Page 2 – QuiltInk Blog

QuiltInk Challenge Dec25 Winner

The December QuiltInk Challenge wrapped up with a dazzling display of creativity, and the QuiltInk Wall was alive with luminous and thoughtful designs. Using Celestial Garden, the inspiring palette by Alexandra Bordallo, quilters shared a wide variety of mock-ups that captured the elegance and depth of this beautiful collection.

A heartfelt congratulations to Aurora, the randomly selected winner of the December Challenge! Her participation stood out among an incredible 175 entries, showcasing the versatility and charm of the Celestial Garden palette across many quilt patterns. She will receive a 12 Fat Quarter bundle from the Celestial Garden collection by Alexandra Bordallo — a perfect prize to spark her next quilt creation.

This challenge invited quilters to explore color, contrast, and harmony while experimenting with serene tones and celestial-inspired combinations — a true reflection of the beauty and sophistication of Alexandra’s designs.

Thank you to everyone who joined in and shared their mock-ups on the QuiltInk Wall. Every design helps strengthen our quilting community and supports designers like Alexandra in continuing to inspire makers everywhere. Be sure to check out the December Challenge gallery — there’s so much creative inspiration waiting for you!

Check out the November’s challenge because it’s really fun and you won’t want to miss it!

Meet the Fabric Shops – The Nerdy Quilter

January is here, and we’re excited to meet another Fabric Shop on QuiltInk — one that beautifully blends design, science, and modern quilting.

This month’s Meet the Fabric Shops interview features The Nerdy Quilter, a designer and fabric shop on QuiltInk known for bold color choices, modern fabrics, and foundation paper piecing designs. Based in central Indiana, she brings a unique perspective to quilting, combining a scientific background with a deep love for color, precision, and creative problem-solving.

In this interview, she shares her journey from designing patterns to running a fabric shop, and how offering kits, custom options, and digital mock-ups helps her customers confidently plan their quilts.

Discover her story, her passion for fabrics, and how QuiltInk helps her visualize quilt kits and inspire her customers.

Personal Background

Could you tell us a bit about yourself? (location, age, educational background, …) Who is behind The Nerdy Quilter?

I’m the owner of The Nerdy Quilter located in central Indiana. I grew up with a passion for science and crafts and have a Masters degree in Biology. I used to run the Microbiology department at the veterinary diagnostics lab at Purdue, but loved quilting and my husband encouraged me to start a small quilt shop in 2018.

Quilting Journey

How did you first get into quilting? When did you decide to turn this passion into a business by opening your shop?

My mother in law is an avid quilter and took me shopping to make my first quilt in 2016. I then discovered foundation paper piecing and began drafting my own patterns. When I created Spectrum, I had hundreds of inquiries for the pattern and spent 6 months turning it into my first pattern. We opened the shop originally to sell my patterns and offer kits to accompany them.

Shop Story and Style

What’s the story behind The Nerdy Quilter? When did it start, and how would you describe its personality, style, and size?

We were originally called Knowltons Notions, but I have always been on the nerdy side and our logo features the silouette of my glasses. We started in 2018 with just enough funds to buy Giucy Giuce Spectrastatic 1 and 2. It was originally in my sewing room, but quickly grew to large and moved to our guest room. After two years we were bursting at the seams either fabric and refinished our 1300 square foot basement to be our shop.

Product Offerings

What types of fabrics do you focus on? How do you offer them to customers—by the yard, as kits, or with custom options?

I offer modern fabrics. We sell bundles, yardage, kits and custom options.

Special Collections and Products

Are there any collections, brands, or unique products you’re especially proud to carry?

We proudly carry Charley Harper by Birch fabrics, a smattering of Liberty of London and many new modern designers such as Giucy Giuce, Tula Pink, Libs Elliott and Alison Glass.

Inspiration and Trends

Are there any collections, brands, or unique products you’re especially proud to carry?

I typically select fabrics that feature the full spectrum of color.

Additional Services

Do you offer any other quilting-related services, like pattern design, long-arming, or classes?

I offer Edge to Edge and Custom longarming services with our Gammill Statler computerized machine. Our quilts have been featured by Legit Kits, Robert Kaufman and Andover.

Online Presence

Where can people find your shop online? (Website, social media handles, online marketplaces). How do you use online platforms to connect with your audience and fellow quilters?

