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Bryan House Quilts

Make Modern Triangles: Member Spotlight #17

Block of the Month Program· Modern Triangle Quilts· Sewing with Triangles· Uncategorized

8 Mar

Make modern Triangles member spotlight: Debbie U.

Welcome Debbie U. to the Make Modern Triangles Member Spotlight! Debbie is best described as an eclectic quilter who likes traditional, modern and artistic genres, which you’ll see plenty of in her gallery below!

Make Modern Triangles’ member spotlight is on Debbie U. this week. Debbie is best described as an eclectic quilter who likes traditional, modern and artistic genres. When you browse her quilt gallery below, you will see many techniques inside those genres, including machine embroidery in the hoop, machine applique, hand quilting and hand dyeing fabric. She even does fabric folding with triangles! (Can you spot which one?) Wow!

Her other interests are also varied including extensive travel to new places, which inspires her love for colorful, bright quilts.

Make Modern Triangles BOM Wildflower design made by member Debbie U.
Wildflower BOM design made by Debbie U.

QUILTING Faves

What is your favorite quilt make of all time?

Judy Niemeyer quilts are some of my favorites: Bali Wedding Star, Glacier Star and Tropical Flowers.

What are your favorite parts of quilting?

The process of choosing fabrics, piecing and free motion quilting.

Favorite quilt make: a Judy Niemeyer design made by Debbie U., our Make Modern Triangles Member Spotlight this week.
Favorite quilt make: Glacier Star designed by Judy Niemeyer and made by Debbie U.

Spotlight on Learning IN MAKE MODERN TRIANGLES

When you joined Make Modern Triangles, what did you want to learn and/or accomplish?

Playing with the patterns that the triangle shapes can create and having fun with them. Debbie made the Wildflower BOM in 2021.

What has quilting taught you about yourself?

As a retired CPA, I enjoy numbers, math and the geometrical possibilities with making quilts. I also love seeing the surprise and enjoyment of a recipient receiving a quilt gift for the first time.

Lots of small triangles make a modern triangle quilt in this Pollinator quilt design made by Debbie U.
Pollinator quilt made by Debbie U.; English paper piecing techniques.

What do you like about quilting with triangles?

The interesting patterns the triangles can make.

What’s next on your learn-to-do list?

Constantly working on improving my long arm quilting skills.

Do you belong to a quilt guild?

I’ve been a member of the national Modern Quilt Guild for the past four years.

Color My World design by Wendy Williams and made by Debbie U. “This was a new challenge for to make a circular quilt.”

HER FOCUS ON MODERN and Paper Piecing

What is your next project?

I am currently making a triangle quilt “Tessellation” by Nadia Kehnle and Alison Glass. It is a really fun quilt with lots of ways to make it my own.

Original modern design made by Make Modern Triangle member spotlight Debbie U.
Original design and made by Debbie U.

Original modern improvisational design with strip piecing by Debbie U.
Original modern improvisational design with strip piecing by Debbie U.

Debbie’s SEwing Space

Describe your fabric stash.

Enough to fill a room and then some: What can I say? I LOVE fabric and lots of it!

Machine embroidery in the hoop, machine applique and long-arm free motion quilting modern art quilt - made by Debbie U.
Machine embroidery in the hoop, machine applique and long-arm free motion quilting – made by Debbie U.

Describe your sewing space and what you like about it.

My sewing space is a room on the main floor of my house that used to be a children’s playroom. It is not as large as I would like but functions well for me.

Inspiration everywhere

Where do you find inspiration for your quilting?

I’ve always gravitated to colorful art and fabric – I’ve been influenced by many things. For instance, my home has lots of colorful art besides my quilts. Nature, sunny climates and colors influence me, too. I also enjoy going to regional and national quilt shows, including QuiltCon and the Houston Show.  And I’m inspired by what I see online (Pinterest) and in magazines and quilts shops.

Many of my projects are made up of MANY small pieces. I like the challenge and the results which is why I tend to do a lot of paper piecing projects. I also have been dyeing fabrics to see what I can create with using many dye colors.

