Project Details

Cozy Blue Handmade Fireflies

6” hoop (though I put this one in a 7”)

For my sister

April 2026

I posted this cutey back in the fall. Much like the vintage tea towel/table linens vibes of the tomatoes, this more recent kit “Citrus” gives a cute vintage flair to the wall above my fridge.

I really, really, really, prefer to arrange things in odd numbers, so I knew the tomato and the copper bee mold (a gift from my sister) would eventually need a friend.

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Cozy Blue Handmade Citrus

6” hoop

For my kitchen trio

March 2026

What I love about Liz’s stitch club is the surprise of a new kit arriving in the mail box. It comes with the printed pattern and floss. She blogs her own approach and suggested stitches, and you can follow along or make your own plan.

When we were little, my parents had a macrame plant holder above the couch (as all good late 70s/early 80s homes did). This pattern reminded me of that and will be a lovey addition to the wall above my desk.

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ricrac from Cozy Blue

6” hoop

For my work-from-home corner

March 2026

• I love Jessica’s work and want to support her business

• It’s adorable

• My mom liked purple and llamas

That actually feels very reasoned and responsible but let’s not start a discussion about just how many kits, patterns, and projects are in the queue.

This was added to a spot in our dining room that includes my maternal grandmother’s fork and spoon, Alpine Posy from Lark Rising (more here), and Jessica’s Berry Patch Bunny (more here). I really enjoyed stitching this! The color pallet of various shades of green and purple was fun to see come together, and the llama bangs are a delight. (Though neither Gramma or Momma would be thrilled these llamas could not see from their bangs being in their eyes…)

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Llama Mamas kit from Jessica Long

5” hoop

For our house

January 2026

If you are thinking of embarking on this project I would recommend a few things:

• Organize threads by month for easy location of floss (I used small plastic envelopes I reuse for projects to do this).

• Take breaks from the more monotonous work of outlining the wheel. I mostly did this in quarters and tried to keep up with the seasonal headings in the same way.

• Try to stitch each wedge in the current month to help stay on track.

• Be okay with getting behind and getting caught up unless this is your only project going at the time.

• I think stitching this in an 11” hoop would be unwieldy, so I used a smaller hoop and moved it around as needed. Consider leaving more delicate stitching and metallic flosses until the end to help keep those in place while you move the hoop around.

I ordered this panel directly from Helen at Bustle and Sew. The first panel had some print issues and she very quickly handled that, sending me a replacement. This is a pretty massive project and even with the things I know are a little off or less than perfect I am massively proud of it.

I put this in an 11” hoop for display and took my friend Bob’s advice to put it in a shadow box to help protect it from sun, dog hair, etc. (That will be here soon, but I wanted to go ahead and share!) I really like that this project included a lot of different stitches which kept it really interesting. Most of the stitches I’d done before but I was also challenged to try detached woven picot! (There were a few errors with colors listed in spots in the instructions, but I was able to pivot and make different thread choices or pick up something else if needed.)

The longer I stitch — and get advice and encouragement from stitchy friends — the more likely I am to make my own choices in a few spots. I did that on this piece where I either goofed and went with it or didn’t love a stitch choice for a particular image. That’s the great thing about a project like this, you still have some room to make it your own.

With advice from stitchy friends, I added a 2025 and my initials to the center. My mom used to always initial her crosstitch work. I typically put my name on the back of hoops instead, but in this case I liked the option to do both.

I lost my momma just over four years ago. She was so proud of my stitching and would also have dropped hints about wanting her own. Grief is winding and never linear and four years on, I still sometimes try to show her things or text her an update. I really wish she could see this and be excited for me having finished it — her excitement and pride in my learning embroidery and celebrating my finishing projects remains unmatched (no offense to everyone else, but I think you understand she’s just not replicable).

