Ocean Institute and Hoffman California Fabrics
have collaborated on an original aloha shirt that tells the story of Ocean
Institute and the coastal community it calls home. Designed exclusively by
Hoffman California Fabrics for the Dana Point nonprofit, the custom print
brings together recognizable animals, vessels and landmarks from Ocean Institute’s
waterfront campus in a design rooted in Southern California’s ocean culture.
Longtime Hoffman California Fabrics artist Hue Nguyen created the amazing art for the commemorative shirt.
The collaboration brings a long-held Ocean
Institute vision to life at a particularly meaningful moment. Founded in 1977,
Ocean Institute will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2027. The new shirt
offers staff, volunteers, members and supporters an early way to carry that
legacy forward and to share the story of the place that has introduced
generations of students to marine science, maritime history and the ocean.
Members of the Hoffman team visited Ocean
Institute to experience the campus firsthand and photograph the animals,
vessels and landmarks that would inspire the design. Longtime Hoffman artist
Hue Nguyen then transformed those photographs into an original pattern that
serves as a visual tour of Ocean Institute, featuring the historic tall ship
Spirit of Dana Point, R/V Sea Explorer, local marine life and specific campus
landmarks. Together, the elements reflect the hands-on experiences at the heart
of Ocean Institute’s mission: “Using the ocean as our classroom, we inspire
children to learn.” “This collaboration captures the spirit of Ocean Institute
in a way that feels joyful, distinctive and deeply connected to Dana Point,”
said Riley Russell, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of
Ocean Institute. “Every detail in the pattern represents an important part of
the experience we share with our students and guests, from encountering marine
life to stepping aboard a historic tall ship. As we approach our 50th
anniversary, this shirt gives our community a meaningful way to celebrate the
people, programs and place that have shaped Ocean Institute for generations.”
The Ocean Institute is an ocean education organization located in Dana Point, California. Founded as the Orange County Marine Institute in 1977, it offers ocean science and maritime history programs for K–12 students and their teachers.
The collaboration brings together two
organizations with deep ties to Southern California’s coastal culture. Hoffman
California Fabrics grew from a family textile business into an influential
force in surf style under brothers Walter and Philip “Flippy” Hoffman, pioneering
big wave surfers whose tropical fabrics helped shape the emerging surfwear industry.
The brothers supplied textiles to brands including Quiksilver and Billabong and
were inducted together into the Surfing Walk of Fame’s Surf Culture category in
2006.
“This partnership with Ocean Institute was really special—Ocean Institute and their team are dear friends of the Hoffman family. They were excited to know that we could turn their special landmarks and the culture of Ocean Institute into a hand-painted design that could be worn! Seeing the shirt debuted at their Maritime Festival was fun and we know the print will be used for years to come for many different items!” Hailey Hoffman
Hoffman California Fabric’s original Jungle Bird fabric is the iconic shirt from Magnum P.I. Need I tell you the name of that handsome guy?
The custom shirts are now available at the Ocean Institute Gift Shop, with sales going towards supporting Ocean Institute’s nonprofit mission to inspire the next generation of ocean stewards. They are sure to become as iconic as the “Jungle Bird” Hawaiian shirt worn by Tom Selleck in Magnum, P.I., which features a tropical screen-print design created by Hoffman California Fabrics, and is now preserved in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History.
In other words, you’ll want one . It will be worth the visit!
It’s already the end of September, or in other words, the end of National Sewing Month. While I may have missed it on social media, my sewing room begs to differ. I apologize for having my head down (in case you missed me!) but I have been sewing, pressing and quilting as fast as my rotary blade could cut.
“What ever for?,” you ask. It’s all for the h-h
Show, which opens Wednesday in Houston
Texas, and I (and lots of quilts) will be there! I hope to see you too.
The next Palette of the Season quilt, Midnight Cabanas, will be making its debut in the Hoffman booth. If you’re looking for me, I’ll probably be standing right next to it, telling anyone who will listen to me how much I really like this quilt, and why they need to order the free kit and pattern that comes with the twelve bolts for their shop. I truly think this is the favorite among all the quilts I have ever made, although I can’t really give a reason for it.
Midnight Cabanas kits will ship to shops in December 2026 with bolts to follow in January 2027.
Maybe it’s the new 1895 Bali Watercolor Batiks that I got to incorporate into the pattern, because the new colors (all twenty-four of them!) are really quite lovely. It certainly can’t be the forty-five three-inch pinwheel blocks (which made me groan about who was the idiot who designed this pattern—spoiler alert—it’s me). But buck up, the end result is so worth it!
The pinwheel lineup.
I had a little fun with some not-too-hard applique, and a
little free-form cutting for the sandy beach. Yes, I designed it, but I also really
did make it, and I found it all very doable. The good news is you shouldn’t
be under any pressure to get it done in time for a quilt show!
