Lovable Bunnies

Boy it's been a busy month.  With only a few days left in March I'm winding down with this months projects.  

My niece is having a baby.  With a baby shower on the horizon I decided to jump on a baby quilt/gift.  Not knowing the gender I had to come up with a neutral  theme.  The center rabbit fabric was from the AuSable Quilt Guild Trash to Treasure tote and became my theme and color palette.  Rabbits are a symbol of fertility which makes them a popular baby theme.   This quilt measures 37 1/2" by 40 1/2".  I love these bright colors.

I also made a coordinating fabric tote/toy box and two burp cloths.  The tote is my way to give this gift and will be in place of a box and wrapping paper.  

I've also included a cute stuffed bunny and will add a book and a couple outfits to complete my gifting.

This has been my March Madness!

  

March is National Quilting Month

It is great to have the whole the month in which an age old craft is honored.  National Quilting Month was established in 1991 by the National Quilting Association to recognize and honor the artistry, skill and tradition of quilting.  Over the years it has grown into a month-long celebration where quilter across the country come together to share their love of fabric, pattern and stitches.

In celebration of National Quilting Month quilt shops, quilters and fabric stores across the nation have been sharing patterns, sponsoring events and having sales!  And to top that off March 21st was National Quilting Day!  It's a perfect time to be a quilter.

During this month one of my favorite quilt shops, Seven Sisters Quilt Shop in Carson City, Michigan, offered a fun opportunity to sew a single quilt block of a sewing machine, that they provided, that will be constructed into a quilt that includes fellow quilters blocks.   The block size is 6 1/2" by 7 1/2" and every participant uses their own fabrics.  Here's my version of the block:

I loved this block so much that I made a second block and incorporated it into a zippered project bag.  This bag measures 16" by 16".  The front includes the 6 1/2" by 7 1/2" sewing machine block.  The back is a 16" by 16" Potato Chip block using the same fabric color palette. 

My sewing studio is starting to feel less congested with UFOs, but I'm not caught up yet!  Back to conquering another project. 

It's an honor

The AuSable Quilt Guild I belong to choose the Veteran's Honor Flight as their 2026 community donation organization.  Guild members have been sewing patriotic lap quilts to distribute to participating veterans.  I've been busy this past month finishing up my contribution.

The Veteran's Honor Flight network is a national nonprofit organization.  Their goal is to show veterans the appreciation and honor they deserve.  Participants are flown to Washington DC and have the opportunity to share this momentous occasion with other comrades, remember the fallen, and share stories and experiences with other veterans.  Veterans travel free of charge thanks to generous donations.   While in Washington they visit some of the national sites.  At the end of their travel they are presented with a patriotic lap quilt.  Approximately 22,500 veterans participate annually. 

I was able to construct three lap quilts.  Since the size is 32" by 44" they are a quick sew.  

Being in charge of the guild's education I decided to use previous guild challenges and adapt them to this mission.  I thought that this is a great way to show members how to easily achieve one of our  challenges.  Plus most of the fabric I used was from our Trash to Treasure tote, so I used  fabrics donated from other members.

Honor quilts from left to right:  

The first quilt was made with 5 inch squares which is a current challenge from our Idea Jar - 5 inch squares.  The Idea Jar has challenges that our members contributed.  Every few months we choose a challenge from this jar.

The middle quilt is from our August 2025 challenge making a Potato Chip block quilt using 2 1/2" strips of fabric from our Trash to Treasure tote or they could use their own.

The last quilt on the right is from our February 2025 Jelly Roll challenge.  The center of the quilt pattern I made from various width strips is called the Spinner.  This is one of the options presented to members when making their Jelly Roll quilt.

It was fun to experiment with different quilt blocks to achieve the finished size of 32" by 44".  I'm hoping the guild decides to continue with this charity.  With our countries 250th birthday this year there are so many patriotic fabrics available and so many pattern possibilities.  Regardless, I'm proud to have been a part of this charity and honoring our veterans.  It is an honor to present them with one of these lap quilts.  Thank you to all of our veterans.

All you need is LOVE

This next quilt is special to me and came together from many memories.  

As I've previously mentioned I love the Beatles.  I came across one of the Moda Block Heads 3 blocks by Brigitte Heitland which was foundation paper pieced (FPP) letters L O V E.  The Beatles song instantly came to mind, "All you need is love".  It was one of those projects that I put on my want to do list.  A few years back I enjoyed making a previous Moda Block Heads quilt so I occasionally glance at newer versions.  Making a Block Heads quilt was a great learning experience with many different block and techniques offered.  Different quilters contribute block patterns to each years quilt.   

Secondly, I love Amy Butler fabrics.  I also enjoyed her online Blossom magazines which are filled with beautiful photos, interesting articles and very creatively inspiring.  I decided to join Amy on one of her journeys with a group of other women to Morocco.  Amy was a wonderful hostess and we were able to go on wonderful adventures.  Morocco was magical.   I must admit I was very overwhelmed with all the sights, sounds, smells and colors all around us.  During this trip Amy told me she would not be designing fabrics any more.  I was so dissappointed that when I returned home I purchased at least a yard of every fabric I could find of hers, so I have a grand stash of her fabrics.

