Thanksgiving
What a perfect book giveaway from Martingale & Company
This book is 111 pages of nothing but projects and ideas, large and small.
I am making this one, I don't care what any of you say.
Oh wait. I have to get a copy of the book, don't I?
Because, if you leave a Thanksgiving tale
about the OLDEST person
you have ever had at your Thanksgiving table,
and the random number generator
picks your number on the last day of November,
this incredible book will be yours.
More than 20 projects.
Now that'll keep you busy.
In her own words, here she is:
1. Kim - your books all start "Simple". Many of your every day followers know about this, but for new readers, why don't you tell us the meaning behind your titles?
When I began thinking about my first book, I had several title ideas in mind, but decided that "Simple Blessings" was perfect. It felt uncomplicated and homey. That was the single best decision I made, because the word "simple" has lent itself to a whole series of quilting books! Personally, my favorite quilts and designs feature basic, tried-and-true blocks that have been loved by quilters for years -- I especially love quilts that look complicated and pack a "wow factor" at first glance, but are easy to stitch together and assemble when you break them down into their individual components.
2. Your pictures are lovely - and I know you're from Idaho. What would you say is your favorite spring Idaho bloom? Have you used that bloom in any of your designs?
In all honesty, I have no favorite...after making it through a snowy winter in Idaho, I love ANY bloom! My flower beds are full of old-fashioned favorites like hollyhocks, snap dragons, roses, and daisies. I've used many of these in my applique designs for my quilts -- sometimes they are recognizable, and sometimes I take artistic license and just please myself.
3. Are you a quiet designer or a busy designer? By that I mean, do you sit quietly and sketch, or do you pull fabrics, colors, inspiration and put on music?
I think that I somehow manage to be a quiet designer AND a busy designer. I use graph paper and a mechanical pencil to sketch my designs, and I treat myself to something on TV for a little background noise while I'm working...this is usually when I treat myself to one of the "guilty pleasure" shows that I secretly like. I'm a little bit of a planner and I like starting with a finished sketch, but I always feel free to change things as I work through the project. I did try spontaneous designing once, and seeing where the wind would blow me as I worked through the quilt, but I found myself lying awake at 3 a.m. wondering what my next step would be -- that's when I decided that surprise is highly overrated. I decided to embrace the fact that spontaneity isn't my thing.
4. The pictures in your new book Simple Graces, are lovely. Would you say your home is decorated in a similar fashion? Do you 'live' with your quilts?
Oh, absolutely! I love being surrounded by my quilts, and they are scattered, draped, and used throughout my house...in fact, the photos for Simple Traditions and Simple Seasons were from my home. The trick is knowing how much is too much so that you can achieve a balance. Really, I subscribe to the philosophy of "the more the merrier". I think restraint is waaay overrated, and I would much rather use my quilts than pack them away somewhere and not be able to enjoy them.
5. Who is the oldest (age wise) quilter you quilt with - that inspires you?
Looking back to my childhood, I grew up with my grandma's hand pieced quilts on my bed, and I can see now that this is where my love of quilts really began.
6. Who is the youngest (age wise) quilter you have quilted with, and how did they inspire you?
My daughters both made their first quilts when they were in grade school, and it was so much fun for me to see their excitement as they learned all of the steps in making a quilt. As a toddler, my youngest daughter would literally beg me to let her sit at the sewing machine and sew, but we had a rule that she had to wait until her feet could touch the pedal. Believe me when I say that she checked daily! Until that time she was finally tall enough, I would cut little squares of fabric for her and she would sit for hours with a needle and thread and sew "pockets". Now that is a true love of quilting!
7. What is your favorite 'lets go out to breakfast and chat' meal - or cafe?
I probably don't have a favorite meal or cafe, but anyone who knows me, even in passing, will tell you that if I have a double-shot coconut mocha in my hand, I'm a happy girl. For the days when I really want a little extra "oomph", I go all out and treat myself to a triple-shot.
8. What do you think is the single most important tool for a new quilter to have? (tool as in something that is very important to KNOW - not something to buy or own)
Personally, I feel it's important to be fearless. This may sound silly, but what I mean is that you can't be afraid to make a mistake...because what better way to learn? If you try something and it doesn't turn out the way you expect it would, it's not so much a failure as it is one way not to do it -- you learn from the experience and the next time, you make adjustments.
9. What is your earliest recollection of a quilt in your own life?
Growing up, I loved to burrow under my grandma's quilts, and I would spend hours running my fingers over the seams and quilting stitches while drinking in all of the designs -- the textures, shapes, and patterns just fascinated me. At the time, I only thought of these as my "blankets" and I had no idea as to the amount of work my grandma put into making them. To this day, quilts give me the happiest feelings of contentment and comfort, and I make it a point to set aside some special alone time each night to read in bed under a quilt.
