My Best of 2020

Hi and welcome to my stop on the Best of 2020 blog linky party!  I had such fun going through my posts from the year to figure out which 5 posts I would be highlighting today.  It was a great way for me to review the year and revisit some finishes from earlier in the year that I had forgotten about.  I'm ready for 2021, how about you?

Click on any of the titles to be taken to the actual blog post for more details and pictures.


1.  Morewood Mystery Quilt

The Morewood Mystery Quilt kicked off in July and is going strong.  The quilt along posts are always among the higher view count posts of mine.  If you want to join in the fun, you can find all of the information about the Morewood Mystery Quilt here.

2.    Mosaic Mystery Quilt

Coming in at number two is the Mosaic Mystery Quilt, the free quilt along that started in July 2019 and finished up this spring.  The instructions are still up on the blog if you would like to make this quilt, you can find out all of the information here.

3.  Glue Basting Curves Tutorial

The Glue Basting Curves tutorial was my most popular tutorial this year.  I created this tutorial when I was making my Awning quilt.  You can read the tutorial here.

4.  English Trellis Pattern

My most successful and poplar new pattern this year was English Trellis which I made using Morrison Park fabrics by Pat Sloan.  You can see more pictures and read about the quilt here.

4.  New Logo

One of my favorite posts from this year highlighted a new logo and branding for Meadow Mist Designs.  I had the old logo for over 5 years so I felt it was time for a little update and upgrade. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog!  I hope you will consider linking up your favorite posts from 2020 or stopping by to see other blogger's best of 2020 posts!  You can visit the Best of post right here.

 

Best of 2020 of Linky Party

Welcome to the Best of 2020 Linky Party! 

 This is the fifth annual "Best of" blog party to share your and read others top posts of 2020.

To take part in the link party, simply write a new blog post highlighting your "best" 5 posts from 2020 and linkup.  There is no set way or rules to pick your best, you can pick and highlight your posts anyway you would like.  Some examples include:

• Posts with the most views
• Posts with the most comments
• Posts that provoked the best discussions
• Posts showing your favorite 2020 finishes
• Posts of your best tutorials
• Posts that are simply your favorites

I invite you to grab a cup of tea, coffee, apple cider, or your favorite blog reading beverage, relax, and have some fun reading the best blog posts of 2020:)

The link party now through Saturday, January 2nd.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Please note that this year end party will take the place of the Favorite Finishes Monthly Linkup, so there will be no monthly linkup for December.

 

2020 Goal Review and 2021 Goals

2020 is almost done and I can't really say that I am sad to see it go.  I'm looking forward to 2021 and getting back to a more "normal" life.  I miss my family, friends, and co-workers.

I must admit that some good has come out of the covid 2020.  I have been working from home since March and I really enjoy having windows and natural light (my office is in a windowless cubicle room) and my cats around.  Also, my commute to work (my dining room table) has been fabulous! 

My children have also been virtually learning since the spring and I enjoy being able to have lunch with them everyday.  I will miss that once they go back to attend school in person next fall.

And now for a look back at my 2020 goals and plan for the new year...

My wonderful bloggy friend Yvonne, who blogs at Quilting Jetgirl, hosts an annual planning party to layout goals for the upcoming year. I thought that I would use this post to first go back to my 2020 goals to see if I had actually accomplished them and then post my 2021 goals.  

2020 Goal Check-In

My main goal and word for 2020 was APPRECIATE.  I wanted to limit my commitments to focus on my family and appreciate them as they are growing so fast.  I think that I did pretty well against my list...

1.  Design and host the next mystery quilt starting this summer. - DONE, the free monthly Morewood Mystery kicked off in July and will finish up in April.

2.  Focus on giving back including teaching others to sew/quilt and making charity quilts - I made the switch from in-person class/workshops to lecturing over Zoom and that has been great.  I have been able to "visit" with many more guilds 

3.  Host the Best of 2020 Linky Party - This will go live the day after Christmas.

4.  Submit a proposal for my next book - I submitted the proposal in January and it was accepted!  My second book, called Just one Charm Pack Quilts will be released in June!!

Overall, 2020 has been a great quilty year!  

2021 Goals

I have no idea on when 2021 will go back to a more "normal" so I do not want to overcommit or plan.  

