Best 5 of 2015 and Plans for 2016

2015 has come and gone. A year of finishes and a year of firsts. Looking back through my gallery of finishes for the year as I prepared this post, has also prompted me to reflect on all the changes that have been a part of things here at Sew Fresh Quilts during the last 12 months. And all of the things that I am so thankful for.

Elephant Parade

In January of 2015, I announced that I would be hosting the Elephant Parade quilt along. This quilt along ran from the beginning of February until end of March. Now this was not the first quilt along I ever hosted. But it was the first one that I would consider to have been a real success. This quilt along was a wonderful opportunity to make so many new friends from all over the quilty universe. It was such a great pleasure to see the projects everyone was sharing and read about how much fun they were having in making those elephant mamas and their babies. And this was the most fun I had all year!

On Point

Another finish from the past year was my On Point quilt. This was not my first time making the blocks that were used in the quilt, but it was the first time they were used in an on point setting. This was also my first time making a quilt sponsored by the Fat Quarter Shop. This quilt helped to reinforce my love of making all solids quilts.

Kona Little Blooms

Speaking of all solids quilts, a personal favourite of mine from 2015 is my Kona Little Blooms quilt. Again, this was not my first time making the blocks that were used in the quilt, but this was the first time they were made entirely from solids and used in a full size quilt - 99 blocks in all. This is a quilt that just simply makes me happy. Those scrappy, bright blocks, framed by that black Scribbles binding, take me back to my own childhood and make me thing of how much fun it was to break into a box of Crayola crayons and a fresh, new colouring book. This quilt, and the photos from that warm summer day out on the front lawn with my kids and that cat, just simply make my heart happy.

Family of Three for Quiltmaker magazine

When it comes to baby quilts, the Family of Three was my most treasured make of the entire year. This quilt and the instructions for making it can be found in the January/February 2016 issue of Quiltmaker magazine. This quilt was based on an earlier design and was then redeveloped to include the entire bodies of the giraffes.

Forest Friends

Reinforcing my desire to design animal blocks, my most cherished make of 2015 has got to be the Forest Friends quilts made using the soft and supple selections from the Cotton Couture collection. Sponsored by Michael Miller Fabrics, these forest animal themed blocks were used to make a twin quilt, a baby quilt and a number of quilted cushions. The development of this quilt design has shown me that blocks do not need to be of the same size to be used in a quilt using a setting of simple rows and columns, but rather that those blocks can be used to make panels. The blocks within those panels can then be rearranged to create a setting that is rather unique.

Reflecting Back and Looking Forward.....

2015 has been a pivotal year for me. A year of finishes and a year of firsts.

But also a year of refining my FOCUS.

In the first couple of years, I concentrated on learning new techniques, sharing tutorials and quilting tips, and developing my own artistic style. 2015 was the year I discovered that my true passion lies in designing modern minimalist pictorial quilts using the STOP (stitch-trim-openseams-press) method. That discovery has become my focus. This is my niche. My happy place!

Back in May of 2014, I shared a post in which I had interviewed some very well known (and a few not -so-well-known) quilting bloggers, asking them to share a word of advice. The question posed to them was, "What is the most important quality for an emerging quilting blogger to possess?" The purpose of this post was, of course. to share their advice with my readers. But it was also to take what they had shared and apply it to my own life. my quilting/blogging life here at Sew Fresh Quilts. I am very thankful that they were willing to provide a few words of wisdom to share with my readers.... But I also learned a lot from performing this interview, and since then, I have striven to put this great advice to good use.

During the 100th post for the Let's Bee Social, which you can read in full here, I mentioned my Giraffe quilt would be in the Quiltmaker's January/February 2016 issue of their magazine. And I basically said that I did not wish to toot my own horn concerning this achievement. The response was overwhelming. You encouraged me to embrace and be proud of being published. Your heartfelt comments of praise and kindness are truly appreciated and I have taken them all to heart. With your permission, I promise to embrace any future publications or accomplishments and to be proud of them.

However, in that post I expressed my intention to stay on my own course. To not lose my perspective. And to remain humble. Not to change my style of making to suit the quilty powers that be. Not to make something in an attempt to seek the approval of others or to fit this square peg that I am, into any big, round hole that is popularity. I remain resolved to stand behind this conviction. Believe me. You won't be reading any posts or seeing any projects during the coming new year that are not in tune with this conviction.

The team at Quiltmaker made me feel like a part of the family. They treated me well. They did not expect me to change my style or to make something to suit what is considered right or popular or modern. They simply invited me to submit designs. They accepted those designs without modification or complaint of any kind. And then they did something a little extra special. And it meant an awful lot to me. They shared my work on their social media in a way that went above and beyond the self promotion of their magazine. It came across as genuine admiration. And I am truly thankful for their kindness.

The year 2016 will be.... The YEAR OF FOCUSING ON DESIGN!

2015 has been a pivotal year for me. A year of finishes and a year of firsts.

But also a year of branching out into the REAL WORLD.

In the first couple of years, I read about quilters who banded together. Those who enjoyed the company of others. Those who met with quilty friends or were members of real life groups and guilds. Although I have developed a lot of close friends through the internet and enjoyed meeting other like minded quilty peeps through the Let's Bee Social - I remained alone in real life - shut up in my own little sewing room.

During the past year I have branched out of my safe zone and ventured out into the real world. I reached out to groups and guilds in my area and the word is getting around. My events page now lists a lineup of upcoming workshops and trunk shows that will take place in the coming new year. And below that are listed a few events that I was delighted to have taken part in during 2015.

I am thankful for the friendships that have been formed through my interactions with followers of this blog and the participants of the Let's Bee Social. Your support and your kind comments left on my post each week are appreciated more than you know. And I want to thank you all for providing me with the courage to reach out beyond the borders of the internet and for inspiring me to connect with people in my area who I otherwise would never have met.

The year 2016 will be.... The YEAR OF Sew Fresh Quilts ON THE ROAD!




2015 has been a pivotal year for me. A year of finishes and a year of firsts.

But also a year of hosting fun QUILT ALONGS.

Hosting the Elephant Parade and then the Dog Gone Cute quilt along has been the most fun that I have had during the entire year. Because of that fact - I will definitely be hosting a few more quilt alongs in this new year. What the quilt alongs will be is still yet to be determined.

I have added a new Quilt Alongs page tab at the top of my blog, just below the header. Here you will find links to both the Elephant Parade and the Dog Gone Cute quilt alongs. And all the future quilt alongs to come in this New Year.

The year 2016 will be.... The YEAR OF THE QUILT ALONG!

Linking up with Yvonne of Quilting Jet Girl for her 2016 Planning Party.

It's not to late to join in the FUN! Write your own post for your Plans for 2016 and come join the party!

Linking up with Cheryl of Meadow Mist Designs for her very first linky party.
It's not to late to join in the FUN! Write your own post for your Best of 2015 and come join the party!

Cheryl is also hosting a NEW Pattern Writing begins in January.

Be sure to sign up to follow her at Meadow Mist Designs for what is certain to be a very informative and interesting series for those of you who have ever thought about developing your own patterns. Or ever wondered just what is the process for pattern writing.

What are your plans for the coming year?
Do you have any suggestions for a quilt along?

Looking forward to quilting along with you in 2016!!!

Happy New Year!

And....

Keep On Quilting On!

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