A Quilt Full of Memories and Love

Honouring My Nana, Bunny

I do a little happy dance when I get a quilt back from being professionally quilted. I’m not even kidding—I can’t help it! You know that feeling when you’ve been working on something for so long, putting in all the love, time, and creativity, and then it finally comes together? That’s me when a finished quilt lands back in my hands.

I’ll be honest, for larger or more intricate quilts, I send them to a professional long-arm quilter. Sure, I love doing as much of the work as I can myself, but sometimes, especially with the detailed projects, I know they’ll come out even better with a pro’s touch. And when I get them back? Oh my gosh, I’m like a kid at Christmas!

Take this latest quilt, for example. It means so much to me for reasons I can’t wait to share, and seeing it completed just fills me with joy. Every stitch and every swirl of thread reminds me of why I love quilting in the first place—it’s a creative outlet, a connection to history, and a way to express care for the people in my life.

This particular quilt holds a very special place in my heart. I inherited almost 90% of my Nana Bunny’s quilting room after we sadly lost her in April of this year. Bunny wasn’t just my Nana—she was my quilting mentor, my inspiration. She taught me nearly everything I know about quilting, and my passion for it comes directly from the time we spent together in her sewing room.

I’m the only one in our family who took up quilting after her. My mom is one of five kids, I’m one of fourteen grandkids, and there are 26 great-grandkids in the family (soon to be 27!). So, it feels like such a blessing to have shared this beautiful craft with her. I have such fond memories of sitting in that room, listening to her stories and learning her techniques, surrounded by the warmth of fabric and the hum of the sewing machine. Those moments mean the world to me.

After she passed, I discovered this quilt in one of the many drawers I inherited from her. It was almost finished, about 90% complete, just waiting for a final touch. As fate would have it, one of my cousins is currently expecting the 27th great-grandchild—and she was able to tell Bunny the good news just before we lost her. It felt only fitting that I finish this quilt for her new baby, a little one Bunny never got to meet but whose life she still touched.

I sent the quilt off to be professionally quilted, and it came back more beautiful than I could have imagined. To make it even more special, I added love hearts around the border, symbolising Bunny’s lasting presence and protection. In a way, I feel like she’ll always be with us, forever watching over the family, forever in our hearts.

This quilt is a tribute to her—my teacher, my Nana, and the reason I love quilting as much as I do.

If you want to read more about my journey with quilting and the ways Bunny influenced me you can subscribe or follow me on Instagram.