I’m always pleased to find some new blogger on the interwebs- especially through Pinterest!
I found this picture on Pinterest and immediately thought “Oh, that’s a quilt that I can stand!”…in fact that may have been the caption I chose.
Anna’s instructions for the Improv Chevrons are excellent, in my opinion. She doesn’t approach this project like a super traditional quilter- she does it her own way. What’s even better, they are clear and easy to follow. I couldn’t wait to find out more about this fun and creative designer. So, I asked for an interview- and I got one! Enjoy!
How long have you been stitching? What got you interested in sewing? I’ve been doing something stitchy forever, it seems! I started with small projects and cross-stitching under the expert guidance of my grandmother when I was very young, and my mother also encouraged my crafty side. I started quilting about two years ago when one of my friends had his first child. I remembered that my favorite item growing up was a quilt that one of my mom’s friends made for her, and I thought I’d give it a try and got hooked.
Who do you make things for? I make things for friends, family, and strangers! Oh, and myself. Everyone deserves treats.
When did you start blogging? I started in January! I’m new! I’ve been very active in Flickr’s sewing and quilting community for much longer, and figured it was time to record my work and ideas in a more formal way.
What is the most exciting thing that has happened to you since you started blogging? I’m just so excited that people are visiting!
When did you start making your own patterns? Where do you get your inspiration? I think I’ve always made my own patterns, in a sense. Quilting can be very individual, and I’ve always taken formal patterns as jumping-off points, using them to learn techniques more than to execute complete projects.
I’m usually inspired by day-to-day visuals: buildings on my commute, a stack of colorful cereal bowls, a pillow at Anthropologie. Quilt-wise, I’m inspired by the countless quilters sharing their work on Flickr and Pinterest. There’s so much talent out there and many people are willing to share their ideas and knowledge. As I’ve developed my own designs, I’ve recently started “giving back” to this community by sharing tutorials on my blog.
Who is another blogger you admire? Oh, I can’t just pick one! I love Anna Maria Horner for her design sense and insightful tone, Film in the Fridge for quilt inspiration and design, Oh, Fransson for beautiful ideas and crystal-clear tutorials, and Joy the Baker for her delightful voice (and recipes!).
What is one thing in your sewing kit that you can’t live without? I’m really attached to my embroidery scissors. So attached that I get mini panic-attacks when I misplace them!
What’s one material you use that is hard to find? Well, in New York City, high-quality quilting cotton is actually kind of hard to find! There’s no Joann’s or other big crafting stores, and very few (maybe 2?) quilting shops with a pretty limited selection. (I do most of materials shopping online…)
What’s the “weirdest” thing you’ve made? Hm, this pillow back is pretty weird. Who knew bugs could be so pretty? Despite being a bit off-beat, I really love this print!
I love the thread, since I do a lot of machine embroidery both free motion and software I use a mega amount of thread, this would be put to good use. Joan
I love your designs and finally found the courage and time to start lonestar starburst .
I was hoping you might give me some advice for pulling the paper off the back. I am sewing using a shortened length , joining all pieces into a star then removing paper. I feel sure there must be an easier way to remove it. Thanks , Marci