Tropical Flowers design by Judy Niemeyer; modified and made by Debbie U.
Tropical Flowers design by Judy Niemeyer; modified and made by Debbie U.

​When you’re not quilting, what other interests do you pursue?

For one, we have traveled all over Florida, Georgia, South and North Carolina, Washington DC, Mexico and Nepal as well as living in Washington State, Florida and the Bay Area in California. When Covid is behind us we plan to travel around the US, Europe and Africa. Also, I enjoy gardening, reading, walking and playing with my grandson.

 

Lollipop Trees quilt design; made by Debbie U. with machine applique and hand quilting.
Lollipop Trees quilt design; made by Debbie U. with machine applique and hand quilting.

Quiltagami style baby quilt made by Debbie U. Includes triangle fabric folding.
Bali Wedding Star foundation quilt design by Judy Niemeyer; made by Debbie U.
Bali Wedding Star foundation quilt design by Judy Niemeyer; made by Debbie U.
Original quilt design and made by Debbie U.
Original quilt design and made by Debbie U. (Editor’s note: Could we call these shapes ‘curved triangles’ instead of clamshells?!)

Wow! That is a large body of work..and when do you find time to sleep, Debbie?!

Thank you, Debbie, for sharing all of colorful, inspired quilts with us. Beautiful!

Related links about Make Modern Triangles

  • Member Spotlight Gayle K.
  • Member Spotlight Wendy R.
  • Make Modern Triangles
  • Tame Triangles with 5-Step Process
Previous Post: « 10 Fun Photo Ideas for Quilt Blocks
Next Post: Sparkler BOM Month 2 Member Makes »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. rebeccabryan says

    March 11, 2022 at 11:29 am

    Wow! Debbie, it’s such a pleasure to be a small part of your creativity! <3

  2. Maureen says

    March 11, 2022 at 12:20 pm

    Debbie your work is fantastic! I have been to Africa 5 times and going again in November 2022 (if covid allows). I love Africa and am sure you will too. Keep quilting and safe travels.

  3. Lonnie W says

    March 11, 2022 at 11:22 pm

    Fabulous work! I am also a retired CPA….and I love the geometry and math of quilting.

  4. Wendy Rice says

    May 13, 2022 at 6:33 am

    Your many pieces quilts are amazing. Very nice colors, but they all look like a lot of precision piecing. Very nice.

Trackbacks

  1. Make Modern Triangles Member Spotlight #18 - Bryan House Quilts says:
    March 16, 2022 at 2:01 pm

    […] Last week’s Member Spotlight: Debbie U. […]

  2. How to Organize Foundation Piecing Quilt Projects - Bryan House Quilts says:
    March 19, 2022 at 6:46 pm

    […] Member Spotlight: Debbie U […]

  3. Sparkler BOM Month 2 Member Makes - Bryan House Quilts says:
    March 23, 2022 at 11:15 pm

    […] Make Modern Triangles Member Spotlight #17 […]

  4. Make Modern Triangles Member Spotlight #20 - Bryan House Quilts says:
    April 18, 2022 at 3:31 am

    […] Featured Member Debbie U. in the Spotlight […]

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Hey there! I’m Rebecca, an author and teacher and freezer paper piecing evangelist. I’m also the founder of the Make Modern Triangles Quilt Club.

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Just so you know, my site includes affiliate links from which I (it’s me! Rebecca!) receive payment or compensation. Something to consider as you peruse my website. Thanks!

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You can have years of experience and still watch a You can have years of experience and still watch another quilter do something and think, WAIT. You can do it like THAT?! 😅

Those little discoveries can completely change the way you sew. They can make something easier, spark an idea for a new project, or give you the confidence to finally try something you’ve been avoiding.

And that’s exactly the kind of experience we’re creating at the Quilters Paradise Summit Fall 2026.

I’ll be co-hosting this FREE online quilting event September 21–28, where you’ll have the opportunity to learn new techniques, discover beautiful projects, and connect with fellow quilters.

You might leave with the idea for your next quilt... or discover an entirely new way to make it. 🧵✨

Comment ‘SUMMIT’ to save your spot for free and come quilt with us!