While I’m talking about the new Hoffman California Batiks, I
have to remind you about all the projects (many, many of them free) that are in
the newest Bali Batik catalog. It is a timeless supply of creative ideas.
Speaking of catalogs, the latest Fall Project Catalog is out
now too! It’s full of yummy projects (including a few from the Gourmet Quilter as
seen on the cover, since we’re talking “yummy”), using the latest fabric
lines. If you can’t get to h+h to see them in person, I’m sure your favorite Hoffman
California Fabrics rep will be calling on you soon. Or you can always call them
(hint, hint) and get your orders on the books.
I’ll leave you with a little eye candy of just a few more
projects from the catalog. Please stop and say “hi” if you see me in
Houston. Chatting with other quilters is my favorite way to spend the day.
Who can resist this adorable bear panel? Patterns by Tourmaline & Thyme Quilts (left) and Castilleja Cotton (right).
I’ve been thinking about how to make Flying Geese. Just to be clear, a Flying Geese unit is a classic rectangular unit where the center triangle is the “goose”, and it is flanked by two smaller triangles, the “sky”. These units can be used in hundreds of different blocks and borders.
The dilemma for me is, “What’s
the best way to write directions for Flying Geese in a pattern?” I’m not
sure there is a right answer for that. I’ve been quizzing my quilting friends
and perusing OPPs (other people’s patterns). I get that it’s not as deep a
question as “What is the meaning of life?”, but it is certainly keeping
my mind busy.
Over the years (and there have been a lot of years), I’ve made Flying Geese in just about every way possible. The one basic rule stands: A Flying Geese unit is always twice as wide as it is tall. The rest is a toss-up, and every method requires slightly different cutting and yardage requirements. Hence the pattern writer’s dilemma!
Can you guess how many Flying Geese are in the Star Burst by the Gourmet Quilter? I’ll wait while you count.
In my early quilting days, I started with the worst Flying Geese method (in my opinion), which is to cut one large square into quarter square triangles, (make an X) and smaller squares in half diagonally, then sew those parts together. I honestly never had one unit come out to the perfect size! If you’re a beginner, and someone tells you to make them that way, run! It’s all those bias edges that stretch when you sew. It truly is the no-waste method, unless you need to trash the unit, cut new pieces and try again. Been there, done that!
I soon learned the flip-over method, a much easier and accurate way to go. Simply cut a rectangle that is ½” larger (both width and height) than the finished unit size. Cut two squares that are a ½” larger than the height. For example, a 4″ x 2″ finished Flying Geese unit would need a 4 ½” x 2 ½” rectangle, and two 2 ½” squares. Mark diagonal lines on the backs of both squares, align a square on one side of the rectangle with right sides together, and sew on the line. Trim and press to the corner. Repeat with the other square to complete the unit. Pretty simple, right?
So why not make them this way every time? Well, it does use a bit more fabric than other methods, since you are “wasting” the cut away corner, and you’re only making one Flying Geese unit at a time. In a pattern with lots of Flying Geese, it can really be time consuming. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the Bloc-Loc rulers along with this method, which you can use to trim your unit to an absolute perfect size if you’re still struggling. But…you need to cut your rectangle and squares a slightly different size to allow for trimming. What’s a pattern writer to do?
Trimming makes for perfect Flying Geese. No whining allowed, though.
Next, I was introduced to Quilt in a Day’s Flying Geese ruler, a tool and method that quickly became my favorite, and still is. One large square and one smaller square make four units at a time. Viola! What’s the problem here? You do need to have the right size ruler, since each ruler only makes two sizes, i.e., the Small Flying Geese ruler makes a 3″ x 1 ½” or 6″ x 3″. You need a different ruler for different sizes, something you may not have (or have but can’t find!) in the middle of the night when inspiration strikes. And, as was pointed out to me by a disgruntled pattern customer, “I didn’t know I’d have to do that much trimming!”
Then there is the (really)
No-Waste Flying Geese method. The quilt math on this one is pretty simple: Add
1 ¼” to the finished width of your Flying Geese unit, and cut a
square that size for the “Goose”. Cut four squares that are ⅞” larger than the height of the finished unit
for the “Sky”. For example, to make a 4″ x 2″ Flying Geese
unit, cut one 5 ¼” square, and four 2 ⅞” squares.
The No-Waste method is efficient, and makes four Flying Geese units at a time, but it can be more challenging.
Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the smaller squares. With right sides together, place two smaller squares on opposite corners of the larger square. The small squares will overlap in the center. Pin in place and sew a ¼” seam on both sides of the drawn line. Cut apart on the line to make two units and press seams open.
With right sides together, place a smaller square
on each unit, and sew ¼” seam on both sides of the drawn line. Cut apart
on the line and press seams open.
I’ve written this method into several of my patterns, and I’ve seen it a lot in OPP. But then my favorite fabric rep told me how much quilters hate it. (Really?) I’ve done it, and I’ll admit that if you’re seams aren’t really scant, it gets a bit tight for your units to come out to the correct size. But for those who sew perfectly, and hate trimming, this is the method for you.
