Highlights from 2018

Earlier this week, I shared my Best of 2018 blog posts and progress on my 2018 New Year's Resolutions.  Today, I will share a few more highlights from 2018...

Quilts! Quilts! and More Quilts!!

This year included 75 quilt finishes (yikes!!):

• 9 UFO finishes
• 12 made for Quilt Challenges
• And lots of finished samples for my workshops

Several of my quilt challenge entries went on to win honors and awards (top left clockwise):

• Sparkling Stained Glass Mandala was juried into Hoffman's traveling exhibit and won Curator's Choice for Applique
• Sealed with a Kiss was one of 10 Finalists for MQG/Riley Blake's Fabric Challenge, and also earned a Judge's Choice ribbon at the San Mateo County Fair
• Under the Sea Debris and Do You Know the Way to San Jose? both won Viewer's Choice through Project Quilting
• My EQ Design was selected as Christa Watson's Judge's Choice for the EQ Quilt Design Challenge featuring Christa's Fandangle fabric collection

My quilts were entered into a number of juried quilt shows and exhibits, including:

• QuiltCon
• Houston International Quilt Festival
• AQS Spring Paducah
• Road to California
• Pacific International Quilt Festival
• Mancuso's New Modern Quilt Competition
• CA State Fair
• San Mateo County Fair

Here are just a few more quilting highlights:

• Featured Artist in the Creativity Project
• Judging the San Benito County Fair
• Continuing as an Aurifil Artisan

Professional/Business Development
Behind the scenes, I worked hard to grow my quilt teaching business.  As a business owner, I wear many different hats on any given day and strive to stay organized and efficient with my time.  After attending a Bullet Journaling program at my local library, I started my own BuJo, which has been invaluable in tracking daily/weekly priorities and tasks.  I also completed Lisa Congdon's Worksflow, Time Management and Productivity for Creatives online course which has greatly helped me better track my projects and plan my time to meet deadlines.  Additionally, I read two art business books that provided a wealth of information:  Lisa Congdon's Art, Inc book and Alyson Stanfield's I'd Rather Be In the Studio.

Phew!  Each year I wonder: how can I ever top this year?  2018 was an incredible year full of amazing opportunities that came my way, as well as opportunities that I made happen.  I am thankful for all the wonderful people I've met this past year, and for all those who continue to encourage me to put myself and my work out there.  I am excited about what the new year will bring and already have some exciting projects in the works. 

Wishing you a very happy and creative-filled new year!  I will leave you with this closing thought...