MY BEST NINE FOR 2016

At first I thought I was going to skip this year all together simply because, as Queen Elizabeth once said about 1992, it has been an Annus horribilis. But after carefully reviewing my year objectively, I realize that it started off pretty amazing and although I went through a rough time, it ends pretty great too.

First of all I started the year wanting to do more within the quilting industry and deciding to close my quilt shop.  I was spending way too much time in accounting and human resources and not enough time quilting and writing.

Then I got a nice surprise in Spring when PlumEasy Patterns published my Dancing Diamonds pattern 6 months ahead of plan. I just loved going to Spring Quilt Market in Salt Lake City to promote it and meeting so many wonderful people in the industry.  I even got to thank Rob Appell for getting my boys to quilt!

Meetin Rob Appell at Quilt Market was just great!
Dancing Diamonds Art Quilt Pattern

 

 

 

 

 

 

I returned home to officially close the shop and feature 2 quilts in shows.  I was surprised and happy to learn that they both received second place ribbons. They meant so much to me: My Sotchi quilt got me to write the Dancing Diamonds pattern and I had started the Lone Star many years ago and was filled with self-doubt throughout the process. Receiving the ribbons was a way for me to let go of the fear when making quilts.  It proved to me that I knew what I was doing and that I needed to trust myself a bit more.

Sotchi Quilt, 2nd place ribbon at Vermont Quilt Festival 2016
My Lone Star, 2nd place ribbon at Salon 2016
Meeting Jenny last June was just a blast!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filled with confidence, I got my dream job in the quilt industry and started having a blast.. I even had the pleasure of meeting Jenny from the Missouri Star Company!  What a treat!

 

Then came August…

All hell broke loose

A simple accident dancing with a glass of champagne and a cigar while camping hours away from my home turned into a nightmare.  I didn’t want anyone to know and kept silence for months but now I realize that this experience made me grow once more.

To make it simple: broken ankle = surgery = 6 weeks of bed rest = stress = infection = 4 days in hospital = loss of employment = loss of muscle mass = weak earthling = let’s crawl under a quilt and never get out

But something extraordinary happened: When I closed my store I was expecting to lose all my friends that I had met through the years in the shop and within the industry. And it was quite a surprise to see them keeping in touch through my struggles.  Some simply called or wrote once in a while to ensure that I was OK, some brought me food, some cleaned my house and some created quilt groups to keep me quilting and connecting.

I can honestly say that if it was not for them, I would have probably given up on all my quilting dreams.  For a short time I had even moved my son’s room in my quilting space saying that I wasn’t going to be using that space anymore….

Let’s fast forward to today:

I am finishing up a grueling 6 weeks rehabilitation program and am no longer walking like an old lady.  I have kicked my son out of my quilting space.  While moving my stuff back, I filed all the books and magazines in which I had written either a pattern or an article and realized that I have been published over 25 times.  It reminded me that I love writing as much as I love quilting. So I reorganized once more my space to fit my sewing machine and my computer. I am very happy as I already have a few articles to prepare for 2017.
I also realized that I love teaching and have been booking classes and seminars in quilt shops and shows for 2017.

As for quilting: I made a quilt for my cousin in Germany who just had a beautiful baby girl. That quilt is special for many reasons: it’s the first time I get to make a quilt for a GIRL  and so I used a LOT of pink, I also decided to let go of my habits meaning that I didn’t write a pattern as I made it ! I made it just for FUN. And that felt good. I need to be doing that more in 2017.

 

There is a quote from George S. Patton Jr. that I love:

“The test of success is not what you do when you are on top. Success is how high you bounce when you hit the bottom.”

So that’s my year in 9 pictures.

Wishing you all the best for the new year!

let’s enjoy 2017 and see what happens!

 

 

2 thoughts on “MY BEST NINE FOR 2016”

  1. Je te souhaite aussi une très belle année 2017 Claire! J’aime ton optimisme et ta détermination. Et oui on apprend de chaque situation que l’on vit. Santé, bonheur et prospérité pour 2017.

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