be so intimidated by your output, but now instead I choose to find it inspiring, while even more than ever cutting back on my own making. [bec as the years go by, I see less and less point of making quilts for the Dumpster, lol.] I love that your quilts are so artistic and spontaneous appearing. Thank you for all you share! And happy new year.
ReplyDeletePS BB one is my second to do project, for January/ February, I promise I am trying to get things done.
'Flower Power' is lovely! I love your blousy big blooms and, of course, the variety of backgrounds. And some super finished quilts last year, lovely!
ReplyDeleteno need to share details, sending you prayers for strength, and enought stubborness to find moments of joy and light.
ReplyDeleteSo enjoy your blog and have been reading it for a long time. I hope your 2025 is better and healing for u and your family. Adore your quilts..I think because they are refreshingly original.
ReplyDeleteLovely last finish! My experiences tell me that the majority of us face significant challenges, at least intermittently, along our life’s journey. We shift gears and do what we have to do to stay afloat (and often to keep others afloat as well!). I hope 2025 goes well for you and your family and that you find enough time for the comfort and joy of stitching!
ReplyDeleteLovely quilt, Audrey. My best wishes for you and your family, it is a natural thing to adapt and prioritise. You know where you need to focus for now. I hope you find enough time and energy to keep those moments of joy in amongst the work.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a good plan, Audrey. Head down, do what needs to be done, don't look up to compare or calculate progress in life or quilts until it's over or you come to a safe time and place. I am still on BB1 but making progress as I felt an appliquéd bee needed to be added and I finally designed it and cut it out. Some day I may get to BB2 and BB3. Your blog gives me the opposite of suffering, always. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYour moody Flower Power quilt is wonderful! No matter that it's not bed size, it seems there's always one sleeper who needs an extra quilt or two at night and smaller ones fill the need perfectly. I truly hope some of the home issues you mentioned are resolved this year both for your peace of mind as well as your quilting mojo. We're different generations but I've been going through something similar for the past few years now and quilting production really takes a hit, especially the creative aspect.
ReplyDeleteYour tulip quilt is just fantastic and yes glowy! Happy New Year. I had a long stretch this past year where I didn't blog or check in with blogs because, life. I'm sure everyone reading your blog can relate to having some life circumstance at some point, that isn't something to be casually shared on a blog. Quilting is a joy that unites us and even if your output suffers a bit, it is still a huge part of you. Best wishes in the new year!
ReplyDelete