Whatever it is, the way you tell your story can make all the difference.
Once upon a Christmas… I had an idea.
Several years ago, I had an idea to make a quilt for my hubby’s siblings and their spouses. A couple years after that, I finally got going on it. Check it out!
2020Emily & Rob
They love books—can’t you tell? Using fabric scraps, I created a bookshelf filled with books of all different heights, then embroidered their favorite titles along with books Rob helped write (he’s a historian). Rob served an LDS mission in the Netherlands, so I included a windmill quilt block as a nod to that part of his story. They both love Doctor Who and Harry Potter—yes, they’re delightfully nerdy—so you’ll spot the TARDIS and a baby mandrake tucked onto the shelves. To balance the mandrake, I appliquéd leaves onto a whimsical plant nearby. Emily especially loves bikes, so I found a paper-pieced bike pattern and used it, with a sweet bike print on the backing. They LOVE to travel, especially Emily—so with that I made up a FPP quilt block of a globe. I also added framed portraits of their kids, printing the photos directly onto fabric so their family could be part of the quilt, too.
2021Jake & Kim
Jake and my hubby are brothers and incredibly close. They share a love of health, hunting, listening to No Agenda, and—when this quilt was made—the Warrior Poet Society YouTube channel. While they both enjoy hunting, Jake has always been especially drawn to the gear. I designed FPP blocks inspired by Warrior Poet Society and an AR-15—something a little outside the norm, but perfectly fitting for Jake, and still one of my favorite details. I also appliquéd crossed pistols, an elk head, and the Bucked Up logo, and created six 6” pixelated camo blocks using 1” squares and lightweight fusible interfacing. Near the bottom of the quilt, target marks overlay the animals in the fabric—perhaps morbid to some, but just right for a hunter. The fabric came from a generous donation from a friend, and I truly still love this quilt.
Kim is always effortlessly stylish and comfortable, and as long as I’ve known her, she’s loved the colors orange and turquoise. Without her realizing it, I designed this quilt while we chatted in her living room, as she shared the vibe that really speaks to her—boho. She’s all about the bold, yet classy idea of triangles. Over the years, Kim has always been so down-to-earth and easy to talk to, which made the process feel especially meaningful. I didn’t expect this quilt to become as technical as it did; I’ve never worked with so many points before. It was a challenge, but one I’m proud to have taken on and completed.
AR-15 Detail
I borrowed a friend’s gun to use as a model and drew it out on graph paper. Then figured out where to put all of the seams. Aren’t those bullets cute?
Jake
A Hunter’s Favorite Things
Assembly in Progress
Sorry about the awful lighting in the picture above. This was taken in our first home.
Kim
Boho Chic
2022
Seth & Neena
Seth has always loved technology and film, and I’m told he spent much of high school making movies—so it’s no surprise he’s an Apple fan with a great eye for videography. He even filmed our wedding. With that in mind, I created a film strip featuring his favorite things: running, theatre (which he recently returned to), and his inner nerd—hello, Star Wars. He loves watching The Office with his wife, Neena, with Dwight as their favorite character. Seth served an LDS mission in Brazil and still speaks Portuguese, and at the time this was made, he and Neena were performing in The Sound of Music together—she as Maria and he as the Captain. Along the bottom, I added a small mountain landscape with a tiny machine-embroidered Maria as a sweet finishing detail.
For years, Neena practiced yoga daily, often including her little ones, and has always been drawn to self-awareness and meditation. When I asked about her favorite space at home, she spoke of her bedroom as a place of peace and refuge from the world. That inspired a soft palette of muted pastels, light grays, and white. Neena works with a health-focused MLM that uses natural ingredients, and over time she’s shared how deeply she identifies with the symbolism of a butterfly—growing through change into something more beautiful. I echoed that meaning by appliquéing butterflies in each corner of the quilt.
2023
Chris & Ash
Chris loves games, so I transformed his favorite, Ricochet Robots, into a quilty game. The board is fully interactive, just like the original, with a hidden pocket on the back for the game pieces. I even made a duffel bag to carry it all—and the tiny robot pieces themselves. Ashley was drawn to a mid-century modern vibe, so I used colors following that kind of vibe. Isn’t it lovely? I used a pattern from Lo & Behold for her quilt.
Sara
he spent almost a decade of her life in Asia teaching English and has traveled all over the world. I made a collage-style world map from my fabric scraps and embroidered X’s on every place she’s been. I also created a matching keychain pocket so she can add new stitches for any future adventures.
“We may have our differences, but nothing’s more important than family.”
—the movie, “Coco”
What began as a passion project has evolved into something more. We’re proud of where we’ve been and even more excited for what’s ahead. What sets us apart isn’t just our process—it’s the intention behind it. We take time to understand, explore, and create with purpose at every turn.