Hey Love Bug Fabric Tour: Four Projects to Sew

Greetings, friends!

Welcome to my stop on the Hey Love Bug Fabric Tour! I’m smitten with this whimsical new Poppie Cotton collection by McKenzie Elston—a joyful romp of beetles, bees, butterflies, caterpillars, ladybugs, and a cheeky nod to the iconic love bug car. The supporting prints—tossed flowers, a tidy geometric grid, and a petite hexi print—mix and match effortlessly in a fresh, cheerful palette of reds, pinks, yellows, and blues. Inspired by the charm and movement of these prints, I stitched up four original projects, each designed on the fly in my studio: a set of fabric canisters, a patchwork art portfolio, a patchwork pouch, and a coordinating wool felt flower pincushion. I hope they spark ideas for your own sewing table and make you fall in love with this collection as much as I have!

Patchwork Art Portfolio

Sketching is the starting point for my original sewing projects, so I dreamed up a trifold patchwork art portfolio to keep my ideas and tools together. It fits a standard 5½″ × 8½″ sketchbook and opens to 24″ W × 12″ H (8″ W × 12″ H when closed). Inside, there are multiple pockets for extra paper and small rulers, plus 18 pencil pockets so my colored pencils and pens have a proper home. The gingham ribbon ties are a sweet, simple closure—pure cottage charm. The patchwork exterior lets the collection’s colors and motifs shine together, while the thoughtful interior keeps everything tidy and ready for on-the-go creativity. Again, no pattern—this was a playful, make-it-up-as-I-go sew. If there’s interest, I may write one!

Set of 3 Fabric Canisters

I wanted a practical-yet-pretty way to corral notions, so I stitched a set of three fabric canisters—each 5″ in diameter, with heights of 3½″, 5½″, and 7½″. They’re lined with Country Confetti for a crisp interior finish, and I used a BRAND-NEW product from Therm O Web—VersaFoam Single-Sided Fusible Foam Stabilizer—to give them that upright, sturdy structure we all want in containers. The round forms really showcase the playful motifs, and the multiple sizes make them endlessly useful for thread, trims, and tools. I snapped a photo of the trio alongside the Poppie Cotton Cutting Mat, Ruler, and Rotary Cutter, because they felt right at home together. There’s no pattern for these—just me, experimenting in the studio—proof that a favorite fabric collection is the best muse.

Pretty Patchwork Pouch

This 9″ W × 9½″ H × 4″ D patchwork pouch is my love letter to tiny details. I added pink rick rack between the patchwork and focal fabric for a cheerful, dimensional edge, then stitched a 3‑D wool felt flower in place—inspired by one of the prints—with a mini ¼″ button at the center. Of course, the wool felt is from Benzie Design. Inside, it’s lined with Country Confetti, and I finished it with a fun zipper pull because little moments of joy matter. Like the others, there’s no pattern—just a happy blend of texture, color, and whimsy that celebrates the spirit of Hey Love Bug.

Coordinating Wool Felt Flower Pincushion

To round out the set, I stitched a coordinating wool felt flower pincushion inspired by the collection’s sweet blooms and garden friends. It’s made entirely of Benzie Design wool felt, hand stitched and embroidered with DMC floss for subtle definition, and topped with a tiny wool felted ladybug that makes me smile every time I see it. I tucked in specialty pins from (my favorite!) Puntini Puntini to echo the collection’s palette and personality. This one is my own design (no pattern)—a happy, satisfying make that ties the whole group together and brings a bit of soft sculpture to the sewing room.

Thanks so much for visiting my stop on the Hey Love Bug Fabric Tour! Sewing with this collection was pure delight—from the playful insects and dainty florals to the bright, happy colors. I’d love to hear which project is your favorite, and whether you’d be interested in a pattern for the art portfolio. A huge thank you to Poppie Cotton for the beautiful fabrics and to Therm O Web for the sneak peek at VersaFoam—it gave the canisters such lovely softness and structure.

Show me what you make! If you stitch with Hey Love Bug, please share your projects in the comments or tag me on social media so I can cheer you on. And don’t forget to visit the Poppie Cotton blog for even more inspiration from the rest of the tour.

If Hey Love Bug has stolen your heart, pop by your local quilt shop or visit your favorite online quilt shop and ask for it—it’s shipping to shops this month. Supporting your local shop keeps our quilting community thriving. While you're there, peek at Country Confetti for linings and backgrounds. Plus, keep an eye out for Therm O Web’s NEW VersaFoam—Sew-In, Single-Side Fusible, and Double-Sided Fusible yardage—debuting on their website this month. It’s truly a sewing game changer!

Happy sewing and creating!

