2020 kicked off with us in Houston after my parents and brother had just visited for Christmas. We let the girls stay up until midnight to ring in the new year and spent New Years Day at the Museum of Natural Science. I recorded some Charlotte-isms (need to do that again!) and all the girls got haircuts. (And I haven’t had one since.) We transitioned the girls to a shared bedroom. I traveled to West Virginia for work (now remembered as the last time I was on a plane until some TBD date in the post-covid future).
February was pretty quilting-oriented! I tested a pattern, made a mini for the MQG swap, and shared my guild’s awesome space-themed charity quilt. went to QuiltCon. Beyond that, we saw the US Women’s National Soccer team plan, and enjoyed the elementary school carnival.
In March, I shared highlights from QuiltCon (part 1 and part 2). We went to the rodeo and spent a week in Rosemary Beach, Florida for spring break and then…well, we all know what happened next! We came home from Florida and stayed home. I had goals, including running a 5K, that didn’t happen. We adjusted to no school or daycare while also teleworking. I made a mini quilt and celebrated my birthday, and dealt with strep throat in the middle of covid.
April was filled with lots of family togetherness and time at home. I set quilty goals for spring and we had a nice Easter. I started my 100 day project and spring cleaned my sewing room. We played in the backyard and baked cupcakes and hung in there.
When I look back on spring and summer 2020, I honestly have a hard time remembering how we passed the time! But we did. I shared a free pattern for a birthday cake postcard. Jose turned 40 and we celebrated 11 years of marriage and Emma wrapped up 2nd grade.
There was lots of sewing in June as I finished the Alison Glass/Giucy Giuce sew-along and my Ribbons quilt was featured in Modern Monthly. I also shared my now-popular quilted fabric postcard tutorial, joined the Aurifil Artisan team, and made a postcard-inspired mini quilt. Our neighborhood pool finally opened to much rejoicing! Charlotte went back to daycare.
We made it through the heat of July with trips to the pool, reality TV, baking, and more — plus we finally got patio furniture which vastly improved our backyard. I made a STEM-themed quilt for my guild’s annual challenge. I finished my 100 day project…and just kept going.
In August, we started the month with Emma’s 8th birthday and ended with an unexpected hurricane evacuation. We ventured outside our bubble a bit with trips to the beach and to the zoo. Emma started 3rd grade virtually. I released a revamped Triangles at Play pattern and made a Texas-themed embroidery.
September kicked off with Charlotte’s 5th birthday. I made a minimalist mini quilt, took a great color interactions class, and made my first wholecloth quilt. We hit 6 months of the pandemic — wow.
In October, I finished an old rainbow quilt work-in-progress for Charlotte’s bed, released a revamped Pathfinder quilt pattern…and got a longarm!! We went to the drive-in airshow and made owl cookies. Emma went back to in-person school which was so good for everyone. Jose and I voted! And of course there was Halloween, and we were all excited that trick-or-treating was able to happen.
In November, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris won the election!!! I released a tree skirt pattern, quilted on my longarm for the first time, finished my first major hand quilting project, and made a mini for the MQG fabric challenge. Both girls got glasses! We had a fun beach day, and a quiet but good Thanksgiving at home.
I blogged 29 of 31 days in December as part of an annual challenge. I shared a challenging quilt finish, talked about quilt photography, and listed favorite books from 2020. I showed a few photos related to early sewing memories and broke down my yearly income report. I shared my quilty bests of 2020 and set some goals for 2021. We made advent calendar crafts and had movie nights. We got new bikes and watched the Jupiter and Saturn conjunction. We got a basketball hoop and Jose installed a new car stereo. And, in what felt appropriate for 2020, we wrapped up the year with an emergency text from the county about covid cases surging.
2020! It was certainly a year that won’t be forgotten anytime soon. Next year I hope to be writing about a vaccine and the decline of covid and family adventures and lots more quilts.
Off we go!
2020 was a miserable year in so many ways, but your review includes so many fun activities and so many smiling faces that it really lifts my spirits! All the incredible time and energy you put into creating a great year for your family and yourself is amazing. Take a moment to breathe deeply and congratulate yourself for all those successes as a mom, wife and woman!
Thanks so much Karen! It was nice to look back over the year and see that yes, there were fun activities and smiles amidst the stress.
I certainly hope that your desires for your 2021 wrap up post come to fruition. Happy New Year and I look forward to seeing what you create this year!