Our website is www.TheNerdyQuilter.com. We are also in Facebook (The Nerdy Quilter), Instagram (@NerdyQuilter and @thenerdyquiltershop) I feature new collections, host contests and giveaways and post updates for new collection launches.

Upcoming News and Projects

Are there any exciting new projects, events, or collaborations coming up that you’d like to share with the community

We are very excited for the new Alison Glass Color Camp Collection arriving next fall featuring 84 rainbow prints! We will be running a BOM with a pattern by Nancy Rink Designs called Color Compass and will offer a bundle of the month club

QuiltInk Experience

How has QuiltInk been useful for your shop or customers? Any favorite tools or ways it’s made things easier?

I use it to create new kits featuring favorite designers patterns

I love that I can add fabrics from my shop so members can color patterns and request custom kits! Our customers love having a wide kit selection featuring modern fabrics

QuiltInk Challenge Jan26

A new year begins, and with it comes a fresh QuiltInk Challenge to spark creativity and color exploration. For the January QuiltInk Challenge, we’re excited to feature Celestial Garden, the newest fabric collection by Alexandra Bordallo for Andover Fabrics — a release that invites quilters to start the year inspired and curious.

This challenge is an invitation to explore the QuiltInk Wall, experiment with a new palette, and create mock-ups that reflect your own creative voice. Every entry helps keep designers visible, supported, and encouraged to continue sharing their work with the quilting community.

Before we begin, let’s celebrate the close of the December Challenge. Congratulations to chirosc, the winner of our Canyon Challenge in collaboration with Tara Faughnan! With 254 mock-ups shared on the QuiltInk Wall, December was a wonderful example of how active and engaged this community continues to be.

Now, it’s time to turn the page and welcome January’s challenge.

MEET CELESTIAL GARDEN

Celestial Garden is a whimsical and imaginative fabric collection. This printed quilting cotton range blends elements of nature with celestial themes, bringing together motifs like dreamy florals, moonlit details, and constellation-inspired accents that feel both magical and grounded. The palette combines soft pastels with rich jewel tones, offering quilters a versatile set of fabrics perfect for projects that evoke wonder, serenity, and creative expression. Celestial Garden delivers an enchanting visual story that fuels your creative journey.

MEET ALEXANDRA BORDALLO

Meet Alexandra Bordallo, the talented designer behind the Flourish palette for this month’s QuiltInk Challenge!

Hailing from Vic, near Barcelona, Alexandra is a passionate quilter, fabric designer for Andover Fabrics, and quilt pattern creator. Her quilting journey began with inspiration from her grandmother and grew through sewing blogs, magazines, and tutorials. Today, she blends traditional elements with a modern twist, often incorporating flying geese and geometric designs into her work.

For Alexandra, color is the heart of every quilt, and her love for greens, purples, and yellows—drawn from sunsets and summer meadows—shines through in her fabric collections. When she’s not designing, she’s connecting with the quilting community through her website and social media, sharing her creative process and upcoming projects.

We’re thrilled to have Alexandra as part of this challenge, bringing her nature-inspired Flourish collection to QuiltInk!

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

1. Access to www.quiltink.com, sign in or create your free account.

2. Choose a pattern from the main page.

3. Color the pattern using the challenge palette, it’s the first palette in solid palettes list.

4. Share your mock-up on our #quiltinkwall.

5. Boost your chances creating a post or story on Instagram, mentioning @quilt_ink , @alexandrabordallo , and tagging #QuiltInkChallengeJan26. It counts as 2 entries in the giveaway.

PRIZE!
A 12 Fat Quarter bundle from the Celestial Garden fabric collection by Alexandra Bordallo

Selection: On February 1st, we will randomly pick 2 mock-up chosen between all the mock-ups in the Wall made with the QuiltInk Challenge Jan26 palette (the ones with the gift icon).

The more mock-ups you create, the higher your chances of winning! Start coloring now!

This giveaway is open internationally. You must be at least 18 years old. This giveaway is not sponsored by Instagram. Participants release Instagram of any responsibility and agree to IG terms of use.

Here are some examples of quilt patterns mock-ups using the FLourish palette in QuiltInk! Don’t you love them all?

