Hi
everyone! I'm super excited to be a part of TNTN's Friday feature!
We
moved here just over 3 years ago and bought a stone house that was
built in 1850. It's our biggest WIP! I'm retired (hubby's not) so
it's up to me to take our dogs for their daily hike in the woods.
It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it!
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| for detail shots and a dresdan tip, click |
After
I get them tired out, it's time to head up to my sewing room and get
to work. My main passion right now is Modern Quilting and my work is
heavily influenced by modern Japanese quilt design. I love the
Japanese way of combining prints, their use of text prints and the
intricacy of their patchwork designs. I'm using that influence as a
springboard to develop my own personal design aesthetic.
I'm
a self taught quilter, although I started sewing my own clothes at
the age of 10. So I had a very strong sewing background when I made
my first quilt back in the early 70's just prior to the birth of my
first child. Over the intervening years, I've drifted in and out of
the quilt world, but have always pursued a textile craft of one kind
or another.
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| for some detail shots, here and here |
Knitting,
needlepoint, cross stitch, fabric dyeing,screen printing, batik,
marbling, dressmaking, macrame, even dabbling in jewelry making and
bookbinding...no idle hands here! In fact, the only craft I never
really took to was pottery. Too dirty for this child!
But
the wheel of my life has turned again to quiltmaking as my primary
form of self expression. I think that the big difference this time
around is that writing about and photographing my work for my blog
posts has become a form of self expression as well. The two go hand
in hand, each one informing and nurturing the other!
In
fact, starting and growing my blog has been one of my biggest
accomplishments this past year. It's been a real learning experience
(yep, self taught here too!) as well as a very satisfying creative
endeavour. It's been the vehicle which has opened the door to making
friends from all over the world. I'm always humbled and amazed by
the kind words of people I may never meet in person, but with whom I
am united by the mutual love of the craft of quiltmaking.
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| for a closer look-> click |
I've
also recently discovered the world of online quilt swaps and have
become totally smitten with them. I find them a fun way to stretch my
creative wings , as each one will have it's own theme and/or
specifications. It's so much fun to make a special something for a
swap partner, and then to receive something wonderful in return!
My
short list of future goals includes growing my blog readership and
selling my work through my Etsy store. I would love to have a design
published in a quilt magazine. Note to self: prepare submissions! I
also want to try my hand at designing patterns for paper piecing. And
teach myself to free motion quilt.
My
biggest dream for myself isn't actually quilt related per se. In a
couple of years I'll be celebrating a very significant birthday and,
to celebrate it in style, I plan to do a bicycle tour of the
Netherlands, solo! It's something I've had on my bucket list for
awhile now, and let's just say, I'm not getting any younger! And, I
hear that there's a very active Dutch Modern Quilting community. This
could be very interesting!
Proost!
Proost!