Best 5 of 2016 and Plans for 2017

2016 has come and gone. Another year of finishes and a year of firsts. Looking back through my gallery of finishes for this year has 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.

Today I am sharing my Best 5 makes of 2016....

And my plans for 2017.

Modernitional Bear Paw

In last year's Best 5 of 2015 and Plans for 2016 post, I announced that this would be the Year of the Quilt Along! There were two quilt alongs this year. One was the Ugly Christmas Sweaters. And the other was the MOD Bear Paw. I made the largest version of the MOD Bear Paw first. And then I made the baby size during the quilt along.

But that great big Bear Paw quilt was my proudest finish of this year. It took a lot of patience to get through the making (and trimming) of all those little hst's. Step one took a long time to accomplish, but was so worth it in the end! I do love my great big Bear Paw!

Each of these quilt alongs were a wonderful opportunity to make so many new friends from all over the world. It was such a great pleasure to see the projects everyone was sharing and read about how much fun they were having. And this was the most fun I had all year!

Black Birds
Black Birds in Blue {redo}
Black Birds {redo x2}

Another finish from this past year was my Black Birds. Actually.... I made three. Each one a little different. I loved making each one of them. And would gladly make another!

I have read so many times on the comments and blog posts over the years, that most of us does not desire to make the same quilt more than once. I used to think so too. But not anymore!

Rural Squirrel in Cotton Couture
Rural Squirrel in Northcott ColourWorks Concepts
Rural Squirrel in Brown Neutrals

Another example of that compelling desire to make a quilt again. And again. The Rural Squirrel design. I made the first for the Northcott Fabrics booth. But had to make it again using solids. And yet again, using neutrals found in my stash. This design really goes to show you that a quilt can look so different, depending on your fabric choices.

Flowers

When it comes to just what makes me happy.... I have to think of the Flowers quilt! This quilt makes me very happy! I love the bright colours, the big pieces used to make the flowers and the butterflies, and that simple 9 patch and strips that make up a cloudy sky.

Canada 150 - Lap

My final finishes for this year are the Canada150 quilts. You can see the baby quilt in this post. And now you can see the Lap sized version was also finished, but the post will be shared with all the details this coming Friday.  These designs are in anticipation of Canada's upcoming great big birthday! The sesquicentennial celebration!

I don't normally enter my quilts in shows, but I am hoping this one will be accepted into the Ailsa Craig Quilt Festival this coming May. We shall see!

Reflecting Back and Looking Forward.....

2016 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!

So this past year, I challenged myself to concentrate on design. And I did just that. I have had the most wonderful year, drawing, designing and developing quilting patterns, quilt alongs and tutorials.

The year 2017 will be.... The YEAR OF CONTINUING TO FOCUS ON DESIGN!

2016 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 had begun to reach out to groups and guilds in my area and my events page quickly filled up with a list workshops and trunk shows that took me all over Ontario!!! What a wonderful year of travelling and meeting so many new people and places.

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 2017 will be.... The YEAR OF Sew Fresh Quilts might spend more time at home!




2016 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 in 2015 had been so much fun that I decided to host a few more quilt alongs in 2016. All of these quilt alongs can be found by clicking on the Quilt Alongs page tab at the top of my blog, just below the header. And these quilt alongs will always be there, so you can join in at any time.

New to Sew Fresh Quilts is a virtual quilting bee - the Sew Fresh Quilt Bee. In commemoration of Canada's upcoming 150th anniversary in 2017, Sew Fresh Quilts will be hosting a quilt bee. This SEW FRESH QUILT BEE will be our way of taking part in "Canada's Big Quilt Bee". Our quilt blocks will be made into quilts for donation to the Ronald McDonald House charity. You can read all about this fun way to help our cause here.

The year 2017 will be.... The YEAR OF the Sew Fresh Quilt Bee!

Linking up with Yvonne of Quilting Jet Girl for her 2017 Planning Party. It's not to late to join in the FUN! Write your own post for your Plans for 2017 and come join the party!

Also Linking up with Cheryl of Meadow Mist Designs.

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

What are your plans for the coming year?

Looking forward to quilting along with you in 2017!!!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas...
a Happy New Year!

And....

Keep On Quilting On!

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