When I was a little girl, I lived right next door to my grandmother, Thelma. Almost every day I would wander through her garden to get to her back door. Sweet peas climbed up trellises, black currant bushes hung heavy with fruit, and big old weeping willows swayed overhead like something out of a storybook.

Her house was three stories tall and, to my little girl eyes, completely magical. Crochet doilies covered the tables, handmade quilts rested on every bed, and in the corner sat a vintage Singer treadle sewing machine that fascinated me. I loved sitting at her kitchen table playing card games and drinking homemade milkshakes.

Being there always felt like stepping into a story — somewhere between The Secret Garden and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Like something wonderful might happen at any moment.

That feeling stayed with me.

For many years I painted to capture it, but eventually I traded my paintbrush for needle and thread. Fabric became my new canvas.

Thelma Quilts grew from that same sense of wonder.

Today, I design vintage-inspired raw edge fusible floral appliqué quilt patterns for beginners to intermediate quilters. My work echoes the softness of garden blooms, the warmth of handmade heirlooms, and the quiet joy of slow afternoons. I blend traditional floral motifs with fresh, modern color palettes — keeping the spirit of heirloom quilts while giving them clean silhouettes and bold, confident scale.