Franklin music festival | Meeting the Wuests

Anywhere quilters go, we have our eyes tuned in to see quilts, right? As I roamed around Franklin Square enjoying the sounds of the Bluegrass Along the Harpeth Fiddlers Jamboree, I spied the back of a pretty quilt top blowing in the breeze. It looked like stained glass the way the light hit it. Naturally, I wanted a closer look, so ambled up to the vendor booth – the quilt was their backdrop. To my delight, the quilt maker was there, Jadrienne Wuest on the left. Alongside her stands Annie Wuest of AnnieMae Design.

Of their business Annie said,

We specialize in wedding apparel, time period clothing, purses, etc……(basically anything people ask us to do!)

Annie also teaches sewing and quilting classes. From her Summer Sewing Camps brochure, take a look at the offerings.

For 8 – 13 year olds – Date with Daddy where your finished product is a tea gown and a tea with daddy on the last day of camp and Me and My Doll where you make matching sun dresses.
For ages 13 and up – Quilting 101 yields the camper a basic quilt blanket. Southern Belle gets you an 1860’s antebellum day dress and a dance at the end. Purses, Jane Austen Regency, and in progress now Renaissance Dress.

If you live close enough to take a class (middle Tennessee) or will be in the area, you can get their fall class schedule by emailing Annie here: anniessewingclasses{at}gmail{dot}com.

Here’s a full view of the quilt, a photo Hannah sent me.

This is from the clogging contest. All the contestants were fun to watch and at the end they were blowing it out. Thanks goes to both Wuests for the nice chat and for allowing me to take a photo of them toward the end of a very hot summer day.

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Some fabric collections feel pretty, some feel useful, and then there are those rare ones that instantly spark a dozen ideas the moment you see them. The In the Garden Layer Cake from Fat Quarter Shop falls firmly into that last category. From the moment I opened the pack, it felt like stepping into a watercolor garden—soft, romantic, full of movement, and brimming with detail that invites you to slow down and really look.

This collection brings together an elegant mix of florals, garden motifs, and soothing color palettes that feel like they were created for spring quilting. Instead of loud novelty prints, the designer chose a gentle balance of botanical sketches, scattered blossoms, tiny seed patterns, and larger feature florals that work beautifully in both traditional and modern layouts.

What struck me most is how thoughtfully the color stories are arranged. Each print blends seamlessly into the next, giving you a spectrum that includes soft rose pinks, leafy greens, lavender tones, fresh sky blues, rich corals, and delicate neutrals. It’s the kind of palette that instantly feels “quilty” in the best way—inviting, calm, and incredibly easy to mix and match. You can tell the designer planned this for maximum versatility.

Layer cakes are one of the most beginner-friendly precuts, but this collection elevates them with a sense of sophistication. The prints are strong enough to shine in simple patterns, but subtle enough to support more complex designs. Whether you prefer classic half-square triangles, framed squares, modern grid quilts, or something scrappier, this fabric adapts beautifully. It’s also a wonderful choice for table runners, spring wall hangings, and even quilted bags or home décor projects.

One of the nicest surprises with this layer cake is how it manages to feel seasonal without becoming locked into one particular holiday or theme. While the palette is undeniably perfect for spring, the prints themselves are timeless enough to work year-round. A floral quilt made from this collection would look just as lovely on a summer sunroom sofa as it would draped over a guest bed in winter.

The fabric quality is exactly what you’d expect from Fat Quarter Shop—crisp, clean cuts, vibrant printing, and a smooth hand that makes piecing feel effortless. Nothing is too thin or too stiff, and the colors are even more beautiful in person than they appear online.

If you enjoy sewing projects that feel light, fresh, and inspired by nature, In the Garden is a collection worth adding to your stash. It has all the qualities quilters look for: balance, versatility, gentle movement, and that spark of creativity that makes you want to start a project immediately. Whether you’re planning a gift quilt, treating yourself to a new spring project, or simply building your fabric library with a set of prints that will play nicely with others, this layer cake is a thoughtful and inspiring choice.

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