Around the World Blog Hop - TAG! I'm it!

5:00:00 PM

Welcome to the Around the World blog hop! 

Basically, this hop started, well, I'm not quite sure where exactly... I've tried to find the source of the hop to no avail... 

anyway, last week I was tagged by Leanne at Devoted Quilter. She's awesome by the way. You should totally check out her blog. Plus she's Canadian. Everyone loves Canadians. (right? RIGHT?? >says the Canadian expat... heheheh<)

So! Basically, this hop is a "Tag! YOU'RE IT!" kinda hop. The person hosting contacts 3 other bloggers to host for the following week. I was one of Leanne's tags.

Before I forget - here are the quilty peeps I'll be tagging for next week's Around the World posts:
1. Cathy at A Quilting Chick
2. Kathy at Kwilty Pleasures
3. Stacey at The Tilted Quilt
Make sure to check them out a week today, see who they are, and what they're up to!

Part of the hop requires that you tell your readers a bit about yourself. Well, here goes!

What am I currently working on? 
Oh boy. Question is: what am I NOT working on right now. Le sigh. In no particular order:
1. Pillow cases for the kids:


Pretty self explanatory, and, I've had a few requests for custom orders for some from friends and customers so I'm plugging away on those.

2. The Classic Meets Modern QAL here at Sew at Home Mummy
Each month I post instructions to a classic/traditional block, and your challenge (if you choose to accept it) is to put a modern spin on it. I'm busy writing tutorials now and finishing up December's block for you all. Feel free to join in and play along if you'd like! All of the instructions are in the right sidebar of my blog.

You can find September's block instructions, posted this morning, {here}.

sneak peek!

3. The Oliso Iron.
I picked one of these pretties up through Massdrop recently, and I've promised to write an (unsolicited, unsponsored, un-edited (ooh! hold onto your quilty panties!) review. Time! I need time!

In a nutshell, I love this iron. It took a bit of getting used to, but I liken that to having a new sewing machine - you just need to learn all of her quirks.

More on this, soon!









4. Cupcake block pattern/tutorial.
I made this block up for a charity quilt our Guild is working on, and decided I should write up how I made it. I'm trying to move toward writing patterns and (attempting) to make a few pennies off of it. I need to feed my fabric addiction and more importantly, fund more giveaways here! Woot!

5. Swapping, 101: A Lecture Series
Okay. So I'm not sure what exactly to call this series of lessons, but basically, it's an intro to swapping. How a fabric swap works, who's involved, what is involved, set up, cutting instructions, mailing instructions, etc. I posted the first "class" on Saturday, its topic being "SASE, Return Shipping, etc."





6. Coquette Diamond Quilt for Audrey
My little girl is quickly approaching the age where she'll need a 'big girl' bed; she's transitioned to a toddler bed, but she's so tall I'm sure it won't be long before we're investing in a bigger bed. So, of course, she needs a quilt!


I've been coveting a jelly roll of Coquette for the longest time - and I just couldn't decide on a pattern I liked which would adequately showcase how pretty this line is. And who better to make a pretty quilt for but my gorgeous girl?

(I'm probably a little biased but I think she's gorgeous!)














7. The ombre hexie quilt

This quilt has definitely been a labor of love - I've been working on it for well over a year. It's back from the long armer and ready to be bound...if again, I could get some time.


8. Heart quilt
A little (big!) wall hanging for over my little boy's crib, it's a project you'll see me feature later in the month on the Fat Quarter Shop's big blog hop:



How does my work differ from others of its genre?
To be honest, I don't think my work is all that different from what anyone else is doing. Quilting is an old art - to say that something you've done is truly original, is, well, poppycock in most instances (in my honest opinion). There are hundreds of years of fiber-crafting geniuses who have come before use, laying the ground work. I think really, it's all a matter of interpretation, and how someone decides to put their 'spin' on what someone has done before them.

I would call myself a 'modern-traditionalist' - I love traditional or classic quilts, patterns and blocks, and like to put a 'modern' spin on them - but really, what is 'modern'? The use of solids? Nope. The Amish have been doing that for more years than we can count. Improv piecing? Nope - Gee's Bend?  Crazy quilting?

I don't really like to compare myself to others within this 'genre' - I just do what I love, and love what I do.

Who cares what others are doing if you are happy with what you are doing?

Why do I write/create what I do?
The quilting for me started as an outlet, an escape. I am a Canadian expat living in the US - we moved here a few years back for my husband's work. We didn't have any friends, have no family or support network here. I was unable to work due to the type of Visa I was here on. This meant that I was at home with a newborn, infant and then toddler, by myself, day in, day out. No one to babysit or look after her for me. On my husband's days off, he would watch her while I went out..but with no money, how much fun could the mall or a coffee shop be, by myself? So I retreated to the basement, set up my sewing machine and started quilting. I joined the MQG's Chicago chapter. And, I started the blog. And the rest is history ehehehe. Flash forward 3 years, another beautiful baby, and now I have my Green Card (and to be quite honest, most days I don't want to go back to work), and an Etsy shop to boot. Life is good.

How does my writing/creating process work?
Well, it's certainly not a fancy process. It usually looks like this:


  1. It's 3am and I can't sleep. ZING! Idea pops into my head. Hop outta bed.
  2. Grab my notebook; it's one of these Quad Composition Books and I start sketching. Just make a quick note for myself so I don't forget about it in the morning. 
  3. Wake up, get kiddies going. Day starts. Kiddies eventually go down for their naps. Pull out notebook above and sketch the quilt out with a little more finess; dig out the pencil crayons and add a bit of color.
  4. Do the math. BLARGH.
  5. Make the quilt.


I wish I had a bit more time to make more quilts, but that time will come as the kids get older, so in a way I'm not in a rush for that. I've just come to the realization that I can't physically pump out a quilt a week like other bloggers and quilters, but that time will come, and for now I'm just enjoying my kiddies (and making a lot of sketches). 

Thanks to Leanne again for tagging me in this hop! Make sure to check out my tags next week to see what they are up to.

Feel free to leave some comments, too! If you're 

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8 comments

  1. Great post, Erin! Canadians are awesome, and of course everyone loves us! Even with your kiddies as young as they are, you still get more done than I do. More organized maybe, or more disciplined? Even when I have the best of intentions I often end up wasting time instead of buckling down and getting to work, even when the 'work' is fun stuff like quilting. Why do I do that to myself?! You may be biased, but you're also right about little Audrey - she is gorgeous!

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  2. Loved the realization that we can't all pump out a quilt a week. Life does get in the way. Enjoy every minute though, it all goes so fast.

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  3. Hi Erin
    Very insightful comments about history in textiles/ quilting and sewing.
    Cherish the days with your lovely children and then design, sew, quilt and sing.
    Cheers
    Robyn
    Australia

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Robyn! I try to revel in every single day with my kids - it just flies by!

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  4. I remember the days when the kids were young and and they do go by fast--glad you are enjoying them, you will have more time one day but those memories will last forever! It was nice getting to know you a bit more on this blog hop!

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  6. Thanks for tagging me! I am DYING to see your OMBRE Hexie quilt. PLEASE share it soon :) I've got so many projects lined up, it would be embarrassing to lay them all out at once. Great post!

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