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June 2013 Member Spotlight # 3–Andee
Member Spotlight–Angela (or Andee)
I live in Chandler with my partner, oldest son, a roommate, five dogs, a cat and a fish. I am a sign language instructor and interpreter. I love books, reading and sewing!
Q: When did you start quilting?
A: I learned to sew when I was twenty and made a few quilts (sans rotary cutter and mat) then but since I didn’t know what I was doing, I used cheap thread and they fell apart quickly (I had been sewing crafts and had no idea!) so I didn’t sew another quilt for many years. Then in 2003 or so I decided to make a baby quilt for my good friend’s first grandchild. That quilt (a spider web) got me hooked and I have been quilting ever since!
Q: What would you tell a newbie that you wish you had known when you started?
A: HA! Don’t use cheap thread!
Q: Have you always considered yourself a “modern” quilter?
A: I love modern fabrics, patterns and quilts. I try to make several every year. I started out sewing more with a line of fabric where everything was matchy matchy most of the time. I didn’t really like scrappy quilts. Then one day I stumbled upon Bonnie Hunter’s Quiltville with all its free scrappy patterns and fabulous blog and suddenly I was inspired. I reorganized my fabrics into Bonnie’s scrap system and found the joy of scrap quilting! If I had to label myself I would say I am more of a scrap quilter and am more of a modern wannabe!
Q: What’s your favorite sewing/quilting tip?
A: You can do anything step by step. I would never have attempted some of the quilts I have made if I had known how complicated that would be (I love mystery q”uilts) and now that I have done several complicated quilts I know I can do whatever I set my mind to.
Q: Do you have a favorite quilt block, pattern or designer?
A: Well Bonnie Hunter’s “Talkin’ Turkey” is my current favorite pattern. I am doing it as a Rainbow Scrap Challenge Block of the Month and each block just makes me smile. I also love Carrie Nelson’s Scnibbles and have made quite a few. Modern quilt wise I LOVE Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr of FunQuilts Modern Quilt Studio Denyse Schmidt. I really want to try a transparency quilt one of these days.
Q: Do you have a favorite notion or tool you can’t quilt without?
A: Does my featherweight count? I have five machines–one is a super fancy Husqvarna Designer Diamond and I still prefer my featherweight.
Q: Do you quilt your own quilts?
A: I do straight stitch quilt or tie some of the baby quilts or smaller quilts, I don’t really enjoy that part of the process so I mostly quilt by check. My friend Ros Atwood quilts most of my quilts and never fails to delight me!
Q: What’s your favorite part of the quilting process?
A: Picking up the quilt 🙂 I love the piecing.
Q: What part of the quilting process do you dislike or struggle with?
A: Not crazy for binding but love seeing a project through to completion. I have very few UFO’s because I am a finisher. I do have lots of WIPS but they will all get done.
Q: Do you design your own quilts?
A: No! I always say I am a pattern follower. I sometimes have an idea but just don’t have that creative mind to turn it into anything. I am so thankful so many folks are talented beyond belief so I will always have lots of great patterns to choose from.
Q: What inspires you to create?
A: I have a hard time doing “nothing” so I keep pretty busy and I think that drives me to sew.
Q: Do you do any other crafts? Which ones?
A I used to do counted cross stitch, I went through a basket weaving phase and a stamping phase, I made scrapbooks for each of my kids upon their high school graduations (I DO NOT recommend waiting til senior year!). I also crochet some and love to knit.
Q: How many quilts have you made?
A: I number my quilts and am up to 208.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: Talkin’ Turkey Rainbow BOM, Jack in the Box Rainbow BOM, Hawaii Sunset, Lazy Sunday Mystery from Quiltmaker, Kalidescope of Kolor BOM from 35th Ave., Wild and Goosey Paper Piecing, and the Drunkard’s Path Quiltalong Quilt (to name a few).
A: Talkin’ Turkey Rainbow BOM, Jack in the Box Rainbow BOM, Hawaii Sunset, Lazy Sunday Mystery from Quiltmaker, Kalidescope of Kolor BOM from 35th Ave., Wild and Goosey Paper Piecing, and the Drunkard’s Path Quiltalong Quilt (to name a few).
Q: What do you wish you knew how to do (quilt related) and hope to learn?
A: I want to learn just about anything and everything.
A: I want to learn just about anything and everything.
Q: Do you have quilt related business that you want to share with us?
A: Nope but I do blog at www.moderndiary.blogspot.com if you want to visit me there 🙂
A: Nope but I do blog at www.moderndiary.blogspot.com if you want to visit me there 🙂
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| Double Delight Mystery Quilt designed by Bonnie Hunter |
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| Flock of Triangles designed by Denyse Schmidt |
Please cut and paste, then answer the above questions and email them back to [email protected] as soon as you can along with at least one picture of you and at least one picture of a quilt or your sewing area, family, etc. whatever you want to share. I would like to be able to do a Member Spotlight blog post weekly but I need your help! Angela