My main focuses for this year will be:

1. Just one Charm Pack book launch - I am going to have a traditional blog hop and also am planning a charity sew along with prizes.
2. Pattern releases - I have a number of new pattern ideas in the works and want to get those written.
3. Mystery quilt - the next mystery quilt will kick off in July and the design is almost set.
4. Charity sewing - I would love to be able to donate at least half a dozen quilts.

How are your 2021 plans shaping up?  You can read all of the 2021 planning posts at Yvonne's #2021PlanningParty.

 

Best of 2020 Linky Party Coming Soon

It is no secret that I love blog link parties.  One of the main reasons I started my blog was so that I could take part in the sharing of knowledge and inspiration through the parties and so I am very excited to announce that I am hosting my sixth annual blog linky party, the Best of 2020 Linky Party!

Please note that this year end party will take the place of the Favorite Finishes Monthly Linkup, so there will be no monthly linkup for December.

To take part in the link party, simply write a new blog post highlighting your "best" 5 posts from 2020 and linkup.  There is no set way or rules to pick your best, you can pick and highlight your posts anyway you would like.  Some examples include:

• Posts with the most views
• Posts with the most comments
• Posts that provoked the best discussions
• Posts showing your favorite 2019 finishes
• Posts of your best tutorials
• Posts that are simply your favorites

This post is not only a great way to find new readers, it is also wonderful to be able to highlight some of your best posts for those readers who have joined your blog throughout the year.

The link party will open the day after Christmas, Saturday December 26th and will be open for one week ending on Saturday, January 2nd.

While you are waiting for this linky party to start up, you can take a look through the Best of 2015-2019.  Thanks!

 

Christmas Nostalgia

One of the best parts of being a quilt pattern designer is the opportunity to collaborate with fabric companies.  

Recently, I was able to connect with Michelle, the CEO and founder of the new fabric company, Dandelion Fabric & Co.  Dandelion has a number of great collections full of creative colorways, fun prints, and useful blenders.

I worked with Dandelion Fabric & Co to render some of my patterns in their holiday collection, Christmas Nostalgia.  I really like how this Christmas collection is different than the typical red and green prints, the collection has some pink, tan, and blue designs.  

Here is the full 12 piece Christmas Nostalgia collection:

I had a great time playing around with these prints, not only in my patterns I designed with the holidays in mind, but some others as well.

Candy Stripes

Flock of Geese

Jelly Lanterns

Looking Glass

Winter Wreath

Which is your favorite?  What are your favorite colors to use in a Christmas quilt?

As a special bonus to celebrate this collaboration, I am offering 20% off of all quilt patterns in my shop using the code DANDELION,  now through 12/21 (midnight EST).

Morewood Mystery ++ Hourglass Units

Happy December!

Welcome to the December instructions for the Morewood Mystery Quilt along. There is plenty of time to join in on the quilt along!  You can find all of the information about the Morewood Mystery, including schedule, past instructions, links to the Facebook group, sneak peek, and more at the Morewood Mystery Page.

We are going to be making some Hourglass units this month.

Now that the Mystery Quilt has ended, you can find a easy to print, full version of the pattern for sale in my pattern shop.

Full pdf Instructions of Morewood Mystery Quilt

 Hourglass Units

Combine 15 fabric D squares 5 ½" x 5 ½", 15 bg squares 5 ½" x 5 ½", and 30 bg squares 5" x 5" to make 60 hourglass units 4 ½" x 4 ½".

1. Place a fabric D square 5 ½" x 5 ½" and a bg fabric square 5 ½" x 5 ½" right sides together. Draw a diagonal line using a removable marking device on the back of the lighter square (shown as the solid line).

2. Sew a ¼" seam on either side of the solid line (shown as the dotted lines). Cut on the solid line and press seams open or toward the darker fabric.

3. Do not trim the half square triangles (HSTs) at this point.

4. Repeat to make a total of 30 D/bg HSTs approx. 5" x 5".

5. Place a D/bg HST approx. 5" x 5" and a bg square 5" x 5" right sides together. Draw a diagonal line using a removable marking device on the back of the HST (shown as the solid line) perpendicular to the seam.

6. Sew ¼" on both sides of the solid line (shown as the dotted lines). Cut on the solid line and press seams open.

7. Trim half hourglass blocks to 4 ½" x 4 ½". Repeat to make a total of 60 hourglass units.

Do not worry about the orientation of the seam between the bg fabrics in the hourglass units.

