Helloo! It’s been a long time! I’m happy to be back on the blog, and hoping I figure out how to make it a habit again in 2026.

This week I’m so pleased to be part of the Lunar Glow Blog Hop! Lunar Glow is a gorgeous new fabric line from Lumin Fabrics (formerly Island Batik.) This is a signature line by Claudia Porter, and it is STUNNING.

I decided to use my Portals quilt pattern to make a sample with this fabric. Every time I make another sample of Portals I remember why I like the pattern so much. I also realize why designers so often revisit old patterns. It’s so comforting to go back to something you love to make.

To get started, I decided I needed a dark fabric for the border and the “portals”. I also wanted a pop color and chose one of my favorites - magenta!

Here is my vision board - sometimes It helps me to get the colors sorted and the idea out for reference. Once I’m in the storm of scraps and wild cutting I tend to lose my way. This little reference is a huge help.

Portals is a really fun introduction to improv piecing, one of my favorite modern quilting techniques. Improv means different things to different people. For me, it means allowing my fabrics and random inspirations to lead the process. I know I want to finish with a quilt. For this project I know I’m going to do 3-sided log cabin blocks, wonky and using a gradient of colors on each block. My construction decisions are all fairly straight-forward, but I do allow for adjustments as I go along. Sometimes full improv (like Irene Roderick) is too much. I like to have some kind of framework to hold my project. If it feels too constrictive I can change as I go, but having that frame helps me to get started and avoid analysis paralysis.

I brought the top with me to QuiltCon and got a pic with Claudia! I was so delighted to meet her in person!

Here is the top today. I had fully intended to finish it off and have it quilted, but life interfered, again. This quilt wants to be larger, and also wants to be featured in a video course. So, I’ll be doing more work on it over the coming weeks.

Would you like to learn improv piecing? I’m considering running a sew along (pre-recorded this time, so I actually finish it!) It is so fun to teach people, and to encourage them to try the techniques I really love.