I have missed Momma immensely over this particular holiday season. If you are acquainted with grief you likely understand that some big days and seasons are okay and some are not. And no two years are the same. So finishing this project made me feel just a little bit more like she was still with me, cheering me on and celebrating this win (before requesting her own).

Creating is good for a great many things but being able to remember the love my mom is no doubt one of the greatest gifts my various needle arts have given me.

Project Details

11” Wheel of the Year, Bustle and Sew

For our family

December 2025

Note: I have completed two other hoops from Helen’s collection, both the Peace on Earth hoop (more here and here).

Our three year old Jack Russell, Archer, loved it while it was being made and claimed it as his most comfortable treasure early on. He has a morning routine which includes snuggling on the couch under the quilt. If it is put away on the back of the couch, he will pull it down. If you have ever loved a Jack, you know not to mess with the routine.

The joy it brings me that he loves this quilt is hard to describe. I forgot to post this project in the journal part of this Substack, but because our Archie boy loves — and often steals — this quilt, I made him his own.

To be honest he wasn’t that impressed. To be fair to him, this one was made with far cheaper fabric. It’s not that he didn’t use it at all, but he quickly found his way back to the the human quilt. I can’t say I blame him. (And I’ve tucked away this quilt for safekeeping, keep reading to learn why that is best...)

A few weeks ago, we had a a family emergency that required us to quickly come home and immediately leave. I was anxious and no doubt our sweet one year old puppy, Olive Louise, felt that energy. She’d recently graduated to being allowed to be loose in the house with Archer and was quickly building up a slew of days of good choices. But when we got home that day from the emergency (everyone is okay now), I found my quilt in her mouth.

She had not been chewing on things she should not for months1, but here we were. The quilt was torn and as I looked at it, turning it this way and that, I found more tears.

I was devastated. I’m still not exactly thrilled. But as I worked on mending it, I realized this quilt was just doing the job of quilts. It still warms, protects, and comforts. It is a little worse for wear. But it tells the story of our little family still. And in twenty years, I hope the quilt is still here so I can think of my Olive girl each time I see the imperfect spots I mended.

One of the most rewarding benefits of knowing how to stitch by hand and machine has been the ability to repair things. To keep giving things life and use delights me (especially as expensive as things can be and as many things are sitting in landfills and Goodwills). And so I got past being mad about it and set to fixing it with some advice from a stitchy friend.

It is not perfect — it never was — but it continues to be part of our lives and story. And seeing the places I mended just remind me of the joy I have in making, keeping, and repairing things like this. So…thanks Olive?

These blocks are stunning in terms of craftmanship, the use of materials on hand, and the family history in my hands when I admire them. My dad had suggested I turn them into something like a pillow for both my sister and me. But at some point I had a different idea that my sister was quickly on board with. What if I turned my great-great grandmother’s kind of quilting into the first square in the kind of quilting I’ve done a few times now (see more here, here, and here)?

And so, with that inkling of an idea and a few different attempts at fabric for the middle, and a lot of thinking and stitching…my dad’s Christmas gift this year was born.

My great-great grandmother, Ida, likely made this quilt square from scraps and old, worn out clothing. She didn’t buy fancy jersey knit to incorporate or a pre-printed star pattern to supplement. She didn’t use a Cricut to cut out matching square stencils.

Ida gave birth to 15 children, two of whom died in infancy and one who died at age 2. Her version of a busy life and her world’s access to resources, time, and the idea of hobbies was obviously so different than mine. My version of quilting is not a traditional take (though I hope to do that one day). But I’m proud of this piece of family history I finally got brave enough to incorporate into my own work. And my dad really appreciated this gift, that was stitched with my love.

Ida was gone for 55 years by the time I was born, but somehow I feel connected to this woman who created this square and so many of my family members. Finding time to work on a piece like this is tough, especially with holidays. I’m not making quilts because I have to in order to keep my family warm or because it’s cheaper. But I can’t help but think if Ida made time for stitching - even if that was more necessity than hobby - so can I. Hoping to take that energy with me into the new year.