Many thanks to the generous sponsors of the Morewood Mystery Quilt!

Quilting Jetgirl | Sew Fresh Quilts | Cotton Cuts | Fat Quarter Shop | Busy Hands Quilts 

Aurifil  | Quilting by Anne-Marie | Sew Colorado Quilting  | Whims and Fancies | Cooking Up Quilts

Bear Creek Quilting Company | BackSide Fabrics | Make Modern

Needle & Foot | Meadow Mist Designs | Honey, Bunny, and Doll

Any questions?  Leave them in a comment below or post them to our Facebook group page.  I look forward to seeing everyone's units.  The next set of instructions will be published on the first Thursday of January, the 7th.

Favorite Finish Monthly Linkup - November 2020

Welcome to November's Favorite Finish Monthly Linkup!

I hope that the start to the holiday season is going well and everyone is staying safe and healthy.   

My favorite finish this month was the Awning quilt I made to highlight Heather Black's new fabric collection, Sketchbook.  It was also the first time in a while I had sewn curves.

Just a few reminders...

The Meadow Mist Designs pattern sale ends tonight, buy 2 patterns, get 1 free! 

Meadow Mist Designs Pattern Shop

Use coupon code BUY2GET1

Digital patterns, print patterns, or a mixture of both.

BONUS - All print patterns ship for free during this sale! (US only)

Note: The code (same code BUY2GET1) will also work to buy 4 patterns and get 2 free! The sale runs through midnight (EST) on Monday, November 30th.

If you are looking for some ideas of what to put on your holiday wish list, here are some in this blog post.

Ready for the party?  

Here is a reminder of the party details:

• The linky party will open at 12:01am EST on the last day of the month and will be open for 5 days, through the 4th at 11:59 pm EST.

• For instructions on how to link up blog, Instagram, or pictures from your computer (new - there is now a way to just upload a picture without a web link) to the party, click here.  

• If linking a blog post, I ask that you please add a link back to the party (and the button graphic if you would like).

• Please visit at least 3 other links (and preferably leave comments) to share the love and celebration :)

I hope you join in by checking out the posts or linking your favorite finish of the month!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Thanksgiving 2020 Sale

I hope that you will be enjoying the holidays this week!

Happy Thanksgiving, Black Friday

Small Business Saturday, & Cyber Monday

To celebrate, I am offering a special discount in my pattern shop (this code will not work in my Etsy shop). 

Buy 2 patterns, get 1 free!  

Use coupon code BUY2GET1

Digital patterns, print patterns, or a mixture of both.

BONUS - All print patterns ship for free during this sale! (US only)

I just restocked my printed patterns with favorites that had sold out and added print version listings for most of my recent pattern releases, you can see all of the available printed patterns here.

Note:  The code (same code BUY2GET1) will also work to buy 4 patterns and get 2 free!

The sale starts right now and will run through midnight (EST) on Monday, November 30th.

Thank you so much for your support throughout the year!

 

Quilter's Holiday Wish List 2020

My husband asked me the other day what I would like for Christmas, so I spent some time hunting around Amazon, Etsy, Connecting Threads, and the Fat Quarter Shop putting together a list of my favorites so I thought I might also provide you some ideas on what to ask for during this holiday season.

FABRIC

Let's start with one of the most fun things to unwrap..fabric!  Here are some of my picks.  I just got a Kismet bundle and the SMOL bundle in the mail (the colors are beautiful!) and stocked back up on the striped print (which is my favorite print to use for a stripey binding). affiliate links

1 - Kona Cotton by Robert Kaufman 25 piece fat quarter bundle

2 - Kismet by Sharon Holland for Art Gallery 16 piece fat quarter bundle

3 - SMOL by Kimberly Knight for Ruby Star Society 19 piece fat quarter bundle

4- Black and White 1/8" stripe by Riley Blake

5- Paper Cuts by Rashida Coleman-Hale for Cotton + Steel layer cake

6 - Kaufman by Carolyn Friedlander for Robert Kaufman layer cake

7- Matchmade by Pat Bravo for Art Gallery Fabrics 5 piece half yard bundle

8- Bonnie & Camille for Moda 40 piece fat quarter bundle 

9 - Camden Road quilt kit

10 - Blossom Star quilt kit

11 - Ohio Stripes quilt kit

12 - Geometric Garden quilt kit

NOTIONS

I always find Christmas a great time to ask for my favorite notions as stocking stuffers.  Included in this list is my pincushion, thimble, needles (hand and machine), and more. affiliate links

