Featuring Sarah - A Blogger's Quilt Festival Quilter!

One week from today the Blogger's Quilt Festival begins!  One week!  Grab a button from my sidebar or this post if you haven't already and help spread the word - thanks :)

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Today's featured quilter is Sarah from Sew Joy.  I love the line in her header - "Sew Joy! - Reap Quilts!" So true Sarah!  I hope you enjoy getting to know Sarah better --

1. When did you start quilting? 
I began quilting in 1997 as a homebound newlywed and new University graduate. I was dealing with endometriosis and not able to do much and in very low spirits. I found a quilting magazine – or it found me! – and I fell in love with the stories behind the quilts and the women who made them. I spent hours researching the names of quilt blocks. I then decided to make a baby quilt. I was dealing with infertility issues and felt that making the quilt would give me a positive way to pass the time. I used scraps my mother had saved from clothes she had made for me and my dolls. My first quilt became a UFO as I found other quilts to try. I was nervous about finishing it with handquilting and put it aside. It took me several years to finish that quilt – just in time for my baby!

2.  Why do you quilt?
I quilt because I have to – and I love it! It is an outlet for my creativity. It combines my love of colour with my love of learning. It brings me joy as I conquer fears of trying new techniques and discover some of my own along the way. It gives me a sense of connectedness to a long tradition of women making items out of necessity and love – and a chance to keep that tradition alive.

3.  What is your favorite quilting tip?

My favourite quilting tip would be to Follow Your Bliss! Make what you want to make. Do it now. Quilting can bring you joy on so many levels. Conquer your fear of colour, machine quilting, designing, applique, embellishing – you can do it! The quilting community is full of people to help and blogs are a great place to find them.

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

The inspiration for my Quilt Festival quilt started with my desire to make a BIG quilt for my brother’s third daughter. I found a bright kid print in my stash and then designed the quilt using a bunch of block ideas from quilters whose blogs I follow. The result was a big, bright picnic quilt for my nieces to enjoy.

5.  Do you sew other things?

I love to sew unique gifts. I have made wedding wallhanging quilts - with my sister- for my cousins, baby quilts, anniversary quilts, and especially for my daughter’s friends – bags as birthday gifts. Making bags is my second obsession. It’s a great excuse for collecting big print fabrics! I ‘bookmark’ tutorials from blogs to try out new projects for gifts. I have made zippered pouches, coasters, doll diapers, tissue keepers, journal covers, softies, aprons, AND I’m mulling over starting to sew figure skating outfits for my daughter.
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Thank you for sharing your story and your quilts with us Sarah!

Blessings,
Amy
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