Project Details

Queen-ish sized squares quilt

For my dad on Christmas

December 2025

Resource Notes

I originally learned this method of quilting and purchased the jersey knit from Alison Glass.

The middle layer is Missouri Star Quilt Backs - Tossed Missouri Star True Navy.

Not shown is a custom quilt label with our names. Love how that turned out, too, an it’s available from Heritage Labels on Etsy.

Project Details

Cozy Blue Handmade tomatoes

6” hoop

For my kitchen

September 2025

I think I probably use a little more yarn than I should so I ran out - I was able to purchase more from the shop even though it’d been some time since my original order. The color match was solid. But I’d love a little more yarn to come in kits for those of us who require a little more frogging and aren’t as proficient yet.

Anyway, it’s done, I made some changes to the design when I ran out of another color and I’m happy with it.

I think I’m ready to explore creating my own punch designs. But I seem to have a stack of ongoing projects to wrap up first…

Project Details

Punch needle kit from The Cherry Blossom US

8” hoop

For my gallery wall

September 2025

I made it for my dad in August, a tough month where we remember her birthday, their wedding anniversary, and our loss of her all in a few weeks’ time.

I had purchased this pre-drawn panel from HandStitched Studio when I ordered the custom wedding drawing for my dad’s Christmas gift a few years prior. I didn’t love the instructions so I went rogue here, but took my friend Bob’s advice to add a line and some falling petals. I think it turned out rather cute! And it certainly meets several approved shades of purple!

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Purple floral (no longer available)

6” hoop

For Momma’s love of purple

August 2025

Sometimes I buy kits for a specific purpose, sometimes because I like them and think I’ll use them for something, sometimes just because they’re pretty…if you stitch you likely understand these habits!

I made some different design decisions on this hoop than suggested in the instructions. They tracing for this one was with carbon paper and I didn’t love that - probably would not repeat that choice. But in the end, I’m happy with the finished project and the good reminder from Emily Dickinson.

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Dwell in Possibility from Gingiber (PDF option here)

6” hoop

For NBM’s new job

July 2025

This is Beach Day from Jessica Long and I love the option to get the pre-printed fabric here so you get the sky/water/sand look built in. There were a variety of stitches, some I’d never done. And I love that Jessica leaves space to make each project your own.

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Beach Day from Jessica Long

6” hoop

For my dad on Father’s Day

June 2025

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Travel trailer kit by Un Chat dans L’aiguille

6” hoop

May 2025

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Stork scissors from Cozy Blue

6” hoop

March 2025

This one is from the incomparable Jessica Long, the 4” Berry Patch Bunny kit.

I’m actually delighted with my long and short stitch on the bunny. And managing to make those tiny little bees look like bees!

Project Details

Berry Patch Bunny kit from Jessica Long

4” hoop

For our house

February 2025

I made a few changes to how I approached this, including not filling in the lettering. And I enjoyed that I put this on a speckled fabric I had on hand.

January from Sarah Beth Timmons’ collection

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January calendar pattern from Sarah Beth Timmons

8” hoop

January 2025

I knew she’d appreciate the “campy” nature of this flexi-hoop with buffalo check material. I had a “fa la la la la la…” stick and stitch from The Barmy Fox and put this together to send her way in 2024.

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Christmas hoop for KC

4” (?) flexi-hoop with The Barmy Fox lettering

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Tiny dog quilt for tiny Pheebs

December 2024

I loved the colors and the wreath-like style that allowed me to add their name to the middle.

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Enchanted Forest by Jessica Long Embroidery

6” hoop

For S & S - wedding gift

November 2024

I tried to make sure this quilt could age well in terms of care, but also be something that wasn’t childish in case he wants to take it to college. And so I made it with buffalo check and stars and arrows. I used what I learned with my first quilt to create this project.

Project Details

Twin-ish sized star quilt

For J on his 12th birthday

October 2024