Last but not least, two half-square triangles can make a Flying Geese look-alike unit, but they will have a seam in the middle. While it’s not really a Flying Geese unit, I won’t tell if you won’t.
Do you have a preferred method that I missed? Let me know!
I absolutely love (virtually) meeting new designer friends! This week I had the pleasure of chatting with Lisa Alley from Bear Hug Quiltworks, a quilt pattern designer extraordinaire, with a background in Civil Engineering. You can bet her quilt math is spot on! Lisa shared she once worked as a Bernina Tech and did a stint as a fabric rep. Plus she currently long-arm quilts for customers. It’s safe to say she has done it all in the quilting world, as you’ll read below. Here’s a bit from our conversation:
Q: How long have you been designing patterns? A: I’ve been “seriously” designing patterns for about 14 years. I mostly design quilts, although I recently designed a table runner that Hoffman has kitted. That was fun and it has me thinking about other small projects. But my favorite will probably always be designing quilts.
Q: What got you started as a pattern designer? A: I was making samples for our local quilt shop and started making up patterns for fabrics that were hanging out in the shop a little too long. They had some Hoffman Bali tiles that everyone thought were beautiful but they didn’t know what to make with them. So, I made up a pattern using them and a bunch of batiks. Their Hoffman fabric rep, Kim Denault, took a photo of the quilt hanging in the shop and sent it to Hoffman, and everything took off from there.
Blue Earth perfectly captures the artistry of each focal print. Fabrics are from Land Sea Sky, a Hoffman Spectrum Digital Print collection by Jon Van Zyle.
Q: What’s your favorite thing to sew? A: I actually like simple, repetitive blocks but changing up the color and fabric combinations. I love seeing how different colors and scales change the look of a block. I don’t really have a particular style; I’d say, “I’m inclusive,” since I like it all!
A favorite class room pattern, the Brickyard quilt top, 76″ x 80″, can be made in a day! The pattern also comes in a Baby Quilt size, which Lisa swears can be made in an hour.
Q: Do you teach classes? If so, a lot? and what do you teach/lecture on? Do you have a most popular class? A: I teach occasionally at our local shop and for guilds. It’s not my favorite thing to do because I’m fairly introverted, but once I’m there, I really enjoy the people in the class and seeing their progress. The class I’ve taught the most is my Brickyard pattern. Most students finish the quilt top in a day class if they come to class with the strips already cut. It’s fun to see the different color combinations.
I do love to do programs for guilds. I have a few I do locally:
“What a Judge Sees” where I walk them
through the judging process and what the judge is looking for and why
“History of Quilting in North Carolina”
which is based on the NC Museum of History’s book plus a little more
information I’ve found
“Calming the Chaos” based off a friend’s
intervention of my messy studio and what we did to organize the space
And of course, trunk shows, my favorite!
Q: Feel free to gush about the quality of Hoffman’s Batiks 🙂 A: Hands down the best batiks! I love the feel of them and the color saturation. So yummy! (I have to agree!)
A sweet array of framed beauties makes for a picturesque design in Lisa’s Pinebluff pattern, shown in Nesting Hour, a Hoffman Spectrum Digital Print.
I also chatted with Lisa about her work style. With a Quilt Studio
behind the house, and a self-sufficient husband (her words), she puts in more
than an eight-hour day, seven-days a week. Clearly, she loves what she does,
and I can attest she’s good at it! However, she did say that “Sometimes
it’s hard to come up with a new idea.” But with eighteen (yes I counted)
new patterns in the current Hoffman project book, I’m not sure I believe her!
You can purchase Lisa’s Bear Hug Quiltworks patterns through her website, at bearhugquiltworks.com/patterns. Shops can also purchase through Checker Distributors.
Look for more from Lisa in the future! I know I’m looking forward to it. Until next time, Karen
Summer has officially overwhelmed me! I’ve been swamped with projects, pattern writing, and of course a puppy! I decided to check in with my friend, SusanClaire of the GourmetQuilter in New Zealand, to see what was up with her, and ask if she was in the same boat. Full disclosure, I am ever so jealous of her cooler weather! Here’s what she had to say:
“We have been enjoying some wonderfully frosty mornings here lately. The paddocks have been sparkling white, the air has been crisp and clear, and even the barn has looked rather magical dressed in frost. It is definitely the sort of weather that makes the warmth and colour of quilting especially appealing!”
“While I have been busy organising and updating things behind the scenes, I have also added two patterns to the Gourmet Quilter website. They have very different personalities, but both offer plenty of enjoyable piecing and opportunities to play with colour – one rich and atmospheric, the other bright and cheerful.”
