Since you left stateside, you’ve made so made changes and adjustments to your life. That’s a lot for any person. You always seem to navigate the changes and work through your emotions. You are a strong resilient lady and seem to handle it all with grace, at least from what I read on your posts. And foremost, you’re a wonderful mother to your children. We are all like books with chapters in our lives. Who knows what will happen in your next chapter, but I’m sure you will embrace it and hopefully enjoy the passage. On top of all of that, you are a fabulous, creative fabric artist, which I admire as well. Wishing you an excitingly normal 2026!
I so appreciate your honesty in sharing these parts of life. I think the honest way you embrace discomfort and growth creates a pathway for others to connect to those feelings and also meet them head on. I think it is a very women-centric quality, to attach so much weight to "failure" and mistakes, that we hold ourselves to an impossible standard....but the more people share !- that they even have these feelings, and 2- how they manage those feelings/that mindset while still pushing onward, I think it chips away at any shame or resistance we might feel to try ourselves. I've been a big fan of yours for about a decade, and I continue to cheer you on as you create your beautiful life! Thank you for being such a light.
Oh dear heart, I did not know you were independent again. You and Elora have many adventures ahead of you. We all wish you well on this crazy journey called Life.
Hopefully this year will be so much better for everyone. Did not know you and your BF broke up though. How did i miss that? Three houses! How does one do that exactly? lolol. I wish you well in the new year and look forward to your escapades!
Relationship: yes, that ended in august. I didn’t share much about it for his privacy, so I’m not surprised that you missed it. Houses: one at a time is ideal 😉 I’d really love to go a whole year with just one house, ha ha.
but if you’ve chosen someone who believes in repair more than retreat, who chooses to talk rather than withdraw, then that failure will never mean the end. I love this sentence and it’s definitely something that I believe in. Whether my partner and I will be together in the new year will absolutely depend on this. Thank you for such a thoughtful provoking post and I had not seen it until now and it’s really resonating with me. (A longtime subscriber to your blog)
I goofed so sorry. I thought I was replying to a post that you wrote but it was actually a post by: mixtapes by Gor - and somehow when I read one of your posts I ended up there and it really resonated with me. I’m going through a really tough transition time as it sounds like you are as well. I’m looking forward to 2026!
I so treasure and enjoy your work, Rachel. You are so, so talented. I made three of your quilts this year and have patterns for several more. Each was a joy to make. I so look forward to spending 2026 with your posts and your work. I can't improve on the comments already made here except to say I agree with them.
What a intense year it has been for you. Just when you think you've had enough intense years. I'm so happy to hear you have found a place just for you and your daughter. I can't wait to hear all about it. I hope 2026 will be a year of ease and comfort for you, it's more than well deserved!
No doubt the world is unfolding as it should.. (Desiderata) or as I like to put it "sometimes on the freeway of life you get stuck behind a donkey cart". Bon courage Rachel.
All the best for 2026. My favourite this year - the Maple Leaves quilt - I’m going to have to find some space to make it next year! Enjoy your new space when you get to move into it and thrive…… new beginnings. 😀 Linda
Happy new year Rachel. I hope you get what you need in this next year. I have had years with many changes and they are truly hard to navigate sometimes. I hope you have one home and much peace in the new year. Time for life to settle down a bit.
Rachel, I wish we could be sitting with a cup of tea chatting together. First, congratulations on your new home (coming up.) I'm looking forward to hearing more about that. You have been through so much this year. You are a woman of grace and strength. I wish you all the best in all that you do. I have missed some of your posts, but this year I have been lagging behind in so many things, it's hard to keep up with most things. I missed that you had changed your name, but when I saw your new name, I figured you changed it (we had just moved around the time you posted that.) I smiled at your post about Dutch men, wow. Just wow. I am happy that you have some nice women friends. Enjoy your upcoming quilt projects, it all sounds splendid. Your 2025 quilts are fabulous. I love your scrap log cabin. I have not worked on one single quilt this year. I hope this improves in 2026. Have a happy 2026 Rachel, one filled with laughter and joy. You deserve it.
Since you left stateside, you’ve made so made changes and adjustments to your life. That’s a lot for any person. You always seem to navigate the changes and work through your emotions. You are a strong resilient lady and seem to handle it all with grace, at least from what I read on your posts. And foremost, you’re a wonderful mother to your children. We are all like books with chapters in our lives. Who knows what will happen in your next chapter, but I’m sure you will embrace it and hopefully enjoy the passage. On top of all of that, you are a fabulous, creative fabric artist, which I admire as well. Wishing you an excitingly normal 2026!
