Round the World Blog Hop

Today, I'm participating in the "Round the World" blog hop after being invited by my lovely friend, Teje, from Nero's Post and Patch.  The whole idea of this hop is to get to meet other bloggers and to learn a little more about one another by answering 4 questions.

 

1) What am I working on?

The short answer to this question would be a baby quilt I making for friends, but in truth I've got several other projects in the works as well, some of which I need to keep hush-hush. ;o)

Star blocks made from another quilt's leftovers.

2) How does my work differ from others its genre?

I think my use of colours and details make my work differ from others,  but I'll let you see for yourself and let you be the judge.




My "Oh, Joy" Patchwork Pillow  is a perfect example of my penchant for happy colours - the kind which I return to  time and again in my creations. 



"Paint the Town" , the wall hanging I designed for the 2014 Pantone colour of the year challenge.

I don't always use a rainbow of colours, but if I'm using one colour, I prefer to use a variety of values of that colour.  I like my creations to be full of energy!

"Orange Twirl"

I also like projects that use repurposed materials.


Leather purse I designed using a leather shirt I re-purposed.

 

3) Why do I write/create what I do?

I create because I love to!  Simply put, being creative is a integral aspect of who I am.  It's something I need to do to be whole and happy as a person.  My sons understood this about me even when they were young, telling me, "Go sew something, Mom.  You'll feel better." ;o)
I have a specific affinity for working with fabric, but I also like other needle works (embroidery, x-stitch, crochet, knitting and needlepoint).  Sewing is my first love and what I do the most of.

 A major underlying reason as to why I create what I do is that my creations often come from the desire to make a gift for a friend or family member.  I simply love giving specially made, hand made gifts. 



The Rainbow Connection Craft Case,  ( shown above and below) was designed as a gift for my niece to store a Rainbow Loom.

This second version for a Rainbow Connection Craft Case, uses the same design, but I chose these fabrics and details especially for another niece, to make it unique and to her tastes.

Quilts are also something I enjoy making and giving as gifts, as a way of telling the recipient that they are loved.





My version of Denyse Schmidt's Single Girl baby quilt, which was another gift.
 

The quilt back for an all orange quilt I made special for my husband (orange is his favourite colour!)

Not everything I make is given away, though. I do like to make things for my own use or pleasure.  That brings me to the second underlying motivation for making the things I do.  I create to satisfy a need.  For example, the pillow below was made because I like to read in bed and needed a pillow especially suited to make that as comfortable as possible.

 

Reading Pillow I designed (because I like to read in bed).

The oven mitts were made because I needed new ones and to make use of my abundant scrap stash!

Oven mitts made from an assortment of quilting cotton scraps.

4) How does my writing/creative process work?

Like most things in life, there are stages to my creative process.  I am always open to inspiration - wherever it may come from (books, magazines, Pinterest or from my family and  my life's daily activities).  I keep sketchbooks and journals where I like to jot down ideas that come to me and where I will rough out designs I'm thinking about.

Sometimes, an idea comes to me in full form - as with the mini backpack coin purses (we were heading on a trip and my young sons needed a place to keep their pocket money - these backpacks could be clipped onto their clothes as a safe way to hold their small amounts of cash).

Mini Backpack Coin Purse and Key Chain

Sometimes, the idea needs time and trial to be honed into a final form that I'm happy with (such as my design for a fold and roll shopping bag).

Fold'n Roll Shopping Bag

I have times when ideas are popping up at every moment and then there are times when ideas are in a "fermenting" stage.  I try to just go with the flow, which means when I have those times of continually coming up with things I want to make, I jot them down and flesh out certain details later, so as not to lose the idea as another takes its place in my mind.  I always have ideas and projects at various stages going on at the same time.  It's not that I can't focus - but rather that I find it like a cycle (gather, sow, reap, repeat) which can be most stimulating.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Now, let me introduce you to a couple talented ladies I always enjoy visiting online.  Let's keep the round the world blog hop going...

 

Lorrie, blogs at Fabric Paper Thread and shares the most beautiful photos of not only the lovely things she creates ( she's multi-talented and has sewing projects, yummy recipes and decorating ideas) but of gardens, and the pretty places she visits (oh, and some of these places can only be reached by boat).  Very uplifting and inspiring is what Lorrie is.  She lives on Vancouver Island, in beautiful British Columbia.  Lorrie will be sharing her "Round the World" post today, too.

Maria, blogs from Sweden, over at  Maja's Paradis and we've bonded over our love of fabric scraps and bright, happy colours.  Not only does Maria (known as Maja to her followers) regularly quilt up a storm in wonderful kaleidoscopes of colours, she knits the most gorgeous shawls (I am so lucky to have received one as a surprise birthday gift last year... yes, she spoils me!).  A genuine sweet soul, Maja inspires with her unabashed fearlessness with colourful fabrics and scrappy project ideas.  Maja will be sharing her "Round the World" blog hop post a week from today, but you are more than welcome to see her sooner!