Hi friends!
Today I want to share about my new quilt book, my 2024 and my plans for 2025.
But first, how are you all?
2024 was such a busy year for me; I feel like it flew by but there were times during the year where I was just so exhausted and overwhelmed.
Is it OK to share that?
2024 WrapUp
2024 had many good things that happened:
- I wrote a new quilt book.
- We moved to CT to be near family and near the water.
- I published 4 new quilt patterns, 8 quilt block patterns, 1 Cross Stitch pattern. I designed and wrote a few more that won’t actually come out until this year!
- Taught on my first quilt cruise sponsored by Stitchin Heaven
- Launched a Mystery QAL in the summer with Kris Poor of Poorhouse Quilt Designs
- Filmed a new episode on The Quilt Show that will air in February 2025
- Visited with a lot of quilt guilds and presented lectures and classes
- Launched 2 new batik fabric lines and have designed other fabrics and patterns that will launch in 2025 (and 2026)!
- Gave away numerous FQ bundles of my batik lines
- Shared a free Mystery quilt pattern with my newsletter subscribers in November
- Wrote 31 blog posts and numerous IG and FB posts.
I know there’s more but I just can’t remember right now!
All that to say, it was a busy year and sometimes the days just get away from us. But this year I want to be more intentional with my time.
Word for 2025
Do you pick a word for 2025? Sometimes I find it helpful and sometimes I find that by February I have no idea what word I picked for the year!!!
In the world of a quilt pattern designer, my calendar gets filled up years in advance. It takes about 2 years for the batiks I design to hit the stores so I am constantly working WAY ahead but also having to work in the present!
For example, my Spring Summer 24 batik line, Misty Mornings just started arriving in shops.
But I am working with my SS25 line, starting to plan quilts for my FW25 line and designing the FW26 line! So many lines, so many patterns, and so little time!
But that does bring me back to my word for the year: Intentional. My calendar for this year is already almost full with teaching/speaking engagements. And I have lots of designs with upcoming due dates already in the works.
What does it means? Well, to me, intentional means doing things on purpose, things that have a purpose, that drive my goals whether the goal is work related or more personal. Personal things such as having time for walks, spending more time with family… more time for just me!
So how can I be more intentional in my work? I can look ahead, decide how many engagements I want to do in 2026 and I may decide to stop doing speaking/teaching and/or block out time in my calendar for just a few events.
I can decide how many patterns I am willing to work on and hold myself to that! (Well, maybe. Sometimes a great idea comes to you and you just have to create it!)
I can decide what projects I want to take on.
I can say no.
2025 Plans
And that leads me to my plans for this year. With my new quilt book out now (did I mention I shipped orders at the end of last week?), I plan to share more about it!
I am so excited to introduce the book to you! I already shared a lot back in October when I launched the pre-sale of the book. You can read that post here.
But I am planning to share more about each project/quilt here on the blog over the next few months. And just so you know, if you haven’t ordered a copy yet, you can order on my website here. I still have a few pre-order bonus packs left!
Next Events
January 25
I will be visit the new and remodeled Yankee Quilter Quilt Shop in Seymour CT!!
As some of you know, Yankee Quilter lost their entire store during a horrific rain storm on August 18th with flooding. Everything from fabrics, to patterns, books, machines, sewing tables… walls… all gone.
We are so excited for them; that they are able to come back after such a loss and I am sure it will be better than ever! If you are local, be sure to visit them and celebrate the re – opening!
January 31
I am teaching Jan 31st at the Creative Spark Color Mixer online event. It should be a great time and there is an amazing lineup of quilt experts ready to share with all of you! And if you can’t attend live, you can watch the recordings as long as you signed up.
Click here or on the image below to learn more and save $$ with my affiliate link.
This should be an amazing event. I can’t wait to listen to the other speakers!
February 3
My episode with The Quilt Show airs!!!
This time I filmed 3 segments – one where I am chatting with Alex and Ricky, one where I share more about braids using a upcoming free project (It will be on the C&T Blog and I will share the link when it goes love!) and how to do partial seams.
And the bonus segment on my show is my friend Jenny Kae Parks! How cool is that!
February 6 – 16
I am cruising again with Stitchin Heaven and teaching my Paloma quilt! Should be a fun time!
Interested in the pattern? Click here for more information.
February 22
I am doing a book signing and teaching a class on the placemat pattern from the book at Cotton Candy Quilt Shop in Brookfield, CT!
Click on the images above or below to learn more and sign up!
Blog
Starting soon, I will doing more blog posts about the book, the projects and the different types of braids. Once I have a definite schedule, I’ll post it.
I also hope to have a couple of QALs but I will see what I can get done!!
In the meantime, thanks for being here and I hope you have a intentional, productive, peaceful and happy 2025!
happy quilting!
Kate