Kaia Kessler

Our two bonus quilts 😍 If I haven’t said it directly in this open space yet, these 200 quilters are some of the best people to work with! Several of them have been working with me for years, and they know I tend to vibe with PANIC. It’s who I am! I like to finish things early, and I like to be certain. In control. Orderly. These kind folks have been sending me extra blocks 🥹🥲 bc they know the absolute heartache and stress I feel when people’s blocks get lost in the mail or people’s blocks don’t get sent at all. Sometimes there are enough extra blocks to make two whole extra quilts out of them 🥹🫶🏻 and that makes me happy bc as much as I like to see some extra blocks go on the back as happy little splashes, it’s nice to think about two babies or toddlers having these community quilts!!!!! 🥹🥹🥹🥹 yes I’m partial to babies and toddlers at the moment lol. Anywho, to the several reliable people that have come to learn the ebbs and flows of fundraiser quilts with me and all that entails…and your kindness to relieve some of my stress…THANK YOU!!!!! When I see these two quilts I see the kindness of my online friends 🫶🏻 Baby Broken Dishes: Pieced by: Mindy Collins (mom!) Backing/Binding: @sewfinity @urbandwellstudio Block makers: @woodlilystudioptc @treehousequiltingco Longarming by: @fourthhousequilting Moody Baby: Pieced by: Mindy Collins (mom!) Backing/Binding: @fullmoonfabricco @urbandwellstudio Block makers: @jenmullersman @rocksandsalt @bossladyquilter @quiltpublic @seaglass418 @annajmakes Longarming by: @co.op_creative #quiltsfortrevor #quiltsfortrevorfundraiser

Churn Dash 🔼 📐 🧡💚🧡💚🧡 When I pulled 24 traditional blocks for people to vote on their 12 favorites for these quilts, I was really crossing my fingers that churn dash would be one of the winners. I think it is really interesting to look at! And I don’t see it a lot in modern quilting. Plus, I asked my grandma what her favorite block was once, and she said churn dash 🤪 not sure if that answer is the same now, but it was at one point in time! Also, this color palette was found in the “modern bedroom” color palette selection and some IG peeps SWEAR orange would be in a bedroom 🤪 I hope whoever wins this queen-sized beauty loves the BEAUTIFUL color!!❤️ Thanks for the free pattern, @thesprucecrafts ! Pieced by: @ruthlesslyhandmade Backing/Binding: @sewfinity Block makers: @spikethespook @sewometry @maechenmarie @Woodlilystudioptc @alliziscrafty @maggielamphear @angelina_quilts @spottystitcher @quiltpublic @cottonandjoy @showupsociety @bossladyquilter @abbenay23 @racheldmade @sew.miss.viv @ReadRunSew @koalamommily @sarahb_sews @mangomoonmade @thealyssa_ann @halfsquarehannah @mysticsansewn @megansewsforfun Longarming by @co.op_creative #quiltsfortrevor #quiltsfortrevorfundraiser

“whitewashed cultural appropriation after church” - Sarah Ruth, 2026 for the @pantonequiltchallenge “Consuming culture while rejecting its people? A plate of sad, white “Mexican” food, dulled and distorted…another beautiful thing ruined by white people. Do my Appalachian neighbors worship compassion or cruelty? “Hypocrite” repeats across the surface, refusing quiet. Biblical spots sit beside anger, demanding reckoning! Appalachian white people outside of church = Faith is performance and culture is costume…both are stripped of Jesus.“ 35”x19” I used the lightest shades of Batiks ( a little closeted Batik freak) to Foundation Paper Piece the traditional Mexican Star Quilt background. My friend Kaia @co.op_creative then custom longarmed the word HYPOCRITE over and over on the quilt. I then raw edge appliquéd the sad plate of white people food and the two questions. Lastly, I hand embellished the HYPOCRITEs with some more embroidery, and I added several phrases throughout in white. I pulled some from the Bible, and some are just straight from the heart 🫡 “Who is your neighbor?” “the foreigner” “the sojourner” “the oppressed” “the stranger” after church, do you “bear the sword?” do you let your neighbor “dwell with you”? because I’ve heard “you shall not wrong him” “fucking HYPOCRITE” “FUCK ICE” “FDT” And the delicious popular white people plates I heard ordered after church all throughout my childhood: “chicken chimichangas” “cheese quesadilla” “extra cheese” “the Steven special #8” “cheese dip” “the gringos” “chef’s special” “7 layer dip” and the personal east TN favorite pronunciation, “jalapeeenos” @pantone knew exactly what the fuck they were doing when they chose WHITE as the color of the year. What a fucking dog whistle to the current white Christian nationalist regime. The decision felt a little fucked up, so I hope it takes you a few times to read the fucked up back. Lastly, I used fabric paint on a quilt for the first time ever, my NUMBER ONE quilting rule I promised I would NEVER do. I didn’t want to mix mediums, I respected them both separately too much. Well, what a fucking time to break the rules. #pantonequiltchallenge

Today JJ and I went to a workshop with Karen K Stone at And Sew It Began in La Porte. The Lakeview Quilt Guild did an amazing job hosting us, and she and I both really enjoyed it! Of course I ran into a few @houstonmqg friends... We are everywhere! I was amazed by how much FUN I had. Karen is a phenomenal teacher, and she was super helpful to my junior quilter and me. I now want to take her improv applique class.... Of course I got carried away towards the end, but that's just part of my process! I am looking forward to seeing some more of these. Have you ever tried improv curves? Would you? #quiltfun #improvquilting #motherdaughtertime

Come see me in the back of the room where I have obnoxiously taken up 2 tables!! 💚💚💚

Every surface of my house was covered with fabric for two days so I could bring you alllllll the amazing deals on your new fabric stash. 😎 I can't wait to see everyone at the @houstonmqg meeting tomorrow! 💚 #quiltfun tfun #fabric #garagesale #longarmquilting Will you be there to shop for your new stash??

Latest quilt finish and it was a fun one to create! It has been gifted and now I can share. Thanks to @co.op_creative for the adorable cat & mice quilting design. It was the perfect touch. Pattern is Cats in Pajamas by @elizabethagh , backing fabric is Liberty Carnaby Collection by @libertyfabrics , cat bodies are Essex Linen by @robertkaufman , pajamas are from the scrap collection. The “I Sew” tags says on the reverse “it’s my super power “. @houstonmqg

Happy Monday! Two things — Emails about the block/community quilt assignments were sent last night!! ❤️ secondly, I’m sending an email soon if you made a Quilts for Trevor block and want to fill out the Google form for me (tom) to snail mail you a sticker 🤗🤗 Last post of this custom quilt that @co.op_creative and I made magic on 😍 (ps, you’ll like what she and I are cooking up right now, too!!!!)

MAN I love a good custom quilt order, thank you for this @k.miller924 ❤️❤️❤️!!! Tight as fuck longarming by @co.op_creative ✊🏻

Houston Rodeo 🤠🎡🎢🐎🐂

Still thinking about these beauties from a week ago.... 💖🤪 #longarmquilting #longarmquilter #houstonquilts #quiltfun #justcantgetenough

I had such a blast longarming this beautiful top for @kristanixb . The neon interwoven and geometric design is so crisp. it's always an honor to add the finishing texture to another maker's hard work.