2019 Plans

I'm hesitant to spend much time writing a blog post that details 2018 accomplishments. Rather a quick review is in order.

My nine most-liked Instagram posts were these.

I love that so many people shared my joy at the results of my Breast Cancer Index (upper left), and that quilters love a good joke (center). Happily, quilters liked two of my quilts that were not juried into QuiltCon - Spin Art (upper right), and Owl Always Love You (middle bottom).

In 2018 I made:

13 quilts (pictures in "2018 Quilts" tab, above)

7 window valances

5 cosmetic pouches

4 zip-up turtles

4 patchwork wall kites

2 name badge holders

1 Weekender travel bag

1 dress

1 hexie name tag

...all of which were finished without buying fabric in 2018! I achieved my goal!

To be perfectly honest, I made one justifiable fabric purchase in May of an eight-yard bolt of solid white, an eight-yard bolt of solid gray, and two wide-backs - used to make and finish 2018 projects. Otherwise, I didn't buy fabric! Whoopee!

... and, while listening to 46 books, (and reading two print titles). I love listening to audiobooks, especially while quilting! If you need a few reading recommendations, just ask!

I'm joining QuiltingJetGirl (Yvonne's) 2019 planning party, though I'm not much of a planner. I find that I'm inclined to "beat myself up" if I don't accomplish everything on an itemized list. That's why I never join finish-alongs or make quarterly goals.

So to prevent myself from future anguish, my 2019 plans are broad expectations.

Expectation #1

Of course, I will continue to make quilts, especially as I must justify the November purchase of my wonderful Bernina 770QE! But goodness knows I don't need quilts! In 2012 I owned 116 quilts, and each year I average making 12 quilts. Even though I give some away, and have sold a dozen or so at the local biennial quilt show,  I conservatively guess that I have near to 170 quilts in my possession. Eek!

They are stored in pillowcases, in a closet, about eight feet up. 

Whenever I need to find a particular quilt, it's a mess.

In addition to making at least a dozen quilts in 2019 that will all quilted by me, I will definitely do more ruler quilting. The Bernina #72 ruler foot is the best ruler foot I've ever used; I have used two other brands. I just need to figure out different rulers to quilt with.

As much as I love the ten Fine Line rulers I own (by Accents in Design), they do not work well on this Bernina 770QE. Fine Line rulers have vertical posts to hold onto when quilting - a real plus by my way of quilting! But, these posts bump into the dual feed feature on the back of the Bernina. So while I can use these rulers, I have to be careful to not move the ruler to the back of the ruler foot.

Expectation #2

In addition to teaching walking foot and free motion quilting, I want to make my ruler work the best it can be because I'm developing a workshop (or two) to teach ruler quilting. Previously I've been hesitant to teach ruler quilting because every sewing machine has a different ruler foot. But I think sewing machine manufacturers are making ruler feet better now, and more quilters are investing in them. So if a quilter can get a ruler foot for her sewing machine, I'm excited to share how to use it. I plan to share ruler quilting information on my blog too. 

Expectation #3

Also, I have a strong desire to have at least one quilt accepted into QuiltCon 2020 in Austin. The modern quilt aesthetic still attracts me. And more importantly, after more than 40 years of making quilts (true!), the modern style challenges me!

Whereas in the past I always made quilts that follow a pattern - or at least I figured out how to duplicate someone else's design - I want to push myself to make quilts that are my original designs. That means I need to do more designing using EQ8 software, and create improvisational-style quilts. Quite honestly, improv is the most difficult for me, and I think that's because it's hard to cut loose-goosey after so many years of ingrained precision cutting and piecing. 

Though I am pretty darned pleased with Austin's improv quilt! This quilt is the first one where I feel "I got it." I can't help but share that quilt again here, even though it wasn't accepted into QuiltCon 2019. I'm thrilled that it made my Instagram Top Nine too.

The background was improv-pieced, and the shapes are all self-made bias tape that's machine appliquéd to the background. Quilting is walking foot and free motion.

 

Owl Always Love You, 58" X 68"

"Owl Always Love You," was inspired by a crayon and watercolor resist done by my seven year-old (at the time) grandson, Austin. He was creating owl feathers for a school art project.

Expectation #4

On January 26, 2019 I will celebrate 10 years of regular blogging! I'm pretty excited and pleased about that. At one point, I was following and often commenting on more than 80 blogs. Now the number of active bloggers has fallen dramatically. So if you're hanging in there, good for you! I know the sort of commitment it takes to constantly take photographs and write posts. You might guess that I have a journalism degree (earned in 2000), so blogging is how I indulge my urge to write. 

This also explains why I'm critical of poorly-written quilt patterns and sewing instructions. 😁

In the early 2000s, I was an editor for American Patchwork and Quilting magazine, and have since written many articles for a variety of quilting magazines.

Anyway, be sure to make a return visit to FlourishingPalms.blogspot.com on January 26. Ya just never know what you might come across!

Expectation #5

I will permeate 2019 in prayer - prayers for family, and prayers that I am living according to God's plan, faithfully nurtured through regular worship and Bible studies. 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

May we all live our calling. Linda