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
I’ve been quilting for 15 years, and I have failed I’ve been quilting for 15 years, and I have failed PLENTY of times. 👇

I’ve made things I didn’t like. I’ve cut fabric wrong. I’ve had ideas that worked beautifully in my head and... not so beautifully once I started sewing them together.

But all of those failed have been how I learned.

I think sometimes we put so much pressure on ourselves to make something perfect that we forget we’re allowed to just play.

👉 You’re allowed to mess up the fabric.
👉 You’re allowed to make something ugly.
👉 You’re allowed to try something you’re not so sure about.

Because the alternative is always wondering what it would be like to make your own quilt or to try the new thing and never actually finding out. 

I’d rather take the chance, and let myself fail a few times. 

I’ve got the perfect place for you to start with a free class where you have nothing to lose other than an hour of your time and a teeny bit of fabric, but you have a whole new hobby and quilty world to gain. 

Comment ‘FREE’ to take the class. ✨

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
One of the things that I love most about quilting One of the things that I love most about quilting is that there is always something new to learn. 

You never stop learning, creating, making mistakes, and repeating the whole process. You’ll discover a new technique to try, a new way to use the fabric already sitting in your stash, a project that stretches you just enough to make that eventual TA-DA! feel even better.

That’s exactly why I’m so excited to be co-hosting the Quilters Paradise Summit again this September. 

It’s a completely FREE online event created to help you learn new quilting techniques, make beautiful things, and connect with other people who get just as excited about fabric as you do. 😄

Whether you’ve been quilting for years or you’re still watching from the sidelines wondering if you could actually do this, come join us September 21–28 for a week of quilting, completely free, where you’re guaranteed to learn something new.

Maybe this is your sign to stop saving quite so many quilting videos... and start making something you’ll feel proud of. 🤍

Follow the link in my bio to get your free ticket. 🎟️ 

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
What if, even while you’re sitting in your own sew What if, even while you’re sitting in your own sewing room, you had a whole community of quilters cheering you on, celebrating your finished blocks, answering your questions, and reminding you to keep going when you’re feeling stuck?

I think that’s one of the things people are craving most right now.

You don’t want just another hobby, but a place to belong, connection to grow, and people to learn from.

People who understand why you’re excited about a new fabric pull, why matching points deserve a little happy dance, or why finally finishing a quilt is such a big accomplishment.

That’s exactly what we’ve built inside the Make Modern Triangles Club.

Quilters from all over the world, of all ages and experience levels, learning together, encouraging one another, sharing their progress, and proving that quilting is even more fun when it’s shared.

And if you’re someone who’s been wishing for an even closer sense of community... someone who would love to spend time quilting in person with other people who love this craft as much as you do... Let’s just say you might want to stick around and make sure that you are following along. 😉

I have something very special I’ve been dreaming up behind the scenes, and I can’t wait to share it with you soon. 🧵✨

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
Yup, I said it. 😅 Now, before anyone panics... I’ Yup, I said it. 😅

Now, before anyone panics... I’m not saying you should give up every time something gets challenging. I’m saying that sometimes a quilt simply isn’t the right quilt for you right now.

I’ve had projects that I tucked away for a few months, only to come back to them later with fresh eyes and fall completely in love with them again.

And I’ve had a few that... well... never made it across the finish line.

And I’m okay with that!

Not every project has to become a finished quilt.

✨ Sometimes a project teaches you a new skill.
✨ Sometimes it teaches you what colors you don’t love together.
✨ Sometimes it reminds you what kinds of quilts actually light you up.

No project is ever wasted, even the ones that are never finished. 

The next quilt might just be the one you can’t wait to sit down and sew. 🪡

Tell me in the comments if you’ve ever abandoned a project before! ⬇️

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
You never know where one small “yes” might lead. You never know where one small “yes” might lead.

👉 One free class could become your first quilt.
👉 Your first quilt could become a hobby you genuinely look forward to at the end of a busy day or whenever you want some time to yourself.
👉 A year from now, you could have a stack of finished blocks, a beautiful quilt draped across your couch, and a skill you never imagined you’d have.

