2019 Quilts & Projects | Year in Review

It’s always surprising to me how easy it is to misjudge our own accomplishments in any given year!! Looking back at 2019, I’ve realised that I made a lot more quilts and projects than I had thought, (and if it’s okay to admit – ones that I am really proud of too ;)!!

Here are the main quilts and projects I made in 2019…

The Ultimate Travel Bag designed by Annie Unrein of Patterns By Annie

This was a gift for my daughter to take with her on her first big adventure overseas. This pattern was challenging, but with Annie’s expert instructions it was completely doable, and I would love to make another for myself, someday.

You can purchase the pattern directly through Annie’s website – here.

Farmhouse plaid Quilt

My first pattern release for the year was this Farmhouse Plaid quilt. I have made a couple of different versions, and I just love how simple and yet effective this pattern can be.

I have had lots of requests for a king size variation, and I have made a few design notes in my sketchbook that I am excited to experiment with in the future, for a unique version with a twist!.

You can purchase the pattern here (AU, NZ, CN or US), or here (everywhere else).

Count Your Blessings Quilt

One of my personal, all-time favourite quilts; I really enjoyed making a classic ‘red, white and blue’ Count Your Blessings quilt version that had a striking elegance to it. I only made a baby version, but I think a larger version would make for a great picnic quilt for the 4th of July or similar celebrations :).

You can purchase the pattern here (AU, NZ, CN or US), or here (everywhere else).

poolside Tote DESIGNED by anna Graham of Noodlehead

Sometimes, it’s the fabric that speaks to you and tells you what it wants to be, and I felt like that with this particular piece of fabric I had been hoarding, that went on to become this Poolside tote.

Bag making is not my strong suit, but I do enjoy the learning process that happens as the project progresses. The bags I make are never perfect – I often think it would be a good idea to make a second version immediately after the first to really hone my new found skills – and yet I very rarely do!

You can purchase the pattern directly through Anna’s website – here.

Hope Floats Quilt

Another new pattern release where I enjoyed raiding my stash and using some of my favourite prints! This quilt was made using red and pink Bonnie and Camille fabric, and has an unusual setting to give the quilt interest.

This is actually one of those quilts where the photos don’t really do it justice! I used the same tiny floral for the background, binding and backing (which is not something I would usually do) to create a sweet cohesive feel to the design. The overall effect is truly a breathtaking quilt in real life.

You can purchase the pattern here (AU, NZ, CN or US), or here (everywhere else).

Tilda Fabric Triangle Quilt

Tilda fabric can sometimes be a challenge to design with, yet I love the simplicity of this triangle quilt. It was fun to work on improving the precise nature of my points, and I enjoyed putting together a little tutorial for others to experiment with triangles themselves.

I have been considering making this quilt again with some of my London inspired fabric and a navy background – what do you think; good idea??

You can find my tips on making your own triangle quilt – here.

Redwood Tote designed by Noodlehead

For this particular tote, I had enough denim to make two, and so I made one for both my daughter and I. The fun part of this project was choosing the perfect interior fabric for each bag. Sometimes it’s the littlest elements of surprise that ultimately make you smile, and that’s how I feel when I catch a glimpse of the lining fabric in these bags – it really is the little things that can make a project feel joyful and complete!

You can purchase the pattern directly from Anna’s website – here.

South Bank Spin Quilt

I’m not a fan of purple – except when it comes to Tilda fabric!

Stepping out of my comfort zone when it comes to choosing fabric has been something I have tried to be somewhat intentional with, and so while I was tempted to highlight the aqua and mint fabric in this collection, I deliberately chose to focus on the purple hue and create something a little more unexpected.

The nostalgic feeling of this quilt shines through with the classic Tilda prints and colour combination. It is so very different from the original South Bank Spin quilt I made, which makes me love how unique and versatile this pattern can be. South Bank Spin was one of my earliest patterns, and I am so glad I showed this pattern a little more well deserved love!

You can purchase the pattern here (AU, NZ, CN or US), or here (everywhere else).

Venture Out Quilt designed by Andy Knowlton from the book – fresh fat quarter quilts

I am a big fan of Andy Knowlton and her blog, so I was delighted to be asked to participate in her book launch tour.