Dive into rich color with In the Depths, a striking pieced quilt featuring an intriguing arrangement of squares, framed blocks and slender accent strips. Shown in beautiful blue and green batiks by Hoffman California Fabrics, the design has a wonderful sense of depth and movement. Different fabric choices could give it an entirely new personality, making it a versatile design to interpret in your own colors. Measuring approximately 55″ square, In the Depths is suitable for confident beginners and more experienced quilters looking for an enjoyable piecing project. Bring a cheerful burst of color to your sewing with Sunshine and Showers, a pieced quilt combining bold geometric shapes with pretty star blocks and a framed center. Shown in colorful fabrics by Hoffman California Fabrics, the floral prints, fresh pastels and touches of purple create a design that feels bright, lively and full of springtime promise. The varied block sizes add plenty of visual interest while making this an enjoyable project to piece. Measuring approximately 56″ square, Sunshine and Showers is suitable for confident beginners as well as more experienced quilters looking for a colorful and satisfying project.
Lucky you, both are digital PDF patterns, ready to download after purchase from the GourmetQuilter website, so you can begin planning your fabrics straight away. Both patterns feature Hoffman California Fabrics, including one of their newest collections, Polka Plaids. Look for the fabrics soon in your local quilt shop.
Want to know more about SusanClaire , the Gourmet Quilter and her delicious quilts? Join her in the free GourmetQuilter Studio Corner, Until next time, Karen
“Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the background squares. With right sides together, place a background
square on a print square. Sew ¼” seam on each side of the line. Cut apart
on the line.”
How many times have I written that instruction? And how many
times have you read that in a pattern, then groaned when you realized that
there are at least 240 half-square triangles, flying geese or hour glass
blocks?
Scotch Magic Tape is the iconic invisible, matte-finish tape produced by 3M.
There’s really a simpler way, but you can’t always put all the detailed tips in a pattern. After all, it is a pattern, not a small novel. So, I thought I’d share some of my favorite tricks, using Scotch Magic tape. Yep, that stuff you use to wrap all your Christmas gifts. They call it Magic because it disappears on the wrapping paper, I call it Magic because it’s so inexpensive and ever-so-useful! I’m really not much of a gadget girl, but Magic tape is really indispensable (pun intended, sorry!)
Aroma Primavera, a 2026 Spring Palette of the Season quilt, will arrive in quilt shops soon.
Hopefully, these tips are just a bit timely as Aroma Primavera, a Palette of the Season project (with lots of triangles!) is beginning to show up in quilt shops around the country, and Cassie’s Blooms is coming soon.
Cassie’s Blooms will begin shipping in October 2026.
So how to avoid drawing all those diagonal lines? Use a length of Magic tape (almost any width will work) that is longer that the diagonal length of the square. In other words, slightly longer than the line you are asked to draw in the pattern. I like to lightly stick the tape to my (clean! i.e., free of threads) cutting mat, and using a fine line Sharpie, draw a vertical line on the tape. Then measure exactly ¼” away from the first line, and draw a second line.
Use the tip of a pin to gently pry the tape from the mat if it’s sticking too well, and place the tape on your sewing machine, centering the vertical line of the tape with the needle. The second line should be to the right of the needle.
Place a print square on a background square, aligning with diagonal of the square with your needle and your line. Voila! Speed piece away.
Need to sew ¼” on both sides of the line? No problem,
simply align your diagonal with the next line over. As far as cutting the
squares apart on the line, you can probably figure out that you simply need to
align your ruler with the diagonal to cut. Since I usually stack several
squares to cut, I never end up cutting exactly on the line anyway 🙂
If you need to change the bobbin, and it’s a top loader like my machine, you can peel back the tape and re-align it. The best part? If the tape gets “munged up” (technical term), just create a new Magic tape strip. It will probably cost you all of three cents. With pennies out of the picture, does that mean it’s free?
On to my next use of the tape, and this is a quickie, I promise. In the Aroma Primavera pattern, you need to square up a unit to 8 ½” square, centering the center square. That can be a bit tricky, even if you have an 8 ½” square ruler. My ruler didn’t have the center lines where I needed them to be. Once again, Magic tape to the rescue! I put tape on the back of the ruler, making a cross through the center. When I placed the ruler on top of my fabric square, I could use the lines to center the middle square of the block, and trim around the ruler. When I was done trimming all the blocks, I easily removed the tape, and like Magic, my ruler was ready for the next project.
I hope these simple suggestions make your sewing life easier. Let me know if you have some tips of your own to share! Until next time, Karen
Hello again, I thought I’d pop in with an update on what
I’ve been doing, plus a few tips on leaving a comment.
It’s been a busy summer for me so far, partially due to our new Chocolate Lab puppy, Yogi. As soon as I mention to anyone that we have a new puppy (which is a nice term for the whirling dervish that we’ve foolishly invited into our home), people say, “Oooh! A puppy! Share pictures!” So even though he has nothing to do with fabric, I’m still sharing.
He looks so innocent.