My Darling Deer Fabric Tour Featuring Poppie Cotton’s “My Darling Deer” Collection

Greetings, friends! I’m thrilled to be part of the My Darling Deer Fabric Tour, celebrating the lovely “My Darling Deer” fabric collection designed by Michal Marko for Poppie Cotton. This collection is inspired by the beauty of nature—graceful deer among meadows of flowers, tossed wildflowers, delicate bouquets, tiny birds singing among blooms, and tone-on-tone ferns.

The color palette is dreamy: soft lavenders blending into deep plum, navy paired with calming blues, and pale pink hues with creamy accents. These fabrics are perfect for quilts, home décor, small  projects and baby nursery items. They truly spark creativity!

My Projects for the Tour

I’m excited to share three projects I created using this stunning collection:

🩷 Patchwork in the Heart
Wall Hanging/Table Topper Quilt

This is my own design, and the pattern is available in both paper and digital format in my Etsy Shop. 

Digital Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/1871707905
Paper Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/1871705191

It’s a mini appliqué quilt that doubles as a wall hanging or table topper, measuring 24.5” x 24.5”. Instead of making all the hearts patchwork, I fussy cut deer motifs from the "Darling" prints to add a special touch. 

🪡Large Patchwork Project Bag

This bag doesn’t have a pattern—it’s a creative mix of all the prints in the collection, with the Darling Plum print featured at the top. I added hand-dyed rick rack (from Lady Dot Creates) to separate the focal print from the patchwork and finished it with a baker’s twine zipper pull for a charming detail.

🧵Two Snappy Pouches

These fun pouches use slap bracelets for the opening instead of a zipper (some makers cut and use measuring tape from the hardware store instead of the slap bracelets). Tabs on both sides make them easy to pull open, and when you let go, they snap closed. They’re practical and stylish, showcasing the beautiful fabrics perfectly.

Join the Tour and Get Inspired

Visit Poppie Cotton on Instagram or check out their blog to follow along with the My Darling Deer Fabric Tour and see what other talented makers are creating with this collection. 

As you can see, the My Darling Deer collection is brimming with charm and endless possibilities. Whether you’re stitching up a cozy quilt, creating a sweet nursery accent, or crafting a one-of-a-kind bag, these fabrics will make your projects feel extra special.

I hope my three projects spark your imagination and encourage you to dive into this beautiful collection. Don’t forget to ask your favorite quilt shop for the My Darling Deer fabric collection - it is shipping this month! Grab your favorite prints, fire up your sewing machine, and let nature’s beauty guide your creativity—because with these fabrics, every stitch tells a story!

Farmhouse Fancy Fabric Tour

Hello, friends—happy Monday! (I am still traveling in Europe, but I made sure to schedule this post ahead of time.)

I’m so excited to welcome you to my stop on the Poppie Cotton Farmhouse Fancy Fabric Tour! Thank you so much for stopping by—I always enjoy visiting with you.

Today, I’m absolutely thrilled to share three special pieces I created with the brand-new Farmhouse Fancy Collection by Elea Lutz for Poppie Cotton. The moment I saw these charming prints, my imagination took off—I couldn’t wait to dive into designing and playing in my studio! Each fabric in this delightful farm-and-floral collection feels like country living come to life, exuding cozy charm and vibrant personality. These prints inspired me to create projects that are full of color, texture, and that warm, homegrown feeling we all love.

💮About the Collection

Shipping to quilt shops this month, the Farmhouse Fancy Collection has a vintage vibe and is brimming with delightful details. Picture chickens, strawberries, cherries, tea towels, quilt blocks, and cheerful florals—all wrapped in a warm, inviting palette of pinks, teals, reds, yellows, and whites. This collection is a celebration of country living with a fresh twist, perfect for creating projects that feel cozy, nostalgic, and full of personality.

💐Project 1: Mini Medi Tote Bag

This medium-sized tote bag was created by cutting mini charm squares - hence the name. It features two pockets on the outside with round bottoms and two large pockets inside, that can be created with feature fabrics or patchwork or charm square 5" precuts. It can be made with one charm pack and one yard of any fabric you choose, but I thought it was wonderful in these vintage-look farmhouse prints. The directions and diagrams in this pattern are quite thorough, so this is great project for all skill levels. I used Poppie Cotton Country Confetti Cotton Candy Dark Pink for the bag/pocket linings and handles.

Paper Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/1743026780
Digital Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/1743028230

🐔Project 2: Small Boxed Bottom Zipper Pouch

This small zippered pouch measures 8" x 7" x 2.5" and features one of my favorite fabric prints in this collection : Farm Quilts Red. I used Country Confetti for the lining and added a Poppie Cotton Zipper Charm—the cutest little chicken you’ve ever seen! I didn’t follow a pattern for this project; instead, I let creativity lead the way and had fun experimenting in my studio.

