Welcome to my news and updates page!
March 2024
We started March with a very special birthday girl. This little one loves her barbies and has several, so for her present I sewed her some barbie sleeping bags, after her mom mentioned the idea to me. I love how colorful these are, and how the barbies fit into them perfectly. Check out the pattern here: Easy DIY Barbie Doll Sleeping Bag {tutorial} | Skip To My Lou
Next on the docket was a custom nursery quilt for a very special couple. The baby shower theme was Winnie the Pooh, so of course the quilt needed to match. I am so beyond excited for the parents-to-be, they are going to be amazing!
As you know, St Patty’s Day also happened this month. We are not Irish but that does not stop us from enjoying the day. One way I celebrated was by making these custom pillow cases for our living room. What did you do to celebrate?
We finished off March with two more celebrations: Easter and Spring Break. We took a much needed family vacation to Florida for Spring Break and were lucky to celebrate Easter in the sunshine. Stay tuned for all our Spring Break details next month!
February 2024
February seemed like that perfect amount of busy. I started off the month at The Frosty February Arts and Crafts Market in Hudsonville. This was my very first show of the year, and it was the perfect start to 2024. We had a blast hanging out with customers and other vendors, Valentine shopping, seeing friends, and eating a delicious lunch. Shoutout to Hollie for an awesome event. I cannot wait for the next one!
Next, Valentine’s Day came along. We enjoyed lots of treats, school parties, steak dinner (mom and dad’s date), friend parties, and of course lots of love. What do you like to do for Valentine’s Day? I also made my official Valentine’s Day quilt top, to be quilted next year haha time is a thief. Pattern: Pebble Path by Daniela Stout for Timeless Treasures.
February also brought my second show of the year: EmpowerHER by AlignWell Chiropractic in Holland. This was my first time spending time in downtown Holland, and it is beautiful. I loved this event because it was all about empowering women and celebrating achievements. It was amazing hearing other vendor’s stories and seeing their beautiful products. Customers were also ready to shop, and I was in awe at the support. Thank you Holland!
Finally this month, I completed a pretty cool house project. If you know me, you know that I not only love to sew, but I also love to do house projects. I decided it was time to turn this simple closet into a “mudroom.” The closet was not giving our family the function we needed, especially having 3 little ones coming and going. So with a little muscle strength and hard work, I tore it out, added a bench, hooks, and baskets to fit our family’s needs and style. I did not do this one completely alone though. Shoutout to Finish Carpentry Services by Marcellus Hare (2) Facebook, who built and installed the perfect custom cabinet above. Now we have so much more storage, and it looks absolutely beautiful. Check out these before, during, and after pics/slideshow below!
January 2024
Hello to 2024! Wow, January kept us on our toes, or on our snow boots in Michigan actually haha
We started off the month celebrating our youngest’s 4th birthday, how she is 4 already blows my mind. She is the perfect mix of sweet and sassy, snuggly and independent, confident and always speaking her mind!
I also spent early January giving you a glimpse of my quilting process. I made my dad the Sail Quilt by Homemade Emily Jane as a Christmas gift. Go check this out on my Instagram or Facebook!
January brought us some pretty intense weather. Blizzards, snow, ice, freezing temperatures, and more snow! My kids had SIX snow days within the first few weeks of the year. We tried staying busy with sledding, games, and movies. To go with the outdoor theme, I made my January quilt top. This quilt top is Winter Wear by Natalie Crabtree with Michael Miller Fabrics.
January brought me some of my favorites: CUSTOM ORDERS! A soon-to-be-Grandma reached out to me asking if I had ever made a newborn baby arm pillow. I had not, but found a pattern and ended up making her 3. These pillows are perfect for holding and feeding baby. She thought it would be perfect to be able to comfortably hold baby girl in her wooden rocking chair.
I was very honored to be asked to restore a quilt this month. This quilt is over 35 years old. I tried to stay as true to the original design as possible. The baby boy that this quilt was made for several years ago is going to be a first-time father this year. I am so unbelievable happy for the parents-to-be and family. Thank you for trusting me to work on such a special and sentimental quilt. Check out some of the before and after photos below.
I finished January on a high! I was lucky enough to go to the second Detroit Lions playoff football game vs the Bucs. WOW, what a game!! I went with my dad, sister, and sister-in-law, and we seriously had a blast. I think next year is going to be our superbowl year 😉 GO LIONS
December 2023
I took December as an opportunity to focus more on my family. Lots of Christmas parties, school events, treats, and quality time. But I did accomplish some items on my business side.
I finally listed my UpperCross and South Bound Quilts on my site. They are ready to come home and snuggle with you!
