Month: January 2015

2014 was a good year.  It was my second year at home with my daughter.  My husband was in the middle of grad school to get his Master’s Degree.  My brother-in-law got married.  And I kept sewing!

I didn’t realize how much I sewed until I started making mosaics and realized how many pictures I have!  I did not make as many quilts, because there are only so many quilts a person can use and because I choose to do more challenging work for the ones I did make.  This also reminded me that I need to start making blocks for my Real World Red and White quilt if I ever want to get it done.
I also joined bees and a swap for the first time, so some of my quilting time was dedicated for other people.  I really enjoyed pushing my boundaries and learning new techniques as part of these bees, so I am continuing in Stash Bee this year – and already signed up for two mini quilt swaps!
I joined the Plum and June New Blogger Group.  As a part of that group, I joined a round robin bee – the Round Trip Quilts group.  It’s seriously one of the hardest and most awesome quilty things I’ve done.   I love the challenge and creativity that our group is demonstrating each round.  I can’t wait to see how everyone’s quilts turn out!

I also started sewing more and more clothes this year.  This isn’t near all of them.  Much of what I sew are basics like leggings and shirts that I apparently did not feel were photo worthy.  I should think about whether or not I feel that way for the future.  Also, fancy dresses are fun to sew, but don’t get worn.  Those leggings get worn to death.
And I embraced “selfish” sewing, and made a few things for myself!  Taking pictures of myself in clothes I’ve made is much harder than taking the pictures of a quilt block or of my daughter.  Not only does the light have to be good enough to take pictures, the weather has to be appropriate to wear the garment, it can’t be wrinkly from wearing all day, and my hair has to look acceptable.  Sewing bloggers, I salute you and your herculean efforts to document your makes.  In the coming year I want to become better about blogging what I’ve made for myself.
I also entered a quilt show for the first time.  I didn’t really enter thinking I would win anything, but it does make the experience more fun 😉  I really entered because my local shows are full of quilts that all look the same.  I wanted to show that there are quilts that aren’t made from drab colors.  I wanted to enter a wearable category and show that you can quilt a sophisticated bag.  I hope my work demonstrated that you can be young and make technically sound work that is modern and beautiful.

I also have to brag on myself for a minute – I took 2nd in the Group category in the NC State Fair.  I was pretty proud of that because I had heard that the group and dual category are the most competitive categories.  Luckily I found that out after I entered – otherwise I may not have had the nerve to enter the group category.  Then I found out that a quilter who has been quilting longer than me and does amazing custom work had quilted the 3rd and 4th place quilts in the group category.  That made me feel pretty good!

Last year I tried to participate more in the bigger quilting world – through bees and swaps, and also through guest blogging.  I wrote a tutorial for a paper pieced block for Sew Mama Sew.  I guest blogged for Angela Walter’s Business of Machine Quilting Blog.  I took a couple longarm classes and learned some great techniques.

That’s my year in summary.  This coming year I want to piece a little bit more.  I have a to-do list that hopefully I can follow.  I want to quilt more.  I want to continue developing my skills – in piecing and sewing and quilting.  And accomplish all this while moving over the summer and potentially going back to school in the fall… eek.  Here’s to 2015!