Clue 8: The Big Reveal… and My Big Pink Feelings

Well, it’s happened. I've finally reached Clue 8 of the Lupine & Laughter Mystery Quilt. The layout has been revealed, and I now officially know what this quilt is going to look like.

Which is wonderful.
And exciting.
And also…in my eyes... very pink.

Now, look—I did this to myself. Nobody forced me to pick pink. Nobody snuck into my sewing room and replaced my neutrals with bubblegum and flamingo tones. No, I boldly declared back in November:

“I’m going to challenge myself this year! I’m going to use pink! It’ll be FUN!”

And now I’m staring at the reveal layout thinking:

“Oh no. I have made a terrible, rosy-tinted mistake.”

Pink Is… a Lot

Pink and I have never been best friends. At best, we nod politely when passing in the fabric aisle. At worst, we pretend the other doesn’t exist. So naturally, I chose this mystery quilt—this bright, joyful, lupine-inspired adventure—to shove myself outside the comfort zone.

And shove I did.

Clue 8 put all the pieces together, and suddenly my design wall looks like it hosted a convention of extroverted flamingos. There are entire blocks shouting PINK! with the enthusiasm of a toddler who’s had too much fruit punch.

Is it pretty?
Absolutely.
Is it my usual aesthetic?
Absolutely not.
Should I have anticipated this when I picked the color palette?
…Let’s not dwell on that.

Trusting the Process (And My Past Self’s Questionable Decisions)

Despite the shock of seeing all that pink organized into an actual quilt design, I’m sticking with the plan. I trusted the process through the previous seven clues of “What is this going to be?”, and I’m trusting it now—even if it means embracing a color that feels, frankly, a little loud for someone who prefers calmer hues.

Because here’s the thing:
Now that the big picture is visible… it is beautiful.
Bold, happy, floral, lively—and yes, pink enough to make a flamingo blush.

And maybe that’s the point. Maybe my fabric choices knew I needed a quilt that would shake me up a bit. Maybe there’s room in my quilting life (and maybe even my actual life?) for a little more brightness.

Moving Forward (Into the Pink Light)

So I’m forging ahead!
Quilting with enthusiasm!
Pretending I’m not questioning Past Me’s sanity!
Accepting that sometimes a creative challenge means letting pink take over your sewing room and possibly your personality.

Stay tuned for assembly updates, wherein I either:

• fall hopelessly in love with this exuberant quilt,
• or become known as “the quilter who bravely survived a pink-themed mystery.”

Either way, Lupine & Laughter has delivered on its name.
The lupines are beautiful—and the laughter is mostly me laughing at myself!

Chasing Lupines, Laughter, and the Elusive Evening Hour

Some evenings—usually when the full-time workday finally releases me from its jaws—I tiptoe into my quilt space for a much-needed battery recharge. It’s my happy place, my sanctuary, my fabric-filled spa (minus the cucumber water, plus a healthy layer of thread trimmings). In there, nothing demands a meeting, and absolutely no one says “quick question?” from behind a cubicle wall.

Lately, I’ve been circling back to Part 4 of Bonnie Hunter’s Lupine and Laughter mystery quilt. I’m working the clues out of order, which feels a bit rebellious—like the quilting equivalent of eating dessert before dinner. I started this clue once already, but now I’m giving it the attention it deserves instead of the “I have ten minutes before I fall asleep sitting up” version.

This also marks my real introduction to the Creative Grids Half Rectangle Trim Tool. I can’t claim any long, complicated past with half-rectangle triangles; we were basically strangers until this week. But as first dates go, this one is going pretty well. After a few trial runs and one moment where I questioned the direction of all my life choices, the units are trimming up beautifully. The ruler has a very reassuring energy, like it’s saying, “Relax, I’ve seen worse angles than whatever you just stitched.”

And because I apparently enjoy chaos with my creativity, I’ve also tiptoed back to a longarm quilting project that’s been quietly aging like fine cheese. I’ll keep that vague, because even I’m still figuring out what Past Me was attempting—but the longarm and I are cautiously rebuilding trust.

These little evening sewing sessions—five minutes, fifteen, whatever I can wrestle away from the day—feel like small victories. Truly, a handful of seams can undo a whole day of meetings and revive my soul faster than any scented candle ever could.

Here’s to lupines, laughter, and squeezing in stitching time whenever life looks the other way!

Clue 7: The Case of the Kitty Ears (and Other Quilty Shenanigans)

This week’s installment of Lupine and Laughter, felt a little less “lupine” and a whole lot more “laughter”—specifically the slightly unhinged, quilter-on-hour-three-of-cutting kind.  I have started the clues each week Bonnie released them, but I am clearly working to my own rhythm on this project when it comes to finishing them. 😉

Clue 7 called to me today, with its cheerful instructions, and right there in the middle of them was the line that struck fear into the heart of every scrap-loving quilter: "trim the seam allowance"

“Trim off the kitty ears?”