Early December, I was fortunate enough to be asked to be a part of a pop-up event at The Stray, Grand Rapids. Who wouldn’t want to spend a day in a coffee shop drinking yummy lattes, eating delicious food, visiting with customers, and spending quality time with a great friend?! Photos from: (1) Facebook
We had a wonderful Christmas this year. We spent Christmas morning at home, and Christmas afternoon on a road trip to Florida to spend some quality time with my parents. It was not your typical Florida heat during our visit, unfortunately, but we were still able to have some fun. We spent time at the beach, wildlife centers, shopping, the zoo, and a playground.
Finally, we finished 2023 strong with a road trip back to Michigan hehe I am looking forward to seeing what 2024 has in store for us. Thanks for a wonderful 2023 and the unending support you all have given. See you next time!
November 2023
How was everyone’s November?? It got cold, fast here in Michigan. We even had a few days of snowfall. I started off November finding out that two of my closest friends will be having a baby GIRL coming next Spring! After finding out, it’s a girl, I immediately headed to the fabric shop for the perfect fabric for a custom 5 piece gift set. This is what I made for my two cat-loving friends.
My one and only show of November was next. Grandville High School Harvest Fest. This was my very first indoor events, and if I am being honest, being indoors was fabulous haha Thank you to everyone who came out, bought some holiday gifts, and baby items! I hope you all enjoy every item that you brought home.
This November, I also took some time to create a video showing how to use my reusable cotton pads along with some FAQ’s. Reusable cotton pads are an amazing alternative to one time use cotton pads. They options are endless for how you decide to use them. Check out my video and do some shopping to get your own set using the buttons below.
On a personal note, the day after Thanksgiving, my husband and I were able to sneak away for the night and see Michigan State play Penn State at Ford Field. We got our butts kicked, but we had a blast anyways. We don’t get nights away from the kids often, so they feel extra special when we do.
Well, I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and were able to spend some quality time with family. The holidays are here!! I got you if you still need Christmas gifts. Enjoy the season, stay safe, and see you next month!
October 2023
October is officially complete, and as usual it was a very busy month!
I started October at two shows: Red Flannel Festival in Cedar Springs and Chow Down in Grand Haven. Both shows fell on two rainy and chilly fall days. Red Flannel Festival was a very wet day, and I unfortunately had to pack up early. But it was still fun and lots of morning visitors and sales. Chow Down started off rainy, but luckily the rain gave us a break. Thank you so much to everyone who made it out to the events. I appreciate you and your willingness to brave the rain more than you know!
The next project on the October docket was a very special, very custom quilt. One of my long-time friends (we’re talking since second grade), married the love of her life this month. It was a cold, but perfect Fall day for the wedding. They chose a beautiful barn as their venue, which they hosted the ceremony and reception at. I was honored to stand next to her as a bridesmaid. For their wedding gift, I decided a quilt was a must! I used elements from their special day as inspiration, and I made custom blocks to show it. Their wedding colors were plum, white, and hints of greenery, so that it what I also used in the quilt. AND the coolest part, the bride gave me parts of her wedding dress to incorporate too!! How freakin cool!! Congratulations for the amazing couple, I am so looking forward to seeing what your future together holds.
One of my kiddos’ favorite holidays finished off the month, and of course that is HALLOWEEN. We had a plague doctor, ghost face, and whiskers the cat at our house. And we even got to go trick or treating in the SNOW (thanks Michigan). It was a chilly, but great time.
I also decided to celebrate the holiday with a quilt! I finished the quilt top just in time, and now it is in the Halloween bin waiting for next year to be quilted (not enough hours in the day).
Pattern: Cast A Spell by Sally Ablett with Lewis and Irene
On top of all of that, I have also added multiple new items to the shop, so get shopping and I will see you next time!!
September 2023
Happy FALL! September is not quite over yet, but wowzers what a month has it been.
I started off the month finally finishing a quilt for my fishing loving king quilt holder AKA my hubby. I started this one in June with high hopes of finishing for Father’s Day, but that obviously did not happen; better late than never. Trevin has been my number one supporter throughout my entire quilting and sewing journey. He surprised me with my first sewing machine for my 30th and has been only encouraging me since. He is a trooper when I come home from the fabric store and show him every single piece of fabric I bought haha. He is always ready and willing to help me with my quilt pictures, and he has been a true teammate taking care of our family when I need to work. Could not love him anymore than I already do.
Pattern: Bobbers by Cathe Holden’s Outdoorsy from Moda Fabric and Supplies
Next, I was feeling the fall vibes, with the leaves changing, the weather getting cooler, and everything pumpkin spice. I used that inspiration to give my living room an updated fall quilt. My fall colored fabric pull came from my amazing friend over at Fabric and Reason.
Pattern: Southbound Quilt by Alderwood Studio and Great Heron Thread Co
Next on the docket for September was craft show time! I had such a great time at Market on the Ridge, Dunneback’s Shop the Ridge, and Merchant and Makers ArtPrize Artisan Market. Each show was completely different from the others. THANK YOU to every single person who came out to support me and all the other vendors. I was lucky enough to get the spend entire days with my oldest niece, my mom, and my bestie, along with amazing support from other friends. Love you all. My most popular items were my quilts, 5 piece gift sets, swaddles, adult reusable napkins, and reusable coffee filters.