As well as taking on the mini land shark, I made the same three quilts in a row (yawn) at the request of my daughter-in-law. And when I say the same, I mean identical, down to the same backing, same quilting pattern and same fabric, top pattern and binding. Do you have a favorite pattern that you’ve made more than once? Leave a comment and let me know—I’d like to know what you’re making!
Speaking of leaving a comment, either no one really reads
these posts, or you are all terribly shy. It’s also been mentioned to me that it’s
not exactly intuitive on how to leave a comment, despite my desperate pleas. Just
to encourage you to let me know you’re out there, here’s some prodding
instructions on how to comment on a post:
To leave a comment, click on the title of the post you want
to comment on. This will isolate the post from the endless string of all the
posts throughout the history of the blog. From there, scroll down to the bottom
of the isolated post and you should see a comment box. Go ahead and type in
your comment.
Once you have finished commenting, you will need to identify
yourself by name (Karen H, Mrs. Hanson, or Mystery commenter are all acceptable
names) and email. Your email address will
not be published.
When posting your comment using these options, you can
opt-in to receive email updates for new posts from this blog, and new comments
left by others. So c’mon, don’t be shy! Let’s get the conversation started.
After submitting your comment, it may not appear immediately, since I have to approve the comment. Which is just a way of keeping out bots, weirdo posts, and anything else that isn’t quite right. Are you ready? Leave a comment and just say “Hi,” let me know what you’d like to talk about, or tell me what you’re working on.
Every year, the Hoffman Challenge inspires quilters to create something extraordinary—and this year was no exception. We were amazed by the imagination, detail, and artistry sewn into every submission. Join us in celebrating this year’s winners and the beautiful artworks that captured our hearts.
All entries were evaluated using a numerical scoring system across several categories including Visual Impact, Use of Challenge Fabrics, Design, Creativity & Originality, Quilting, Craftsmanship and Workmanship.
Each judge naturally brings their own perspective and
experience to the process. Some may respond more strongly to precision piecing
and finishing details, others to visual impact, creativity, or quilting
execution. Because judging panels change from year to year, the emphasis and
outcomes can vary slightly as well, which is part of what keeps the Challenge
dynamic and interesting.
And the winners
are…
APPLIQUE CATEGORY
First Place: SAKURA SUNRISE by Joyce L. Cambron of Boise, ID
“For several years I have been hanging on to a tiny picture of a small metal sculpture (wall art) from a gift catalog. This year’s collection of Hoffman Challenge fabrics was finally the inspiration I needed to enlarge the picture and actualize my version of that artwork.” Joyce L. Cambron
According to the judges, Sakura Sunrise was especially admired for its composition, handwork, and overall execution. The use of Aurifil thread and the quality of the appliqué work helped it stand out in multiple categories.
Second Place: AMUS – GUARDIAN OF THE PRAIRIE by Liz Wagstrom of Faribault, MN
“The American bison serves as the guardian of the prairies both ecologically and culturally. I wanted to portray the majesty of the species in this quilt. I was inspired by the painting Inner Light by Megan Wimberley who graciously gave me permission to utilize her work. I constructed the eye first and felt like he watched me for the hundreds of hours I worked on him, so I gave him the name Amus – full of love. While sometimes I felt like he was judging me as I worked, I also felt like he welcomed my admiration and dedication!” Liz Wagstrom
Third Place: DAISY FIELD by Linda Bealmer of Mapleton, IL
“I was inspired to create this design after seeing a wall hanging in a pizza restaurant. I couldn’t tell what it was made of because it was too high up on the wall. It could be painted wood, canvas, or cloth, but was large. I was given permission to take a picture, and when I saw the Hoffman Challenge colors, I thought it was a good opportunity to create my version of the wall hanging.” Linda Bealmer
PIECED CATEGORY
First Place: LOLLIPOPS by Kadee Porter of Boise, ID
“Lollipops is a playful, sugary-sweet quilt. Picture it centered on a round table, surrounded by stacks of birthday presents, pink and purple balloons, and a chocolate cake topped with pink and purple sprinkles – pretty please! This whimsical design originally began as peppermints, until my husband remarked that the swirling shapes resembled the all-day suckers he remembers from his childhood. Since “All-Day Sucker” is a terrible name for a quilt, the idea evolved into “Lollipops” and was a perfect fit for this year’s Hoffman Challenge fabrics.” Kadee Porter
Second Place: CELESTIAL COMPASS by Elaine F. Class of Aurora, CO
“I drafted this quilt myself after not finding a suitable pattern. I also pieced it and quilted it on my Elna sewing machine. I like to see depth and motion in my work, and I believe that I accomplished it in this quilt.” Elaine F. Class
