Inspiration for making large, warm quilts seems to arrive with the cold winter months. As the temperature outside drops and the thermostat works overtime to keep the house warm, my sewing room becomes an even cozier place to be. Over the past couple of months, I’ve finished four quilt tops and a wall hanging, each one stitched together during these long winter days.
Just as I was ready to begin quilting them, my sewing machine decided it needed a rest. It began acting a bit fiddly, and after a careful cleaning and inspection, I discovered that an internal part had worn out. Now I must wait patiently for the replacement before I can move forward. In the meantime, this unexpected pause has given me the chance to slow down—spending time with hand stitching and letting new ideas begin to take shape.
My mind is still full of inspiration gathered at QuiltCon 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina, last month. QuiltCon is the largest annual gathering of modern quilters in the world, organized by the Modern Quilt Guild, of which I am a proud member. The location changes each year, but having it in North Carolina made it especially meaningful for me, since my sister lives there. We were able to attend the entire show together, sharing the experience from beginning to end.
A total of 2,041 quilts were submitted to QuiltCon 2026, and 470 were selected for the exhibition, representing 11 countries. The show included 13 categories—Small Quilts, Improvisation, Modern Traditionalism, Group and Bee Quilts, Youth, and many more. I did not submit a quilt this year, but meeting and talking with some of the winners turned out to be a wonderful learning experience.
The creativity on display was extraordinary. The bold use of color, the thoughtful expression of ideas and emotions, and the remarkable craftsmanship in both piecing and quilting left me truly inspired. I found myself pausing again and again, taking in the details, marveling at the artistry.
The many photos I took will help me remember my favorites and revisit those moments of inspiration. And when my sewing machine is finally back in tip-top shape, I know that all of that creative energy—gathered from so many talented quilters—will begin to flow again, traveling from my heart to my fingertips and into the quilts waiting patiently to be finished.
Below, the completed quilted wall hanging done in Japanese fabrics, improvisationally pieced and quilted.
