A Simple Spring Start (with the Sweetest Flower Quilt Block🌸)

There’s something about this time of year that makes me crave a fresh start. A year seems to be flowing so fast, and you wonder whether you’ve taken the time to really enjoy the year yet. Is it also time to look back a little and adjust a little. 

Not in a big, overwhelming, “let’s redo everything” kind of way…
but in a quiet, gentle shift.
A little softness.
A little lightness.

And for me, that often begins in the sewing room.

Lately, I’ve been feeling the pull toward spring…even if it doesn’t quite look like spring outside where I am. It’s more of a feeling than a season, isn’t it? That sense of hope. Of something new beginning. Of wanting to surround yourself with things that feel a little brighter, a little lighter.

So I decided to start small.

A Simple Wall Hanging to Welcome Spring

I picked up the Simply Sweet pattern by Lori Holt for It’s Sew Emma, and right away… I knew it was exactly what I needed.

If you’re like me, you’ve got fat quarter bundles stacked everywhere with very little plan for actually using them.

That fabric guilt is real. You see gorgeous bundles, buy them with the best intentions, and then they sit in your stash while you scroll Pinterest looking for the perfect pattern. Meanwhile, the pile grows and the finishing rate stays very low, but the beautiful collections keeps coming out and you simply love the idea of working with them!

Well, today, I am sharing you one way that I’ll be trying to stick to this year and possibly till the next year. I am following along with the book Fat Quarters by the Dozen from Its Sew Emma. There are twelve quilts designed specifically for those bundles you’ve been hoarding, with instructions so clear even beginner-friendly patterns feel like wins instead of stressful experiments. 

Let’s Talk About UFOs (and the Quiet Guilt We Don’t Say Out Loud)

You walk into your sewing room with a plan.

Today, so today… you will finish something.

You open a drawer…
then another…
then a basket…

…and suddenly you’re staring at a stack of unfinished projects. The photo below shows my UFOs from long time ago. And yet, I still have some of them in my UFO pile. Today, we are going to unpack the guilt around UFO and learn how to make a gentle move around them. Read more below — and tell me, do you have a UFO that’s been quietly judging you too?

A Great Start to 2026: Cleaning Up, Finishing Up & Just Getting It Done

One of the best ways I’ve learned to start a new year is not by starting something new, but by finishing what’s already been started.

As I eased into 2026, I decided to look through my basket of nearly-there projects. You know the ones like sampler pieces, practice blocks, things that were made with intention but never quite crossed the finish line. This time, I made a simple decision: they deserved to be finished.

I grabbed a handful of leftover bindings from my scrap basket and used them to finish my free-motion quilting border sampler pieces. No overthinking. No matching stress. Just choosing what was already there and moving forward.

And honestly?
It was so much fun.

Check out what I made below!!

My Abloom Quilt Finish (Sew Sampler – May 2025)

I’m so happy to finally be sharing this finish — my Abloom quilt, made from the May 2025 Sew Sampler Box. This is one of those projects that quietly stayed with me throughout the year, and seeing it fully quilted and finished feels especially satisfying.

The fabric collection, Abloom by Corey Yoder for Moda Fabrics, is just beautiful. Soft, cheerful florals with a timeless feel — the kind of prints that instantly lift your mood. I especially loved working with the panel that came in the box; it really anchors the quilt and makes it feel special.

I followed the pattern exactly as written, and honestly, it was such an enjoyable make. Even though I did experience a little stall along the way (which I shared in my previous blog post HERE> , the construction itself was smooth and fun. This is something I’ve come to really appreciate about Sew Sampler projects — they’re thoughtfully designed and a pleasure to sew.

Quilt Details at a Glance

(This is where I personally love to glance back later too!)

• Fabric: Abloom by Corey Yoder for Moda Fabrics
  👉 FABRIC COLLECTION HERE>
• Pattern: From the May 2025 Sew Sampler Box by Fat Quarter Shop – (pattern is exclusively for box subscribers only)
  👉 Subscribe to SEW SAMPLER HERE>
• Finished Size: 53″ × 70.5″
• Machine: Janome Horizon (domestic machine)
  👉 Check out the SEWING MACHINE HERE>
• Quilting Design: Large-scale meandering

Check out more photos of the quilt and the process below:

My Favourite Quilting Tools of 2025 (The Ones I Reached For Again & Again)

As the year winds down and I tidy up my sewing room for a fresh start in 2026, I always find myself reflecting on the quilting tools that truly made a difference this year. Some tools were pleasant surprises, some old favourites stayed loyal, and some became total game-changers for my quilting workflow.

If you’re looking to refresh your tool kit or find great gift ideas for a quilting friend, here are my most-used quilting tools of 2025…

I’ve been working on the Designer Mystery 2023 quilt — Fat Quarter Shop’s long-running and beloved mystery BOM program. This quilt project has taken me a little longer than planned because I kept contemplating different layout ideas. Part of me wanted to redesign it entirely, but since I had already cut most of the finishing pieces, I eventually decided to stick with the provided layout and just tweak it slightly to match my style. Sometimes the best thing is to keep going at your own pace, enjoy the process, and let the quilt evolve naturally.

One thing I’ve loved about this quilt from the very beginning is the fabric. Camille Roskelley has always been one of my favorite designers, and this collection is absolutely gorgeous. Every finished block feels like a joy and I simply enjoyed them individually, and when placed together, it’s shaping up to be a truly beautiful quilt. The quilt measures generously once completed, and I already know this will be one of those quilts I treasure for years.

Curious how my Designer Mystery 2023 is coming together and why BOM programs are perfect for your next quilt? Continue to read the full story below:

Grateful Hearts & Autumn Nights Quilt Finish 

November has always felt like a gentle pause between the rush of the year and the anticipation of what’s next. I love fall season even though we don’t have seasons in Malaysia, the thoughts of fall always remain in my heart. It was my favourite season when I was in Australia. The air turns softer, the evenings grow longer, and everything seems to slow down just a little — inviting us to reflect, to rest, and to be grateful.

This year, I’ve been reminding myself to truly enjoy the moment while it lasts. It’s so easy to get caught up worrying about what December will bring, what winter might feel like, or what the new year holds. But November — with its cozy colors and slower pace — is a beautiful reminder to focus on the now. To enjoy the blessings we already have today. A quiet sewing evening. A warm drink. A finished quilt.

And speaking of quilts… my Autumn Nights Quilt is finally finished! This is a free pattern and a recently finished quilt-along –> Autumn Nights Quilt Along.

It’s amazing what a fat quarter bundle and a free pattern can become — see how this fall quilt turned out, you’ll want to see the little tiny pumpkins that I quilted in this quilt!! Enjoy all the photos below.