Third Place: HOFFMAN CELEBRATION by Barbara Stover of Waldo, OH
“This pieced quilt features freehand quilting with a double-top thread. The “gems” are salvaged from sweaters. I wanted to represent joy in the fabrics with this design.” Barbara Stover
GARMENT CATEGORY
First Place: CORSET CURVES by Dorothy Floral of Signal Hill, CA
“My chosen Project was quite the challenge for me. I decided to make a bustier, based on the corset construction but with a modern twist. I draped the style, made the pattern. Then proceeded to make my own fabric. By cutting 2 ½” strips and sewing them together creating “Curved Strips” (a new method for me) Then using the random sewn strips, cut the bodice. The skirt I wanted something short & “Flirty”. Using my own pattern with an elastic waist. Finding the notions was as challenging. The zipper, downtown Los Angeles, the trim, Hawthorne, the grommets and Coutil from Richard the Thread.” Dorothy Floral
Second Place: PINK & PURPLE by Denise J. DuBois of Dunbarton, NH
“I have two grown daughters. One daughter has always loved pink, and the other daughter has always loved purple. I also have two granddaughters. One granddaughter loves pink, and the other granddaughter loves purple. This pink and purple jacket is a tribute to my four most favorite girls. May love and positive energy always swirl around them!” Denise J. DuBois
Third Place: BIRDS AND AMETHYST BATIKS by Patricia Dews of Daytona Beach Shores, FL
“Making wearable art allows me to express my creativity and originality. The fabric choices for this year’s challenge are beautiful batiks. I put the challenge fabrics on my design wall until I was inspired, and an idea popped into my mind. I recently moved to Florida and became enamored with the large, beautiful birds I encountered. The challenge fabric’s pink colors were perfect for flamingos. I wanted to include pelicans because they fly by my condo windows.” Patricia Dews
ACCESSORIES CATEGORY
First Place: STYLISH DOG by Patricia M. James of Fredericksburg, VA
“For the dog that has everything, why not a quilted coat? Why not a leash and a poop bag?” Patricia M. James
Second Place: HAPPY FEET by Karen Mazowiecki of Wayne, NJ
“These custom sneakers celebrate Hoffman’s stunning 2025/2026 Amethyst collection. By crafting these fabrics into wearable art, I’m taking the joy of quilting beyond the studio and into daily life. Each step becomes an opportunity to share the artistry and craftsmanship of textile design, proving that gorgeous fabrics can be both functional and fashionable.” Karen Mazowiecki
Third Place: WINE & ROSES by Denise J. DuBois of Dunbarton, NH
“The fabrics used in this handbag reminded me of the beautiful Wine & Roses Weigela bush in our yard with its dark purplish burgundy leaves and electric pink flowers, thus the name, Wine & Roses.” Denise J DuBois
MIXED CATEGORY
First Place: PAPA BEAR by Luana D. Rubin of Boulder, CO
“This piece is my thank you to the Hoffman family. I have known 3 generations of their family and have appreciated how this S. California business has managed to navigate the changes in our industry and still have that California Surfer vibe. This challenge really inspired me because purple is my favorite color! It is also a nod to the bear on the California flag. I used my bear photos from a couple wildlife photo trips to Alaska. This Papa Bear is giving us a steady gaze, recalling an experience I had in the forest with an adult bear.” Luana D Rubin
Papa Bear is also the winner of the Hoffman Family Award. This award is separate from the formal judging categories. Since Hoffman is a family-owned business, the judges invite participating family members, schedule permitting, to personally select a piece for special recognition.
Second Place: STILL BLOOMING AND GROWING, NO MATTER WHAT by Orit Modiano of Ramat Gan, Israel
“Despite the hardship, I go on creating and seeing life in color.” Orit Modiano
Third Place: THE RAINBOW CROW by Cherri Kincaid from Merritt Island, FL
“The idea was to make a deliberate confusion between the two structures. Creating a sort of surrealist interpretation where the bird is turning into the plant. Each square is a self-contained design, which when put together using different colors of fabric reveals another larger design. The Rainbow Crow sacrificed his beautiful colors by carrying fire from heaven to warm the animals on earth from the snow.” Cherri Kincaid
MODERN CATEGORY
First Place: LIKE A TREE FIRMLY PLANTED by Sharon L. Schlotzhauer of Aurora, CO
“This stylized, modern work is Inspired by Psalm 1:3… “…He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water…” I had wanted to make a quilt with a single large tree for a long time so started sketching the plans for this piece. The amethyst collection of batik fabrics is so beautiful, 14 of them were used in the form of ‘tiles.’ A lovely fabric in my ‘stash’ complimented the challenge batiks beautifully but I couldn’t make myself cut into it; thus, the whole-cloth backdrop. Dense quilting fills the background to both accentuate the trapunto, and to give the raw-edge, fused appliqued elements a little more dimension.” Sharon L. Schlotzhauer
