A Backwards Glance

The Best of 2018 tells just a fraction of the story. This year has held several new types of experiences for me which made for a pretty satisfying - if not sometimes stressful - year. 

It began with my first published article, "Take a Spin with Improv," in Curated Quilts Issue 02, the Log Cabin issue. As that issue's Creative Reset feature, my encouragement to {pause} with a little improvisational piecing is something that I personally turn to over and over again when I need a little restart. What I mean to say is, I really felt like I was sharing myself, and that was meaningful. Icing on the cake was contributing again with "Wavy Curves" in Issue 05 on Improv.

Not long after, Abby Glassenberg asked me to share on Facebook Live to discuss Email Marketing for Creatives. Who, ME? Abby is a well-respected and knowledgeable voice in our creative community, and it was both unexpected and delightful to chat with her. Considering she and her ebook informed and encouraged me as I started my own newsletter, The Scrap Basket, years ago, this too was a very affirming experience. If you missed it, there's still a link here.

There was also a guest post for Amy Smart/Diary of a Quilter, where I shared Tips for Sewing with Waxed Canvas. I had an enjoyable foray into creating with a new-to-me substrate.... I need to do more of that!

And then there was QuiltCon 2018! Always a good time, and having a quilt hanging in the show just put it over the top. Between that, our guild's quilt, and three Bee Sewcial quilts showing, well that was all pretty spectacular.

Then there was some teaching! Hubby and I traveled to Texas(!), where I taught my Everyday Improv class as well as shared a trunk show with McKinney MQG. And then later in the year, I got to do the same for my own Seattle MQG. All really wonderful experiences, and it was great seeing folks excited about exploring improv!

Participating in this year's Summer Sampler Road Trip was also very fun! I was asked to contribute just one block, but I got caught up in it all and ended up making all the blocks, and look forward to finishing that quilt early in the new year!

And of course there were the quilts. I finished 18 quilts in a variety of sizes and oodles of other, smaller handmade items. I really do like creating both.

There were also a few goodbyes this year.... to Faith Circle, a do.Good Stitches charity bee with whom I sewed for nearly 7 years. It was definitely bittersweet saying goodbye. And this month wraps up three years of being a SeaMQG Giving Committee co-host, which I'll share more about later. You may have seen our final quilt on Instagram - what a way to finish up! And lastly, after the recent fiasco at Craftsy, where my small shop was whittled down to one free pattern, I've removed it, and as always, you can find the tutorial for Quarter-Cut Baby Quilt Top under my Tutorials tab.

Of course, there was oodles more, but the above were definitely highlights. Just writing this post makes me thankful for all of it, and excited to cross the bridge into 2019 to start fresh and see what comes. Thanks to all of you for continuing to join me along the way....

Onward

When I first saw Yvonne/Quilting JETgirl's post about planning for 2018, I was knee-deep in making gift-bags and wrapping presents, still debating if I was going to write a Christmas letter (I did not), and hoping against hope that I could get some Christmas baking done (I did). 2018 was not something I was thinking about.

Now that I am sitting down to actually write this post, it feels like 2018 planned itself for me. Of course, that's not totally true, as I did have some say in most of it, but I'm feeling a tad overwhelmed both with the w.i.p.s all around me (and some of their respective deadlines) as well as the groups and events I'll be involved in. All good stuff, but it kind of feels like they are all piled up in front of me, barring me from moving forward, where in fact, what I need to do is step on over them as a group, and start facing them one by one. Maybe getting them down on paper, here, for you, would help me do that.

The thing is, when I went to write my list, it felt like soooo many words. After my Best of 2017 and Another Look posts, I feel like there's been alot of writing and reading. So a list I will write, but succinct it will be. And I'll share more as projects and events unfold.

1. w.i.p.s - finish them! 
2. gifts - give generously
3. QuiltCon - get ready 
4. organize - 'nuf said 
5. community - keep involved 
6. social media - more of the same 
7. commonality* 
8. brand* 
9. write - possibilities 
10. explore - COTYs, waxed cotton, improvisation 

So I bet you can get the gist of most of those, right? But the two '*' items need some explanation. As far as commonality goes, I'm mulling over incorporating a common element in all my quilts this year. Is that crazy? No promise but the thought intrigues me. We'll see.

And in regards to brand - I need new business cards, address labels, and would like some postcards, preferably with envelopes. If you have a source you'd recommend, please do tell.

So expect to see my Finish-A-Long finishes and new list for 2018 coming soon, and hopefully a couple of new finishes. Time to start on a new issue of The Scrap Basket, make a gift to be gifted soon, and ship off a quilt for QuiltCon. Once that's all done, hopefully I can settle into the new year and explore it as it comes. That's the hope!

Linking up with the #2018PlanningParty! Here we go!