Next, during this Morocco trip we visited a museum featuring the fashion designer from France, Yves Saint Laurent.  The museum contained many of his created fashions.  It was so fun as I recalled his fashion trends.  In the 60s he is said to have been the main designer responsible for making wearing of pants by women more acceptable.  He is also credited with introducing the tuxedo suit for women.  In 1978 he initiated shoulder-padded styles that would characterize the 1980s.  Yves was so inspired by Morocco that he had a residence in Marrakesh and lived at the botanical garden - Majorelle Garden, which he often visited to find inspiration and refuge.  In 1970 Yves deigned the first of a series of greeting cards in postcard form that he would send to his friends, collaborators and clients annually until 2007.  For 38 years he adopted a new color palette and created an image using collage, drawings and gouache with the recurrent theme throughout every card with the word "LOVE". Many of these cards were inspired in Morocco.  Below is a pillow cover inspired from one of the Ives Saint Laurent LOVE cards series.

So my quilt comes together with inspiration from a trip to Morocco with Amy Butler fabrics, the word LOVE, and of course the Beatles.

My quilt measures 96" by 86".   The LOVE blocks are FPP and the joining blocks are string blocks with Amy Butler fabric.

After completing this quilt I decided that I will make a quilt that will be inspired by some of my other travel destinations.

With our current political unrest I think we all need to take a deep breath and say, "All we need is Love". 

Pineapple Blossom vibes

This Pineapple Blossom quilt was a guild challenge from a few years back.  At the time it was presented I was busy working on my Ocean Waves quilt and I was determined that I would finish this quilt before starting another project.  But, being excited about the possibilities of this Pineapple Blossom block I went through my fabric stash and pulled the fabrics I wanted to construct it from.  These fabrics were folded together with the pattern and there it sat - just waiting for me.  This stack moved from this spot to that and finally into a tote with other UFOs.

During the beginning of the 2024-2025 AuSable Quilt Guild year I sorted through my UFOs to make a list of six projects to complete that year.  This Pineapple Blossom pattern was added to that UFO list.  I was successful at completing my UFO list last year, but fell behind in the final process - quilting them.  

When I purchased my long-arm quilting machine I told myself I had no excuse to let unquilted quilts pile up.  Well... being the education director to this quilt guild I have to stay a few steps in front of the group.  I'd get my quilt tops pieced, but end up working on education challenges to present to the guild.  Also, as you might note I make large quilts, usually queen size.  Of course these quilts take longer to work on.  To add to my delay living in a rural town in Northern Michigan makes purchasing my quilt backing a challenge in itself.

When the New Year of 2026 came rolling along I had six unquilted quilts waiting for their debut.  So for my New Year's resolution I choose the word "CONQUER".  So here I am conquering these unquilted quilts.  My last post was the Potato Chip block quilt which was my first to finish of these six quilts.  Today I'm proud to present my second quilt the Pineapple Blossom.

This quilt is related more towards the "geese in the corner" style log cabin, then it is a true pineapple block, because the triangle corners are only sewn to two opposite diagonal sides.  Being the education director I try to research the history of quilts we are working on.  When searching for information on this Pineapple Blossom quilt I found the it was credited by a quilter named Bonnie Hunter.  She is known as being the scrap fabric queen in the quilting world.  I contacted her to confirm that she did name this quilt block and she said she did.  However, she never explained why she came up with the name.  I can only assume that the Pineapple Blossom name comes from the partial construction of the two diagonal sides - it makes an half Pineapple block.  Regardless, it still has that Pineapple block punch which works into a beautiful quilt. 

Measuring 90" by 90" the fabric colors I choose for my Pineapple Blossom quilt are scrappy and certainly doesn't give you that tropical vibe of pineapples, but it works for my color vibes.  With the winterish landscape around this photo the colors of the quilt fit right in. 

Back to my studio to CONQUER!

I feel like Rip Van Winkle

Last night (well actually this morning) I went to bed what I thought was around 1 a.m.  I laid around in bed this morning with the sun shining thinking about what projects to conquer today and my clock said 9 a.m.   Just another lazy Sunday.  Went thorough my morning routine of getting ready for the day.  

I'm cruising around the house and noticed one of my clocks said 11:30. What!!  I then realized that we had a time change and the clocks sprang forward a whole hour.  I felt like Rip Van Winkle.  My morning was already gone and I haven't attempted to conquer a planned project.  Well, after conquering the time change on all my clocks I headed for my studio.  Better later than never.

Despite this hiccup it's been a wonderfully productive day.  My scrappy Potato Chip quilt is done!  This was an August challenge from our quilt guild to use up the fabrics accumulated in the Trash to Treasure tote from this past year.

You might wonder what the heck is a Potato Chip quilt.  While this quilt block goes back at least 100 years, it has been published under several names over the years.  The Potato Chip block I also known as the Broken Courthouse Steps - it is a variation of the log cabin block.