Second Place: NOURISH THE HEART by Becky A. Grover of Ann Arbor, MI
“These are just some of the many ways we can nourish our hearts.” Becky A Grover
Third Place: MAE MAES BLOOM by Katherine M. Dossman of Belton, TX
“I challenged myself to design a modern flower with improv piecing. Purple is a fabulous color and feels like royalty as does my cat Mae Mae. She was my inspiration.” Katherine M. Dossman
AURIFIL CATEGORY
First Place: AMETHYST IN BLOOM by Jacqueline Styner of Levittown, PA
“Amethyst in Bloom reflects my passion for quilting and designing unique pieces. I imagined amethyst crystals blooming into light, surrounded by delicate flowers. Using raw edge machine appliqué, free motion quilting, and hand embroidery, I combined bold shapes, flowing textures, and fine details to bring this vision to life. The quilt celebrates resilience and transformation, echoing how amethyst forms under pressure and blossoms into beauty through patience and creativity.” Jacqueline Styner
Second Place: FLAMINGO IN THE FLOWERS by Laina Strohm of Fayetteville, NC
“I love bird watching and these bright pink and purple fabrics were perfect for a flamingo. I used the arts and crafts style to create a floral background with simple stylized flowers and leaves.” Laina Strohm
Third Place: GOOD MORNING, MOTHER EARTH AND FATHER SKY THANK YOU FOR YOUR GIFTS by Linda W. Boynton De Sepulveda
“In the First Nations beliefs we give thanks for our gifts. Father Sky is the source of stars, rain, thunder and the teacher of tenderness, sternness and gentleness. Mother Earth is the source of all life. The morning glory was used to represent spiritual guidance. The flower opens at dawn and withers by evening. A poignant reminder to cherish the present moment, embrace beauty as it is fleeting.” Linda W. Boynton De Sepulveda
HOFFMAN HONORABLE MENTIONS
Hoffman Honorable Mentions are pieces that were personal favorites of individual judges or Hoffman family members. Papa Bear, Sakura Sunrise, Happy Feet and Amethyst in Bloom (shown above) were all selected, as well as the pieces pictured below.
ELEPHANT IN PARADISE by Renata Beason of Craig, COLOROPETALUM IN BLOOMby Joyce Ryder of Baton Rouge, LA AMETHYST FENDER GUITARby Julie Atlas from Reno, NV BOTTLEDby Mikie J. Bair from Phoenix, AZ
I’m back from a wonderful, inspiring, exhausting and FUN
trip to the h+h show! I made many new friends, reconnected with old friends,
and saw lots and lots and lots of creativity. I really loved the format of the
show, as opposed to the “old” Quilt Market, since it combined crochet,
knitting and other needle work crafts with the quilting side of things. One
thing I learned is that crafters don’t limit their creativity to just one
medium! After a day or two of “collapse days” (that’s a new priceless
term from my New Zealand friend, Susan Claire), I’m almost recovered from my
whirlwind trip.
A calm moment in the booth. The featured quilt is Moving Emotion by A Lee B Creative using the Hoffman Bali Batiks Deep Blue Reefs collection.
I saw lots of opportunities to make new connections, uniting
designers, vendors and teachers with outlets to sell, promote and
distribute. Fabric manufacturers and
distributors were both on the hunt for the latest and greatest, and I saw lots
of new faces getting some well-deserved attention. That’s a hint for you to
attend the next event, in case I’m being too subtle! The show had record
attendance, and I’m sure Houston (October 1-2) will be even busier.
I looked for trends, and asked several of my fellow attendees for their thoughts. And if you were there, please comment and share below! I can’t say much about the yarn side, except that the variety and quality were phenomenal. I did notice lots of Amigurumi, or in other words, miniature stuffed creatures (yes, I looked that up). Since I can’t imagine even knitting a sock, and as Susan pointed out, the problem is that even if you finish one sock, you still have to knit another, I was impressed with the infinite detail and fine workmanship.
Aroma Primavera, the newest Palette of the Season project, made its debut.
Speaking of tiny things, I did notice that several quilt pattern designers used miniature quilts to display their patterns. With the ability to print a high-res image on fabric, this was a brilliant idea. With a little quilting they truly looked like they were pieced, and easily showed multiple quilt patterns in a small space. On another note, I thought the full-size quilts on display were quilted much more densely than I’ve seen in the past few years, and also quilts with smaller pieces were more prominent. Curved piecing is also picking up steam, in my opinion, as the next generation of quilters is flexing their skills.
Thimtec Thimble Tape comes on a roll and will protect your fingers from heat and punctures.
Since applique and three-dimensional sewing appeared to be a bit more popular, I have to mention the best new to me notion: Thimtec Thimble Tape. It can mold to your fingers, sticking to itself, not you, and comes in multiple colors. It’s even reusable! From someone who constantly burns their fingers doing appliqué, I’m debating how many rolls I really need.
