Quilting Journey

Every once in a while, a fabric sparks an idea you didn’t even know you were waiting for. That’s what happened when I saw the Splatter Expressions Batiks collection from Riley Blake Designs. I could instantly picture the perfect project for my sister-in-law, who’s a self-proclaimed book dragon.

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Fall is just around the corner, and there’s no better way to welcome the season than with a pop of color at your doorstep. The Big Giant Quilted Bow pattern by Lindsey Grace Creates is the perfect project for adding cheerful, handmade flair. For my version, I chose a mix of reds and oranges from the Riley Blake Designs Confetti Cottons line... warm, vibrant hues that feel just right for autumn.

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I’m so honored to share a brand-new fabric collection today, Foundation 2 by Shayla Wolf of Sassafras Lane Designs for Windham Fabrics. It’s a sequel to her debut line, and once again, it’s bursting with bold color, thoughtful neutrals, and hand-drawn details inspired by her architectural background. It’s the kind of collection that makes both my color loving and architectural loving heart very happy.

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There’s nothing like a dark, tonal background to make bright colors pop, and the Blackout collection by Riley Blake Designs does exactly that. With its subtle textures of stars, dots, and geometrics, the prints add richness and depth while keeping the focus on bold color. Paired with 16 Confetti Cotton solids in rainbow hues, the fabrics practically asked to be made into something graphic and bold.

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The Blooms at Dusk Expressions Batiks from Riley Blake Designs is full of subtle texture and tonal variety, perfect for a quilt that plays with light and contrast. I started by cutting 5 1/2" squares from the collection, alternating black, white, and gray for a bold but elegant layout.

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Some fabrics have a way of stirring up memories. The Carnival Glass Expressions Batiks collection by Riley Blake Designs does that for me. It instantly reminded me of a shimmering glass dish my grandmother kept in her china cabinet. That piece always caught the light in the prettiest way, shifting from warm amber to deep green to blue, depending on where you stood. The fabrics in this line feel the same... rich, glowing, and a little bit nostalgic.

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Some quilts are just fun to make, and others carry a little extra meaning... my Dashing Duo Quilt Pattern with the Caterpillar® 100 Years collection from Riley Blake Designs manages to be both. This pre-cut-friendly design lets you showcase both small-scale and large-scale prints beautifully, making it a perfect pairing for the bold, nostalgic Caterpillar fabrics.

This project felt a little extra special for me. I grew up with a dad who spent over 40 years working for a structural engineering firm, inspecting countless job sites. 

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If quilts were candy, this version of my Beary Bunch pattern would be a pastel candy oasis… soft, sweet, and just poppin’ enough to keep things interesting.

Made with Riley Blake Designs’ Confetti Cotton solids, this quilt plays with tonal trios of color, wrapping each bear in cozy pastels with a touch of brighter hues. Think of it as a candy-coated hug you’ll want to snuggle under all day.

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Something sweet, bold, and bear-y fun just hit the shop… twice!

I’m thrilled to officially introduce two quilt patterns designed to bring joy to your sewing table… the Beary Bunch Quilt Pattern and the Lil’ Beary Bunch Quilt Pattern.

These two patterns share the same playfulness and block style, but come in different sizes and vibes… whether you're in the mood for bold and graphic, soft and snuggly, or something somewhere in between.

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I'm so excited to introduce one of my newest designs: the Lil’ Beary Bunch Quilt Pattern! This quilt is sweet, spunky, and full of charm… with slightly smaller bear blocks that pack just as much personality as ever.

Think of it as the spirited little sibling to my Beary Bunch Quilt Pattern, with smaller blocks, the same fun layout, and a whole lot of adorable attitude.

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Before there was a pastel version. Before a single bear was shrunk down to baby size.

There was this bold bunch… stitched on black backgrounds and bursting with color, full of personality, punch, and just the right amount of moody charm.