You could be looking at something you made with your own two hands and thinking, “I can’t believe I made that.” 🥹

So if you’ve been watching from the sidelines, wondering if you could do it, or contemplating if you’d even enjoy it...

My advice to you is just take the class.

Learn something new because a year from now, you might be so grateful that you did. 

You have nothing to lose, but so so much to gain. 

Comment ‘FREE’ to sign up for my free class. 🧵✨

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
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You can have years of experience and still watch a You can have years of experience and still watch another quilter do something and think, WAIT. You can do it like THAT?! 😅

Those little discoveries can completely change the way you sew. They can make something easier, spark an idea for a new project, or give you the confidence to finally try something you’ve been avoiding.

And that’s exactly the kind of experience we’re creating at the Quilters Paradise Summit Fall 2026.

I’ll be co-hosting this FREE online quilting event September 21–28, where you’ll have the opportunity to learn new techniques, discover beautiful projects, and connect with fellow quilters.

You might leave with the idea for your next quilt... or discover an entirely new way to make it. 🧵✨

Comment ‘SUMMIT’ to save your spot for free and come quilt with us!

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
I’ve been quilting for 15 years, and I have failed I’ve been quilting for 15 years, and I have failed PLENTY of times. 👇

I’ve made things I didn’t like. I’ve cut fabric wrong. I’ve had ideas that worked beautifully in my head and... not so beautifully once I started sewing them together.

But all of those failed have been how I learned.

I think sometimes we put so much pressure on ourselves to make something perfect that we forget we’re allowed to just play.

👉 You’re allowed to mess up the fabric.
👉 You’re allowed to make something ugly.
👉 You’re allowed to try something you’re not so sure about.

Because the alternative is always wondering what it would be like to make your own quilt or to try the new thing and never actually finding out. 

I’d rather take the chance, and let myself fail a few times. 

I’ve got the perfect place for you to start with a free class where you have nothing to lose other than an hour of your time and a teeny bit of fabric, but you have a whole new hobby and quilty world to gain. 

Comment ‘FREE’ to take the class. ✨

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
One of the things that I love most about quilting One of the things that I love most about quilting is that there is always something new to learn. 

You never stop learning, creating, making mistakes, and repeating the whole process. You’ll discover a new technique to try, a new way to use the fabric already sitting in your stash, a project that stretches you just enough to make that eventual TA-DA! feel even better.

That’s exactly why I’m so excited to be co-hosting the Quilters Paradise Summit again this September. 

It’s a completely FREE online event created to help you learn new quilting techniques, make beautiful things, and connect with other people who get just as excited about fabric as you do. 😄

Whether you’ve been quilting for years or you’re still watching from the sidelines wondering if you could actually do this, come join us September 21–28 for a week of quilting, completely free, where you’re guaranteed to learn something new.

Maybe this is your sign to stop saving quite so many quilting videos... and start making something you’ll feel proud of. 🤍

Follow the link in my bio to get your free ticket. 🎟️ 

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
What if, even while you’re sitting in your own sew What if, even while you’re sitting in your own sewing room, you had a whole community of quilters cheering you on, celebrating your finished blocks, answering your questions, and reminding you to keep going when you’re feeling stuck?

I think that’s one of the things people are craving most right now.

You don’t want just another hobby, but a place to belong, connection to grow, and people to learn from.

People who understand why you’re excited about a new fabric pull, why matching points deserve a little happy dance, or why finally finishing a quilt is such a big accomplishment.

That’s exactly what we’ve built inside the Make Modern Triangles Club.

Quilters from all over the world, of all ages and experience levels, learning together, encouraging one another, sharing their progress, and proving that quilting is even more fun when it’s shared.

And if you’re someone who’s been wishing for an even closer sense of community... someone who would love to spend time quilting in person with other people who love this craft as much as you do... Let’s just say you might want to stick around and make sure that you are following along. 😉

I have something very special I’ve been dreaming up behind the scenes, and I can’t wait to share it with you soon. 🧵✨

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
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