There was always a friendly face in the Hoffman California Fabrics booth! Margaret Jones, rep extraordinaire, may or may not have had an eye on the new plaids…
Checks, plaids and wovens from yarn-dyed to digital prints are back, and Hoffman California Fabrics was not one to miss out. Their new line, Secret Garden Tea Company, features luscious plaids that were featured prominently in a quilt, but I noticed more than one rep surreptitiously eyeing them for future garments.
Each of the 20 projects guides you through the simple process of creating adorable pincushions.
The overall industry focus of the event was on sustainable
crafting, with the prestigious Golden Scissors Award for Sustainability
(presented by the Craft Industry Alliance) going out to Smart Art + Craft
Supplies, an organization that keeps thousands of pounds of art supplies out of
landfills and gives them a second life with artists, teachers, and students.
While your stash probably doesn’t weigh thousands of pounds, I’d be
remiss if I didn’t mention that Susan Claire’s new book, Put a Pin in It,
was right on target, encouraging makers of all levels to use scraps from their
fabric stash and be creative with choices. See, you too can do your
part.
I reached out to McKenna Ryan, aka my new best friend (girl crush wishful thinking), and asked for a bit of insight into her latest collection for Hoffman California Fabrics, Best Loved: Recreating the Past, Designing the Future. She was inspiring, so of course I had to share!
“Every quilt I design begins the same way: on paper. I
sketch until I understand the composition, until the structure feels right and
I know what I’m trying to build. But the design doesn’t truly come to
life until I move to my fabric table. That’s where everything begins to
come together. Fabrics are laid out, shifted, layered, as color and
texture slowly form a story.
In the early years of Pine Needles, my design company, I
discovered Hoffman California Fabrics’ beautiful batiks and fell in love.
Their batiks became the foundation of so many of my early quilt designs,
and I still love and rely on them today. However, as I grew as a quilt
pattern designer, I began searching for fabrics that could bring my
nature-inspired designs to life beyond batiks, but what I needed didn’t really
exist at that time. I was looking for subtle gradations, depth and various
textures; the kinds of fabrics that could create dimensional wildlife like
bears, moose, eagles and deer, as well as other elements and textures of nature.
I wanted soft ombres that would make fur feel alive and dimensional, sky-tree-water
prints for landscapes of pine forests and mountain lakes in all seasons,
and the bark, aspens, ferns and fish textures that would enable me to create my
layered appliques.
At Home in the Woods, 62″ x 69″. The complete set of 12 patterns for this quilt can be found on the Pine Needles website.
I realized that to fully express what I was envisioning, I would
need to create my own print lines with the textures I’d been longing to find.
That realization began a treasured partnership with Hoffman California
Fabrics, as I developed collections such as At Home in the Woods, Silent
Inspirations and Painted Forest. These fabrics became my signature
palette, and helped me “paint” the stories in some of my most
meaningful work. And while I love creating new collections and exploring
new directions, there are certain textures I always return to; the ones that
feel essential, which is what led to my Best Loved collection.
Best Loved is a gathering of the fabrics I’ve used
the most, trusted the most and loved the longest, all brought together into a
cohesive collection. Not just as individual prints, but as a working
foundation for creating. They are also the fabrics customers have loved
most and have asked for over and over.
With Best Loved bringing McKenna’s archival fabrics back to life, quilters can finally recreate Calling Me Home using its original prints. Traditional kits for the full quilt are in stores now, as well as individual block kits, each designed to stand alone beautifully as a wall hanging. Check with your local quilt store for availability!
When I began pulling the Best Loved fabrics together,
something clicked. I could see how they all connected—not just to each other,
but to the quilts they helped me create, such as Dog Park and Wind in
the Whiskers and Calling Me Home. Those quilts hold meaning not just for
me, but also for so many quilters. For years, I’ve been asked if my Calling
Me Home quilt could be recreated exactly as it was originally
designed. With my Best Loved collection, that is finally possible.
But it isn’t only about looking back, it’s also about moving
forward. From these same beloved fabrics came something entirely new: Among
the Birches. This design carries the same language, those nature-based
textures that have defined my work, but expresses them in a fresh, new way. But
in many ways, Among the Birches could not exist without everything
that came before it, which is also what makes my Best Loved collection
so meaningful to me.
Among the Birches is a 6 month series; the five interior blocks with a Birch Grove Border and finishing pattern as the 6th pattern.
Best Loved isn’t just a fabric collection; it’s a bridge. A bridge between quilts like Calling Me Home, which carry years of memory and connection, and new designs like Among the Birches, which reflect where my work is going. The same palette is used to tell both stories, to recreate the past, and to design the future. And to me, that’s what gives the work continuity over time. Not repeating what came before but building from something that continues to evolve. Because the things that matter to me most, story, texture, nature and connection, don’t really go out of style, they just deepen over time. And they continue to find their way into new work.”
But wait, there’s more! Don’t miss out on the new McKenna Ryan Look Book, featuring her latest collections and project inspiration. Most are in stores now, so be sure to check with your local quilt shop.
