Hi everyone coming to my blog from the 2016 New Quilty Bloggers group!
I have been loving visiting everyone’s blogs and learning how different people go about blogging their quilting journey. There is always something to learn!
I am part of the Sewcial Network group and thanks Beth (plaid and paisley) for designing our logo!
This is Week 2 of the 2016 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop. Hosted by Yvonne at Quilting Jetgirl, Cheryl at Meadowmist Designs and Stephanie at Late Night Quilter.
I have been quilting since the late 90’s when I went to a class at a local quilt shop. I loved it and I have made baby quilts for various friends and family from then on until 2013 when we moved to country Victoria, Australia.
There I finally had a craft room of my own!! Finally…. space to spread out, to have my fabric stash on display and to leave everything in mid-project and just close the door. Bliss.
Suddenly I had a wish list of quilts to make that will extend way past my life-span (hehe… and a fabric stash to go with it!) and I have been spending every waking moment (and a few non-waking moments!) making and designing quilts. These are just a few of my recent quilts I have completed 🙂
As you can see, I love taking pictures of my quilts out doors. We live in such a lovely part of the world and there are so many places that make my quilts look great!
My business name – Said With Love – is because I love having text in my makes…. there is nothing like a good text fabric to cheer up my day! The Maker text by Art Gallery last year is wonderful and I have stashed away a goodly amount of it! Thankfully my local quilt shop Cotton Factory is renown for their text fabrics!
My goal is to make a quilt for every member of my family… I want them to all have something that I have lovingly made just for them. I have a long way to go still, but I am keeping on track with my quarterly plans (part of @finishalong on Instagram). It is a great way to keep yourself accountable… and to win some fab prizes too!
This is my sister’s quilt I made using Winter’s Lane by Kate and Birdie (my all time favourite fabric line!)
I was talking to a friend recently and she was stressing about her blog… she felt she needed to blog daily or at the very least weekly. My question to her was ‘have you got something interesting for people every day?’ She looked at me blankly as if that didn’t actually have anything to do with it… my blogging tip to all of us (me included!) is to blog when you have something to say…don’t just blog because you think you need to fill that blank space!
I am hoping to teach my first quilt class soon at a local quilt shop and I would like to get across to my newbie quilters that whilst there are ‘rules’ for quilting (which you do have to learn first)…. that breaking them is a lot of fun! 🙂 What other things should I make sure to tell newbie quilters about?
As I mentioned, my favourite fabric of all time is Winter’s Lane by Kate and Birdie. However Aria by Kate Spain, Strawberry Fields Revisted by Figtree, Paperie by Amy Sinibaldi, Pixie Noel by Tasha Noel (actually all of Tasha Noel’s fabrics) and pretty much anything Bonnie & Camille are right up there too. Ok, I might have to ‘fess up to quite the fabric addiction! What is your favourite fabric of all time? Have you still got some of it or have you made something with it and it’s all gone?
Don’t forget to check out my blog post about my Craft It Forward giveaway – I am deciding who will receive a hand made gift from me this Friday (Aussie time) 🙂
And don’t forget to visit all the other blogs during our blog hop! Thanks so much to Yvonne for being our mentor and also Cheryl and Stephanie as well 🙂
Blog Hop for Sewcial Network Week 1 – June 13th
Amanda @Gypsy Moon Quilt Co.
Paige @Quilted Blooms
Tish @Tish’s Adventures In Wonderland
Melva @Melva Loves Scraps
Blog Hop for Sewcial Network Week 2 – June 20th
Carole @Carole Lyles Shaw
ME! Anne @Said With Love
Beth @Plaid and Paisley
Jennifer @RV Quilting
Blog Hop for Sewcial Network Week 3 – July 11th
Sharon @Yellow Cat Quilt Designs
Amanda @This Mom Quilts
Laurel @Quilts By Laurel
Marla @Penny Lane Quilts
Blog Hop for Sewcial Network Week 4 – July 18th
Jennifer @Dizzy Quilter
Seven @The Concerned Craft
Mary @Made By Marney
Amanda @Quiltologie
And don’t forget you can be in the running to win some amazing prizes! Just visit www.quiltingjetgirl.com to enter!
