It's my day on the Hop!

Blog Hop

Sep 25

My day has finally arrived on the Let's Get Acquainted Blop Hop!! First of all I would like to send a huge THANK YOU to Beth of Plum and June for doing such a wonderful job of organizing this blog hop and also for lining up a number of great guests to give us all some much appreciated advice.

If you are new to my blog, WELCOME! I hope you take a look around and if you like what you see, feel free to follow me on Facebook or enter your email address in the space provided to the right to receive a message whenever I post something new.

You will also want to check out the other Amanda being featured today from Fabric Engineer. And on Thursday don't forget to visit Vicky and Francine to get to know them a little better as well.

Now down to business...here are my answers to some of Beth's suggested questions:

Q: How long have you been quilting? I made my first quilt about 13 years ago (or longer?!) although I haven't been quilting consistently in those 13 years (college, marriage, a child and life just sometimes got in the way). I learned to quilt from my mother and am blessed to be so close to her and we still sew together regularly. I am also very lucky to have a husband and son who know that I'm happiest when I am able to have time to create beautiful things. What's that saying? If momma aint happy, aint nobody happy...sounds about right ;-)

Q: Favorite quilting tip? Go with what you love and don't be afraid to try new things. We don't all share the same tastes and obviously don't all choose the same fabrics and designs. That is what makes quilting so wonderful. Art comes in so many beautiful forms and if it comes from your heart, that's what matters most. I belong to a local quilt guild and am so inspired month after month at each individual quilter's beautiful interpretations through fabric. Even if they are not my "style" I can certainly see the beauty in each of them.

Q: Favorite fabric? This one is probably the most difficult question to answer! Often it would be the fabric I'm currently working with, but at the moment it is Riley Blake's Seaside. I have a fat quarter bundle waiting for just the right quilt design to come along.

Q: Favorite quilting tool? I would have to say my 60mm rotary cutter. I can't imagine quilting without it. I'm fairly certain I would not have been a very good quilter if I had to do it when my great grandmother did. She (and so many others) have made the most beautiful quilts I've ever seen...all by hand and by cutting with scissors. My need for instant gratification would not have worked well back then.

Q: Favorite TV show to watch while hand quilting? I have recently become a huge fan of The Mentalist and have been catching up on the re-runs over the summer. My other favorite is The Big Bang Theory...I'm a true nerd at heart.

Q: Binding by machine or hand? I bind my quilts by hand and love to put in a movie and hang out with my husband while finishing up a quilt. There's not much better in my little world. :)

Q: If I'd only known...? I would have to say that before I started my blog I really had no idea how much work it would be! From taking and editing photos and typing up a post (especially tutorials), you've really got some time into it. So, there are times when I don't post as much because I honestly need to use those minutes to sew instead. The other thing I didn't realize was how wonderful and supportive the online quilting community is, you ladies are so great!! I am inspired every time I check in on the blogs I'm following and hope that occasionally I can inspire others as well.

Okay, enough about me, what you really care about is my tutorial! So without further ado, I am going to show you how to make the Charming Hexagon Table Topper. It is photo heavy, so it has it's own post.