My quilting group’s 2025 challenge was to make a quilt representing your favorite travel destination, real or imagined.

The challenge was called “My Favorite Adventure”. This quilt was based on Claude Monet’s 1899 painting, The Japanese Footbridge.

My favorite adventure was a trip I took in 2024 with my bff to visit Claude Monet’s home and garden in Giverny, France.

I made a rough cut of the bridge from freezer paper. Freezer paper is a great pattern tool because it will stick to fabric when ironed but won’t damage the fabric.

I think I made 4 or 5 bridges before I got the correct arc of the bridge. I also experimented with cutting out the water lilies.

I found some fantastic fabric to represent the water and background.

It was a little nerve-wracking to cut into the green background. I was going for some depth under the bridge.

I started to lay in some side shrubs and water lilies. I experimented with other techniques for the water lilies but the yellow ones didn’t make the final cut.

I also added in some grasses and some darker areas behind the bridge.

Claude Monet on the Japanese Footbridge in Giverny, France circa 1920

I got a point where I thought the piece was pretty much done but felt like it was missing something. I saw a photo of Monet standing on the bridge (left) and thought I should add him to my quilt!

Quilting the grasses on a domestic machine.

Using the domestic machine, I quilted the water with different colors of thread and a curvy stitch.

I appliqued the pieces in layers over quilting. The green background was free motioned quilted on my long arm machine.

I sewed a temporary white basting stitch to mark the center so that I knew where to place everything.

Checking the layout for the water lilies.

Stitching down the lily pads veins with my domestic machine.

This is the back after the quilting was done. I thought it looked pretty cool.

Trimming the quilt down to 25” x 25”

I finished the edges with a mitered facing.

My quilt label stitched out on my domestic machine.

People’s Choice!! This quilt took 2nd place in my group’s challenge at the Northern Shenandoah Valley Quilt Show in April 2026. Click here to see other award winning quilts!

Artist statement

Monet’s Garden

25” x 25”

June 2025

My quilting group’s Adventure quilts are currently displayed at the Road2VA Quilt Show in Richmond, VA June 25-27, 2026. More photos from the show to come!