The cover version of my newest design, Beary Bunch Quilt Pattern, lovingly called the Moody Version, was the first sample sewn and the original spark behind the pattern. It's graphic. It's playful. And it makes zero apologies for showing off.

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There’s nothing quite like slicing into a fresh stack of fabric especially when it’s bursting with color and texture. The new Expressions Batiks collection, A New Day, by Riley Blake Designs, is exactly that kind of joy: vibrant, expressive, and full of creative possibilities. I recently whipped up a small dresden pouch using a few of the prints, and let me tell you it turned out.

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There’s a special kind of magic that happens when bold solids meet playful design. For this Make It Modern version of Smashing Petals, I embraced bright, punchy color and oversized florals to create a quilt that feels both contemporary and joyful—like a modern bouquet in full bloom.

At the heart of this design is a bold, graphic flower made from four oversized petals and a glowing center. This version uses the mix-and-match layout included in the pattern, which allows each flower to blossom with its own personality. The layout creates a dynamic quilt top full of movement, like a carefully planted garden where each bloom gets its own spotlight.

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I’m so excited to finally share this playful and vibrant version of my Smashing Petals quilt pattern, brought to life with the exquisite charm of Ruby Star Society fabrics! This one feels like a walk through a technicolor garden—each flower has its own little personality, thanks to a mix of orange, pink, and yellow prints pulled from across the wide and wonderful range of RSS designs.

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Are you ready to step back in time for a moment? This stunning retro-mod quilt, Smashing Petals, is a bold tribute to 1960s style—graphic, vibrant, and buzzing with mid-century energy. Made with a trio of Art Gallery Fabrics; Pure Solids in Autumnal, Rock Candy, and Coconut Milk. This quilt is where flower power meets clean minimalism, designed to turn heads in any era.

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I'm so excited to share the cover version of my newest quilt pattern, Smashing Petals! This bold, modern floral design really comes to life with high contrast fabrics. This version celebrates just that with graphic black and white fabrics paired with a vibrant pop of vintage Cotton + Steel, that speaks to my soul.

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This design grew out of a single block I had originally created for my Flitter Flutter Quilt Pattern. That block always stuck with me... it had a quiet charm, but I kept imagining it in a bolder setting. So I started experimenting. I played with color, tweaked the background, and repeated the block in a tighter grid. Bit by bit, it transformed into something new: a four-petaled flower with presence and rhythm, arranged on-point for extra movement and visual pull.

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There’s something so satisfying about mixing crisp black and white fabrics with pops of fiery red. When paired with playful half hexagons and triangles, the result is a bold, graphic look that feels both modern and timeless.

Hey there, it’s Kelly Renay! I’m thrilled to share my latest make—a fun and functional round duffle bag stitched up with a few standout prints from the Expressions Batiks: Good Vibrations collection, designed by Nebraska Quilt Company for Riley Blake Designs.

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There’s something truly magical about sewing during the holiday season—especially when the fabric itself is full of nostalgia and charm. The new Classic Christmas collection by J. Wecker Frisch captures that feeling perfectly. With vintage-inspired prints, old-world Santa illustrations, and classic holiday typography, this line is a dream for anyone wanting to add timeless style to their festive makes.

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Are you drawn to Celtic designs and Highland charm? If so, the A Touch of Celtic Expressions Batiks Collection, designed by Patience Griffin, is the perfect addition to your fabric stash. This delightful collection celebrates all things Celtic — from traditional plaids to playful ewes and shaggy Highland coos — each infused with rich color and a dash of Highland flair.

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Are you ready to create a beautiful and meaningful panel quilt? The Come Let Us Adore Him collection by Tara Reed provides the perfect foundation. Featuring exquisitely painted scenes, these panels are designed to shine—and this quilt design lets them take center stage.

Hi, I’m Kelly Renay, and today I’ll walk you through how to make your own striking panel quilt. The construction is inspired by the Courthouse Steps block, with a layout that frames each panel in a bold, balanced way.

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