Say hi to a new member of the Island Batik Ambassador family! Kimberly Flannagan of Kimberly’s Quilts is an avid creator of all things textile. Her passion lies in quilting, however it has expanded over the past 30 years into bag making, textiles, and household goods. She loves learning new techniques and then seeing how she can either integrate those new skills or merge them with other techniques to create new and different projects. Sharing her passion of creating with others is one of her favorite things. To Kimberly, seeing others’ visions come to life is almost as fun as seeing her own ones evolve!
Time for a Q&A with Kimberly!
Island Batik: What inspired you to start sewing or quilting, and how has your passion evolved over time?
Kimberly: When my daughter was in infant, she was in the hospital on life support not expected to survive. I was given a “comfort quilt” that I held her in while they turned off life-support and she was expected to survive maybe a few hours. My daughter turned 27 last year. That experience and that quilt meant more than anyone realized so I began at that time sewing squares together to be able to give back.
When creating a new project, how do you decide on the design or patterns you use?
My first consideration is who it is for and what is the purpose of the quilt. I like for my quilts to reflect the personality, favorite colors, interest, designs of the person who is receiving the quilt.
What is the most meaningful or memorable quilt you’ve ever made, and what makes it special to you?
I have 2 and can’t pick just one. The first is one that I made for my father. He worked at The White House for 7 Presidents, and I made a quilt from White House Staff T-Shirts including all 7 Presidents. The second would be a quilt that I finished that my grandmother had started from my Grandmother and Grandfathers old clothes and my mother kept he components for over 30 years. I found it partially completed and finished it without her knowledge and gave it to her for Christmas many years ago.
How do you balance creativity and precision when working on intricate quilting projects?
I am not sure that I actually balance them. While I like for my piecing to be precise, the creative process is more fulfilling. I don’t sweat the small stuff and all of my projects lack precision somewhere. Someone still loves them just the same.
Have you ever incorporated personal or cultural stories into your work? If so, how do you convey them through fabric?
I think the best example of this is my father’s T-shirt quilt above. I like for the fabrics to “relate” to the project in some way. For this one, I actually spent over 2 years finding the perfect fabric that actually incorporated Washington DC landmarks, memorials, and even the White House imposed within the design.
What do you think sewing or quilting teaches about patience, resilience, or self-expression?
When I first started quilting it was all about instant gratification of finishing the project. As my quilting has matured I have learned that true creativity and accomplishments happen when I overcome what I didn’t think I could do, it’s okay to have a close relationship with my seam ripper, and the most meaningful finished projects include a little bit of me in them. This is achieved by persistence, patience, and never accepting defeat.
How do you approach the process of choosing fabrics, colors, and textures for your projects?
My approach is first to take in the person and purpose of the quilt. I try to incorporate their interest, favorite colors, use, etc.and that often drives me to the right choices.
What challenges or mistakes have you encountered during your work, and how have they shaped your skills or perspective?
I don’t look at anything as a mistake. I prefer “learning opportunity”. The biggest challenge has been when I lost my mojo for sewing. This happened after a recipient criticized a quilt gift and gave it away within a week. I learned from this that this was more about them than me and I shouldn’t stop sharing my passion with others just because of one bad apple.
How do you feel when you complete a piece—do you see it as the end of a journey, the start of a new one, or both?
Both – I seem to have connections with all of my projects so it is the end of that journey, but the opportunity to start a new one.
If you could pass on one lesson or piece of advice to someone just starting to sew or quilt, what would it be and why?
There are no quilt police and don’t let anyone else rain on your parade!! You do what you love and you will love it even more. Otherwise your passion becomes a chore and that kills the fun.
Be sure to follow Kimberly on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Facebook and subscribe to her blog to see what she’s working on right now!
To see the whole 2025 Island Batik Ambassador team, please visit: https://islandbatik.com/2025-ambassadors/
Is there anything else you want to ask Kimberly? Leave us a comment below!