A Year in Review – 2020

Well….. there has been so much said about 2020… and as the years go by I dare say there will be more said in retrospect.

If you are reading this post, you deserve a huge pat on the back for having made it through 2020!

Back in March I did not think that this year would have any redeeming features…everything looked bleak and distressing….. but my word for 2020 is surprising.

We all know the heart-wrenching and horrible ‘surprises’ that a global pandemic has given us…. But I have been stunned that there were good surprises in there too….. seeing a state pull together to get out of a very bad outbreak, seeing people support local small businesses, seeing people go above and beyond to help their fellow human beings.

It has been surprising and wonderful to see. So, make that a double pat on everyone’s backs!

I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported my small business this year….. I have loved packing up every order and sending them off to you!

On a creative and making front this year – I have not done as much as usual nor have I felt like it. Busy fulfilling orders (thank you again!) and worrying about everything in the world left my sewjo sadly lacking.

Only one new pattern the Honey Bun Patch using Moda honeybuns (1.5″ strips) was created this year… and the version I made has been given to a wonderful neighbour for Xmas this week.

And I hosted a Stitch Pink sewalong using the fabulous blocks from Moda Fabrics! The sewalong was wonderful and I raffled off my quilt to aid the McGrath Foundation. October as a good month raising money and sharing time sewing along with lots of amazing people around the world!

Lots of customer quilting has been done…. yes, you all managed to finish LOTS of quilts this year! Some stunners were posted in by customers and its impossible to pick any out specially… they are all gorgeous and amazing in their own rights.

I was privileged to, yet again, be a Master Maker for Mister Domestic and this year I made a large version of my Three Pane’s a Charm pattern using his new fabric line called Hooked – an ode to all things Crochet! This gorgeous quilt has now been given to my husband’s aunt and she LOVES it!

And oh my gosh… I have just skimmed back through my instagram and blog posts and I actually managed to get quite a few more things made this year than I remembered or realised! Just as COVID was hitting Australia I finished my latest Amy Butler Weekender Bag

But I think the thing I will treasure the most this year are the hugs I got from my great-nephews just a couple of weeks ago when Victoria was declared COVID free (48 days without any cases of community transmission). Precious.

And seeing my parents just last week for the first time in 11 months.

2020 has definitely reminded me of the things that are most precious…. and they are of course not ‘things’ but the people we love.

So big hugs from me to you where-ever you are in the world reading this. Stay strong. Stay safe. And here’s hoping for a better 2021 for all.