Around the World!! Or at least the NorthEast ;-)

Tonight it is my privlage to share several very talented people with y'all!  I've been looking forward to this post for a while!

As I'm sure many of you know already, there is a game of Tag happening across the blog-o-sphere and we are all getting connected with great talent across the World.  Last week I was tagged by Judy Tucker, a phenomenal quilter I get to meet with twice a month in my guild.   She shares regularly on her blog, Sleeping Dog Quilts, and is pure inspiration to watch! 

In turn I am tagging others that I look up to and love to follow!  As mentioned in previous posts, I participated in a MugRug Swap with Marie who blogs at Marie's Creative Space.  From the get go it was like meeting a kindred spirit as we had so much in common and not just in the quilting world. 

My second tag is Marija, a friend and mentor I've known and loved for many years, she might as well be family!  She is my go to person whenever I have a fabric question and is a brilliant quilter, seamstress and designer.  You can follow her at Fabric of My Life blog.

Part of the being tagged is to answer some questions, so here we go!

1.  What are you working on?

Today was an easy day working on some Halloween place mats.  I had a kit given to me a few years ago and just didn't like the pattern.  These mats are those fabrics done totally different!  I've been testing out curved piecing and this was my experiment for a simple project!

This is just the first - the others will have other Halloween-y figures quilted in!  More to come!

In addition to this, I am gearing up to do some abstract work that will mix modern piecing, water colors painting and free-motion embroidery.  I'm collaborating with a good painter friend and am so excited to get this up and running.  This has been a long time coming and the closer I get to starting, the more passionate I get for it!!  Get ready for some new, new ideas!!

Combine The Adventures of Tintin cartoons....

...with abstract watercolors and quilting...  Who knows what will happen!

2.  How does my work differ from others?

This is something I try very hard to be - different from anything else seen before.  I am a traditionally/classically trained seamstress and quilter.  My family taught me all about quilting from a very young age and I added to that with 3 years of fashion design.  Taking all the technique and theories, I like to take an idea, flip it inside out and push it out of its comfort zone but still call it a quilt! 

I am also very applique heavy.  Essentially, if I can sketch it, then it can be cut and appliqued.  I love anything filigree or swirly, like my Pumpkin Patch quilt

or Blooming Peacocks, (which I forgot to mention were semi-finalists in Grand Rapids AQS Quilt Week this past August!  I'm thrilled with their progress!)

 AQS' list of semifinalists!

3. Why do I do what I do?

So much goes into a creation - heart, time, money, effort and then some.  Being on the creating side has given me a whole new appreciation and respect for others works.  And because I know how much goes into it, I am not about to steal their work.  Plus I love the waves of inspiration that hit me and the sketching time to see what could happen.  Some of my favorite pieces have started as post-it notes from a meeting in the office just because someone said something that struck a funny synapse in my head :-)

4. How does my creative process work?

A sketch book lives in my purse.  It goes with me everywhere, even to church. 
Sometimes its the above mentioned post-it note process.  Sometimes its boredom or pent up energy that just gets vented on my sewing machine!  I definitely start with an idea and then get my supplies; it very rarely happens fabric first then creation after.  Which is probably why my stash is relatively small (only half a bedroom ;-)  )

 I am very excited to chat with you soon!  But until then, please check out Judy, Marie and Marija!!

Cheers!

Mood: Fall-y
Music: "Oo-La-La" by The Fugees