A Bit-by-bit Year

At the end of each year, Cheryl Brickey of Meadow Mist Designs hosts a linky party for us to share our best posts from the past twelve months and offers suggestions for listing them. I like to share my finishes, and since those would be more than five posts, I divide them into five categories. That way I meet the spirit of the party and keep all my finishes together in one year-end post, and you can decide which links you might like to explore further.

For me, this was a year of small projects. They were the best fit for this season of my life. But the neat thing is that small projects do add up to finishes, bit-by-bit. 

1. Placemats I made these all year long going according to Angela's Rainbow Scrap Challenge colors at SoScrappy. I will be donating them to Meals on Wheels during a spring collection. I used mostly leftover strings as well as other scraps (and an orphan block), pieced batting, and pieced backings or small bits from my stash. Perfect project for limited time, with the satisfaction of a finish. Most (or maybe all?) were quilt-as-you-go. If you'd like to read more about them, click on the "placemats RSC22" label on the right sidebar.

2.Throw Quilts I did finish three biggish quilts. All were long term scrap projects, so the bulk of the work was done last year. Two were Confetti quilts from the pattern by Rachel Hauser of Stitched in Color and the other was a Year of Scrappy Triangles, a pattern by Leila Gardunia. If you want to see more, there are labels with both names to click on the right sidebar.

I donated these to Margaret's Hope Chest for the Mother and Baby Program (for mothers experiencing postpartum depression and other perinatal distress).

3. Wall Quilts Both of these projects were squirrels. You know, those projects you just suddenly have to make, so you get right to work and keep going until you are done no matter what else you've been working on. The first was an attempt to quilt through my feelings over the plight of Ukraine, and to send a message to the world--or at least my neighborhood--in support. It was my front door quilt for much of the year. You can read more about this quilt, which was more of an obsession than a squirrel, here.

The other was my most recent quilt, made while I was decorating my living room for Christmas. You can read more about Advent Candles here. 

4. Other Quilting Projects I got a new phone this year, just a smidge bigger than my old one, so it needed a new sleeve, just a smidge bigger than the old one. You can read about it here.

I also transformed a queen sized quilt into two bunk quilts. A unique way to recycle, repurpose, reuse. You can read how I did that here.

5. A top This was supposed to be a finished quilt, but got squirreled by the Advent Candles quilt. It is basted and ready to quilt, and there are a few days left in the year, so maybe an almost finish? I picture myself hand sewing the binding on New Year's Day. No link yet, but hopefully a post soon.

There are several other projects in progress that I hope to finish this coming year including my Bear Paws quilt and the adding machine tape project. Oh, and there's that four-patch hand piecing quilt that gets pulled out from time to time. But first, I have a baby quilt to make! In fact, I've already ordered (and received!) my fabric this week after spending way too much fun time figuring out a pattern and the colors. Since babies don't wait until other projects are done, guess which project will get priority? 

I hope you've enjoyed another year of quilt making and that the new year will bring you more inspiration, relaxation, and opportunities to brighten someone else's world with your creativity in color and cloth. 

I'm linking up with Cheryl's Best of 2022 Linky Party, with thanks to her for hosting every year.

(Just a reminder: I'm not affiliated with any company, so when I mention products, services, or stores I'm just documenting what I used or liked.)