The Quilter's Dog
Years before I ever drafted my first pattern or chose my first color palette, Bingo had already claimed his place as my faithful studio companion. He may not have cared much about quilting itself, but he was there through it all—keeping me company while I designed, reminding me to take breaks, and making every day in the studio a little brighter.
Over the years, we developed two little family traditions that Bingo adored. Whenever he was outside in the garden, all I had to do was call, “Come inside, Bingo, let’s read the book!” From wherever he happened to be, he’d come racing toward the house as if he’d been waiting to hear those words all day.
The other magical invitation was, “Come inside, Bingo, let’s watch TV!” That worked just as well.
Whether it was a book or our favorite television program didn’t matter to Bingo. What mattered was that we were all together.
After either of these magical invitations, the same familiar ritual would unfold.
Bill and I would settle onto our favorite sofa, and Bingo would begin his own little ceremony. Before he climbed onto our laps, there had to be a quilt spread across our legs. That part was non-negotiable. Only then would he circle twice to the left, twice to the right, climb between my legs, and settle in with a long, contented sigh.
Given the choice between two laps, he nearly always chose mine. Bill always insisted it had nothing to do with devotion—I simply offered “better cushioning”.
But I knew the truth.
To Bingo, a quilt wasn’t just something soft and warm. It meant that his family was together. It meant warmth, comfort and home.
And that made him, through and through, a Quilter’s Dog.
The First Business Decision
When I finally decided to turn my passion for quilting into a business, choosing a name seemed surprisingly easy. Bingo was a Wire Fox Terrier. He had brought so much joy into our lives that I wanted him to become part of my new business. Without ever realizing it, Bingo had inspired the very first business decision I made. That’s how QuiltFOX Design was born.
The Quilt That Tells Our Story
When I launched QuiltFOX Design, I knew I wanted one quilt that would always feel like our quilt—the one that captured the spirit of the little dog who had inspired the company name.
That’s how Baby Foxes & Pinwheels came to life. It became the first quilt to carry the spirit of QuiltFOX Design. More than any other design, Baby Foxes & Pinwheels has become the quilt that tells the story of how QuiltFOX Design began.
His Greatest Gift
Bingo inspired the name QuiltFOX Design. He inspired the quilt that tells our story. But his greatest gift was something far more lasting.
He filled our lives with laughter, curiosity, and countless little adventures. Every day seemed to hold the promise that something wonderful might be waiting just around the next corner. He greeted the world with boundless enthusiasm and reminded us to notice the joy hidden in ordinary moments.
Although Bingo is no longer with us, his joyful spirit still lives on in QuiltFOX Design—and in every quilt, every story, and every adventure he inspired.