The end of a great year

Hi everyone!  Well, we are at the end of another year!  Hard to believe that the end of this week is Christmas and then really soon after that it will be 2017.  2017!  How did that happen? With the end of the year, it's time to look back at some of the highlights and things I've learned this year.  And at the quilts, too, of course!

2016 was a year of big changes for our family, mostly for the best. We added to our family, finally bought a new house, and are still settling in to a new neighborhood.  We like our property and our neighbors and are generally very happy here.  And let's not forget to mention the more than $500 raised in the Gratitude Sale! So here are some of the highlights and some of my favorites from 2016.

I always have trouble picking a "favorite" quilt, or a "best" one, but this year there is no contest!  There are two sewing projects that are not only high points for 2016 for me, but mark major life events as well.  The first is the Friends in the Forest quilt:

Friends in the Forest

I still love it! This is the quilt that I made for our first grandson, who was born this year.  He is, of course, the world's most amazing baby, and a complete joy.  This may have been his first quilt, but I'm pretty sure it won't be his last!

The second high point was much less quilty, but still involved some sewing:

This is a little bit of sentimental stitching that I made for our daughter, who got married earlier this year.  So much happiness!  I made this small purse and a bouquet wrap from her grandmother's wedding gown.  It was such a wonderful day, and the newlyweds still seem to be over the moon.

So those were the two highest points of the year, but there were a lot of other things to be happy about!  There's one quilt that I learned so very much from--the Intricate Stitches block of the month.  Picking a favorite block is like picking a favorite child, but I do love the center medallion:

Intricate Stitches Center Medallion

If that's not intricate, I don't know what is!  I'm still finishing this top, but this is already one of my favorite quilts ever.  I'm planning to quilt it up myself because I like it so much and want to spend some more time with it.  Plus I'm planning another intricate quilt! (Just for me, though, not as a quilt along.)  I love this quilt, and I liked writing the tutorials and seeing your pictures, too.  I hope you have had as much fun making this quilt as I have.  And there's a new BOM coming for 2017--not very intricate but very fun!  (More details soon!)

I also had a lot of fun making this quilt:

A Bear Paws Through the Woods

This is the Modern Bear Paw pattern from Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts.  This was so fun to make and I love the multicolored blocks.  This one is becoming part of my Grandma stash and I can't wait until my tiny grandson gets *his* paws on it!

There are so many other quilts I loved and learned from!  I loved participating in the blog hops and exchanges and such, and I've loved getting to know all of you.

Autumn Jewels

Thanks so much to everyone for coming along, leaving comments, making some Intricate Stitches blocks, and just generally being a supportive and fun community.  I'm seriously grateful for all of you and I hope you've had as much fun learning and sharing with me as I have with you.

Framed!

With that, we are putting 2016 in the archives!  The hubs and I are planning on spending the next couple of weeks visiting family, eating in restaurants, watching movies, and generally relaxing.  Plus, we're going to spend some time with this tiny human:

Isn't that a great picture?  I hope that all of you have lovely holidays that make you feel warm and fuzzy no matter which ones you celebrate, and a lot of fun and rest with family and friends!  Merry Christmas and see you next year!

Sharing at Let's Bee Social, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, crazymomquilts, and the Best of 2016 linky party at Meadow Mist Designs.