Gulf Shores

Gulf Shores, May 2026

Soft lapping waves on a white sand beach, cool morning breeze, coffee in hand, total relaxation...oh, sorry, I was daydreaming.

I'm sadly not at my favorite beach retreat, but one fabric in this quilt was bought a few years ago in Summerdale, Alabama. I knew it would be perfect for the River die that I recently ordered from Blue Wren.

These curves are so easy to sew that I didn't have to use pins. I pieced them on Janome MC9450 using the HP ¼” foot. Light blue swirls, polka dots, and floral print combine for a simple wavy design.

I quilted with blue thread in a straight stitch, following along the curved seams. Gulf Shores finished at 48” square. I'll crave a beach trip every time I see this one.

Bonus: I always cut and stitch a sample for each new die, so here's a cute table mat to show an alternate layout for this block. I'll definitely use that in a quilt when I get a chance, along with the curvy river design. Too many ideas, not enough time!

River Circle

LOVE my Blue Wren dies!

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6622 River 8” finished
Accuquilt 55017 Strips 2” (binding) 

Kites On The Beach

Kites On The Beach

This design is an old classic, and these beachy colors made it even more special.

The kite and triangle dies combine for an 8” version of the kaleidoscope block. I dived into my scrap bins once again to hunt for restful shades of sand, sea, and sky.

Using a straight stitch, I quilted in ecru thread on both sides of the seam lines to outline the design. Kites On The Beach finished at 48” square.

The Gulf Coast is my favorite place to escape, relax and recharge. Load up the car, it's definitely time for a road trip!

Accuquilt dies used:
55254 Kite 4” finished (kite shape)
55409 Triangle in a Square 4” finished (triangle shape)
55017 Strips 2½”

Sand, Sea, & Stars

While wishing for a beach vacation, I designed this calm and peaceful quilt.

The two sea green fabrics came from an antique mall near Foley, Alabama. I chose light and medium gray for contrast, with a white on natural print background. Alternating two blocks, Blazing Star and Hourglass in Square, adds to the vintage look.  I framed it up with a sea green border. 

Sand, Sea, & Stars finished out at 55” square. I used dark cream thread for quilting scallop stitches 2” apart in one direction. Backing is a simple natural muslin.

Picture this sweet quilt in a beachfront cottage. I would love to be there right now!

Accuquilt dies used:
55051 Blazing Star BOB 12” finished
55002 Quarter Square Triangles, 6 ½”
55006 Half Square Triangles 3 ½”
55032 Strip 3 ½”
55017 Strip 2 ½”

Let's go to a place

where the stars

kiss the ocean

Orange Beach

Orange Beach

For this rainy Monday I have a bright and cheerful quilt to show you. A sunset orange and aquamarine print from my stash combined beautifully with a sensational aqua, orange and yellow batik that I bought last November while visiting Orange Beach, Alabama. These medium large prints work great with the 12” flowering snowball block from Accuquilt.

Orange Beach finished out at 58” square. I quilted around the edges of each piece in orange and aqua thread. The backing is aqua and white circles that look like bubbles. 

I think it would be fabulous hanging as wall art in a beach house, or used to snuggle for cool nights on the sand. Either way, it says beach to me and I'm ready to go back right now!

By the way, I found the batik at Fabrics By The Pound in Summerdale, Alabama. Go see them if you're ever in the area and need a nice variety of good quality fabric at excellent prices.

I think this is my favorite quilt yet, but I say that all the time, don't I?

If you can't be at the beach,

then surround yourself

with colorful memories

of sand, sun, and sky.

~me

Barefoot On The Beach

We just got home from a most delightful week in Orange Beach, Alabama. The weather was perfect, lows in the mid 50's and highs in the mid 70's. Our tenth floor suite at the recently renovated Island House Hotel in Orange Beach was super clean and spacious. The view and the beach were beautiful. The waves sounded amazing. There weren't many people around until Saturday and even then it wasn't really crowded.

Pecan Encrusted Grouper - DeSoto's

And, oh my, the seafood! 

Our favorite Gulf Shores restaurants, Mikee's Seafood and DeSoto's Seafood Kitchen, are still providing mouth-watering meals. Mikee's fried shrimp, fried red snapper and pan grilled grouper are so delicious. DeSoto's pecan encrusted flash fried grouper and Parmesan breaded flounder were the best I have ever eaten. We tried a new spot, Doc's Seafood Shack, which claims to have “the best fried shrimp in the entire civilized world” – and I believe they may be correct. Medium tailless shrimp with a light flaky batter were fried to perfection. Several new places looked promising, but there are just too many restaurants and not enough time!

Shopping load from the beach

Of course, there was shopping. Fabrics By The Pound, located in Summerdale, has an outstanding inventory of high quality quilting fabric and batting. What I bought wasn't sold by the pound, but the prices were reasonable at $7.99 per yard and sale prices of $4.99 per yard. Their decorator and upholstery fabric was nice, and the staff was very friendly. I was there for a while; filled a buggy with fabric bolts. Our car was a bit heavier on the way home. At Foley Antique Marketplace, Jerold found a $50 bargain with a Zenith Transoceanic radio, circa 1954.

There's new construction going on with condos and beach houses in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Fort Morgan is still mostly houses, thank goodness. 

To cap our trip, as we were sitting on the balcony on the last evening, we saw some unusual activity on the beach. A guy in khakis set out a blanket, cooler, and a sign of some sort, then left it and hid behind a dune with a girl in a dress who had a huge camera. Got our binoculars, and another well dressed couple was hiding behind another dune nearby. Soon after, a young couple came down the beach and stopped at the blanket. You guessed it, a proposal. They hugged, he dropped down on one knee, and she said yes. How cool is that? I hope they stay married at least as long as we have.

The beach is truly my happy place. I love being there, feeling the breeze, smelling the sea air, and hanging out with my guy. If we had an opportunity to move there, I would have to think about it, but it might not take long to decide. It is a magical, relaxing, calming spot. 

Perdido Pass Bridge, Orange Beach

 

Dreaming Of A White Sandy Christmas

 

I'm dreaming of a white sandy Christmas

Unlike the ones I usually know

Where the white sand glistens,

and we will listen

To hear the waves as we relax from head to toe.

I'm dreaming of a white sandy Christmas

In a beach house on the Gulf

Where the shrimp are fresh and crisp,

and we'll walk the beach

To watch the sunset, I can't get enough.  

(Sorry to Irving Berlin for trashing his beautiful song)