Hello quilting friends! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and are off to a happy, healthy new year.
My blog has been quiet for the past few weeks. My dad passed away a few days before Christmas after a hard fought battle with Alzheimer\’s disease. I would like to take a moment to say that I am thankful for a father who believed in me, loved my family fiercely, and taught us the value of hard work and determination. When I was young, my dad\’s favorite line to inspire me was, \”Run fast, jump high, do good!\” That\’s the same mantra he has shared with my children over the years. It turned out to be quite a gift, because he instilled in them the feeling of being loved and capable people.
Well Dad, you fought the good fight, you finished the race, and you kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7). Thank you for the lessons and the love.
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| Dad\’s 70th birthday celebration in 2015. A Tractor for Dad |
Quilting friends, if you’ve followed my blog since the beginning, you know it was my dad’s early onset with this terrible disease that spurred me to create “Carried Away Quilting,” a blog where I could share my love of quilting with you and launch a pattern design business. I am so thankful to all of you for your encouragement, inspiration and cheerleading during 2016. It really amazes me the capacity for creative kinship that exists in the quilting community. My dad would have been amazed by all of the networking and sharing of ideas, and I\’m pretty sure he would have had some business ideas for me as well!
In 2016 I released five new patterns. It has been a joy to see them made up by talented makers all over the world. If you are not yet on Instagram, I encourage you to get this app! The Instagram quilting community is amazingly supportive, and it is where I see most of my patterns come to life by other hands, using so many different fabric choices. It is awesome! Here’s a recap of my 2016 patterns:
Picking Petals Mini Quilt
Crossing Petals Mini Quilt
Ribbon Play Runner
Sweetly Scalloped Quilt
Window Garden Quilt
I’m excited to share that I have new patterns planned for 2017, two of which will release this spring. One will feature Bunnies & Cream by Lauren Nash for Penny Rose Fabrics. The other will feature Coney Island by Fig Tree & Company for Moda Fabrics. I also have another big announcement for 2017, but I cannot share the details yet. Isn’t that awful? As soon as I’m able to shout out about it, you can be sure I will! 😉
Finally, I want to extend a sincere thank you to my blog sponsors. Each of these quilt shops are run by kind, hardworking, passionate teams, and I am honored that they support Carried Away Quilting. It has truly been a terrific experience getting to know each of them over the past year.
Thank you all for stopping by the blog and caring enough to follow my quilting journey. I plan to share many pretty projects and ideas with you in 2017 so that we can all get carried away quilting! Happy New Year!
~Taunja
First let me say again how terribly sorry I am for the loss of what sounds like a great father. I understand that pain and know how you feel. Just remember how lucky you were to have had him for a dad.Next I want to tell you how much you have been and inspiration, cheerleader, and source of encouragement to me personally on my very short quilting journey. It may have stopped after that first quilt had I not found your blog, been introduced by to to Instagram AND went on to make each of your beautiful patterns. I certainly would say that I've been \”carried away quilting\” and I absolutely love it!I know I am not alone when I say I am looking forward to more new patterns from you in this coming year and am waiting with anticipation for your \”surprise\”…..I'm sure it will be exciting! Here is to a happy and healthy 2017 to you and yours.
Very sorry to hear about your Father's passing. I understand the mixed feeling something like this can cause. We moved my mother to a memory care home one year ago and it's hard to watch her loose ground and to miss someone who is still here. I'm sure your dad loved the tractor quilt you made and I hope you find peace.
Such thoughtful words Pattie! Thank you so much for sharing. I wish you strength, love and peace during this difficult journey. A few days after my dad's passing, someone told me that soon the sad Alzheimer's memories would fade, and most of your memories would be of the \”normal\” happier times. And that person was right. It is happening already. We are focusing on all the fun, happy, crazy times. My dad was a kidder and a teaser and always made the kids laugh. We are remembering all of those times. Sending love and hugs your way! Oh, and thanks for reading! 🙂
I am so blessed to have met you through this community Pam! You are a gift from above no doubt! I can't tell you how I appreciate your enthusiasm and support. I am so thankful for it. I hope all is well with your family and you are taking care of yourself too, as you are the rock of your household I am sure. Let's just have an awesome quilty 2017, okay? 🙂 🙂 🙂
I'm so sorry to hear of your Dad's passing. Alzheimer's is a nasty, nasty disease, but I'm glad your father isn't suffering anymore. Maybe one day we'll be rid of the things that take our loved ones away from us.I am so glad that I found your website this past year! I love your patterns and have a couple of projects lined up to take on over the next few months! I can't wait to see what you have planned for us in 2017!I'll remember you in my prayers – hang in there! Remember to breathe!Barbara McDonald Alpine, AL
I think your father was so proud of you. You have channelled your love of quilting into a passion that inspires so many people. What a beautiful gift to pass on. My first quilt was for my Dad, who was diagnosed with a terminal illness. I started quilting a year after his passing. I truly feel his love when I quilt. P.S. I love your quilts, they are beautiful.
