Around The World Blog Hop

Happy Wednesday everyone, I hope you are having a wonderful week.  For me it has been a super busy one.  I was asked by the awesome Shelly of Cora's Quilts to participate in the Around The World Blog Hop.  I have tested one quilt for Shelly and am in the process of testing a second one (and if you've not checked out her pattern you should, because they are great).  This hop is pretty simple it is a set of questions, and then I nominate three more people to do it next week.  I picked Cornelia of Pieced With Love XOXO, Barbara of Suzy Homemaker and Rebecca of One Wee Bird.

So first let me tell you a little about me.  I am a native Texan, and proud of it.  I love to quilt, but I also do digital scrapbooking, some photography, loom knitting, and love to read.  My sister and I live together (and quilt together) along with my nephew.  And the most important members of the house are Tucker (yorkie), Zoey (shih tzu) and Hollywood (lab mix).  We are a wild bunch, but that is how we roll.

Now for the questions

#1 - What Are You Working On?

Well I have a couple of things going right now.  I just finished the main part of my #TexasRoadTrip QAL, but still need to do borders on it.  I really really had fun with this one, because I love the fabric and as I said before I love being from Texas.

I am also working on a test quilt for Cora's quilts, but I can't show you that until it is released.  I will say that it has 388 1 inch squares on it.  When I read that quantity I admit I thought ohhh my I will never get done, but I finished the top yesterday.  I just have to iron it and get the back together and hopefully get it quilted this weekend.  Here are all the pieces cut out, so you can get an idea of what is to come with it.

Then the exciting prospect of starting a new project.  I have about 20 waiting, but I think I know what I want to do next.

#2 - How Does Your Work Differ From Other In This Genre?

This is a tough question for me, because I am not a designer and have no desire to be a designer, so in some respects my work isn't different than others.  But at the same time I think what I love about quilting is that you can take the same pattern, use different fabrics and it takes on a different life.  In fact my sister and I have made two quilts with the same pattern, same fabric line, and they are different enough for us.  Maybe where I'm different is I'm not compelled to design in any way.

#3 - Why Do You Write/Create What You Do?

Now this is a much easier question for me.  I'm am a left brain type of person.  I'm logical, analytical, and objective.  I don't have the artist flare of a right brain type of person.  I will never be able to paint a masterpiece, write a song or sculpt a statue, and I'm ok with that fact.  But some part of me wants to be creative and I do that with my quilting.  I can take fabric and layout it out and create something that is beautiful and useful (see that left side just has to kick in on occasion).  I love playing with fabric, and have an addiction to it. Taking a pattern and putting my fabric choices with it, makes me happy.

I write this blog not as part of my creative process, but more to let friends and family know what I'm doing. I also use it to document what I've done.  I've learned so much reading other blogs, and love seeing what others are doing.  So I thought I would share what I'm doing.

#4 - How Does Your Writing/Creative Process Work?

Hmmm...I am pretty simple in my approach.  I either find fabric I love and then match a pattern to it or a pattern I love and match fabric to it.  The fabric on the shelves above bother me, because I purchased them on close out, so they don't have any specific plan to be used.  I'm using them up slowly but surely, but I much prefer to have a plan.  Now once I have fabric and a pattern, I have to lay things out to see how it should go together.  I have the Electric Quilter program and will even use it, so that I can get a good idea of how things will look.  Yes I know, not very creative, but that is how I work.  I get my joy out of the actual sewing/quilting, not out of the creative part (in fact that is the toughest part of a project for me).  Now don't get me wrong, I'm not totally structured or anything like that, in fact if you could see my sewing area you'd know for as logical as I am, I'm not overly organized. While I work I like to listen to music or TV, I always have something to drink near by, and there is always at least one furry baby in the room to distract me periodically.

Well that pretty much wraps it up for me, and I hope you've enjoyed learning a little more about me.  Now if you would like the answer these questions, I love love to hear your responses.  So feel free to comment below with your answers.