The Best of 2021

 Every year, Cheryl over at Meadow Mist Designs, hosts her "Best of " linky party.  I have joined in the fun for quite a few years now. 

 I like that it makes me look back on the year and enjoy the quilts I finished.  

This year was all about scrap quilts.  An early quilt I made was this blue and brown courthouse steps quilt.  I was initially thinking my sister might want it once she finishes building her new house.  But one day my neighbor came over and wanted it for her newly refurbished livingroom.  I couldn't argue - it looks perfectly at home.

...and I get to visit it often!

My favorite quilt for the year was this one made for one of my Scrap Mixology patterns.  The pattern is called Bloom. Who knew when I started out that I was going to fall in love with this one?  I am not sure if it is the colors, the layout or the design...but it now resides in my personal collection.

When I wasn't playing with scraps, I did finish a few quilts from stash fabric.  I had quite a few projects that have been sitting in fabric piles for quite some time.  The fabric for this All That Jazz quilt was gifted to me by a friend.  I really loved the fabrics and didn't want to cut them up into small pieces.  

So this pattern worked perfectly!

And finally, some of my favorite finishes every year are the quilts I help finish for Covered in Love.  The blocks are all finished by others and I just sew the blocks together and quilt them.  I enjoy looking at all the scrap fabrics other people own.  In 2021 there were a total of seven or eight.  You can look back on them here, here, here, and here.  I am so thankful for the support I get in pattern sales and affiliate links here on my blog as it allows me to step away from my client quilts and work on these donation quilts.  It feels good to give back - I am hoping to help out again in 2022.

A big thanks to Cheryl for hosting the event again.  I hope you spend some time checking out all the other bloggers who are linking up their favorites for the year.  There are some awesome quilts being shared!

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The Best of 2020

 I hope all of you have been enjoying (the best you can) the holiday season.  I always spend the last few weeks of every year, reflecting on the past year and planning for the next.  Every year Cheryl (Meadow Mist Designs) holds the Best Of event.  I thought I would share some of my best finishes of 2020.

One of my favorite finishes for the year was probably this scrap quilt I made back in June.  I love to make string blocks and I really love to make them in all different colors and block sizes.  This quilt was actually similar to one I made (and sold) years earlier. 

Every year I feel quite blessed that I am able to donate my time and materials to make donation quilts.  One of the big donations I made this year was to put together seven quilts for Covered in Love.  The blocks were made by quilters all over the US and I got to put them together in all sorts of designs.  I was able to lay them out seven different ways.  You can see them all here - it is hard to believe this simple block created so many quilts.  

There were other events I was also able to participate in that gave quilty hugs to others - I donated a few to Merciful Quilts and to Quilty Hugs.

I had plans to submit a book proposal in early 2020.  Of course the pandemic kind of threw a wrench in those plans.  So I decided to release the designs as downloadable patterns.  My first Scrap Mixology pattern release was Well-Suited and was released in October.

The above quilt was the third or fourth quilt I have made using the pattern and is so far my favorite.

I finished three Rainbow Scrap Challenge Quilts this year.  This one was my favorite.  My plan so far is to work on five different designs in the coming year.  I have already made test blocks on all of them!

My most popular post and the post shared the most by my readers was another Scrap Mixology pattern release - this pattern is Two Bits. Again, there are so many ways this block can be laid out to create some great looking quilts all from the scrap bin! 

Almost all of my quilts in 2020 were made with scraps.  I thought I had made at least a few quilts from fabric in my stash but my scrap bins seem to have kept me busy all year.  No complaints here - I love making quilts from scraps!

2020 was not the best year for many and I am ready to see it gone.  Next year will be more scrap quilts from the scrap bins and the orphan block suitcase.  I will also be releasing more Scrap Mixology patterns - hopefully starting in January.  I know many of you have ordered all the ones released to date and I really appreciate the support.

A big thanks to Cheryl for hosting the event and here is to 2021 getting us all back to a better life!

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Linking Up:

My Quilt Infatuation (Needle & Thread)

Confessions of a Fabric Addict (Can I get a Whoop! Whoop!)

From Bolt to Beauty (Brag about your Beauties)
Alycia Quilts (Finished or not Friday)

Best of 2019

For the last five years, Cheryl over at Meadow Mist Designs has hosted the "Best of" the year event.  I always enjoy going back through my posts to see what quilts I made - some of my all-time favorites were made in 2019.

Early in the year, I finished my colorwash postage stamp quilt.  This one has become a favorite in my trunkshow.  People are always fascinated to hear how I made it and look at all the different fabrics used in this lovely scrap quilt.

I also finished my Splendid Sampler quilt this year.  This was probably the most work I have put into making a quilt - the blocks where 6" and many had dozens of pieces to them.  I did not make all 100 blocks and added in a few of my own designs.  I enjoyed the process of making this quilt but I found myself not that attached to it.  Right after I posted the finish, someone offered to buy it and it quickly was sent off to a new home.