Oh so so sorry about the loss of your father. I know and understand how hard it is to lose your sweet daddy. I love the last photo very much,I know you will take good care of your mom.I have been taking care of my mom and dad for four years. My mom got very sick in September and died in October. It is just something really unbelievable!! She was 93 and had such a full busy amazing life.She was incredible, beautiful, artistic and did everything. She was born with only a left hand. When I was a kid, I learned that God knew that she could do everything and only needed one hand. she made lace, sewed outfits for 4 kids, traveled the world and sang in 4 choirs. She also did a lot of missions work with churches.I am now taking care of my daddy, He is 93 too. Today we went to the mall so he could get a page a day calendar. I love having my dad with me and my hubbs. It is a new year, and the memories are still in our hearts Taunja! We know they had a good life. I will miss my mom. I will always miss her, but she is safe.
Thanks so much Barbara! You are always such a dear! I wish you lots of happiness over this next year and much fun with your lined up projects!! :)Many thanks!!
Thanks so much for sharing that Pam. What a beautiful thing you are doing . . . and you are keeping a special connection with your father by doing it. I so appreciate your kind words! They lift me up! Thank you!
Rosemary you just made me all choked up. What a wonderful daughter you are! And what an amazing woman your mother was. An inspiration to have accomplished all that and not be held back by anything! And you are right, your mom and my dad are safe and \”at home\” which is a blessing to know. Thank you so much for sharing this with me! My best wishes to you and say HI to your dad from a quilting lady in Minnesota! 🙂 🙂
Taunja,I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your dad. I read all the comments above and I am sitting here typing with tears running down my face! It is amazing how many of us, myself included, that have loved ones with Alzheimer's. I pray that they find a cure for this horrible disease soon because it seems Iike more and more people are being diagnosed with it. I pray that you and your family are comforted by the sweet memories of your dad – he sounds like an amazing man and father. I have only been following you for about 6 months now on IG and soon after subscribed to your blog emails. You seem like such a loving and caring person and I am amazed at how you make the time to comment on every comment that you receive. I love your patterns and I am excited to see what you have in store for us in 2017!
My heart goes out to you, Taunja! I am so, so sorry for your loss and pain. It is so hard to loose a loved one, especially a parent. I too have experienced the loss of both of my parents, and I treasure the memories of them dearly. Loved the saying your dad passed along to you and your children – Run Fast, Jump High, Do Good! Precious Memories!
Oh you are so right! There are far too many of us who have a loved one or close friend with Alzheimer's. We need to find a cure! We need answers. It seems to be getting worse and worse. Thank you for your comforting words, and I hope you can find peace and comfort in your journey with your loved one battling this disease. Such a link that binds so many of us! 🙁 Oh and thank you for the kind quilty comments too! I hope we both have a productive and fun year of sewing! I bet you find that to be a kind of therapy . . . just like I do 🙂 Thank you for following and taking the time to reply!
Thanks so much Sigi! I always appreciate your thoughtful sharing! I am so sorry that you have lost both of your parents, but glad that you are finding peace in those treasured memories. It's such tough stuff. And it's tough getting older and into a different phase of life. One of those things you don't realize \”until you get there.\” Happy sewing to you friend!
I am sorry for your loss. We are taking that journey right now as my mom has dimentia. He is in a better place now and not suffering.
Hello TaunjaI'm so sorry for your loss. I love your patterns and I can't wait to see what 2017 brings for both of us. Best wishesLeanne
I'm so sorry Gentrie! My heart goes out to you. Take care and thank you for reaching out!
Thank you Leanne! That is so kind of you! Yes, I also look forward to seeing your beautiful makes in 2017!!
My heart is heavy for you and I'm so sorry to read this about your daddy. I also lost my sweet dad to dementia in 2010. It is a cruel disease and I'm with you in the fight. May the Lord hold you and your family close and wrap you in His Everlasting love. I'm new to following you and love all your work. You are so creative and very encouraging. Thank you for all you share. And, if you don't mind, I'll be quoting your dad's words to my own children….so inspiring!
Oh boy. I don't mind at all and I'm honored that you would use those words with your own children. My whole family will love to hear that! I'm so sorry that you also had this disease in your family, and I send back prayers and love your way. Thank you for following and sharing! It means a lot!