The Year in Review and Plans for 2020

Hey there!

As we prepare to usher in the new decade and year 2020 resolutions are being thought of and plans considered for implementation... but how did I do with my goals for the current year?  

My list was quite brief... just three items.

✔#1 - Assemble and complete the Sunbonnet Sue blocks that I got from Dave's aunt.

The quilt has assumed its new home with Dave's aunt.  She has placed it on her guest bed which happens to have an antique headboard, close to the same age as these Sue's.   




















✔#2 - Continue participating in weekly linky parties and monthly hops

The linky parties are always fun to check out and see quilters and their projects that you may have never "met" or visited.  The hops are always so inspirational!  While I participated in fewer hops this year (there seemed to be a "summer break" by some of the hosts) there was still plenty of opportunity to get some creative juices going.  Some of my favorites were...

These sweet little angels  was inspired by the DeGrazia Chapel near Tucson, AZ...

The Be A Diamond hop inspired this birthstone quilt...  You may wonder where the diamonds are in it... but take a look at the close up shot below. 

The Quilt Qwazy Queen hop inspired me to make a Crazy Quilt for a sweet friend that was moving from Colorado to Indiana to care for her aging parents.  

I wanted to send her off with a reminder of our group of friends with a quilt that has each lady's name and favorite scripture on it... 

I shared a sweet story about a group of girlfriends that have been there for each other through all the ups and downs of life and I am reminded evermore so of the important role of friendship and girlfriends since our group of ladies has experienced the sudden loss of one of our own.  Sheryl will be deeply missed... Would you say a prayer for her family as they try to navigate the fog of loss and mourning and life moving forward when they don't want to?

✔#3 - Participate in two Block of the Month sew alongs... 

Not only did I do two sew alongs... I participated in THREE and a Mystery Quilt

Sew Incredibly Crazy & Friends did a wonderful job with the Time For All Seasons BOM... and it isn't over yet!  They have one more month of patterns to be released.  I loved that they offered both pieced and appliqued blocks.  The applique blocks are really, really cute... but I opted to skip those and make only the pieced blocks.

The 2019 Monthly Color Challenge has, once again, been excellent with simple blocks that encouraged lessons in color value.  I will be working on getting a top completed very soon.  As with each of the blocks, I have shared some personal stories, memories, thoughts and plans.

The third sew along was the Adventure Quilt hosted by Kate & Tammy of Seams Like a Dream and Tamarinis.  They had weekly pattern releases and was fast paced, but I managed easily because of the blog hop "summer break".  It was all a win-win deal!

I participated in my first ever mystery quilt that was hosted by Carole From My Carolina Home.  It was interesting and a learning experience that were I to repeat the pattern I would choose some different fabrics.    

I haven't quilted this one yet, but the top is assembled and sandwiched and waiting...  My first UFO of 2020!!

I think the finish of this project needs to be one of the first on my plans for the coming year!

But before I get to that list I wan to take a look at my Top Five...

The most popular posts for the year...

#5 Quilter's ADD

I  was overwhelmed with the various projects and stages of projects and deadlines and I was conflicted in what I REALLY wanted to be working on... I created my list and prioritized, grabbed one of my No Guilt::Go Quilt freezer/crockpot meals and got to work. (If you want to see some of those recipes do a tag search for No Guilt::Go Quilt.)

#4  Thrift Shop finds

I found a Harry Potter panel that I turned into a two-sided quilt for our youngest and some Denver Bronco fabric was used in a quilt for our oldest... both Christmas gifts that were well received.  The Harry Potter panel was featured in the Witchy-Stitchy Blog hop 

#3  Grandmother's Flower Garden was the birthing point for two things... my custom quilting services for others since the owner of this quilt top was my first customer... and my Pieces From The Past Sew Along that will begin in January.  I had mentioned in the post that I had letters from former German POWs that wrote to my grandparents asking for care packages and help in getting back to the US.  Many of them were written in German and needed to be translated.  

