Quilt Trunk Show – A Year of Quilts

If I’ve learned one thing in 10 years of being an entrepreneur, it is that having a hobby is essential to avoiding burnout. I rediscovered my love of sewing and quilting at the very end of 2022 and spent many hours behind my sewing machine throughout 2023. If you’d like to see the video, scroll to the bottom.

The Disappearing Nine Patch: A Journey of Rediscovery

The journey began with a simple pattern—the Disappearing Nine Patch. Rediscovering this timeless design reignited my passion for quilting and set the stage for a year filled with creativity and inspiration. With colored squares tucked away in my closet, I dusted off my trusty sewing machine and dove headfirst into the world of quilting once more. Little did I know that this quilt would serve as the catalyst for a year filled with adventure and exploration.

Mountainside: Finding Beauty in Simplicity

Inspiration comes in many forms, and for me, it often lies in the beauty of nature. The Mountainside quilt, with its rugged peaks and tranquil valleys, captured the essence of the great outdoors and brought a sense of serenity to my sewing room.

I enjoyed the pattern and was also excited about doing some interesting quilting to emphasize the design.

Bear Tracks: A Whimsical Adventure

Sometimes, inspiration strikes in the most unexpected places. Such was the case with the Bear Tracks quilt—a whimsical ode to the creatures that roam the wild. Drawing upon a camping-themed fabric collection, I set out to create a design that captured the playful spirit of the great outdoors. With each stitch, I imagined two bears walking side by side along the quilt, their footprints leaving a trail of whimsy and wonder in their wake.

Seashore Drive: From Inspiration to Creation

The journey of quilting is as much about the process as it is about the finished product. With the Seashore Drive quilt, I found myself inspired by the vibrant colors and playful patterns of a fabric collection bearing the same name. Armed with my trusty strip tube ruler and a sense of adventure, I set out to create a design that captured the essence of sun, sand, and surf. From beach balls to sandcastles, each block told a story of summer days spent by the shore—a testament to the power of imagination and creativity.

And here’s the back of the quilt.

Candy Corn: A Sweet Treat for the Senses

Quilting is more than just a hobby—it’s an opportunity to express oneself creatively and experiment with different colors, patterns, and textures. With the Candy Corn quilt, I found myself drawn to the vibrant hues and playful motifs of a fabric collection aptly named Midnight Magic. Inspired by the whimsy of Halloween, I set out to create a design that captured the essence of the season—a tapestry of orange and black, reminiscent of candy corn and jack-o’-lanterns aglow.

Garden Stars: Blooms of Creativity

As the seasons changed and the world outside burst into bloom, I found myself drawn to the beauty of nature and the colors of the garden. With the Garden Stars quilt, I set out to capture the essence of springtime in fabric—a kaleidoscope of colors, patterns, and textures that celebrated the beauty of the natural world. From delicate florals to vibrant blooms, each block told a story of growth, renewal, and the endless possibilities that come with the changing of the seasons.

Letters to Santa: Capturing the Magic of the Season

There’s something magical about the holiday season—a sense of wonder and excitement that fills the air and stirs the imagination. With the Letters to Santa quilt, I set out to distill the most important aspects of the season into the words and images that meant the most to me.

I had so much fun creating this quilt and I learned a ton! I discovered foundation paper piecing while sewing the trees and some of the letters.

And I really enjoyed creating my own designs for the train and the nutcracker.

And, of course, the back of the quilt needed to be interesting too.

Hard Candy Christmas

The name is inspired by one of my favorite Christmas songs. This was a fun and fast quilt to create and was a refreshing project after working on much more difficult pieces. It was a fun adventure to pull all of my various Christmas themed prints, red, green, black, and turquoise fabrics together for a scrappy surprise. I’m still not sure when turquoise became a Christmas color, but I’m going with it.

Starlight

This was a fun and challenging mystery block-of-the-month project – one of two of these type of projects that I took on this year. It was fun to discover new sewing techniques and I enjoyed pulling all of these fabrics together.

Fractured: Making a Pattern my Own

Drawing on a pattern called Fracture, I made subtle changes that ended up making the pattern my own. From changing the dimensions of the pieces to experimenting with setting the blocks, I tried many variations before finalizing the design.

Honorable Mention: Work in Progress

As I mentioned earlier, I participated in two block-of-the month projects this year. The one I still need to finish is this one from Erica Arndt. While I have the blocks completed, I need to finish deciding upon the layout. This is what it looks like on the design wall in my sewing room.

In Conclusion: A Year of Creativity and Growth

As I look back on a year of quilting, I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude for the experiences and memories that have enriched my journey. From the quiet moments spent stitching to the jubilant celebrations of finished quilts, each stitch tells a story—a testament to the power of creativity, resilience, and the human spirit. As we journey forward into the new year, may we continue to find joy in the art of quilting. Here’s to many more stitches, stories, and adventures yet to come.