Quilting has a quiet way of speaking when words fall short. Every stitch holds intention, every design carries meaning, and sometimes the simplest quilt can say the most. As January winds down, I’ve been reflecting on creativity, courage, and the many small steps that bring us back to the things we love—especially quilting.

This past week marked a personal milestone for me: I finished quilting a small baby quilt for my cousin, who’s about to become a grandmother again. The quilt measures about 40" x 60", and while that may not sound large, it represented something much bigger for me. I worked on it in very small increments—ten minutes here, twenty minutes there—allowing myself the grace to stop when my body or mind needed rest. When my bobbin ran out of thread near the end, I took that as my sign to pause for one more day rather than push through.

And that was okay.

What I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) is that when the nervous system is on high alert, creativity takes a back seat. Returning to sewing, quilting, and machine quilting isn’t just about time—it’s about safety, calm, and readiness. For me, picking up my quilting again is a sign that my nervous system is moving out of survival mode. Creativity is returning, gently and honestly, one stitch at a time. If you don’t know, I’m still in deep grief after the heartbreaking loss of my husband a year ago.

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Bigfoot, Green Fabric, and Quilting Fun

On the lighter side, I’ve been getting more and more excited about a new Bigfoot quilt idea. Some stencil designs are beginning to take shape, and while I had hoped to unveil them already, they’ll be ready very soon. The design I’m leaning toward includes trees with a Bigfoot block tucked in among them—playful, a little mysterious, and full of personality.

I also happen to have a lot of green fabric. And by “a lot,” I mean it may take nearly one percent of my stash to finish this quilt! Next week, I’m hoping to share more details and maybe even a sneak peek.

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Hearts Aren’t Just for Valentine’s Day 

It made me smile to see our Valentine’s stencils heading out the door over the weekend. There’s something comforting about knowing quilts of love are being made everywhere. The photo featured above is from a tee-shirt quilt I made a few years ago, quilted with our “I Love It” stencil and backed with soft Minky fabric. Hearts were the perfect choice—and not just for Valentine’s Day quilts.

Heart designs work beautifully on memory quilts, baby quilts, wedding quilts, and comfort quilts. They’re easy to sew, forgiving to stitch, and pair wonderfully with both free-motion and machine quilting techniques. If you picked up one during the sale, I hope you’ll use it often and in unexpected ways. And if you mised the sale, don’t worry—another is coming soon (for the wonderfully impulsive quilters among us… myself included).

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Beginner Confidence Starts Here

One of the highlights of this week was an email from a customer named Mindy, who recently purchased one of our Starter Packs. Her words were so encouraging that I asked if I could share them (and she kindly agreed):

“I am so proud of me!! I was so scared to try this… but after watching a few YouTube videos I took a deep breath and went for it. I’m no longer afraid to continue the journey!”

This is exactly why we created our Starter Packs. They’re designed to remove fear and replace it with confidence—especially for those new to quilting or marking quilts for machine quilting. Each pack includes a Pounce Pad with your choice of chalk, an Ultimate Marking Pencil with sharpener, and quilting stencils that are ready to use right out of the package.

There’s something powerful about realizing you can do this. That fear doesn’t get to decide whether you try.

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Why Quilters Search for “Precut Quilting Stencils” — and What They Really Want

Many quilters come to our website searching for precut quilting stencils, and that makes sense. When people use that phrase, they’re usually looking for something that feels easy, ready to use, and not intimidating — especially if they’re new to machine quilting.

What they often don’t realize is that traditional precut stencils usually mean hard plastic designs with open cutouts that must be traced with a pencil. Those types of stencils come with some built-in frustrations: lines can’t cross without pieces falling out, designs are limited in complexity, and tracing can be slow and less accurate — particularly on larger quilts.

Our mesh stencils solve those problems in a completely different way.

Instead of cut-out openings, our stencils are made from a durable mesh that allows chalk to gently sift through the design. This means:

• Lines can cross freely without losing centers
• Designs can be more detailed and fluid
• Marking is faster, smoother, and more accurate
• You swipe chalk instead of tracing every line

For many quilters, this ends up being exactly what they meant when they searched for precut quilting stencils — even if they didn’t know it yet.

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A Quilt That Made Us All Smile

We also received a wonderful drawing entry from Elizabeth Clay that deserves a closer look—literally. Her quilt features our “Sew Biz” stencil, and if you zoom in, you’ll spot the cutest detail: a spool of thread sitting on the hip of a horse. I love everything about this quilt.

Elizabeth shared that this was just one of her January finishes—and the email was dated January 4th. ONE of her January finishes. On the FOURTH. I’ll admit it: I envy that kind of productivity! Her work is thoughtful, creative, and beautifully executed.

She’s still in the running for our $100 Shopping Spree drawing, and so are you. Finished quilts, works in progress—everything counts.

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A Little Quilting Humor Goes a Long Way

One of my favorite things about our quilting community is that we don’t take ourselves too seriously. A recent post on our Facebook page gave me a good laugh:

If the groundhog sees his shadow, you’ll start another quilt before finishing the last one.
If he doesn’t… you’ll still start another quilt.

I think we’ve all been there. Winter is long, fabric is tempting, and unfinished projects are part of the journey—not a failure.

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A Special Baby Quilt to End the Month

Before closing, I want to share a sneak preview of my cousin’s quilt for her grandchild. This quilt is extra special—it’s for her only daughter’s first baby. While her first love is rug hooking (and she’s very good at it), this was her first attempt at piecing a quilt, and she did a beautiful job.

I quilted it using our “Sleepy Time” stencil, and it was such a joy to work on. The quilt is off the longarm now and heading back to her for the final touches, including prairie points. When it’s finished, I’ll be sure to share the final photo—hopefully with a sweet baby included.

Grateful for This Community

Whether you read this with coffee in hand or during a quiet lunch break, I’m truly grateful you’re here. Quilting is more than fabric and thread—it’s connection, courage, and creativity shared across generations and miles.

Thank you for being part of this community. Thank you for quilting along with me.

Happy quilting and lots of love,
Marilyn