The Aneela Hoey fabric I used to make this quilt had been sitting patiently in my stash waiting for the perfect project, and I think I found it in this Venture Out quilt. This quilt was such a delight to make and the process made my heart happy from start to finish.

You can purchase Andy’s book – here (affiliate link), and read my blog post about the quilt I made – here.

Inside Out QuiltAlong

I hosted the Inside Out quilt quiltalong.

Due to a series of unfortunate events, the timing of this quiltalong turned out to be terrible and I couldn’t be as engaged with our community as I had hoped to be!! But even so, a lovely group of people joined me in making this pattern, and I really enjoyed participating slowly and watching all the quilts come to life on Instagram and Facebook.

The picture below is the first Inside Out quilt I made, not the one I sewed as part of the quiltalong – but I just finished the binding on my new version so I will try and take some photos and share more soon (fingers crossed).

You can purchase the pattern here (AU, NZ, CN or US), or here (everywhere else).

Annex Double Zip Box Pouch designed by Sara Lawson of Sew Sweetness

These cute little pouches were another project I made in an attempt to improve my bag making skills. I did have a little trouble getting my lining to fit nicely, and I have a feeling that this is due to the slight variation in zipper feet between my sewing machine and the sewing machine used by Sara to design the pattern. Overall though, the problem wasn’t enough of a big deal for me to worry about, and I thoroughly enjoyed this little project using some of my favourite scraps.

You can purchase the pattern directly from Sara’s website – here.

I have just noticed that Sara now also has a video tutorial you can purchase for this pattern. What a great idea – I wish I had a chance to view it before I made mine – I might have been able to solve my lining issue ;).

Hope Floats mini Quilt

I love mini quilts, but I really didn’t make many in 2019! This little Hope Float mini quilt was a personal love project, designed purely for the enjoyment of making a quilt in a short time frame, and feeling the satisfaction associated with a finished project.

Playing with the Bonnie and Camille woven fabrics was fun too!

Mini Masterpieces Curves Mini Quilt designed by Alyce Blyth of Blossom Heart Quilts

As part of the launch of Alyce’s new book I was asked to make a 6-inch test block from the book. I haven’t actually done a lot of curved piecing, so I was excited to have a play and try something new. Before I knew it, I had turned a handful of scrappy blocks into this mini quilt.

In 2020 I will be making the associated pattern from Alyce’s book – so stay tuned for that one :).

You can purchase Alyce’s book – here (affiliate link), and read my blog post – here.

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Final Thoughts on Quilts, motivation and Creativity

As creative people we are always thinking about the NEXT project, and it is too easy to forget the significance of where we have been and the journey that has taken us through the creative maze of inspiration and achievement. So, as a new year begins, I think it’s worthwhile to take a moment to look back and celebrate the creative path we walked.

As we know, developing a creative habit is key to sustaining motivation and momentum – the two key ingredients to productivity! Unfortunately for me, in 2019, some life changes meant a change in creative habits too, and I am still trying to find my way back to what will be my new normal, and build new habits that will continue to motivate and inspire. But despite the changes, I still enjoyed quality time in the studio making projects that made my heart happy – because ultimately joy is is at the centre of all true motivation and is what connects us to our craft :).

So, if you have been struggling to find your own momentum and stay inspired, try to remind yourself that all is not lost – we all have our own little bumps in the road that we have to navigate, but the good news is, a new creative adventure and the next quilt is never too far away, as long as the process still brings us joy, and we have a desire to create.

Embrace your craft, and create joy with fabric and thread! And, if it makes your heart happy, then do it again, and again! A creative habit is something that will take time to develop, and it will at times change, but it will always serve you well!

Thank You…

A big thank you to everyone who is hanging in there with me on this creative journey – your support and encouragement continues to inspire me and fuel my creativity.

To celebrate the new year, use coupon code 2020 to get 20% off the price of any Aqua Paisley Studio PDF pattern in my shop until the 18th of January!

AU, NZ, CN and US residents can shop here.

Everyone else can shop here.

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Wishing you all a joy filled creative new year!! xx