- Fat Quarter Shop – $50 Gift Certificate
- Aurifil – 12 Large Spool Designer Collection – Bari J, Maximalist Style (50wt)
- Hawthorne Threads – $40 Gift Certificate
- The Quilter’s Planner 2017 Starter Kit (Planner, Pens, Clips, Highlighers)
- Mini Barn Quilts – Winner’s Choice of (1) of the (6) Original Mini Barn Quilts
- Story Patches – $25 Starter Kit (Patches & Pen)
- Stitches Quilting – $30 Gift Certificate
- Meadow Mist Designs – Winner’s Choice of (2) Digital PDF Patterns
- Quilting Jetgirl – Winner’s Choice of (2) Digital PDF Patterns
- Make Modern Magazine – 6 month subscription
A fellow Australian – g’day! It’s nice to meet you. It’s hard to pick a favourite but I think it would be a Dana Designs floral with a raspberry pink background. It’s just gorgeous and I didn’t buy nearly enough of it! Sadly it’s all gone except the tiniest of scraps.
Hi Sue! Yes I kick myself for not having purchased more of some fabrics, but I love using them!
Oh and what a gorgeous studio you have now – just gorgeous!! I love text fabric too but sadly none of my LQS are the type to stock it … will have to see if I can get my hands on some at Festival of Quilts in August. Tips for newbies – mine would be that that there is nearly always more than one way to do something and to do what works for them. Have fun with your classes. Your lovely FGV quilt has reminded that I really need to get on with some more blocks for mine!
I loved doing the sew along for FGV! I will have to go and check yours out 🙂 Definitely worth putting to the top of the ‘todo’ list again 🙂
I don’t have an all time fabric line that I love unless you count Moda marbles. My hubby likes text fabrics (I do too) but I see more on line than I ever have in a quilt store.
I love your quilt with the tractor in the middle. I like the patterns/designs, but I really like how big the blocks are. Is this a published pattern?
Hi Susan – the tractor quilt is from the Lori Holt Farm Girl Vintage book and there was a sew along last year on IG. The book has blocks in both 6″ and 12″ and the tractor one is 16″ wide 🙂 I thoroughly recommend getting the book and making a quilt!
Love your sewing room – green with envy here! Looks so bright and airy!
Ruth it is a great room to sew in 🙂
I don’t tend to get really hung up on particular fabric lines, but I have a hard time resisting Carolyn Friedlander, Alison Glass, and the C+S basics when it comes to prints. I also really, really love solids. 🙂 It is so wonderful to get to know you better, and it is my pleasure to host the hop. I think your sewing space looks really inviting and spacious, and your outdoor quilt photos are lovely!
Yvonne I have only just discovered Carolyn Friedlander and I have a bit fat 8th bundle I am just itching to do some improv with!
Wonderful to learn more about you Sue! I too love a lot of fabric lines and can envision many beautiful projects! What a wonderful goal to wrap your whole family in quilts!
Anne, your quilts are gorgeous and I love your post. Right now my favorite fabric is Kona solids, but I’ve been eyeing some Bonnie and Camille. I must say I’m very envious of you quilting space. Happy stitching!
Thanks Jennifer! I don’t have many solids in my stash – will have to address that! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
I’m in love with your tractor quilt! I made a Farm Girl Vintage quilt, but I haven’t done that block yet. 🙂
Laurel, the tractor block is great – I have also made one for my great-nephew with THREE tractors in it (he just looooves tractors!) I will have to check out your FGV quilt!
Your sewing room is to die for! I think I would never leave that room. My family would have to come visit me if they wanted to see me. And I think your blogging advice is spot on. Trying to write something every single day when you don’t really have something to say is a good way to burn yourself out. Also, love you quilt pictures. There is nothing better than a beautiful quilt in the wild 🙂 It’s been great getting to read and know a bit more about you.
Thanks Tish! 🙂 I do spend a LOT of time in my room! My hubby always checks there first if he can’t find me 🙂 🙂
Anne, so great to meet you! You’ve got one lucky sister and that farm quilt is adorable! I didn’t even know about Winter’s Lane–thanks for the intro, although it’s probably waaay too late to find any 🙁 Your studio reminds me that I really should stop putting my cutting mat on the floor to use it! I confess that my favorite fabric often is the “new arrival” I spot on line.