1 - Zirkel magnetic pincushion 

2 - 160 sewing clips

3 - Clover 100 silk pins

4 - Aurifil 2024 white 50wt cone

5 - Clover white chaco liner (chalk marking device for dark fabrics)

6 - Clover thread pic (tiny hook that can fish out loose threads after quilting)

7 - Stash 'n Store

8 - Machingers quilting gloves

9 - 50 Organ brand sewing machine needles 80/12

10 - John James 100 assorted hand sewing needles

11 - Clover self-threading needles

12 - Clover leather thimble

You can find even more quilting and sewing material recommendations on my Meadow Mist Designs Amazon pages here and here.

On Wednesday I will be sharing the Meadow Mist Designs Thanksgiving Sale deals :)

Note:  All of these links are affiliate links, meaning that if you click on an item and make a purchase I will earn a small commission.  This does not impact the price you pay.  Thank you for your support.

How to: Glue Baste Curves

 

How do you like to baste your curved blocks to prep them for sewing? Do you pin? Do you use glue? Do you not baste at all?

I was a pinner and I probably over-pinned.  I would rather take the time to make sure the edges of the fabric pieces were aligned and set before sewing than trying to align them while stitching them together.  For the blocks above I would probably have used up to 20 pins.  This was not only time consuming, but while I was sewing I had to make sure my fabric I was keeping a 1/4" seam allowance while taking out each pin before I sewed over it.

I had used glue basting for bindings and EPP (English paper piecing) so I decided to give glue basting a try and I fell in love.  I thought I would put together a short tutorial on how I glue basted my Awning blocks but this technique will work on Drunkard's Path blocks, or really any seam (curved or straight).

My reasons for falling in love with glue basting:

• I found glue basting to be quicker than pin basting both during the basting and during the sewing.
• I also found glue basting to be more accurate than pin basting with the convex and concave fabric edges staying aligned better.
• No tucks!  I sewed all 30 half moon shaped blocks for Awning without a single tuck or need to unsew!

TOOLS FOR GLUE BASTING

To glue baste curves, you need just enough glue to hold the fabric together while sewing.  I would recommend a glue stick type glue over an Elmer's type glue because it is dryer and easier to apply just a small amount.

My favorite glue pen is by Sewline.  You can find these glue pens in your local quilt shop, on Amazon, or on Etsy.  I purchase mine on Etsy as I have found the best prices there. 

Sewline glue pen

Sewline 6-pack glue refill

STEP 1 - PREP YOUR FABRICS

To start glue basting, fold and mark your two fabric pieces at the center and quarters by finger pressing, ironing, or using a removable marking device.  I like to use my iron to make the creases.

STEP 2 - GLUE THE CENTER

I place my two fabric pieces together, with the convex piece on the bottom and the concave piece on top, right sides together.

I start glue basting by using just a dab of glue from my glue pen to adhere the centers of the two pieces.  

STEP 3 - BASTE FROM CENTER OUT

I next add a little glue right along the edge of the convex fabric piece from the center to one of the quarter markings.  I try to keep the glue to less than 1/4" from the edge at the center.  

The glue can get on the mat behind the block so you may wish to use a piece of paper or extra mat you an easily wash behind the block.

I slowly ease the two fabrics together, matching the edges and pressing to adhere, from the center of the block out to the quarter mark. 

Continue to baste the other sections of the block in the same manner. 

If you are using just a little glue stick there is no need to iron to dry or set the glue, it should dry quickly.

STEP 4 - SEW YOUR BLOCK

Now that your block is basted, you can go over to the sewing machine and sew the pieces together without having to worry about pulling out pins (or sewing over them) or keeping the fabric piece edges aligned.

Once you have sewn your curved block, press the seam (the direction you like to press or what is indicated in the pattern.

I hope that I have inspired you to glue basting a chance, I have definitely converted from pinning or gluing. Give it a chance for a block or two to see you like it.

If you want to try making your own half moon blocks, you can get the Awning Pattern from my pattern shop. 

*affiliate links - This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase items through the links I will earn a very small commission. You will not pay more when buying a product through my link