Hi there! Thanks for joining this very special post between X-Mas and the New Year! Wow! What a year 2020 has been! There have been so many ups and downs and downs and ups this year. And many of us are still struggling.
I admit, this year has been very hard me as well. In April we all thought we had COVID-19 but were already under lockdown self-quarantining and decided not get tested. Six months later, I allowed my blood to be tested for antibodies that tested neagtive.
Did we have it or did we not? It doesn't really matter anymore. Life is turned upside down. Interactions with friends, family and acquaintances has been extrememly limited this year. My business has suffered. My phsyical health and mental health has suffered. I know I am not alone in this boat, but it is really hard to see the postive. I've always tried to be open and honest about my feelings and life. Some may see it as a weekness, but there are others out there too struggling just as I am. When we open up about the truth, we might just be able to help each other.
Something that has always allowed me to refocus is to design. I decided to design another foundation pattern - a new 16" fairy to fit the collection and welcome a better new year 2021. This year, Onoka, the Japanese Fairy of Gratitude was created.
What am I grateful for?
I am grateful for so many things in life and wish I could express myself better sometimes. I am grateful for the friendships that I have. I am grateful for my home for my family for my knowledge. I am grateful for the generosity of friends, family, acquaintances and customers. I am thankful so many people are interested in my patterns and classes. I don't express it nearly enough! I am truly thankful and grateful for all of those things. What are you grateful for?
Since Onoka was not designed as a mix and match fairy to mix with Marissa, last year's fairy, I tried a different foundation construction method for her. She still has the y-seam, but the instructions on how to do this are in the pattern and are fully illustrated.
For those who are new to foundation piecing, the larger size of 16" rather than 12" is easier to work with although some of the pattern sections may seem too large.
The Enchanted Paper Dolls are 12" and completely interchangeable with mix and match segments.
The Fairy of Gratitude, Onoka cannot be mixed with segments from Marissa, the Fairy of Good Fortune. Onoka is taller and constructed through triangles rather than vertically. You can, however, still add, remove or change some of the lines on the foundation patterns to change the look of Onoka. I also constructed her to have the least amount of intersecting points to releave headaches. The fairy with the pink wings will be easier than the fairy with the purple wings to make.
Onoka would make a lovely pillow case. Just use 2" border strips to outline the block. Make a quilt sandwich, quilt and cut to 18 1/2" and your favorite pillow case tutorial to finish.
Use contrasting piping or binding for an extra, special touch.
Of course, you can make a quilt from just the one block, adding, changing and highlighting different segments of Onoka or even flipping the blocks by tracing the segments in reverse. The shown quilt below uses a 2" finished inner border and a 4" finished outer border. The quilt would measure 60" x 76" - a great quilt for a special girl in your life. Have fun exploring the different colorations.
If you want to mix Onoka and Marissa, this is a fun design you might like. This quilt uses a 2" finished inner border and no outer border, just accent binding. This quilt would finish at ~ 52" x 68".
Thank you so much for joining me. Hopefully you've been inspired to make something beautiful with one of these patterns You can purchase them in my pattern shop on Etsy.
Please check back soon for more fun patterns and designs. Wishing you a Happy New Year 2021!