Hehe Karen! Yes, I must admit the newly released fabric always catches my eye as well. If you manage to find any Winter’s Lane – EMAIL ME!!! 🙂
And cutting on the floor?!? How does your back cope with that??
Anne, your studio looks lovely! So bright and cheerful, just like your quilts. Your photos are awesome, and that’s one of the top things I look for in a blog. Congrats on that because taking good photos is something I’m working on. It’s not easy, I know!
Let’s see. I don’t have a favorite fabric line, I have tons. Way too many to mention. As for new quilters, the top thing I like to tell them is that they should always remember that they can make a quilt their way. Which means they should not dismiss a quilt or quilt pattern just because they don’t like the fabrics used in to make it. Quilts often look quite different when made with other fabrics. That’s probably the hardest thing for a new quilter to learn.
Jennifer – that is a good advice to new quilters! Yes, a pattern can look COMPLETELY different in other fabrics!
And thank you – I love taking pictures (always have) and enjoy finding new places to display my quilts 🙂
I just don’t have a favorite fabric, lots of favorite fabric designers! Laundry Basket quilt probably my favorite. Remember, measure twice, cut once.
Carol that is one of my favourite sayings! I like the extended version of it… “Think thrice, measure twice and cut once” I have this above my sewing machine!!
Oh, Anne, your sewing room is so homey and cute and it makes we want to go home and decorate. Your tractor quilt is OUTSTANDING! I live in the country so that one just grabbed my attention. And your sister’s quilt is in one of my all time favorite color combinations. There are so many great fabrics out there I could never choose a favorite! It was so nice to “meet” you. Loved your post.
Thanks Janice 🙂 🙂 I realise how lucky I am with my craft room 🙂
I also could make myself at home with my sewing machine & tons of fabrics.
Kathy
Kathy you are welcome to come sew anytime! 🙂
Anne, I Love your tip… blog when you have something to say! I often worry about long lapses or too frequently. I now write what I have to say and “save” the post so that I can have a couple topics a week.
Melva I find that sometimes I have LOTS to say and other times there is just nothing…..! I like the thought of when I have heaps to say to set them to draft or schedule them over some time. 🙂
Hi Anne: I love your blog post. It’s refreshing, short but full of interesting information. If I had one tip to tell new quilters it’s that every mistake is a new opportunity to make something personal. How would we learn if we never made mistakes? I like to read my favorite bloggers and miss them when they skip many, many days. But you are right…if you are just filling space, why bother? Plan on seeing more your blog in the coming months.
Thank you Rochelle! That is so true… some of my ‘mistakes’ have turned out to be great quilts! I hope I can keep you entertained!
Anne glad to get to know you! Blog hops are always so much fun! I think your quilts are fabulous and taking photos outdoors is always a great idea. I signed up to follow by email and look forward to reading more posts and getting to know you better. Have a fantastic creative day!
I hope to keep you entertained! Yes, the blog hop has been fun…. there are SOOOO many blogs to read though!
Hello, nice to meet you! We have very similar taste in fabric! I’d tell your newbies not to worry too much about accuracy, just making the quilt is more important and accuracy comes with practice. It still hasn’t come to me but i don’t really care!
Wendy I think that having a finished quilt is much more important (and fun!) than having something perfect that never gets finished!
Hello Anne! Glad to see you have a cozy place to work! Looks like a lot of fun happening there! I love the Kate and Birdie quilt. I think I may have stashed a bit of that…for a quilt…for myself. It is hard to choose just one favorite fabric. I have a few faves from AMH. Also Alison Glass’s recent batch of Sunprints was amazing!
I can’t wait to see what you make from the Winter’s Lane Jodie! Tag me on IG or email me when you have done it 🙂
Anne, so nice to meet you! I love your sewing room! I saw it on instagram previously and loved it then. How special to make a quilt for each member of you family! Great advice on blogging when you have something to say!
