2026 - Michigan's UP · Quilting

Up North

Vicki

We had a nice, relaxing weekend in the UP. There’s so much snow up there!

Snow-covered landscape with trees and a frozen lake during sunset, featuring a cozy cabin in the foreground.

Our Airbnb cottage was on a very small, very quiet lake… there were other people around, but I didn’t see them.

A snowy landscape featuring birch trees and red outdoor furniture partially covered in snow, with a serene lake in the background.

A few inches of snow fell while we were there. There was never a big flurry, just very lightly falling most of the day (or at night when I wasn’t looking).

Snow-covered road stretching into the distance under a cloudy sky, with trees flanking the sides and a faint sun visible through the clouds.

The roads were mostly snow-covered from Escanaba north…

A black Subaru Outback covered in snow parked in a lot, showing the rear view with a clean area on the snow-covered license plate.

…and sure made a mess of my car! This was my Subie’s first road trip & she did just great, though!

We discovered that The Up North Lodge was only a few minutes away, so we headed there on Friday night. Food & service were both great.

A wooden tabletop displaying different types of wood samples labeled with their names, including beech, black walnut, and white pine, with the phrase 'WOODS OF THE UP NORTH' prominently featured.

There was a huge, curved, custom bar featuring cuts of “Woods of the Up North.” It was so cool, but I was only able to see a very small portion of it (without being rude). Alas, a good enough reason to go back? I think so.

We went up to Marquette on Saturday for much of the day. I dropped Rusty off at a book store while I went on a mission to Alley Kat’s Quilt Shop! I’m sure that’s no surprise.

A vibrant assortment of fabric swatches arranged in a circular pattern around a color wheel on a wooden table.

Needing some sort of direction, I printed a simple color wheel & tried sorting my FQs that way — it really helped, and also made me aware that I have enough for another two or three projects. Anyway, I found a few cuts at Alley Kat’s to help fill things out (or give me some choices). (I also had a couple of cuts from a local-ish Etsy seller waiting when I got home.)

A wooden table covered with colorful fabric pieces, measuring tools, and papers, with a snowy landscape visible through a large sliding glass door in the background.

I commandeered the table for our most of our stay! Once I figured out where I was headed & got things sorted, I started pressing & squaring up my fabric.

An ironing board with a patterned cover set up on a kitchen countertop next to a blue steam iron and a spray bottle.
A pile of colorful fabric scraps and threads scattered on a wooden surface.

For a relatively cozy cabin — and even though Rusty & I both immediately thought about how we’d have arranged it all differently — there was a lot of room!

Cozy living and dining area featuring a wooden dining table, patterned sofas, a wood stove, and a kitchen visible in the background.

There was a lot of wood, a definite duck theme, and lots of plaid!

A tranquil winter landscape featuring tall pine trees, a snowy foreground, and a frozen lake surrounded by distant trees. The scene conveys a serene and quiet atmosphere, depicting the beauty of nature in winter.

Rusty made a little watercolor on Sunday while I ironed, trimmed & cut fabric.

Colorful quilt block featuring a cross pattern with swirls and polka dots in various shades of blue, pink, green, and purple.

I made my first block at last night’s class! I had time to cut my pieces for next week’s block, too.

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Published by Vicki

10 thoughts on “Up North”

  1. The photos look lovely and peaceful and I love Rusty’s watercolor. There are some interesting fabrics in your block and I look forward to seeing more blocks. That is a very cool bar!

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  2. Whoa – that is a lot of snow piled up outdoors but it looks like you were warm and toasty. I too love Rusty’s watercolor and your quilting project. What pretty fabrics.

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  3. I am intrigued by your quilting start! Kaffe’s fabrics are always my favorites… they are interesting to look at and the colors are just so vibrant! What a lovely place to be tucked away! (that bar top tho… love it!)

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  4. That cabin looks like the most peaceful spot — and all that snow! I would have been nervous driving (though I know a Subaru is great in the snow) but it would have been worth it for that view and that quiet. I’m glad it was such a great getaway for you two and that you both got to be artsy and creative.

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  5. What a cozy spot and what a LOT of snow! I laughed at you and Rusty discussing how you’d rearrange things, Dale and I always do that when we rent a house, too. I’m curious about the duck print on the wall, it looks like a duck stamp, similar to the ones my BIL Randy did and we have several of those framed and hanging in our house. Your quilt square is fabulous and Rusty’s watercolor is wonderful.

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  8. That looks like a perfectly relaxing weekend. Love Rusty’s watercolor, and your quilt block, too. So interesting to see how plain rectangles can make a pinwheel if they’re arranged that way.

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  9. So MUCH snow this year! We have a lot (but not THAT much) down state, too. It’s been snowing for almost a week now . . . just that always-there, snow globe glistening lake effect snow. The cabin looks so cozy — and it looks like an ideal place to just kick back and enjoy the winter. I LOVE that bar!

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  10. What a great get-away!! Love Rusty’s watercolor and your quilt block!! Did I know that you quilted? I guess I did or at least should have – LOL n
    We were snowed in yesterday and were getting dug out today. I love a cozy snow day.

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