Excuse me? Trim them off?
As in… throw them away?
As in… waste them?

Bonnie, Bonnie, Bonnie. You know us too well. You knew this would cause a stir.

Now, I’m a rule follower when it comes to mystery quilts (mostly—don’t ask about Clue 3). So I dutifully trimmed off those little triangles. 

But as they started piling up beside my machine like a tiny mountain of potential, I could hear the whispers:

“Don’t toss us.”
“We could be something.”
“Surely this quilt needs a coordinating mini-quilt? Or maybe a mug rug? A coaster? A small but mighty cat-sized cape?”

Who am I to ignore the pleas of triangles?

So instead of brushing them into the trash—because we all know that was never going to happen—I started chaining the little cat-ear half-square-triangle pairs together. One after another, like a parade of miniature possibilities, sewing themselves into… well… something.

What something?
Honestly, no idea.

Right now I have a growing chain of teeny tiny HSTs, absolutely adorable, completely unnecessary, and full of chaotic promise. Will they become a border? A pincushion? A tiny emotional-support quilt for when Clue 8 hits? I genuinely do not know.

But I’m sewing them anyway.

Because if quilting has taught me anything, it’s this:

Always save the scraps.  One quilt's scraps could provide another entire quilt (it at least a portion thereof).

So check back next week—or possibly in three months when I rediscover this pile and wonder what past-me was thinking—and we’ll find out together what these tiny triangles evolve into.

Until then, may your seams be straight, your triangles behave, and your scraps inspire only slightly unhinged decisions.

Happy stitching!

Lupine and Laughter: Trusting Bonnie, One Seam at a Time

I am currently working on Bonnie Hunter’s mystery quilt Lupine and Laughter, which means my sewing room looks like a fabric store had a minor emotional breakdown. There are stacks of units everywhere, scraps multiplying overnight, and at least one pile I’m pretending is organized.

Progress? Yes. Fast? Absolutely not.

This phase of the mystery is what I like to call “faith-based quilting.” You cut a lot. You sew a lot. You press until your iron questions your life choices. And at no point do you fully understand what’s happening—but you trust Bonnie. Because Bonnie always knows. (Even when I am quietly suspicious.)

I have, of course, been peeking at photos from people who’ve already finished. Just a tiny peek. For motivation. Purely scientific research. And WOW. Their finished quilts are gorgeous, dynamic, and proof that my current chaos will someday become something spectacular. Also proof that some people sew much faster than I do, but we won’t dwell on that.

My own progress is best described as “steady with frequent snack breaks.” A few units at a time, a lot of rearranging, and the occasional moment of panic followed by relief when everything lines up exactly as promised. Slowly but surely, the pile of finished pieces is growing—and that is deeply satisfying.

So for now, I’ll keep stitching, keep trusting, and keep laughing at the mystery (and sometimes at myself). Lupine and Laughter is already living up to its name, and I can’t wait to see how all these bits and pieces finally come together.

Now if you’ll excuse me, my sewing machine is calling—and I think my iron needs a break. 😉

🧵💜✂️

Welcome 2026: New Threads, Fresh Starts, and a Year of Making

As the final days of 2025 are behind us and slipping quietly into memory, it’s time to welcome a brand-new year here at Highland Stitches. There’s something especially fitting about a new year for quilters — a clean edge, a fresh layout, and endless possibilities waiting to be pieced together.

The start of 2026 feels like opening a neatly folded stack of fabric: full of potential, colour, and ideas just waiting for the first cut.

Looking Back with Gratitude (and Finished Quilts!)

2025 was a very good year in the sewing room. One of my main goals was to finish more projects than I started, and I’m happy to say that goal was met. More quilts were completed, bound, and enjoyed than were added to the ever-growing list of ideas — a satisfying achievement that brought both clarity and joy.

Each finished quilt tells a story, not just in its fabrics and patterns, but in the time spent piecing, quilting, and bringing it to life. 

Quilting Intentions for 2026

Rather than big resolutions, this year is about thoughtful, steady progress and enjoying the rhythm of quilting:

• More finishes — continuing the momentum from 2025

• Scrap and stash sewing — using what’s already on hand

• Slow stitching — enjoying some time with hand piecing and hand quilting

• Room to experiment — new blocks, layouts, and quilting ideas

The focus remains on finding pleasure in the process, even when seams don’t line up perfectly and plans evolve mid-project.

A Gentle Start to the New Year

Quilting has a way of grounding us — one piece at a time, one seam after another. In 2026, I hope this space continues to celebrate quilts that are made to be used, loved, and shared, not just finished.

Whether you’re quilting every day or stealing moments when you can, you’re always welcome here.

Here’s to 2026

May your seams be straight enough, your bobbin never run out at the worst moment, and your quilts bring warmth and comfort wherever they land. Thank you for beginning another year with Highland Stitches. I’m looking forward to all the quilts — finished and in-progress — that 2026 will bring.

Happy New Year and happy quilting ✨🧵