Hello Friends.

I can’t believe that the Christmas season is knocking at our doors and another year has passed.

Needless to say, I have not had any classes and I miss all of you. I miss meeting new quilters from away, sharing tips and tricks for quilting and just being inspired by all of you. But we are strong and we have made it through another landmark year of Covid. The Hubby is getting tired of being my only friend and listening to me talk endlessly about quilts and design and…well, he just misses all of you too!

With workshops and classes cancelled, I’ve been taking on more long arming. Here are some highlights from the past years’ custom quilts.

I recently renewed my certification as a an instructor for Studio 180 tools and techniques. It’s been 7 years since I was first certified and I’m still as impressed today as I was on day one. My quilting, and my students’ quilting, is more enjoyable because it's easier to attain precision piecing. And boy, none of us need things to be more difficult these days. I carry all the tools and technique sheets by Deb Tucker. So, if there’s something you need or want, or have questions about, be in touch!

I was also able to complete the top to my sample for a new class called “Slice and Dice Hourglass” thanks to my wonderful sample fairies. It is also a quilt that looks really hard but is so easy peasy! I have tweaked the construction so it can be made with 10” squares or Layer Cakes, as we like to call them. If you need a refresh of the basics, or have Layer Cakes that you don’t know what to do with, this is a great project for that!

Now, let’s talk about 2022, because I’m pretty much done with 2021. The year has felt like one big holding pattern, patiently (and sometimes less patiently) waiting for things to get better. What I wish most for 2022 is to feel like I’m moving forward. So, here’s a few things to look forward to:

I am scheduled to teach on a Caribbean Cruise this coming May! Think relaxing in the sun, getting away from the daily chaos, and quilting - all in the same bundle! It’s around Mother’s Day, so you might want to start dropping hints. For more information, visit quiltandcruise.com

I also have 4 new patterns coming out in early 2022. Pathway to Spring is a quilt some of you may have done with me last winter as a Quilt-a-long. Piko is designed to compliment the new Cantik Cotton line by Contemporary Sewing Materials. The other two I will debut during the cruise and will be available right after that.

With all the uncertainty the pandemic has brought, my goal for pattern design for 2022 is getting back to basics. I find myself taking extra time to perfect the units that we see all the time but find a bit difficult. To go along with this work, I’m introducing a few new construction techniques for some fussy units. Now that sounds exciting!

Finally, Hubby and I are taking some much needed time off for the next two months to give ourselves some space to spend time with family and each other. Both my Etsy store and The Loft will be closed during this time and will re-open the week of February 14th.

As the end of the year approaches, I’d like to send out a big thank you all for your continued support and camaraderie. We’re so geographically distant — whether it’s across Northern Ontario, across Canada, or around the world — getting together to share a hobby extends our sense of family. Quilting together can help us feel this connection. Here’s hoping that this is the last year we have to learn new technologies to keep our connection alive!

Thank you for dropping by. Until next time, stay safe, reach out to a friend, and have a Happy New Year!