🍓Project 3: Large Patchwork Boxed Bottom Zipper Pouch

For this larger pouch, I went all out with patchwork, incorporating every print from the Farmhouse Fancy Collection for a vibrant, scrappy look. It measures 11.5" x 8.25" x 3" and, like the smaller version, it is lined with Country Confetti for a cheerful interior. To top it off, I added a Poppie Cotton Zipper Charm—this time an adorable strawberry! No pattern here either—I simply let creativity guide me and had an enjoyable afternoon piecing it together in my studio.

💭 Which project is your favorite? I’d love to hear what inspires you most—whether it’s the cheerful prints, the creative details, or simply the joy of stitching something handmade!

I hope my stop on the Farmhouse Fancy Fabric Tour has sparked your creativity. Be sure to visit the Poppie Cotton Blog and follow them on social media for even more inspiration using this gorgeous collection.

Bringing the Farmhouse Fancy fabrics to life through these coordinating designs has been an absolute delight. From the Mini-Medi Tote Bag to the coordinating zippered pouches, each project highlights the warm palette and vintage-inspired motifs of this collection. I love how these three projects came together, and I hope they inspire you to make something handmade of your own.

Keep an eye out for Farmhouse Fancy arriving soon in your favorite quilt shops, and find the featured pattern (and many more) in my Etsy shop.

Thank you so much for visiting today—I truly appreciate your support and enthusiasm. I can’t wait to share what’s next. Until then, happy sewing & stitching, friends! 🧵💖

Unicorn Dreams Fabric Tour

Hello, friends—happy Monday!

I’m so excited to welcome you to my stop on the Poppie Cotton Unicorn Dreams Fabric Tour! Thank you so much for stopping by—it’s always delightful to visit with you.

Today, I’m absolutely thrilled to share three special pieces I created with the brand-new Unicorn Dreams Collection by Ginger Deverell for Poppie Cotton. The moment I saw these whimsical prints, my imagination took off — I couldn’t wait to start designing and playing in my studio. Each fabric in this enchanting collection feels like a storybook come to life, and it inspired me to create projects full of color, texture, and a little bit of magic.

🦄 About the Collection

Shipping to quilt shops this month, the Unicorn Dreams Collection is an enchanting line brimming with charm. Think unicorns, butterflies, bunnies, birds, bugs, and gorgeous florals—all wrapped in a gentle palette of soft greens, pale peaches, and buttery yellows.

It’s the perfect blend of magical and mystical — a true daydream in fabric form — and I had so much fun bringing these prints to life in my studio!

🦄 Project 1: Sweet Sewing Book

First up is my Sweet Sewing Book, one of my original designs — the pattern is available in both paper and digital format in my Etsy shop.

This charming Sewing Portfolio/Needlebook/Stitching Organizer is as practical as it is pretty! The cover is foundation pieced, giving it structure and personality and it measures 8.5" W x 6.5" H when closed (17" W x 6.5" H when open). A button and elastic closure keeps everything neatly contained, while multiple pockets, a twill tape tie for scissors, and wool felt needlebook pages — featuring fussy-cut fabric motifs — make it the perfect companion for hand sewing or travel stitching. I finished it off with binding cut from Country Confetti (a Poppie Cotton Basic), which frames the design and adds a polished touch.

Paper Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/4303974342
Digital Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/4303984363

🦄 Project 2: Joyful Journal Jacket

Next is my Joyful Journal Jacket, another of my original designs — the pattern is available in both paper and digital format in my Etsy shop.

This quilted journal cover is designed to fit a standard composition notebook (9 ¾" x 7 ½"), making it perfect for jotting down project notes, sketches, or creative ideas. The Velcro closure keeps your notebook secure, and I embellished it with flowers and leaves cut from 100% wool felt (Bellwether Felt from Benzie Design) and accented with a button center. I added coordinating ½” hand-dyed rick rack from Lady Dot Creates between the patchwork and focal fabric for an extra pop of texture and charm. This cheerful cover turns an ordinary notebook into something truly special — a joy to make and to use!

Paper Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/1232489096
Digital Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/928107884

🦄 Project 3: Patchwork Pencil Bag

To complete the set, I created a Patchwork Pencil Bag — a coordinating companion piece to my Joyful Journal Jacket. There’s no pattern for this one; I simply wanted a pencil pouch to match! It features rounded corners for a soft, finished look and a coordinated zipper pull for a touch of extra detail. The bag measures 10" W x 4" H, making it just the right size for storing pens, pencils, small tools, or sewing notions.

