It’s hard going into this review because I made a grand total of 2 quilts this year. There wasn’t a ton of sewing happening here at the Quilt Fort because life happened, and got in the way of quilty time.
My year kicked off strong with Quarantine Improv hanging at a local show, Maker Made. Then I jumped right in to QuiltCon mode. I was an instructor and taught 3 workshops and gave a lecture. It was so great to be back in person in Phoenix. I accented a cute bag before my trip and I was honored with a second place ribbon. You can read all about my QuiltCon 2022 experience HERE.
In the spring I was still riding the QuiltCon high and getting things done. I tried a few new experiments and worked out some new workshops (that I will be teaching at QuiltCon 2023 in Atlanta). I was excited about my newest pattern, Quilt Fort, because I had been marinating the idea for a couple years and the design finally came together. I had so much fun playing with fabric and colors and shapes and then LIFE happened.
We found out we needed to move from our long-term rental so we went on the house hunt in the worst housing market for buyers there probably has ever been. Don’t get me wrong, I love the house we are in now and I’m so grateful we only had to endure that market for 3 weeks. But it didn’t make life any easier. Packing up a house and moving a family, even just 5 miles down the road, is a ton of work. We are still recovering 7 months later. Not only did we move, we took on several renovation projects just after moving. It’s not all done yet, and maybe will take a few more years, but there is light, a tiny speck of a light, at the end of the tunnel.
With the upending of our living situation, my sewing room was jumbled around a couple of times. I have finally settled into the room I will be in but I still want to get a fresh coat of paint up and some better organization systems.
With all of the craziness, I managed to only get 2 quilts, 1 quilt top, 1 pattern, and 2 mini patterns finished this year. I will take that as a big accomplishment because I also built 2 bedrooms (including demo, framing, insulation, drywall, painting, laying floors, and trim work), expanded the family room, skim coated and painted the dining room, living room, and hallway, painted the bathroom, painted the kitchen – including backsplash, painted two exterior doors and trim, replaced 6 light fixtures, reworked a bathroom, painted closets, reworked the front patio stones, and built closet shelves. Basically I became a painter and a carpenter. Ha!
And on top of all of that, we got a puppy!
Here’s hoping 2023 will settle and become a bit more routine. Plus, I have about 12-15 quilts on my list for the year, I want to get back to teaching direct to students and not just through guilds (maybe some on-demand stuff??), and I have got to find a way to actually make this Quilt Fort thing an actual income. Big things in the works! Wish me luck.
You certainly had quite the year. Moving is no small task, and doing so into a house that required extensive renovation and updating makes it all the more challenging. I watched you through your home improvements, and your abilities are very impressive! Did hubs help at all? Or was it all you? I’m glad you were able to accomplish what you did. Making “only” two quilts is not a bad thing! Don’t be ashamed of that! Personally, being retired, I’m striving to NOT make so many quilts. When a quilter makes a lot, that also means finding a home for them… not an easy task. Giving quilts away is difficult when I know the hundreds of hours that are in some of them. So keep making as you’re able, and don’t push too hard. Quilting is supposed to be a “fun sport!” Looking forward to seeing you and your work at QC 2023.