Patterns featured are (click to color):
1. Mosaïque by Namaju Quilt Studio

2. Afterglow 2.0 by Sewspicious

3. Libs Elliott – Rebel

Remember by clicking on the gift icon in the QuitlInk Wall you will be able to see all the mock-ups for the Challenge alive.

Curious about how to find the palette to participate. Follow these steps and start coloring!!

Here you can see a detailed list of the fabrics in the Celestial Garden palette with their names.

We can’t wait to see all your mock-ups!

Happy coloring and quilting to you all!

QuiltInk Challenge Nov25 Winner

The December QuiltInk Challenge wrapped up with an incredible wave of color exploration, and the QuiltInk Wall truly reflected the spirit of the season. Using Canyon, the rich and expressive palette featured in collaboration with Tara Faughnan, quilters created 254 mock-ups filled with warmth, contrast, and thoughtful color play.

A heartfelt congratulations to chirosc, the randomly selected winner of the December Challenge! Her participation stood out among a vibrant collection of entries that showcased how versatile and inspiring the Canyon palette can be across a wide range of quilt patterns.

This challenge was all about celebrating color confidence and creative curiosity. Canyon invited quilters to move beyond expected holiday combinations and experiment with layered tones, earthy depth, and luminous accents — a perfect reflection of Tara Faughnan’s approach to color and design.

Thank you to everyone who took part this month. Every mock-up shared on the QuiltInk Wall helps strengthen our community and supports designers and educators like Tara in continuing to inspire quilters around the world. If you haven’t yet explored the December Challenge gallery, it’s well worth a visit — the ideas and color combinations are truly inspiring.

Check out the November’s challenge because it’s really fun and you won’t want to miss it!

COTY 2026 from Kona Cotton Solids now on QuiltInk

As I promised in my last newsletter, I share more about the new COTY 2026 from Kona Cotton Solids by Robert Kaufman, now added to QuiltInk to help you plan your quilts with confidence.

This rich green feels grounded, calming, and full of life — a color strongly connected to growth, balance, and natural harmony. It works beautifully in modern quilts and adds depth to both bold and softer designs.

To explore it further, I’ve created three color palettes — monochromatic, analogous, and complementary — showing different ways to combine this color with Kona Cottons.

You’ll also see 8 quilt mock-ups, all colored in QuiltInk, using patterns by:
Urbe by @kellifox_designs
Dancing Geese by @alexandrabordallo
Grow Wild by @eudaimoniastudious
Sweet Serenade by @a_stitch_is_a_stitch
Spruce by @bookendsquilting
Pressed in Pine by @craftymoose_quilts
Checked Out by @jessirash
Tilt and Twirl by @duenorthhandmade

Swipe, get inspired, and start planning your next quilt before cutting any fabric 💚

QuiltInk Challenge Dec25

December brings a special kind of magic to the quilting community — it’s a month filled with cozy stitching sessions, glowing lights, and that unmistakable sense of creativity that comes with the holiday season. And what better way to wrap up the year than with a challenge inspired by one of the most beloved voices in modern quilting?

For December, we’re honored to highlight the work of Tara Faughnan, whose vibrant color sense and thoughtful approach to design have inspired quilters around the world. For this edition, we’ll be using Canyon — one of Tara’s beautiful signature palettes — a rich mix of warm reds, earthy greens, sparkling golds, and grounding neutrals pulled from Cotton Couture (Michael Miller), Bella Solids (Moda), and Kona Cotton (Robert Kaufman).

MEET THE CANYON PALETTE

Canyon echoes the warmth and glow of December without using traditional Christmas colors. Think sunlit clay, evergreen shadows, rosy winter skies, and golden candlelight — a palette that feels festive in an unexpected and sophisticated way.

From deep tones like Dark Teal and Taupe to the soft, celebratory notes of Princess and Home Town Sky, this palette invites you to explore contrast, mood, and the subtle shifts that happen when colors meet. Whether you lean toward bold geometry or soft organic layouts, Canyon brings depth, richness, and seasonal warmth to every mock-up.

We can’t wait to see how you interpret this unique December palette on the QuiltInk Wall!

MEET TARA FAUGHNAN

Tara Faughnan is a quilter, teacher, and pattern designer based in Oakland, CA — known for her fearless, intuitive use of color and her masterful balance of simplicity and complexity. Her work is influenced by antique quilts, global textiles, and the spontaneity of improvisational design, all woven together with a deep curiosity about how colors interact.

