A girl can't have too many handbags!

These letters originally arrived in stamped envelopes with glossy, printed photos (remember those days!). To protect our writers' privacy, we've typed up their notes with minor details changed. We also scanned and brightened the original photos so you can see the quilts in their best light.

Barbara from Victoria, Australia, writes to share the story behind her latest project - a bold take on the Handbagz pattern that pushed her creative boundaries and made the perfect gift.

Dear Jan,

I attended a workshop with you at Patchwork on the Park in Melbourne and was inspired to have a go at one of your patterns.

I have enclosed a photograph of my version of your Handbagz quilt, which, believe me, took me right outside my square box. I don't think I will ever go back in that box again!!

I called this quilt 'A GIRL CAN'T HAVE TOO MANY HANDBAGZ!!' I made it for my niece who is studying to be a fashion designer.

Thank you for your inspiration.

A photograph of a large quilt hanging on the front porch of a house. The quilt is colourful with lots of different sized handbags with flaps as the handbag openings

This one-of-a-kind quilt, based on Jan's Handbagz quilt pattern, is packed with personality, featuring playful fabric details, buttons and an assortment of handmade accessories.