Dizzy Quilter🟣Modern Patchwork

Bumblebee time! 🐝 I’m embellishing the floral panel! This vid is sped up - you can head over to my YouTube channel for a full tutorial, including words! Book - Garden of Embroidered Bugs by @west_coast_wool Thread - Eleganza Perle Cotton by @wonderfilspecialtythread

Morning stitches with actual sound. This is why I love to stitch outside. Sometimes the doves serenade me. Isn’t it lovely? Making ladybugs this morning. I do believe I will make one of each of the 9 colors from the special threads I got from @thequiltdistrict while we were at Quiltville. It’s Eleganza Perle Cotton by @wonderfilspecialtythread , and it’s lovely. I was supposed to be on a plane, but I injured CJ while trying to clip her claws. Guess who isn’t doing that again. She’s enjoying calm time on the patio with me today.

Lovely night out at the Mighty Mussels thanks to @john.swflrealestate . Thanks, John!

9 different flowers for this panel, and I think it’s ready for the next step, which is leaves and embroidery. You can see I already started with bees. There will be lots of bees, ladybugs and dragonflies. And one spider on a web. This project is not conforming to the beginning thoughts. It’s evolving so far beyond what I expected. Fabric is all Handloom by @windhamfabrics The texture makes the flowers look so alive. Threads are all by @wonderfilspecialtythread Efina 60 weight cotton is perfect for stitches that hide. Eleganza 8 weight cotton is for stitches that shout. #slowstitching #dimensionalflowers

I don’t have people approach me while I’m stitching in the wild. I think I know why - my Resting Bitch Face is very strong. I knew I was recording this and felt like I was smiling. Instead I appear angry. I don’t hate it, though. I’m a solitary cat most of the time. Flowers are filling in. I’m making my favorite kind of garden - a wild, overgrown tangle of beauty. My bees still need wings. I’m excited to see how far I get this week. For those of you who are out in the world with your camera, I so admire your freedom. @sweet.saltystitches I’m talking to you! I feel so obnoxious with my camera pointed at me. Childhood trauma, anyone? Also, if you see a reel of me dancing, call an ambulance - something isn’t right. As always, fabric is Handloom by @windhamfabrics Threads by @wonderfilspecialtythread #slowstitching #dimensionalflowers

Yesterday we did a day trip to Leavenworth, WA. Super fun “Bavarian” village made for tourists like me. Our fellow tourists on the bus were startled that not only do I sew, but I was actively sewing at that moment. Not sure how they maintained sanity on a 2 hour bus ride with zero handwork. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Anyway. Today I’m heading home. First flight - I’ve got ruched flowers. The first one is plain, the second has the “what if” stitches. I like the stitches. They add another layer of detail that I find really satisfying. The second set are little cups. I gave them details similar to the mountain laurels I grew up with. (Which were white, but white didn’t look good here.) Finally, one last big flower with 7 prairie point petals. This piece just keeps asking for more, and I’m here for it. I’ve got another 3+ hour flight today. I wonder if I will get to the embroidery I planned. I’m ready for some bullion bees. And some drizzle stitch pistils and stamens. Can’t be skipping the sexy bits. Fabrics are Handlooms by @windhamfabrics Threads are a combo of Efina and Eleganza by @wonderfilspecialtythread

Checking in with my floral panels. This project is bringing me back to life. I’ve been sharing thoughts and process info over on my blog. I cannot recommend Handloom by @windhamfabrics strongly enough. It’s just glorious to work with. All of my threads are from @wonderfilspecialtythread . I have a mix of Efina 60 weight for invisible stitches, and Eleganza for embroidery. This particular set is a custom set by @thequiltdistrict . The colors are perfect for this project. A truly lucky find. #slowstitching #dimensionalflowers

I took myself on an Artist Date in Seattle today. My well has been refilled, even overflowed a bit. If you have the chance to see Exquisite Creatures by @christophermarleystudio , do it. I wandered around in there for hours today. I absolutely adore being out in nature, and this will color how I see things in the future. I’ve been thinking about what I like to make in my art, and the word “more” keeps popping up for me. More detail, more play, more texture. I felt like this exhibit leaned into that idea SO HARD. Don’t be surprised when my next quilt is completely over the top with details and texture. I just got permission to do what I want. This guy collects gazillions of creepy-ass bugs and makes them beautiful. Certainly I can make as many dimensional flowers as I want. I was so delighted that the daffodil I felt called to make today appeared in this exhibit, too! AND I had it with me. #theartistsway

I tried the technique of turning a circle into a hexie, and it worked great! I don’t know that I’d do a whole quilt this way, but it makes for an adorable flower. I absolutely love stitching while traveling. I bring my blue Karen K Buckley scissors with me on domestic flights in the US. Doesn’t the Handloom fabric from @windhamfabrics look amazing? It feels even better. Iv’e got 5 hours ahead of me - let’s see what I can get done.

This flower didn’t do it for me, at least not on this panel. Luckily, hand stitching comes out faster than it goes in. The rule for this project is that it all needs to make me happy. This flower failed. I’ll keep playing with it - I’m not wasting a scrap of this precious fabric. Also, those little dots were a real challenge. They are keepers. Fabric is Handloom by @windhamfabrics , and it’s GLORIOUS. Thread is Efina by @wonderfilspecialtythread . It is so fine, it doesn’t matter what color I stitch with - the stitches are invisible. I’ve got a week of travel starting tomorrow, and I’m so jazzed for travel stitching. #slowstitching

My class at Making Zen is coming up soon! I can’t wait to see all of the flowers everyone is going to make! #makingzen2026

Fooling around while I wait for my flight back for Florida. Working on the second panel I’m prepping for my next Kawandi Inspired project. I freehand cut my yo-yos. They are smaller than I would want to do a coverlet, but they are perfect for my hollyhocks. The centers stay raw edge. I say it’s because they look more like real flowers this way - the edge will fray and bloom. The truth - I hate turning those edges. Blah. Fabric is Handloom by @windhamfabrics . I’m falling in love so hard with this stuff. Serious consideration is being made of acquiring the line to sell from my own online shop. #freehandflorals