Tara’s teaching encourages exploration and joyful experimentation, helping quilters push past their comfort zones to discover surprising combinations and harmonious contrasts.

Get to know Tara and explore her work,
her patterns, workshops, and lectures are a true treat for color lovers.

How to participate

1. Go to www.quiltink.com, sign in, or create a free account.

2. Choose any pattern from the main page.

3. Color it using the Canyon palette — it appears as the first palette in the Solid Palettes list.

4. Share your mock-up on the #QuiltInkWall.

F5, or an extra entry, share a post or story on Instagram mentioning @quilt_ink and @tarafaughnan, and tag #QuiltInkChallengeDec25. This counts as two entries in the giveaway.

Prize

A spot in Tara Faughnan’s “Creating Color Palettes” on-demand lecture.
The winner will get access to Tara’s celebrated lecture — a deep dive into color, contrast, and the art of building cohesive palettes.

Selection

On January 1st, we will randomly select one winner from all mock-ups using the QuiltInk Challenge Dec25 palette (You can see them all by filtering the mock-ups in the QuiltInk Wall).

The more mock-ups you create, the greater your chance to win!

Here are some beautiful examples of quilts hosted on QuiltInk and colored using the Canyon palette, our December Challenge palette! I absolutely love how each mock-up brings out the depth and warmth of this month’s colors.

Example mock-ups are from:
• Prickly Pear Jam by A Stitch is a Stitch
• Great Plains Star by Plains and Pine
• Buds and Blossoms by Modern Charm Stitchery

Let these inspire your own creation for the December Challenge — and don’t forget to share it on the Wall!

Remember, you can filter the QuiltInk Wall to explore all the mock-ups created for every Challenge — it’s the best way to see each palette come alive through different patterns and styles.

If you are wondering where you can find the QuiltInk Challenge palette:

1. Pick one pattern on QuiltInk.

2. Open the coloring page.

3. Click the palette icon to select a new palette to color.

4. Select the first palette in the Solids tap.

5. An start coloring!

And here you can check the Dec25 Challenge fabrics. Aren’t they amazing?

We can’t wait to see all your mock-ups!

Happy coloring and quilting to you all!

QuiltInk Challenge Nov25 Winner

What a lovely month of creativity — thank you to everyone who joined the November QuiltInk Challenge and shared beautiful mock-ups using the Potted palette by Kiley Ferons of Kiley’s Quilt Room. The QuiltInk Wall was full of calm, plant-inspired colorways and thoughtful designs that made scrolling pure joy.

A huge congratulations to @Sewistry — our randomly selected winner for November! Her mock-up of SAFETY Dance showed a wonderful use of contrast and color placement, and we loved the way she balanced pattern and negative space. She will receive a Layer Cake pack from the Potted collection, generously sponsored by Kiley Ferons.

Potted is Kiley Ferons’ debut fabric collection for Moda Fabrics, a charming botanical line of soft greens, warm neutrals, and hand-drawn plant motifs that pair beautifully with modern geometric designs. It’s a collection made for calm, contemporary quilts that feel both fresh and timeless.

Huge thanks to everyone who played along — every mock-up helps designers like Kiley reach new quilters and keeps our community growing. If you haven’t already, take a moment to browse the November gallery on the QuiltInk Wall — there’s so much inspiration waiting for you.

Check out the November’s challenge because it’s really fun and you won’t want to miss it!

Meet the Fabric Shops – Lori Clark

This month, we’re heading to South Carolina to meet Lori, the creative mind behind The Grey Finch Company.

From her lakeside home just north of Spartanburg, Lori turned her lifelong interest in quilting into a joyful fabric business that celebrates beauty in every style.

Her shop blends modern and traditional collections, featuring beloved brands like Liberty of London, Tilda, Ruby Star Society, Moda, and AGF — all chosen with care and love for quality.

Discover her story, her passion for fabrics, and how QuiltInk helps her visualize quilt kits and inspire her customers.

Personal Background

Could you tell us a bit about yourself? (location, age, educational background, …) Who is behind The Grey Finch Company?

