My Emerson Crossbody Bag

I make a lot of bags! I find the process of construction to be quite enjoyable and it is fun to go out into the world with a bag you constructed. My latest make - The Emerson Crossbody Bag - is a great bag for everyday use. It fits my phone, my sunglass case and my wallet - just a perfect size!

I used 2 FQs I scored from the Ruby Star booth at QuiltCon. I shopped late Saturday when I found a surprisingly short line. At that point, supply was low and there weren't a FQs to choose from, but I really liked what I purchased and decided to make good use of them right away. 

I did supplement the lining fabric with an off white solid for the binding.

Overall, a great pattern with well written instructions. I saw a version made by a friend while at QuiltCon and she advised that the pattern is addictive. She is right - I am already trying to figure out who I can made another one for!

Have a wonderful day! Patty

QuiltCon Recap Part 3 - The Best Bits

This is the third in my series of posts about QuiltCon 2026. The first recap post was about my quilts - Play Time! and Lavender Marmalade - and the second was about some favorite quilts in the show. This post is about some of the best bits!

I made myself a quilt 'sweater' for the show. I need to share more details about the construction in a future post. Basically it was a lightweight quilt coat and provided just the right level of warmth for the show floor. Fabrics used were all Alison Glass!

The QuiltCon Crew

Raleigh was the 4th year that the four of us have shared a AirBnB and spent time together during the show - me, Jenn, Frances, and Kristin.

Our house this year was a cute one and located about 10 minutes from the convention center. 

Quilts Unscripted Bee-mates

I joined this bee last year and what fun it was to spend time with them and celebrate 3 bee member quilts in the show. 

Not everyone was able to attend the dinner or every photo op, but I am thrilled to be part of this group. They are all talented, kind, and so very welcoming!

Sarah, me, Chris, Jenn, Charles, Elizabeth, Jan (friend of a bee member), E.A.and Ellyn. Not pictured is Sarah who was ill, Emily who was teaching and Isabell who was working!

Ellyn's quilt Memphis Madness: Who Threw the Christmas Tree Down the Stairs and my quilt Play Time! were hanging back to back on the curtain so we did a fun photo!

Triangle MQG  - My Guild!

Since QuiltCon is in my backyard, I very much enjoyed the change to see Guild Members every day. 

We did a group photo on Saturday with about 40 of our members able to show up. They are quite the inspirational and friendly bunch of people.

Chromatic Alchemy - My Class

I enjoy taking a 1/2 day class during the show and this year's was one of the best yet - playing with color with Carolina Oneto! My friend Chris was in the class and we had fun comparing our paper creations as we worked through different color exercises. Carolina is a wonderful teacher!

Volunteering!

Ever since my very first QuiltCon in Savanah in 2017, I've enjoyed the opportunity to volunteer at the show. I managed to volunteer for 16+ hours, motivated to achieve Super Volunteer status. (As a Super Volunteer you get a swag bag plus the chance to register early for classes at a future QuiltCon.) All my shifts were outside of show days. I hung quilts on Tuesday, worked registration on Wednesday and then assisted in the shipping of all the show quilts. I really enjoyed every shift but I am not sure I will do this again. It meant 7 days of QuiltCon and I was quite tired by the end!

I'm planning one final post on overall reflections sometime later this month.

Have a wonderful day! Patty

QuiltCon 2026 Recap Part 2 - The Quilt Show

This is the second in my series of posts about my experiences in QuiltCon. The first recap post was about my quilts - Play Time! and Lavender Marmalade.

Overall, I took less quilt photos that I typically do at these shows. In fact, I appear NOT to have taken a photo of the Best in Show! Thankfully, the MQG has full photos of all the award winners here.

Midnight and Noon by @creativelifesampler won Best Hand quilting. It was fascinating to view the hand work from the front and the back.

The special exhibit for this year's show was quilts from the Gee's Bend Quilters. A number of quilters were in attendance and some were selling some of their quilts. These were my two favorites.

Both of these pieces were untitled and created by Marlene B. Jones

I did capture photos of some of my favorite quilts from the show and some of these were award winners in their categories.

(top) Elemental by @patticoppock, Stone @carolina_oneto, Small Acts @jen.broemel

(middle) Straw into Gold @bimbambuki_blog, Connect #2 @b_plus_q, Field Counts 1 @susanjlapham

(bottom) 2718 @quiltingjetgirl, Tinker Toys @wildpoppyquilts,  (I didn't capture the name of the artist - if you know, please comment so I can update the post!)

I love each of these quilts for so many different reasons: Straw into Gold is a repurposed rag, 2718 and Elemental for the precision of the piecing, Stone for the simplicity of the design and Small Acts and Connect #2 for the handwork.  

Having QuiltCon in our backyard made seeing quilts from fellow Triangle MQG guild members very exciting. The guild had a total of 11 quilts in the show, 2 of which were mine. I am so proud of the talent in our guild! In addition, we had 6 quilts (that I'm aware of) in the youth category!

(top) Gerrymander @karen_jones_kepley, Flock @rachelbrownartstudio, No Kings @aw_quilts

(middle) Paraboleum  @spanishquilter, Exothermic @spanishquilter, Possimpible  @meliwoodcrafts

(bottom) Fortress @rct_quilts, 2 Bee the 10 of Us @feltlikesweets, Boo  @ohsewsphynxy

There were a lot of quilts which focused on the terrible things going on in the US right now as it relates to our treatment of immigrants, LGBTQ+, and the overall state of the country. There were certainly more than these 9 but they were the ones that spoke to me.

(top) - Threads Speak @alderwoodstudio. This quilt was the first place winner in Group and Bee Quilts; Based On Race by Carey Petersen; Stitching What's Been Silenced by Sandra Hoyt

(middle) - Resistance @made_by_ecz; The Part of History @thequiltymagpie; He's Eating the Dogs, He's Eating the Cats @spaghetti_and_thread

(bottom) -  All Out of Fucks @cottonandbourbon;  Use Them or Lose Them, Banned Words June 2025 @melissasherrow,   No Kings @aw_quilts

I'll have another post in a few days sharing some of the best bits of the experience beyond the actual quilt show!

Have a wonderful day! Patty