The current name Potato Chip block is only a few years old.  The idea behind this current name is that this quilt is so simple and quick to assemble, "betcha you can't make just one".  Recall the Lays potato chip motto: "Betcha can't eat just one"?  Hence, it's named the Potato Chip block.  And as they say with so many fabric colors and layout variations it is hard to make just one!

Here is my guild challenge quilt.  It measures 84" by 96".

This was a fun quilt and as the saying goes it is hard to make just one - I have another potato chip quilt almost ready to post.  I couldn't make just one!

And yes, as you see we are still in snow mode.  Makes coming home from vacation hard.  But I feel hopeful - spring is a couple weeks away and the temps are in the 30s and 40s.  I am on a mission to conquer some UFOs before the weather sends me outdoors.

Life's a Beach

The cold weather and lack of sun wore me out this winter and I needed to refresh my batteries.   I just got home from a couple weeks of vacationing in warmer weather and I have lots of renewed energy!

Over the past few years I've made plenty of bags and sometimes ask myself - will I really use this bag?  Well... some of these bags have become loyal traveling companions. 

I made this beach bag in 2023 (see July 2023 post).  This beach bag has traveled with me to Florida, California, Palm Springs and also four times to Hawaii.  It's a great carry-on in the plane and a great tote at the beach.  I wouldn't leave home without it!

Here we are hanging out on the beach in Maui - swimming, watching whales, turtles and even a few spinner dolphins came cruising by.  I was able to carry my snacks, towel, sunscreen, drinks and beach clothes easily in this fabric bag with it slung over my shoulder I cruised down to the beach.  I even was able to carry a folding beach chair.  Life was a beach and it was hard to return home to the cold and snow.

Also, a few months ago I made small travel bags out of bird seed bags(see post November 2025).  They are light-weight and waterproof.  They were great for my traveling needs.

With all this renewed energy and inspiration it's time to head to my studio and get creating.  I've missed my space.  See you soon with some awesome completed projects.

Bags on the Run

My daughter's job has her constantly traveling.  I'm not sure if she is ever thoroughly unpacked.  She came across a travel bag that she fell in love with.  This bag was made with recycled denim and quite pricey, like around $300 (this bag was no longer available for sale).  She knows I have quite a collection of denim jeans that have been donate to me, so she sent me a picture of this bag and asked if I could make a similar bag.  Loving a challenge I certainly said yes and started drafting my ideas to duplicate this bag.  

Going through my stash I found two pair of perfect jeans (one in light denim color and the other in dark).  My preference is to use the fabric on the back of the legs, because it is usually in better condition than the fronts.  The photo of the bag showed the denim seams not matching up which I think added a fun detail.  Sewing the denim pieces together this way also makes the seams less bulky.

The outside of the bag went together quickly.  The inside lining included an inset zipper pocket.  It's been some time since I've sewn an inserted zipper pocket, but after a quick search through the internet it refreshed my memory and made this challenge a breeze.  Boy, what did we do before the internet?

Here is my bag version:

My bag measures 20 1/2" wide by 16" tall.  The bottom is boxed making it easy to stand up on its own and measures 15" by 6 1/2".  I also made a fabric covered foam board bottom insert to add more stability.  This insert can be removed if desired.  The handles are made from denim and measure 3/4" wide  and 26" long.  These handles are long enough to fit on the handle of her carry-on luggage or she can just sling it over her shoulder.  The bag will fit easily under the plane seat.  And of course this bag can certainly be usable other than flying.

The original bag photo had a leather ID key ring holder tag attached to its handle.  I made mine from one of the pockets of the jeans which I attached to the handle.

As you see in my photo above there is also a companion matching bag.  As I was looking through the leftover fabric from the jeans I cut up for this bag there was enough fabric to make a matching flat bag.  This bag is lined and measures 14" wide by 11" tall making it plenty big enough to carry a tablet, snacks  a way to sort travel belongings separately.

I can't wait to give her these bags when I she her in a few weeks.  It can be her "Bags on the Run".

Ringing in the new year

Welcome 2026!  I'm looking forward to another productive year.  

2025 was a good year.  I accomplished a lot, but my UFO list still is lingering.  So I decided to choose a word to remind me to stay focused on those UFOs during 2026 - CONQUER!  My new year always starts out with good intentions when making a New Year's resolution.  But somehow after a month or two that resolution is forgotten and I'm back to my old habit of thinking about those UFOs instead of finishing them.  Picking a single word and reminding myself each month will hopefully help me CONQUER those UFOs.

With day number two ending in 2026 I've been busy working on two of my projects.  Both projects are almost finished.  I just have a couple finishing touches before they are checked off my list.  CONQUERED!  Well.. so far so good :)

Also, I have four quilts waiting to be quilted.  Their backing is even ready and waiting.  I'm so close to having half-a-dozen projects done.  What a weight that will be lifted once they are finally CONQUERED!

Being the Education Director of the AuSable Quilt Guild I'm also hoping that in 2026 I can inspire fellow guild quilters to CONQUER their UFOs or to CONQUER something new!

So here we go, a new year and a fresh start to CONQUER those UFOs.  I can't wait to share these great finished projects with you.