I am Lori, the owner of The Grey Finch Company, and I live beside a lake slightly north of Spartanburg, SC. I was a CPA for over 20 years, and in 2020, wanting a more creative job working with people, I decided to make a career change. So, I started The Grey Finch Company, an online fabric shop. I was very excited to work with the beautiful fabrics and have thoroughly enjoyed working with makers! I am also a wife, mom, and grandma. I have three adult children and three grandchildren.

Quilting Journey

How did you first get into quilting? When did you decide to turn this passion into a business by opening your shop?

I had wanted to sew and quilt for many years, but I had always been busy with three children who were very active in sports. So, after my youngest went to college in 2018, I took a quilting class and made a small lap quilt. When the pandemic hit in 2020, I found it difficult to find fabric because of the high sales level. That along with a concern for the wellbeing of others during that time made me decide to open my own shop. Fabric is more than just fabric. It increases creativity, empowers others, celebrates and honors others, lifts moods, eases anxiety and depression (art therapy), and supplies small businesses, as well as providing warmth and clothing. The feedback from my customers has been so rewarding!

Shop Story and Style

What’s the story behind The Grey Finch Company? When did it start, and how would you describe its personality, style, and size?

My fabric shop, a small to mid size shop, began in 2020, and I named it The Grey Finch Company because the grey finch is a symbol for “joy is coming” in some cultures. I wanted to bring joy to others with the fabric. I would describe its style as “there’s something beautiful for everyone”. I see something beautiful in every style, so our shop has always provided modern and traditional as well as dark, dusty and bright colors from a variety of manufacturers. I also love introducing new substrates in our shop. The newest substrate is 100% silk from Liberty of London.

Product Offerings

What types of fabrics do you focus on? How do you offer them to customers—by the yard, as kits, or with custom options?

The main focus is 100% quilting cotton and tana lawn. The shop also has wovens, canvas, and 100% silk and offers yardage, bundles and kits. Custom bundles or kits can be requested by messaging me in Etsy or by email.

Special Collections and Products

Are there any collections, brands, or unique products you’re especially proud to carry?

All of our manufacturers are top notch and include mainly Liberty of London, Tilda, Ruby Star Society, Moda, and AGF.

Inspiration and Trends

Are there any collections, brands, or unique products you’re especially proud to carry?

When selecting fabric, quality is most important to me. Then, I look for collections that just strike me as being especially beautiful or creative while trying to keep a good variety in my shop. I do really love nature, so we always have fabrics featuring flowers, birds, etc.

Additional Services

Do you offer any other quilting-related services, like pattern design, long-arming, or classes?

Not at this time; Although we don’t offer pattern design, we have about 100 patterns in stock to provide project ideas to clients and for future potential kits.

Online Presence

Where can people find your shop online? (Website, social media handles, online marketplaces). How do you use online platforms to connect with your audience and fellow quilters?

The shop can be found on Etsy at thegreyfinchcompany or on its own website at www.thegreyfinchcompany.com. It is also in Facebook as The Grey Finch Company and on Instagram @thegreyfinchcompany. Messages are answered quickly from those sites, and social media sites are used to communicate new sales and products.

Upcoming News and Projects

Are there any exciting new projects, events, or collaborations coming up that you’d like to share with the community

The shop will have a very exciting collection coming from Liberty of London this month (November)! I wish that I could tell more, but I’ve been sworn to secrecy!!

QuiltInk Experience

How has QuiltInk been useful for your shop or customers? Any favorite tools or ways it’s made things easier?

Quilt Ink has been a lifesaver for my shop. As a small business, I can’t create a lot of samples, so Quilt Ink provides a tool to give a visual image of a finished quilt for kits that are offered. It also allows me to provide finished quilt images to customers requesting a custom quilt kit.

I love that Quilt Ink allows users to publicly share and save their mock ups on the site. Not only does that provide ideas to other makers, but it also gives me an idea of what other shops might be providing as kits so that I don’t duplicate their ideas in my shop.

QuiltInk Challenge Nov25

November brings cozy evenings and creative energy to the quilting world — the perfect time to explore new fabrics, bold designs, and the joy of creating together. This month, we’re thrilled to partner with Kiley’s Quilt Room to celebrate her first fabric collection for Moda Fabrics, Potted, a beautiful debut that reflects her modern and inviting quilting style while inspiring endless creative possibilities.

