Generally I include a recap of the year in my Planning Party post for the annual linky party hosted by Yvonne@ Quilting Jetgirl. But this year it feels right to separate 2020 and 2021. Despite 2020 being such a strange and disturbing year, I accomplished many of the goals I set last December. My most important 2020 priority was to do my small part in making the world a better and more humane place, so first I would like to share about an awesome project I have been privileged to be a part of:

Summer Sampler Alumni Quilt

Sarah Harris @acorncornerquilts and I became acquainted in June when we both commented on a post by Yvonne@quiltingjetgirl regarding a black and white block that Yvonne had sewed as a contribution for a #summersamplerblm donation quilt. The purpose of this quilt was to bring attention to the Black Lives Matter movement. Sarah and I decided that we wanted to organize a separate block drive for black and white blocks made from the current or past Summer Samplers to honor the Black Lives Matter movement and to directly benefit the Social Justice Sewing Academy. SJSA enables youth activists to be seen and heard through the medium of fabric. Fourteen other makers contributed blocks to our #summersampleralumniquilt. I sewed the blocks into a quilt top and then sent it to Sarah to do the quilting (which she did a spectacular job of) and then her mum did the binding for the quilt. Plans are in the works for an online auction in January for @sjsacademy and their continued youth art, sewing, and activism. See Sarah’s Instagram post where all the makers who are on Instagram are tagged.

Photo used with Sarah Harris’ permission

Other 2020 Goals/Projects

Curved Piecing

I wanted to become more proficient with curved piecing this year. Early in the year I played with color value and texture in the Glimmers of Gold quilt for my friend, Karla, and in my Aviary quilt pictured below, I experimented with using an AccuQuilt Drunkard’s Path die and fussy cutting curved units.

Color/Solids/Triangles

I continued my love of Color/Solids/Triangles by finishing my 2019 Stargazer Block of the Month quilt, but I ended up modifying it to more predominately feature my favorite block (the Starbucks block) in the quilt.

Smaller Projects

As much as I like making quilts, it’s so satisfying to make smaller and quicker projects. I really enjoyed making an Improv Table Runner. I also made a set of Sunflower Placemats and Table Runner for my brother and sister-in-law’s 50th wedding anniversary gift. I love how the placemats and runner look pictured below on their dining room table:

Sashiko

When I started my first Sashiko coaster in June, I had no idea that this form of Japanese embroidery would become such an enjoyable and meditative pastime for me. Below is a photo of four Sashiko Coasters that I made as birthday gift for my niece, Mary Frances. The second photo below shows the backs of the coasters made from fabric in my mom’s stash from the 1990s.

Christmas

I’ll end this retrospective with quilts that celebrate my favorite holiday. I truly love making Christmas quilts and made four this year including  Merrily,  Snowy Forest, and  Turquoise Christmas Tree Panel quilts. But my favorite by far is Christmas North Stars that is currently on my bed along with some Christmas pillows made in past years.

Later this week I plan to share my 2021 Quilting/Stitching goals on Quilting Jetgirl’s 2020 Planning Party.