💭 Which project is your favorite? I’d love to hear what inspires you most—whether it’s the whimsical prints, the creative details, or the joy of stitching something handmade!

I hope my stop on the Unicorn Dreams Fabric Tour has sparked your creativity. Be sure to visit the Poppie Cotton Blog and follow them on social media for even more inspiration using this gorgeous collection.

Bringing the Unicorn Dreams fabrics to life through these coordinating designs has been an absolute delight. From the Sweet Sewing Book to the Joyful Journal Jacket and Patchwork Pencil Bag, each project highlights the gentle palette and charming motifs of this collection. I love how these three coordinating projects came together, and I hope they inspire you to make something magical of your own. Keep an eye out for Unicorn Dreams arriving soon in your favorite quilt shops, and find the featured patterns (and many more) in my Etsy shop.

Thank you so much for visiting today—I truly appreciate your support and enthusiasm. I can’t wait to share what’s next. Until then, happy sewing & stitching, friends. 🧵💖

Flower Market Fabric Tour

Hello, friends—happy Wednesday!

I’m so excited to welcome you to my stop on the Poppie Cotton Flower Market Fabric Tour! Thank you so much for stopping by—it’s always such a treat to have you here.

Today, I’m absolutely thrilled to share several special pieces I created using the brand-new Flower Market Collection by the incredibly talented Elea Lutz for Poppie Cotton. As soon as I saw these stunning floral prints, I couldn’t wait to put on my quilt designer hat and dive right in!

🌸 About the Collection

Shipping to quilt shops this month, the Flower Market Collection is a fresh and fragrant line filled with gorgeous floral motifs—think roses, daisies, forget-me-nots, and tiny scattered petals—all wrapped in a vibrant palette of reds, greens, blues, pinks, yellows, and whites. ✨

It’s the perfect blend of cheerful vintage and heartwarming charm, and I had so much fun bringing these prints to life! 💐

✨ Project 1: Rosebud Manor Wall Hanging

First up is my original Rosebud Manor Wall Hanging, a Blue Ribbon Design pattern available in my Etsy Shop (digital or paper format). It measures 28½” W x 28½” H, and the size is easily adaptable.

This beginner-friendly appliqué project features most of the fabrics in the Flower Market collection—a beautiful way to showcase the prints!

• The center "manor" block is machine appliqué with added fussy-cut rose bushes.
• I used a clay flower button from Puntini Puntini for the doorknob.
• Rick rack inserted around the perimeter of the center block.
• The surrounding economy blocks are foundation pieced using StitchnSew EZ Print Foundation Piecing Stabilizer from Therm O Web.
• The binding, center background, and some house details are all Country Confetti prints.

📄 Paper Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/4303983188

💻 Digital Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/4303985658

✨ Project 2: Patchwork Project Bag

Next, I created a large patchwork project bag—no pattern, just pure creativity! 🪡

• It measures 10” x 13”, with each square finishing at 2½”.
• The top row features fussy-cut roses from the Hand Picked print—one in each colorway.
• Sashing is Country Confetti in Marshmallow New White
• I used red gingham ribbon for the pull, adding a sweet vintage touch.

✨ Project 3: Pincushion with Scissor Tie

And because I couldn’t resist, I made a sweet pin pillow with wool felt embellishment and a scissor tie—again, no pattern, just creativity. ✂️

• It measures 6” x 6” and features a red gingham ribbon tie to hold scissors.
• I added a hand-stitched 100% wool felt flower made from Bellwether Felt by Benzie Design.
• Red rick rack inserted around the perimeter.

💭 Which project is your favorite? I’d love to hear what inspires you most—whether it’s the cheerful florals, the creative details, or the joy of stitching something handmade!

I hope my stop on the Flower Market Fabric Tour has sparked your creativity. Be sure to visit the Poppie Cotton Blog and follow them on social media for even more inspiration using this gorgeous collection.

💮 Fallen in love with Flower Market like I have? Be sure to ask for it at your favorite quilt shop—it’s shipping now!

💫 And the fun doesn’t stop here…

➡️ Thursday, September 25th – I’ll be sharing a brand-new Benzie Design tutorial… think Halloween! 👻🦇

➡️ October 20th – I’ll be back for my next Poppie Cotton Fabric Tour stop, featuring fresh new projects with the upcoming Unicorn Dreams collection 🦄

➡️ Coming Soon – For those of you eagerly awaiting photos of my exclusive class designs for the Threadworxs Fair in June 2026, the wait is almost over—they’ll be posted here VERY soon! 🎨

Thank you so much for visiting today—I truly appreciate your support and enthusiasm. I can’t wait to share what’s next. Until then, happy sewing & stitching, friends. 🧵💖