The post with the most views this year was definitely my Scrappy Kaffe Fassett quilt.  I have made this design numerous times and it is always popular and shared by many.  This design is one of my Scrap-A-Palooza designs and I have been thinking about making another one.

The quilt most talked about was one I finished fairly recently.  It was a simple Color Block quilt that was one of last year's Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilts and was made entirely from 2.5" squares.  That's it!

I think that is what is so intriguing about this quilt.  

And my personal favorite finish for the year is my Improv Garden quilt.  It now hangs in my Livingroom and travels with me to trunkshows.  I start teaching this technique in March and can't wait to see what quilts get created in the future.

A big thanks to Cheryl for hosting this event.  I hope you take some time to check out her blog and the links to other bloggers that have linked up.  

You just might find some inspiration for your 2020 quilts!

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Linking Up:

My Quilt Infatuation (Needle & Thread)

Confessions of a Fabric Addict (Can I get a Whoop! Whoop!)

From Bolt to Beauty (Brag about your Beauties)

Alycia Quilts (Finished or not Friday)

Best of 2018

For the last four years, Cheryl over at Meadow Mist Designs has hosted the "Best of" blog party.  I always enjoy to look back at all of my posts for the year and pick out some favorites.

The quilt finish with the most views this year was my scrappy Kaffe Fassett bowtie finish.  The blocks were made as an Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilt.  I had varying quantities of each color group so I decided to get creative with the layout.

This quilt is a queen size and very similar to the Plum and Gray Bowtie quilt I made earlier in the year.

Everyone is always so surprised both of these quilts are made with the simple bowtie block.  I decided to go ahead and make some layout sheets available in my pattern store. (I know my store will continue to be open but I am not sure if this pattern will continue to be available after the upcoming changes at Craftsy.)

My favorite finish and the quilt that received the most comments in 2018 was my values quilt.  It was so much fun to make and I love the way it turned out.  It is also a favorite when I bring it out in my Trunk Show Presentations.

My most active posts are almost always on Sundays when I host Oh Scrap!  I so love to see everyone pop in to see all the scrappy projects that are linked up every week.  There is so much inspiration and support.  This string quilt is another of my favorite Scrap quilts I made in 2018.

I am looking forward to seeing what quilts I create in 2019.  You know many of them will be made from scraps and their main theme will be lots of color!

I hope you are able to check out all the posts of other bloggers sharing their "Best of" over at Meadow Mist Designs.  

A Big Thanks to Cheryl for hosting.  It was fun to travel back through the year.

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Linking Up:

My Quilt Infatuation (Needle & Thread)

Confessions of a Fabric Addict (Can I get a Whoop! Whoop!)

From Bolt to Beauty (Brag about your Beauties)

Busy Hands Quilts (Finished or not Friday)

So Scrappy for RSC19

**This post contains affiliate links.  I appreciate the support!

Best of 2016!

As 2017 come screaming towards me, I have been spending this week contemplating what the future holds and looking back on the past year.  I am a strong believer in having a plan and when you look forward, you have to look where you have been to see what you want to change.

Personally, 2017 can't get here soon enough for me.  2016 really sucked!

But there were still some great things about it.  One of which was the support, encouragement and inspiration I received from all of you.  I cannot express enough how much I appreciate you!

Here are a few other highlights from the year...

Are you curious what post was viewed the most?  It was one of my string quilt finishes.  Most of the hits come from Pinterest.  I am always pleased with how many quilters love string quilts like I do!

If that is you, buckle up....because over the next year there are going to be a rainbow of them getting made.  I have lots of scrappy strings to burn through!

The finish I was most pleased with was this Kaffe Fassett quilt.  It was not a favorite quilt but it was one of my oldest UFOs. 

Boy, it feels good to get an old project finished! 

By far, the silliest finish was the Pig Race quilt.  I donated this quilt to a kid's charity but I still love coming across photos of the blocks. I hope it found a good home and made a child smile!

And you cannot put out a "Best of" without including your favorite quilts. 

My favorite scrappy finish was this colorwash quilt.   Using scraps to play with color is probably my favorite past-time.  So I pretty much enjoyed every step of making this quilt!
http://www.shareasale.com/u.cfm?d=387397&m=29190&u=1009810

And the quilt I cherish the most is my Park Bench quilt.  It doesn't come out of the cupboard very often but when it does, I always feel great pride in it.

Cheryl over at Meadow Mist Designs is hosting the Best of 2016 linky party.  So I thought I would share my best there too.  I hope to see you there!

In a separate post, I will soon be sharing my plans for the coming year.  I have some fun things planned and cannot wait to share them with you!  So here is your chance, if you want to see something in the coming year, speak now! 

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Linking Up:

Young Texan Mama (Sew Cute Tuesday)

QuiltStory (Fabric Tuesday)

Sew Fresh Quilts (Bee Social)

My Quilt Infatuation (Needle & Thread)






If you want to spend some of that Christmas money and get some good deals, Craftsy is having their end of the year supplies event.  I am an affiliate so clicking through this link and making a purchase means I make a commission (at no additional cost to you).  I really appreciate the support!