Happy New Decade!

by Nicole

Hello dear reader,

How is the new decade treating you?!? Well, I hope.

I am so thankful to have made it through 2019. As you may have noticed, I haven’t blogged in quite a while. Well, I have a very good reason for that: Life!

It all began near the end of 2018 when I resigned from my job. I spent the latter part of 2018 sending out job applications. That carried me in to early 2019, which I spent traveling for job interviews. To make a long story very short, I got a job offer in Michigan that was too good to turn down.

Last summer, I packed up my family and moved us to the Great Lakes State. I spent the rest of 2019 settling into the new home, new job, and new schools for my girls.

Well, dear reader, it’s been about 6 months of transition and I can truly say that I love my new job. I miss friends in North Carolina, but I’m so happy that I took the job offer. And just in time for the new decade!

Now that 2020 is here, I feel like I can take a deep breath and dive into some sewing. First up is a long overdue project that’s been waiting for some attention. It’s a memory quilt that I volunteered to make for a young girl who lost her mother way too soon.  The family gave me some of the mother’s clothes and I added some of my own fabric.

I used the “Baby” quilt pattern from the Wise Craft Quilts book by Blair Stocker.

The most challenging part of the pattern for me was figuring out the placement of the squares to maximize the contrast. To make things easier, I used solids in creams and off-whites as the background fabrics to give a strong contrast with the fabrics from the clothes. I also added in some of my own print fabrics to supplement the clothing fabrics.

Before I started quilting, I made a little practice swatch, just to remind myself of how to quilt since it’s been a while. And you know what, reader? Driving a longarm machine is just like riding a bike!

I chose a loopy all-over meander. It’s one of my go-to quilting designs mainly because of the speed and ease of the design.

It also gives great texture.

Next up is trimming, binding and then sending it off to its new home.

What’s your first project of the new decade?

Nicole Neblett signoff Modern Quilting blog

 

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25 comments

Debbie January 7, 2020 - 12:34 am

It’s SO good to see you in this space, Nicole! I was thinking about you the other day, and thinking I should check in with you, and here you are! So glad you are loving your new job and new city. Hope you continue to find time to sew!

Nicole January 7, 2020 - 9:36 pm

Thank you, Debbie! It’s good to hear from you. You have been so consistently supportive over the years. I can’t thank you enough! I hope you are well. Here’s to more stitching in the new year!

Meredithe January 7, 2020 - 3:52 am

Congratulations on your move and the new job. So pleased for you that it’s all working out. Lovely to have you back and hope to see more of you here. Take care.

Nicole January 7, 2020 - 9:42 pm

Thank you, Meredithe! It’s been a long job hunt and I’m so glad it’s over! Thank you for sticking with me.

Michele January 7, 2020 - 5:12 am

Congratulations on your new job and move! Michigan is a beautiful state and full of adventures and great people.

Nicole January 7, 2020 - 9:43 pm

Thank you, Michele! You are right. Michigan is so beautiful. Great Lakes and great people! I’m looking forward to exploring it more.

Caroll January 7, 2020 - 7:04 am

Congratulations on your new job and move to Michigan. I’ve lived all over the country and so thankful I ended up here. I live on the west side of the State in Grand Rapids. Are you by any chance near by?

Nicole January 7, 2020 - 9:45 pm

Thanks, Caroll! That’s right! I forgot you are in Michigan! I’m on the other side – Southeast Michigan, but we are not too far apart!

Josie Mott January 7, 2020 - 8:40 am

Welcome back! I too have moved (to an old folks home!) and done no quilting in over a year.I will have many hours at home with my husband who has dementia and just had my sewing machine service, got my tiny studio set up and am looking for inspiration to dive in. I seem to have grown afraid of the machine. I am knitting up a storm and playing bridge and going to lotsa doctor’s apts, (that’s what you do in the home). I was admiring all my beautiful fabric and wishing I could get going. Is anybody quilting any more? It took me a year to feel sort of at home here, but I do now. Hope all goes well with your transition and that you can have some time to quilt.

Nicole January 7, 2020 - 9:49 pm

Thanks for the welcome back, Josie! So we have both undergone transitions of our own! I hope that inspiration will come to you. I’m impressed that you are keeping busy with knitting. It’s one of my other crafts and is so fulfilling. I wish you happy quilting time. Maybe some small projects like pillow covers or mini quilts? They are so much more manageable than a bed quilt!

Rosemary B January 7, 2020 - 9:20 am

WOWWWWW Michigan. That is where my husband grew up. He lived near Lansing in an old farm house in Mason.
It is a beautiful state.
Congratulations on your new job. it is a huge effort to get the whole family settled.

Nicole January 7, 2020 - 9:51 pm

Thanks, Rosemary! I hope you are well. Sounds like you are familiar with Michigan. It truly is a beautiful state and I’m happy to call it my new home. It is a huge effort to get everyone settled. We are still getting used to the new place. After we make it through our first winter, we will feel so accomplished!

Bev. January 7, 2020 - 9:41 am

Happy New Year to you & your family. Hope that this year brings you health & happiness. Enjoy exploring your new home with your girls & let the creative juices flow. We love your quilts & look forward to learn about them.

Nicole January 7, 2020 - 9:53 pm

Awww, how sweet Bev! Thank you so much for your well wishes and kind words! I welcome the creative juices!

Trudy January 7, 2020 - 12:22 pm

I did wonder what happened. Good you have wonderful news for us. I’m glad you love your new job and home, now that everything is in order you can create again.

Nicole January 7, 2020 - 9:54 pm

Thanks, Trudy! I’m so thankful to have made it through the job search successfully. I’m also thankful to have great folks like you that are thinking of me and wishing me well. I appreciate you.

Lea January 7, 2020 - 1:29 pm

Nicole, congratulations on your new job, and home. I wish you and yours all the best in your new adventure. I’m glad you are back now.

This quilt is going to be so special, and your work is always beautiful,

Nicole January 7, 2020 - 9:57 pm

Thank you, Lea! I appreciate your kind words and well wishes! Here’s to more stitching in 2020!

barbara woods January 7, 2020 - 2:26 pm

glad you are back blogging

Nicole January 7, 2020 - 9:57 pm

Thanks, Barbara! Me too!

Nancy January 7, 2020 - 8:39 pm

That’s such a great quilting design! And what a beautiful And loving gift. You are a very special person.

Nicole January 7, 2020 - 9:58 pm

Awww, Nancy, thank you! I’m hoping the quilt will bring her some comfort.

Kathy January 9, 2020 - 3:04 pm

Hi Nicole! Happy New Year! Sounds like a lot of big decisions but all moving in a good direction! I too just turned on my sit down quilting machine for the first time in 9 months and not only did it sew beautifully but I remembered how to free motion quilt!

Marla January 9, 2020 - 8:16 pm

Welcome back! It was so good to see your post. You have certainly had a lot happening this past year! I love the memory quilt and I’m sure it will be a special tribute and loved by the recipients.

Cindy B January 12, 2020 - 7:58 pm

Congratulations on your new job and new home, Nicole. And your memory quilt just looks beautiful; the young lady will treasure it. You’ll be missed at the TMQG in Raleigh, but no doubt you’ve already made good friends and found some creative contacts. You’re so talented and creative – MIchigan is lucky to have you, Nicole. You had a busy 2019, so very best of luck to you and your family in 2020! I became a first time grandma in 2019, so I have lots more quilts and homemade dolls to make for my little doll, Annie. 🙂
CB

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