Looking Back at 2021

I kicked off 2021 with a little sewing studio makeover. It was really just a facelift, new paint, rearranging things on the wall, and painting my desk base and adding new legs to one side. It was a great refresh and the room has been so bright and pleasant to work in. You can read more about the makeover HERE.

Of course, one of the greatest things at the beginning of each year is QuiltCon in February. 2021 was different because it was a virtual event. But I was able to connect with friends through zoom calls and IG interviews. You can check out my chats with Scant Quarter Hour and Curated Quilts. I was honored to receive second place in Modern Traditionalism for Finger Paints, and third place in Group & Bee Quilts for Social Distancing Quilt. Other than missing out on seeing people and quilts in person, QuiltCon Together was a good experience.

My creative start to the year was using a Ruby Star Society mask panel and making a courthouse steps quilt, Over A Year. I chose not to write this quilt into a pattern because it’s just a traditional courthouse steps block. I do see this particular quilt influencing a lot of other quilts being made since I created it, both in looking back to the traditional block, the scrappiness, and the color gradient placement.

I also spent time experimenting with a few small projects. Some of which would later turn into workshops and some into full quilts. I like experimenting and trying new techniques and skills. I also like taking skills I know and breaking them down into instructions that I can teach to students in workshops. It is all part of my creative process.

I had the opportunity for more interviews. Both Quilt Buzz Podcast and Quiltmaker Magazine chatted with me in the spring. It is such an honor that people are curious about my art and process enough to request interviews. You can listen to my Quilt Buzz episode HERE. My artist profile was published in the July/August 2021 Quiltmaker issue HERE.

I was honored to have Finger Paints hang at the National Quilt Museum in the Modern Quilt Guild exhibit, MQG Retrospective.

I released all my 2021 patterns in the spring. Maybe I should spread them out more, but that’s just how it ended up for the year. My first pattern release was Color Study, part of my Beyond the Basic series. This pattern teaches how to apply color theory to your own quilts by guiding you through color exercises. Although this quilt is just a simple 9-patch block, the real lesson takeaway is the color information you will be able to apply to future quilts. My second pattern for 2021 was also a Beyond the Basics series pattern. Held Together gives a guided approach to an improv X block. This pattern is great for anyone interested in trying out a bit of improv but wanting some more guidance through the making process.

The long awaited for Finger Paints Pattern was my third release of 2021. The block is a classic bear paw but the color placement is inspired by my original Finger Paints improv quilt. I simplified the fabric requirements and mapped out all the colors in this pattern. Although the construction is simple, makers need to pay attention to color placement with some level of concentration to get it just right.

I had a busy teaching schedule for 2021. Although the virtual presentations take a bit of rearranging in my very small studio, it is well worth the effort to get to connect with people online. The switch to virtual programming by most guilds has given educators like me the opportunity to speak to organizations that we wouldn’t necessarily be able to travel to. It has also allowed guilds to hire in outside presenters for a more affordable rate. I absolutely love teaching workshops and lecturing and have several new offering for 2022. Check out my Lectures + Workshops.

The third quarter of the year was filled with more teaching engagements and a focus on making and finishing quilts to submit to QuiltCon. I also finished a few things I had started years ago or began while teaching workshops. I ran a successful destash to make a little more room in my fabric bins for fabric I am currently drawn to and using.

I started out the fall with the Finger Paint QAL. I sewed along with my own QAL and behind the scenes I also made another Finger Paints commission for a fabric line release by Jennifer Sampou. So many wonderful makers participated and it was fun to see all the versions of this pattern. As soon as the Finger Paints QAL ended I jumped right into the Cozy Nights QAL. Cozy Nights still remains my favorite pattern I’ve written. It’s great to see all the interpretations that make the pattern traditional, transitional, and modern.

I got to travel to San Diego for work – photographing quilts. It was a great trip to a warm climate right as it started to get cold here in Colorado, mid-autumn. Not only did I take photos but I taught an in person workshop to a group of wonderful students. I also took a personal evening to visit the zoo.

I wrapped up the year with an exciting opportunity to write a block pattern and tutorial for the National Quilt Museum 2021 Block of the Month. The pattern includes quilting instructions as it was a quilt-as-you-go BOM. You can find my contribution HERE.

In total I finished 11 quilts and 2 quilt tops in 2021. One of the finished quilts was a UFO. I no longer track small projects because I try to squeeze in as many as I can.

I also received the good news that 4/4 of my QuiltCon submissions were heading to Phoenix. I can’t wait to connect in person at QuiltCon 2022! I will also be teaching. Hope to see you there!!