Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Please allow me to introduce myself!

Today's post is a special one.

I am pleased to be part of a Quilters' Meet and Greet hosted by Benita Skinner. You can find her HERE on her blog, Benita Skinner's Creative Space.





Benita has invited bloggers in the quilty world to introduce themselves and give you, the reader, a chance to win a nice, big prize. 

Every blog you visit and comment on gives you a chance at winning this prize.....easy-peasy!


Welcome to visitor's visiting my blog for the first time!

I have been a hand-quilter since 1980 and been hooked ever since...like many of you, I'm sure. My main interest for the past number of years has been needle-turn applique.

I have tried many methods of applique and now know that needle-turn is my preferred method.




I am also a longarm quilter, have been since 2004. I feel very lucky to have a "job" at something that I am passionate about, meeting other quilters and seeing their beautiful quilts. What a life!

I've been asked to share with you my favourite quilt.

Well, this is a toughie, as I have many quilts that are favourites for different reasons!

The first quilt that came to mind is one that I call Tomato Soup for obvious reasons....





(sorry, I just can't seem to get a good picture of this one on this dull day!)

I think it works because I used three different background fabrics which, in my opinion, adds interest. I did all the applique from a jelly-roll and a couple of charm packs from one fabric line. I think the blue in the border really pops against the reds. 

Also, this quilt is very high in what I call the "moosh" factor. It is hand-quilted using wool batting (which is like quilting thru' butter, by the way), and is probably the coziest quilt in my house. 

I like this quilt so much, that I am now working on a quilt that I will call Tomato Soup, The Sequel!




Now I'll tell you about my most recent favourite quilt.

This one is called Down the Rabbit Hole and is the BOM offered by Sarah Fielke in 2017. I recommend to anyone to do one of Sarah's BOM's. Very well done, and I am currently taking part in the 2018 BOM, which will be my third of hers.

Here is the quilt hanging in our recent quilt show and some detail shots...










I hand-quilted this one and I imagine spending that much time with a quilt day-to-day earns it a special place in my heart.

One of the #1 questions I get about my appliqued quilts is, "How long did it take you?". 

Well, as a lot of you know, I do my handwork early in the morning during the two cups of coffee that starts my day. So my answer is always that....that it takes me two cups of coffee a day. My poking away is all about the journey, not about getting it done quickly. I think that mentality comes from being an old hand-quilter at heart :)

Something new that I'm enjoying is not quilt-related at all, and something that continues to surprise me!...two years ago I took up running and quite enjoy trail-running, especially.





What's in store for me next, you may ask? Well, if I say it out loud maybe I'll actually attempt it!.....

I would like to try to do an applique piece that is entirely my own design. ( oh my goodness! )

I even have some special fabric picked out. I've always wanted to try applique with silk...





It's absolutely beautiful!

Well, this has become a rather long post! I hope you will enjoy visiting all the bloggers that Benita has lined up for us....I know I certainly will!

You can start by going to Benita's post today, which you can find HERE.


Thanks for stopping by!


39 comments:

  1. What a lovely post, still learning things about you. Your work is beyond amazing, enjoy reading your posts. See you soon!

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  2. Your appliqués are wonderful. Love the brighter colors.

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  3. Fun post! Asking about our favorite quilts is a tough question, isn't it? I always wanna answer, "All of them!" LOL! Nice to meet you. :)

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  4. Good luck with that silk applique. It can be bugger to work with, but oh so beautiful when it's done! thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures.

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  5. I love your blog, and your quilts of course.

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  6. Loved reading your post. The 'tomato soup' quilt is wonderful!

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  7. Beautiful work!

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  8. I've admired your beautiful applique for a long time, Sandra - it's very inspiring! I laughed when you said you do all your handwork during your two cups of coffee a day!

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  9. I could be a pattern tester, if needed! Your choice of colours and style is wonderful! Love your work!

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  10. Your Tomato Soup is just gorgeous and Down the Rabbit Hole is still a fave too. Thanks for sharing a bit about yourself.

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  11. So exciting that you are making your own applique design! Can't wait to see it progress!

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  12. Your use of color is spectacular! I am swooning over the Down the Rabbit Hole. So gorgeous!! A true heirloom!!

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  13. Lovely to meet you and your blog. Love your projects. Your quilts are so very colorful. And each piece just pops.....You are very talented .

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  14. Wow! You have some incredible projects. Can't WAIT to see more of your quilts!!

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  15. What a color biography you've painted! The past, the present, and the exciting future. Go, Sandra!

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  16. Your applique is so beautiful! Love, love, love the tomato soup quilt.

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  17. Hi Sandra, nice to meet you! I love your hand appliqué, so lovely. I will come back later and follow your future projects

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  18. How fun to find something that still surprises you ( trail running) I bet it inspires you to quilt! And you have beautiful quilts!

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  19. Great to meet you! Your applique work is stunning!

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  20. Absolutely love your quilts. beautiful.

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  21. It's been such fun to meet new-to-me quilt bloggers on the M&G. I am in awe of your applique skills and your newfound running. Good luck with your applique design project!

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  22. Wow, stunning quilting! I admire those that can hand quilt. Your pieces are truly wonderful. Visiting from the Meet and Greet.

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  23. Great post and wonderful quilts! I LOVE Down the Rabbit Hole and your choice of fabrics is perfect! Your background with the rabbits is too cute! Hope you enjoy your running. I took it up a bit before I turned 50. I am almost 66. I injured my knee last summer jumping off my porch {less than 2 feet}. Am just starting to get back into running again. Thank you for inspiring me with your quilts.

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  24. Your "Tomato Soup" quilt is really pretty!
    barbkaup(at)(yahoo)(dot)(com)

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  25. Your work is stunning! It's great to set goals. If we don't have goals, we aren't going to meet them. If we write them down, we are even more apt to meet them down. If we tell someone else, that adds another level of accountability. You are on your way. Thank you for participating in the Meet and Greet. I enjoyed reading your post and feel like I have a new friend.

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  26. Your work is beautiful! I think you will accomplish your own design one day. Thanks for sharing.

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  27. I love the colors in the quilt in the second image! And all those hearts which I imagine are appliqued - wow. Enjoyed my visit here with you!

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  28. OM gosh, silk...needle-turn applique!! I think you are up to the challenge since I can see that you are heads-above most appliquers. Wonderful quilts.

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  29. Can't wait to see your new quilt designed by you. Love the applique, but just can't do it for long. My thumb has been giving me trouble and holding that needle it difficult. :(

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  30. Wonderful applique Sandra - and I love your two cups of coffee sewing time!!
    Thanks for being part of the Quilters Meet & Greet! <3

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  31. OMG what tedious, painstakingly, beautiful works of art you create.

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  32. Wow, you have such beautiful quilts. I especially like the hearts quilt and tomato soup. Thanks for sharing.

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  33. Ooooh my gosh!! Your are soooo creative!! Your work is Awesome & Amazing!! Gorgeous job...and the hand quilting is so Special...love the rabbit! Looks real :)

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  34. Your quilt is amazing, those bunnies, but then came the silks!!! The shades, and vibrancy, I can see you will have something totally stunning with them.

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  35. Your applique quilts are amazing. I love the way you use color.

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  36. Your second photo is absolutely stunning!
    And I see you have a badge for the Squared Away BOM - I'm doing it too as my very first BOM.

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  37. You are a beautiful quilter. Slow and steady wins the race...in quilting and running!

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