Several readers contacted me willing to assist with the translation and others expressed interest in the content of the letters.  Thus, the plan for the Pieces from the Past Sew Along!  More details will be in the 2020 planning section below. :)



#2 Thomas the Train was for the Nifty Novelty hop...

It also happened to be the result of a pattern test for Jen over at Patterns by Jen.  

This was probably the most fun I had with a photo shoot.  I recruited a friend who has a passion for photos and we traipsed all over town to the various trains and rail road crossing areas.  It also happened to be one windy day!  We had a ball!

And the most popular post was the one that contained Exciting News!








I received permission from C&T Publishing to share the vintage Kansas City Star quilt patterns that my Grandma saved and since the letters from former POWs have been translated I will be publishing one letter and one pattern every three weeks, beginning January 23rd.  There will be an opportunity to link up your completed block for a chance to win a fat quarter and for everyone that completes all 20 blocks there are five copies of the Kansas City Star Sampler pattern book.

The blocks will vary in size from 9 inches finished up to 16 inches finished.  The skill level will vary from beginner to advanced and will include a variety of techniques, including pieced, English paper pieced, foundation paper pieced.  (fear not if you are a beginner... I'll have some easier options available if you don't feel up for a challenge.)  Some simple applique and embroidery can be utilized as well. The sampler quilt will finish at approximately 66 inches by 81 inches

Fabric requirements:

I have used a variety of fabrics - prints and solids from assorted fat quarters -  approximately 20 total. 

An additional 4 yards of muslin or background fabric will be needed for the background of the 20 blocks, sashing strips and one border.  

A second border will require 1/2 yard and the final border requires 1 yard.  Binding will require 3/4 yard and backing 5 yards of standard width fabric.  

When your blocks are complete share on instagram, tag me (@MelvaLovesScraps) and use hashtag #PiecesFromThePastSewAlong or post on my fb page - Melva Loves Scraps.  

I'd love to see your fabric selections.  I know not everyone is a fan of 1930s reproduction fabrics... I would LOVE to see these blocks made modern.  Maybe batiks are your thing... or even some mono-chromatic blocks... black/white/grey blocks would be interesting to see!  You know the 2020 pantone color is Blue... shades of blue would be pretty!  Show me what your plans are!







Speaking of colors... Here is my 2019 Makelight Colour analysis  >>>

And my Top Nine of 2019...

As for other goals for 2020... In addition to finishing the Scrap Dance Minuet quilt, I will finish the other two sew along projects (color challenge and time for all seasons).  

Because I am hosting my own sew along for the year, I will be taking a break from any additional BOMs (I think...).  You see, I'm just not sure how much time will be consumed with the responsibility as hostess.  I will, however, continue to participate in any linky parties with new projects that I may find myself working on... and any adventures that we have while traveling with our truck camper. 

I want to continue to experiment with the Eco-printing process and I will continue my National Parks Postcards Camping Journal (both mentioned in my Quilter's ADD post.

So there you go!  A year in review and plans for the future...

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!  

I'd love to hear if you plan to participate in Pieces From The Past Sew Along!  

Leave a comment... 

Happy New Year!

Melva 

Plan to join me for the fun sew along that will feature vintage Kansas City Star quilt blocks!

Linking with:

Best of 2019 with Meadow Mist Quilts
2020 Planning Party with the Quilting Jet Girl
Can I Get A Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Brag About Your Beauties at From Bolt to Beauty
Peacock Party at Wendy’s Quilts and More
Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts
Scrap Happy Saturday at Super Scrappy
UFO Busting at Tish’s Wonderland

Sunday Stash at QuiltPaintCreate
What I Made Monday at Pretty Piney
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt
Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Colour & Inspiration at Clever Chameleon Quilting

Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication
Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Put Your Foot Down at For the Love of Geese
Creative Compulsions at Bijou Bead Boutique