Before we dive in, a special shout-out to our October winner — congratulations to @XXX, who will receive the fabulous prize bundle from the Phantasm collection by Libs Elliott! Thanks to everyone who joined in and filled the QuiltInk Wall with hauntingly creative mock-ups.

MEET POTTED

Potted is the debut fabric line by Kiley’s Quilt Room, a fresh and elegant collection inspired by the beauty of indoor greenery and minimalist botanical design. Featuring dainty leaf motifs, pots, and foliage in a calming palette of sage greens, soft beiges, gentle blues, and warm neutrals, Potted brings a clean, modern botanical vibe to the quilting world.

From the Indoor Jungle to Fiddle Leaf prints, each fabric in the line reflects Kiley’s love for plants and her eye for subtle, timeless design. This collection is perfect for creating quilts that feel fresh, serene, and beautifully rooted in nature.

We’re so excited to showcase Potted this month in the QuiltInk Challenge, and we can’t wait to see how your mock-ups bring these botanical prints to life! 🌿

MEET KILEY FERONS

Kiley Ferons, the creative mind behind Kiley’s Quilt Room, is a modern quilt designer known for her clean lines, thoughtful compositions, and serene color palettes. Her designs balance simplicity and sophistication, creating patterns that feel both timeless and fresh. With her debut fabric collection Potted for Moda Fabrics, Kiley brings the same harmony and calm she’s known for in her quilts into a beautiful fabric form.

👉 Get to know her more in our QuiltInk Designer Spotlight interview, where she shares her journey and inspiration.

How to participate

1. Access to www.quiltink.com, sign in or create your free account.

2. Choose a pattern from the main page.

3. Color the pattern using the challenge palette, it’s the first palette in solid palettes list.

4. Share your mock-up on our #quiltinkwall.

5. Boost your chances creating a post or story on Instagam, mentioning @quilt_ink and @kileysquiltroom, and tagging #QuiltInkChallengeNov25. It counts as 2 entries in the giveaway.

Prize: A Layered Cake pack from the Potted fabric collection by Kiley Ferons.
The winner will receive a beautiful FQ selection featuring the soothing tones and organic charm of Potted — perfect for creating fresh, modern quilts inspired by nature. Sponsored by Kiley Ferons.

Selection: On December 1st, we will pick 1 mock-up randomly chosen between all the mock-ups in the Wall made with the QuiltInk Challenge Nov25 palette (the ones with the gift icon).

The more mock-ups you create, the higher your chances of winning! Start coloring now!

Here are some examples of Halloween quilts hosted by QuiltInk and colored-in with the Phantasm, the October Challenge palette! I love them all!

Remember by filtering in the QuitlInk Wall you will be able to see all the mock-ups for each Challenge alive.

Example Mock-ups are from:

Chillin’ With My Gnomies by Kileys Quilt Room
Look Up by Tessellate Textiles
Haul out the Holly by Shadow Valley Quilts

If you are wondering where you can find the QuiltInk Challenge palette:

1. Pick one pattern on QuiltInk.

2. Open the coloring page.

3. Click the palette icon to select a new palette to color.

4. Select the first palette in the Solids tap.

5. An start coloring!

And here you can check the Nov25 Challenge fabrics. Aren’t they amazing?

We can’t wait to see all your mock-ups!

Happy coloring and quilting to you all!

QuiltInk Challenge Oct25 Winner

The October QuiltInk Challenge has come to a close — and what a spectacular month of creativity it’s been! With the Phantasm palette filling the QuiltInk Wall, quilters embraced spooky hues, bold contrasts, and Halloween-inspired designs that truly captured the magic of the season. 🎃✨

A huge congratulations to @quiltmanick, the winner of our October Challenge, with her stunning mock-up of Currents by Eudaimonia Studio! She’ll receive a fabulous Fat Quarter bundle from the Phantasm collection by Libs Elliott, the perfect prize to inspire her next quilt. 🖤

Thank you to everyone who joined the challenge — your creativity keeps the QuiltInk Wall alive and brimming with inspiration!

The Phantasm collection by Libs Elliott for Andover Fabrics combines deep purples, electric greens, and striking pinks with playful prints that balance mystery and fun. It’s bold, modern, and full of energy — just like the QuiltInk community itself. We’re so grateful to Libs and Andover Fabrics for sharing their artistry with us this spooky season.

Check out the October’s challenge because it’s really fun and you won’t want to miss it!