Round The World Blog Hop

I was tagged by Debbie @ A Quilters Table last week to participate in the Around The World Blog Hop. Debbie and I met a few years ago when participating in the For the Love of Solids swap on flickr and have also swapped fabrics across the miles from time to time. And  it was Debbies fabulous Triple Zip pouch tutorial that finally convinced me to learn how to sew zips early last year which I have found so useful in now that I am enjoying making bags.

Firstly, a little about me:  I am a wife and mum to 3 teenagers and I live in the Northern Rivers region of NSW, Australia, not far from the beautiful Byron Bay. I also have a sweet grey kitty named Simba who often pops up in my photos:)  I started sewing again about 5 years ago when I took a quilting course at a local store and was totally hooked! Previously, I made simple clothes for the kids when they were younger, and have also done cross stitching and scrapbooking in the past.

Soft Kitty pillow for the Pantone "Radiant Orchid" challenge

1. What am I working on? 

AMB AMH Feathers quilt - My fellow members of the AusModBee group made these amazing AMH feathers blocks for me last year using Denyse Schimdt's Chicopee fabric and I finally got around to sewing them together a few weeks ago - not sure why it took me so long....Anyway, this one is back from the quilters now and ready for binding which I hope to get done in the next few days. 

Amy Butler Weekender bag: I am planning on making some QAYG panels using Chicopee fabrics and scraps from the feathers quilt (above) along with a cute printed panel from Cat & Vee for one side.

3. Why do I write/create what I do? 

I really enjoy the creative process of sewing - it may be the pattern or sometimes it is just the beautiful fabric and I just want to get in and make "something". I like modern designs and spend a bit of time browsing through Pinterest or other blogs for ideas and to get inspiration. I live in Australia, and our winters aren't too cold here so I although I love quilts, I like to make other things as well - bags are my favourite thing to sew at the moment!! Although in saying that, one thing that I would really like to make is a Gypsy Wife quilt. I really love the version by Twin Fibers and have been "collecting" a stash of Bonnie and Camille fabrics to make one - maybe next year...I also like to give handmade items to family and friends for birthdays and Christmas gifts. 

A few recent finishes:  Cargo Duffle bag, Sea Breezey mini quilt, 
Red letter day quilt, Swoony Super Tote.

4. How does my writing/creating process work?

I worked as a Medical Scientist in a hospital Pathology lab for nearly 25 years so I am a fairly methodical and organised person. I don't have a specific sewing space (just waiting until one of the teenagers move out so I can reclaim a bedroom!!) and tend to spread out on the dining room table so I try to not have too much on the go at any one time so it doesn't get too messy out there!  I use a monthly calender template on my computer where I can type in any birthday dates, deadlines for swaps/bee blocks etc and also jot down ideas for blog posts using a different text colour for each event so they are easily identifiable. I try to blog at least a couple of times a week so write up and pre-schedule posts if I know that I have a busy week ahead. I like to make lists of what I want to make and try for the most part to stick to that list, athough sometimes a new pattern or fabric will be released and I just want to use it right away. Like Debbie, I also have the list on my phone so when I am waiting to pick the kids up from work,or football training, I can browse through it and add more notes it if needed. 

 Girlfriends Wallets: Pattern by Amira @ The Little Mushroom Cap

Thank you so much to the lovely Debbie for inviting me to be a part of this blog hop. On next Monday, September 1st, please pop over and visit Adrianne from NZ @ On The Windy Side, Leanne from Canada @ She Can Quilt and Katy in Scotland @ The Littlest Thistle for their Around the World blog hop posts.  

ArchiteXtures quilt: "Lucky Squares" Pattern by Sew Crafty Jess

The purpose of the Around the World blog hop is to introduce you to bloggers that you may not know about and are happy to have found, so I am hoping you enjoyed your visit to my blog today and continue to follow along with the Around the World Blog Hop....

Kirsten.