In this new year of 2026, Bijou and I are getting to know each other (see below) and it’s just wonderful having her in my life. I have several projects in mind this year, namely completing the Las Passacaglia, now in its 3rd year of making (after several breaks from it). The Circle of Life I started last year is still on the drawing board too; the pattern is drawn up, but that’s as far as I’ve gotten. Of course, for the Bondville Fair Quilt Show this year there will be a Kid’s Kwilt and the Crazy Antique Quilt, made out of the last of the antique blocks donated by Carolyn Harris. Thanks again to the whole Harris Family for their generous donations of these precious blocks!
At the end of June 2025, my dear sweet dog of 14 years, Edgar, died. I immediately made a pillow with his image (left, at back between the 2 yellow pillows), and it has given me great comfort. At first, my nerves reacted as if he was there, but now, it’s just a happy reminder of my old friend. he had been ill since 2023 with diabetes and blindness had set in. But he was always a happy guy, until 2025. He died in one day of a brain tumor. I will miss him forever.
On a happier note, in early 2026, the Animal Distribution System delivered a wonderful cat I have named Bijou (left), from the Second Chance Animal Center in Arlington, VT. The is a 2-year old taupe-colored dilute torte, a people-cat for sure, and eventually she will be a dog-cat too, once I get dogs later this year.
Last year 2025 was quilt-busy. I’ve gotten back to the Las Passacaglia that I started a few years ago. My Dresden Buffet won 1st Prize Small Quilt at the Bondville Fair this year! My first quilt restoration project made lots of progress. I also completed a long awaited Dreaming of the Beach II, a copy of one I had sold several years ago. One of this year’s raffle quilts, Kid’s Kwilt, for the Bondville Fair Quilt Show was a charmer. The other raffle piece made from donated-antique blocks Antique Fan Circles. I had a lot of older quilts at theShow and the Bennington QuiltFest that year.
In 2024, things were less productive. I did complete the 32raffle quilts for the Bondville Fair: Kids’ Korner Quilt and Antique Butterfly II ,and another quilt that the Fair gifted to Laura G who runs the Winhall Community Art Center called Grandmother’s Flower Garden. I also did a quilt for my new nephew Montgomery’s Tartan. Thanks to Penny Allen, I got this year’s Barn Quilt and some banners done for the Fair too. In the final month of the year, I finished a quickly designed and executed Xmas Table Runner.
As if my years are flip-flopping in productivity, 2023 was again a quilt making year. I completed Tossed Radicchio Salad and Christmas Trees . In the second half of December, I completed the Veggie Garden and the hand-qppiqued and quilted Dreaming of Fall quilts, both started long ago. How cathartic it is to complete old UFOs! Below are more monthly details.
November 2023: I have been organizing my sewing room with newly unpacks boxes of stuff, and I came across my UFOs (Unfinished Objects). So I have decided to get them done before the end of the year! I just finished Milo’s Bargello, started in 1999! I have also just finished Blacks-Grays-Whites, finished Oscar’s Legacy, and just started another scrap quilt called Tossed Salad.
August-September-October 2023: Well! A lot has happened since May! I purchased a house with an old friend, renovated it and moved in July 1st. The 225th Year of the Bondville Fair took place in August, and the Quilt Hall show was a roaring success! As Treasurer there were tons of things to do, but as the superintendent of the Quilt Hall, I had the best volunteers and had a great time. I was also able to create a Barn Quilt for the Hall. I was honored to received the 1st and 2nd small quilt ribbons for Hen Rietta and Alice Nova respectively. In September I was in charge of the Quilt Registration for the QuiltFest in Bennington and will be next year too. On top of that, this was the busy season at my full-time remote job. I have set some personal records these past few months!
May 2023: Preparing to close and renovate our new house here in southern Vermont, I a moving along with my first La Passacaglia quilt (referred to by the short version “La Pas”). I’m so happy that it is not intimidating me! I was afraid of it for a while, then I was worried that although I could do it, I would not WANT to do it. But all is well, I am very happy doing it.
April 2023: I made my first La Pas rosette (below). Also completed the Antique Butterfly top (bottom image, on bed), and finished quilting the round Alice Nova. Also started design and piecing work with Penny on the 225 commemorative quilt for the Bondville Fair in August. My partner are trying to purchase a house, and we hopefully close on May 12th, so things will come to a halt around then. I’ve also re-designed the Snow Making Pond quilt into a ‘hexified panel’ quilt.
March 2023: I just completed piecing the Gypsy Party and I’m thrilled with how it looks. Now I need to get border fabric and quilt it.
February 2023: I have received everything I need to start my ultimate English Paper Piecing (EPP) project – La Mia Passacaglia. I know, I’m about 5 years late to discover amazing quilt making fads. Not surprising as I’m not a traditional quilt maker. But this intricate EPP quilt is the one I’ve been working up to.
This year I have been working on my EPP project Gypsy Party (above right) most days. I finally completed Hen Rietta (below left) last month and I really love the way it has turned out. I completed the Dresden Plate Jean Impey workshop quilt I made called And Read All Over which sold at the Fair. For the Bondville Fair this year, I am working on an antique butterfly quilt (bottom), and have drafted a few ideas for a 225th Year of the Fair commemorative quilt. Still on my plate from last year is the quilting of Alice Nova (very bottom left), which I’m quilting now. So my quilt making life is wonderfully busy.
One of my big project this year is my Snow Making Pond quilt (top left). I’m still in the design part of the work, but I hope to get to it very soon.
English Paper Piecing, Stack-n-Whack and fusible web appliqué have been my main passions. I plan to submit some quilts to the Maple Leaf Quilter guild for the April Festival of Lights show (below middle and right). I will be submitting 2 quilts to the Bondville Fair this year, and perhaps a couple to the Bennington QuiltFest in September.
Karoline Wallace 