Haha, excitingly normal is about as stable as I can really hope for, right? ;). That sounds about right! Here's to the next chapter indeed.
100% well stated!
I so appreciate your honesty in sharing these parts of life. I think the honest way you embrace discomfort and growth creates a pathway for others to connect to those feelings and also meet them head on. I think it is a very women-centric quality, to attach so much weight to "failure" and mistakes, that we hold ourselves to an impossible standard....but the more people share !- that they even have these feelings, and 2- how they manage those feelings/that mindset while still pushing onward, I think it chips away at any shame or resistance we might feel to try ourselves. I've been a big fan of yours for about a decade, and I continue to cheer you on as you create your beautiful life! Thank you for being such a light.
I'm honored. Thank you, Shannon.
Oh dear heart, I did not know you were independent again. You and Elora have many adventures ahead of you. We all wish you well on this crazy journey called Life.
You are an amazing woman! You do not settle. I have followed you for years. Change takes bravery!
Sending love your way.
I appreciate your creativity, bravery, and honesty. Best wishes for 2026 bringing peace and stability and continued success.
Thank you, Lucinda!
Hopefully this year will be so much better for everyone. Did not know you and your BF broke up though. How did i miss that? Three houses! How does one do that exactly? lolol. I wish you well in the new year and look forward to your escapades!
Relationship: yes, that ended in august. I didn’t share much about it for his privacy, so I’m not surprised that you missed it. Houses: one at a time is ideal 😉 I’d really love to go a whole year with just one house, ha ha.
but if you’ve chosen someone who believes in repair more than retreat, who chooses to talk rather than withdraw, then that failure will never mean the end. I love this sentence and it’s definitely something that I believe in. Whether my partner and I will be together in the new year will absolutely depend on this. Thank you for such a thoughtful provoking post and I had not seen it until now and it’s really resonating with me. (A longtime subscriber to your blog)
Thank you, Laura. In which post did I write that sentence? I've lost track =)
I goofed so sorry. I thought I was replying to a post that you wrote but it was actually a post by: mixtapes by Gor - and somehow when I read one of your posts I ended up there and it really resonated with me. I’m going through a really tough transition time as it sounds like you are as well. I’m looking forward to 2026!
I so treasure and enjoy your work, Rachel. You are so, so talented. I made three of your quilts this year and have patterns for several more. Each was a joy to make. I so look forward to spending 2026 with your posts and your work. I can't improve on the comments already made here except to say I agree with them.
Thank you warmly, Louisa!
We made it to the end of the year, and made a lot of accomplishments.
Next year better be less dramatic, for me anyway. You made a lot of excellent quilts.
My sewing space looks like an explosion to me, but my two oldest grand girls are inspired
I hope to find them some hand sewing books to start with.
Happy New Year!!
Happy New Year, dear Rosemary
What a intense year it has been for you. Just when you think you've had enough intense years. I'm so happy to hear you have found a place just for you and your daughter. I can't wait to hear all about it. I hope 2026 will be a year of ease and comfort for you, it's more than well deserved!
I've always admired your independence, resilience and determination. May your 2026 bring much joy and satisfaction.
No doubt the world is unfolding as it should.. (Desiderata) or as I like to put it "sometimes on the freeway of life you get stuck behind a donkey cart". Bon courage Rachel.
All the best for 2026. My favourite this year - the Maple Leaves quilt - I’m going to have to find some space to make it next year! Enjoy your new space when you get to move into it and thrive…… new beginnings. 😀 Linda
Happy new year Rachel. I hope you get what you need in this next year. I have had years with many changes and they are truly hard to navigate sometimes. I hope you have one home and much peace in the new year. Time for life to settle down a bit.
Thank you, Charlotte!
Rachel, I wish we could be sitting with a cup of tea chatting together. First, congratulations on your new home (coming up.) I'm looking forward to hearing more about that. You have been through so much this year. You are a woman of grace and strength. I wish you all the best in all that you do. I have missed some of your posts, but this year I have been lagging behind in so many things, it's hard to keep up with most things. I missed that you had changed your name, but when I saw your new name, I figured you changed it (we had just moved around the time you posted that.) I smiled at your post about Dutch men, wow. Just wow. I am happy that you have some nice women friends. Enjoy your upcoming quilt projects, it all sounds splendid. Your 2025 quilts are fabulous. I love your scrap log cabin. I have not worked on one single quilt this year. I hope this improves in 2026. Have a happy 2026 Rachel, one filled with laughter and joy. You deserve it.