Meet the Maker

Welcome to Quilted Chocolate. I'm Donna — a retired quilter living in Tennessee with a deep love for fabric, thread, and the stories they tell. My tagline says it best: Nothing says love like chocolate and a handmade quilt.

I'm an active member of the Tennessee Quilter's Association, and I've spent years stitching alongside talented guild members across the state. Whether it's piecing a new top, hand-appliquéing baskets, or teaching a grandchild to sew their first pillowcase, I believe every stitch carries meaning.

Quilting Through Life

Quilting has been my companion through every season — joyful graduations, quiet Sunday afternoons, and even the hardest days. In February 2016, as my step-daughter faced cancer and entered hospice care, I kept stitching appliquéd baskets. The rhythm of needle and thread brought comfort when words fell short.

Over the years I've worked on projects like the Yellow Rose cross-stitch quilt (finished in February 2012), the Damask Rose throw, and the Spools pattern by Camille Roskelley of Thimble Blossoms. I've made graduation quilts, Christmas snappy bags, tissue holders, and CD-case desk calendars — each one a small piece of my heart.

Every quilt begins with a single choice — a fabric, a color, a pattern that speaks to you. In my sewing room, stacks of cotton prints wait patiently for their turn, from bright teals and warm corals to soft whites and deep charcoal. I find joy in the slow rhythm of piecing blocks together, one stitch at a time, watching a project take shape across weeks and months. Some days I work on hand-appliqué baskets, other days I'm lost in a charm pack or a spool of perle thread. The process is as meaningful as the finished quilt itself, and each piece carries a little bit of the afternoon it was made.

Quilting has always been about more than fabric and thread for me — it's about people. I've spent countless hours with guild members, sharing patterns, swapping tips, and laughing over projects that didn't quite go as planned. My grandchildren have learned to stitch at my side, starting with simple pillowcases and slowly working their way toward bigger pieces. Those afternoons around the sewing table are the ones I treasure most. Whether we're making a throw for a new baby, a wedding gift, or just something cozy for the sofa, the real thread that holds it all together is the time spent with the ones we love.

I've learned that quilting is a patient craft, and that's a good thing. Some projects come together quickly, while others sit on the design wall for weeks before they feel right. January is a quiet month for sewing in Tennessee, perfect for planning goals and dreaming about the year ahead. By spring, the garden and the sewing room both come alive again. I keep a notebook of ideas — block patterns I want to try, color combinations that catch my eye, and projects I hope to finish before the holidays. There's always another quilt waiting, and I wouldn't have it any other way.