Next up is time to restock items and finish adding all my products to my shop. See you next update!
August 2023
Well, it is official. The kids are back to school!!! Well, 2 of the 3 are back, but that is something. We had an exciting, but also relaxing summer. We celebrated birthdays, spent days in the pool and at the beach, the boys enjoyed a week long summer camp, spent a day at a local amusement park, and had some much needed quality time.
But for as fun as summer was, it also had it difficulties too. As most stay at home parents know, it is not a job for the weak. The days can feel endless, the millions of needs and questions can be exhausting, and the lack of breaks can just be brutal. We were very much ready to get back to our routine.
AND I have been very ready to get back to my sewing room. I took the summertime as an opportunity to have my machine tuned up and also collect more fabric to add to my stash (cannot wait to show that off later on social media). I missed the hum of my machine and the satisfaction for a finished product.
The next couple of months are going to be EXCITING and BUSY. Stay tuned for some really cool updates and event announcements. Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook and Instagram too.
July 2023
Happy July!! I cannot believe we have already made it to July. How was everyone’s Fourth? We kept it simple with a cookout, friends, family, and fireworks all from the comfort of our own front yard.
I officially have all of my new items listed, and ready to go, just for you! Make sure you hit that SHOP ALL button to check it all out. Now that all my new items are listed, I am going to take a mini break from social media. BUT do not worry, I will still be completing orders and custom orders.
To celebrate summer, I am going to run a summer deal for 10% off a purchase from now to the end of July. Use code: SUMMER10
June 2023
Who doesn’t love a good challenge right?? Well, I would love to introduce my most recent challenge: Arpeggio. This was my very first attempt at a 3D type quilt. I found the pattern on Etsy (Arpeggio Quilt Pattern by Quilters Clinic – Etsy) and loved the look. Arpeggio is made completely out of triangles, another first for me. I made this quilt for my middle son, and it is just perfect for him. He is the definition of the “middle child” with his silliness, unpredictability, and sweetness.
After cutting out my strips, I used my Equilateral 60 Triangle ruler to “quickly” cut out my triangles.
Once I had all my triangles, I was able to sew them into long columns, which took some serious concentration. For the quilting, I went with a simple straight stitch.
It’s far from perfect, but I think it came out looking soooooo cool!! Take a look and let me know what you think.
May 2023
Well, I just picked up my kiddos from school for the last time this year. It is officially SUMMER BREAK!! Our summer break plans include lots of pool time at Granny and Grandpa’s house, outdoor fun, adventures, parks, camps, and so much more. I will still be sewing but just not as much since my hands and days will be a bit busier now (IYKYK). But I am very much looking forward to extra time as a family and all the summer has to offer.
I will still be taking Custom Orders all summer long, so click the link to get yours started asap.
I also have some amazing new items listed for purchase and more to come all summer long. Make sure you are following me on social media for regular updates. Happy Shopping and Happy Summer friends!
May 15, 2023
I cannot believe we are already halfway through May! It is unbelievable how time starts flying as soon as the weather gets nicer. April and May were incredibly busy months for me here at Apple Blossom Roots Quilt Co. I spent A LOT of time at the fabric store and in my sewing room (Not that I am complaining) to get ready for my very first craft fair.
On Saturday May 13, I was a vendor at the Apple Blossom Artisan Market located in downtown Sparta, MI. The day started with a few hiccups, like having to run next door to Ace Hardware to buy a canopy tent that I did not know I needed (facepalm), and like the unexpected rainy morning. But after the sun came out, the rest of the day went smoothly. I had a blast talking with customers and spending the day with my bestie, who graciously helped me with everything. AND I got to hand out a lot of business cards and even sold a few things. My most popular items were baby swaddles, baby blankets, quilts, reusable napkins, and reusable coffee filters. Thank you again for everyone who supported my small business. I hope you love your new items as much as I do.
So, what’s next? Well, summer is almost upon us, so I will be slowing down (just a tiny bit) so I can spend time with my family and outside. But I will be still accepting custom orders, and I will start adding all my new items to my website for you to purchase. Keep your eyes out for updates, and don’t forget to follow my on social media too!
April 10, 2023
What a crazy couple of months it has been! I apologize for waiting so long to update. We just got back from Spring Break in the beautiful Florida. We spent many relaxing days on the beach enjoying some quality family time. It was very refreshing.
Before we left for Spring Break, I finished my Amsterdam Quilt. I am obsessed with how fun and colorful this one turned out. It also has so many of my favorite floral patterns. I am also excited to announce that it is available for purchase NOW!! Get it before it is gone.
Pattern: Amsterdam Quilt Designed by: Michelle Engel Bencsko