Thanks Paige 🙂 And I love the plotting and scheming that goes into making each quilt too 🙂
Nice to meet you Anne. I could not possibly have a favorite fabric, unless it’s a favorite fabric OF tHE DAY! There are just too many to choose from. That said, I have a few go-to fabrics that I use regularly, and a few designers that NEVER fail me. I love Cherrywood solids. They are hand- dyed, seeded cottons in colors that are gorgeous. I love their step bundles of colors from dark to light, but really all of them. I adore anything made by Allison Glass. That girl has got it goon’ on. Everything she makes makes my heart sing and totally inspires me. I also love Marcia Derse fabrics, and Malka Dubrawsky. They always rock, too. Carolyn Friedlander. And right now I have been a little obsessed with the Bluberry Park line…so many colors to love. Oh my you’ve got me thinking…I could go on and on, but you get the point.;)
Hehehe Carrie! I know what you mean…. so many gorgeous fabrics, so little time! There are a few there that I will need to check out! Ahhh… Blueberry Park – I sooo wish I had grabbed some of that!!
Gorgeous gorgeous quilts and I have such huge quilt photos envy right now. I’m the worst ever when it comes to photographing my quilts. I really should put in more effort since I like seeing such wonderful pictures of fellow Quilters. Great to learn more about you, I really like the blog name very appropriate????
There is nothing like a bit of quilt ‘porn’ – I could look at gorgeous photos of quilts and fabric all day (hmmm….. somedays I do!!). Definitely worth spending a bit more time and effort on for your next quilt Olusola!
Great post Anne, and I so love your sewing room. My favourite ever fabric is easy, the one I just bought, always. I stopped buying to build up a stash years ago, because there is always a new have to have fabric.
Smiles
Kate
Hehe Kate! I know the feeling! So many gorgeous fabrics come out – almost too often!!
You have made some absolutely lovely quilts!
Thank you Mary!
I loved reading your post, visiting your stitching space and seeing some of your lovely quilts. My favorite fabrics these days are the ones I dye myself. However, there are lots of prints that I can’t pass up and I do occasionally hoard the last bit of a favorite fabric until I find the perfect place to use it. Tell your beginning quilters that there are many ways to achieve the same result. (In other words, there is not just one way to do things!) Looking forward to seeing more of your beautiful work in the future.
Wow Marla, making your own fabric! That sounds like fun! 🙂
Lovely to see your post! I was away, so I think it got lost somewhere and didn’t even realize that you had changed weeks! lol Week 4 will miss you. 😉
In response to your question, I would tell the beginners that perfectionism is situated in what other people will think, a place where you will never find creative bliss. Letting go of the perfectly straight seam, or the perfectly matching corners, while still striving to better oneself is quite liberating. And, in my experience leads to a longer dedication to the craft.
That is great advice Seven! 🙂 We can only ever do the best we can do in that moment.
I adore your sewing room! It is beautiful and you have succeeded in making me jealous. 🙂
I certainly have my favorite fabrics, although that sometimes changes. I have trouble deciding if a project is worth the fabric and it tends to just sit on my shelf, but when I do finally find that match and make something, I am always super pleased with it.
Hi! It was a delight to read this intro post and especially seeing where you create (sew). It looks so neat and inviting. I will have to dig out my 3 tier server and put it to good use to. Tell newbie quilters that the most important tool is a good seam ripper and replace it often as they get dull.
Your quilts are beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
How nice to have a big craft room all to yourself! It’s looks lovely in there, like you could spend all day having fun and not notice that dinner is on the table. Lol. My advice to a newbie quilter would be that mistakes are really just “design elements” and that nobody will notice those little imperfections. My favorite fabric collection is Chicopee by Denyse Schmidt. I have a 1/2 yard bundle hoarded away. I’ll use it…eventually. 🙂
Your quilts are lovely! I especially love your sister’s quilt. I’ve never heard of Winter’s Lane before, but I think it might be my favorite now too! 😉 Just gorgeous! And I have to agree with you about having your own space and getting to leave everything mid-project. It’s the absolute best!
What a great post, and I am in love with your sewing room. My favorite fabric of all time is an orange batik with purple splashes. I have a fixation on batiks and the combination of orange/purple is my favorite color combo. When I was a new quilter I met a few older women in a quilt shop. They let me know I was doing everything wrong. This was back in 2000, before quilting was big online. I was so offended, and I never forgot how those women made me feel. I am very careful now when I speak to new quilters.
Beautiful colors, the white makes the quilt look so crisp!