Featuring Peg - - A Blogger's Quilt Festival Quilter!

Peg of Ivy Arts is our featured blogger today!  I hope you enjoy getting to know Peg --

1. When did you begin quilting?

I began quilting about nine years ago. I was a painter at the time and went into my local quilt shop to buy thread to sew on a button. I was dazzled by the colors and designs of the fabric. I really wanted to play with it. I realize that I am generally impatient (and sometimes sloppy) so I never thought I had the chops to tackle quilting. I started with a few simple strip quilts for babies and it's been love ever since. An addictive, can't-get-enough kind of love, beginners beware.

2. Why do you quilt?

I quilt because I've found that sewing fulfills my creative side almost more so than painting and it's much easier to manage with the hectic schedule of youngsters. Since my kids have been born I haven't painted at all and I don't miss it. Lucky me! I also love the tactile reward of a cozy quilt on the bed or couch. I enjoy making quilts for others and sharing that coziness.

3. What is your favorite quilting tip?

There are so many great tricks and short cuts that it's hard to pick just one. The latest trick I learned is pulling the bobbin thread to the top of the quilt when machine quilting. That way you can tie both threads and bury the knot in one easy step. When starting to quilt, drop one stitch by hand and pull needle up until the bobbin thread shows on top. Pull the top thread until the bobbin end is visible and pull out. You will now have both top and bottom threads pulled to the top. Knot them almost to the fabric and use a needle to bury the knot. It's a flawless finish.

4. What was your inspiration for your Quilt Festival quilt?

My inspiration for the QF quilt was a quilt I saw on Flickr. It was one of the first scrappy quilts that caught my eye and I had to try for myself. I have a hard time throwing away even the smallest scraps of fabric so I had lots to work with. I started the blocks and then that sat in the UFO pile for almost a year. When I took them out again, my scrap collection was very different and I thought the old ones were so ugly. The great thing about scrap quilts is that even the ugly ones end up looking great. The scrap quilt is like a trip down memory lane, thinking about where all the fabrics came from. 

5. Do you sew other things?

I've sews some bags and household items like placemats and tablerunners. I've recently begun to sew some art quilts. It's sort of a mix of the painter and quilter in me. I'm really excited about the process. I've learned a lot of new techniques and am eager to devote more time to this arena. Don't we all need more time? :)

6. Anything else you would like us to know about you? 

Many of us dream of making it our job to play with fabric and I'm no exception. I'm co-creator of Sew Fresh Fabrics, an online fabric shop on Etsy with my friend and business partner Becca. We're looking forward to having a brick and mortar store in the coming days when our family schedules relax somewhat. The online venue is allowing us learn the business while the larger plans get developed. It's a very exciting prospect and we're thrilled to have the opportunity to make a living doing something we love.

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Wow Peg!  Keep dreaming and making those plans!  I love your quilts, the colors in your scrap quilt are beautiful!  

 I hope you all have a great weekend ~
Amy

If you would like to nominate a quilter, to be featured, see this post for details.
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