10. Since this is a November giveaway, I just have to ask, what is your favorite Thanksgiving Turkey side dish?
Ooh, it might be better to ask what side dish don't I love. There's cornbread stuffing and gravy, potatoes and gravy, turkey and gravy....wow, I guess it would be gravy!
Thanks Kim, for sharing so much of yourself with us!
Natalie.
When I began thinking about my first book, I had several title ideas in mind, but decided that "Simple Blessings" was perfect. It felt uncomplicated and homey. That was the single best decision I made, because the word "simple" has lent itself to a whole series of quilting books! Personally, my favorite quilts and designs feature basic, tried-and-true blocks that have been loved by quilters for years -- I especially love quilts that look complicated and pack a "wow factor" at first glance, but are easy to stitch together and assemble when you break them down into their individual components.
2. Your pictures are lovely - and I know you're from Idaho. What would you say is your favorite spring Idaho bloom? Have you used that bloom in any of your designs?
In all honesty, I have no favorite...after making it through a snowy winter in Idaho, I love ANY bloom! My flower beds are full of old-fashioned favorites like hollyhocks, snap dragons, roses, and daisies. I've used many of these in my applique designs for my quilts -- sometimes they are recognizable, and sometimes I take artistic license and just please myself.
3. Are you a quiet designer or a busy designer? By that I mean, do you sit quietly and sketch, or do you pull fabrics, colors, inspiration and put on music?
I think that I somehow manage to be a quiet designer AND a busy designer. I use graph paper and a mechanical pencil to sketch my designs, and I treat myself to something on TV for a little background noise while I'm working...this is usually when I treat myself to one of the "guilty pleasure" shows that I secretly like. I'm a little bit of a planner and I like starting with a finished sketch, but I always feel free to change things as I work through the project. I did try spontaneous designing once, and seeing where the wind would blow me as I worked through the quilt, but I found myself lying awake at 3 a.m. wondering what my next step would be -- that's when I decided that surprise is highly overrated. I decided to embrace the fact that spontaneity isn't my thing.
4. The pictures in your new book Simple Graces, are lovely. Would you say your home is decorated in a similar fashion? Do you 'live' with your quilts?
Oh, absolutely! I love being surrounded by my quilts, and they are scattered, draped, and used throughout my house...in fact, the photos for Simple Traditions and Simple Seasons were from my home. The trick is knowing how much is too much so that you can achieve a balance. Really, I subscribe to the philosophy of "the more the merrier". I think restraint is waaay overrated, and I would much rather use my quilts than pack them away somewhere and not be able to enjoy them.
5. Who is the oldest (age wise) quilter you quilt with - that inspires you?
Looking back to my childhood, I grew up with my grandma's hand pieced quilts on my bed, and I can see now that this is where my love of quilts really began.
6. Who is the youngest (age wise) quilter you have quilted with, and how did they inspire you?
My daughters both made their first quilts when they were in grade school, and it was so much fun for me to see their excitement as they learned all of the steps in making a quilt. As a toddler, my youngest daughter would literally beg me to let her sit at the sewing machine and sew, but we had a rule that she had to wait until her feet could touch the pedal. Believe me when I say that she checked daily! Until that time she was finally tall enough, I would cut little squares of fabric for her and she would sit for hours with a needle and thread and sew "pockets". Now that is a true love of quilting!
7. What is your favorite 'lets go out to breakfast and chat' meal - or cafe?
I probably don't have a favorite meal or cafe, but anyone who knows me, even in passing, will tell you that if I have a double-shot coconut mocha in my hand, I'm a happy girl. For the days when I really want a little extra "oomph", I go all out and treat myself to a triple-shot.
8. What do you think is the single most important tool for a new quilter to have? (tool as in something that is very important to KNOW - not something to buy or own)
Personally, I feel it's important to be fearless. This may sound silly, but what I mean is that you can't be afraid to make a mistake...because what better way to learn? If you try something and it doesn't turn out the way you expect it would, it's not so much a failure as it is one way not to do it -- you learn from the experience and the next time, you make adjustments.
9. What is your earliest recollection of a quilt in your own life?
Growing up, I loved to burrow under my grandma's quilts, and I would spend hours running my fingers over the seams and quilting stitches while drinking in all of the designs -- the textures, shapes, and patterns just fascinated me. At the time, I only thought of these as my "blankets" and I had no idea as to the amount of work my grandma put into making them. To this day, quilts give me the happiest feelings of contentment and comfort, and I make it a point to set aside some special alone time each night to read in bed under a quilt.
10. Since this is a November giveaway, I just have to ask, what is your favorite Thanksgiving Turkey side dish?
Ooh, it might be better to ask what side dish don't I love. There's cornbread stuffing and gravy, potatoes and gravy, turkey and gravy....wow, I guess it would be gravy!
Thanks Kim, for sharing so much of yourself with us!
Natalie.
Remember, leave us a story about the OLDEST person at your Thanksgiving table.
And remember, it's a time to be thankful.
Be thankful for the simple graces in your own life.
I know I am.
BeginAgain
2010
natalie
