Around the World Blog Hop

I have been reading these posts with great interest because it is great to gain insight from the process of others. A thank you to PugMom for inviting me to join. You can check out her post here http://pugmomquilts.blogspot.com/2014/09/around-world-blog-tour.html

I apologize ahead of time for how long and picture heavy this is, but I think the pictures show my quilting style.

My name is Tanya and I have been quilting for nearly 20 years. I started right after we got married when my hubby told me I needed a hobby. I had learned to sew as a child and decided to try quilting. I took a free adult continuing education class with Peggy Martin (she is a published quilt book author and did amazing things with color). I soon took over my hubby's garage as my sewing studio and have been totally obsessed with quilting ever since. There have been times when I toned it down (like when I had a newborn and when I got my masters), pretty much only when  life gets in the way. Quilting is my therapy and crucial to my mental health!

1. What am I working on? 
I always have multiple projects going on...Maybe it is ADD, but the variety helps anything from becoming monotonous!

 This is a sewing machine cover and mat that is a Lori Holt design from her book, Quilty Fun. I want to use it with my Singer Featherweight for a retreat I am going on next month.

 This is an "Angry Birds Square within Square" quilt I am making on commission for  a nine year old boy.

This is the base for a perpetual calendar that is embroidered. I need to quilt it and embroider all the designs for each holiday. It is a free pattern you can find here http://www.crabapplehillstudio.com/other-stuff/downloadables/how-time-flies-bom.html

This is called "Country Homecoming" and has been a quilt along over at  http://kimsbigquiltingadventure.blogspot.com I am supposed to have the border appliquéd by mid-September. I am going to use wool felt and hand appliqué it, so I better get a move on!

This is "Lucky Stars" from Terry Atkinson made with Parasol fabrics by Heather Bailey. My sister asked me to make it for one of her friends. I plan on quilting it with my mom's long arm when it gets back from being serviced next week.

I have many more UFOs, but these are my most current projects!

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I am kind of all over the place with my quilting. I do not stick with one style...

I have made many country style and primitive quilts over the years. 

 These are companion quilts "My Country Week" and "My Country Seasons" designed by Cheri Saffiote-Payne. Here is a link to her site http://www.quiltsbycheri.com

I appliqué with wool felt and hand quilt with perle cotton, but I do not do much other appliqué- like needle turn or any hand piecing. I have not jumped on the hexagon bandwagon!

I love to embroider with perle cotton. This is "Journey of a Quilter," a BOM, I have been working on since April.  

I have always made bright quilts especially as baby quilts.

 Recently, I am more inclined to make more modern quilts. This is Pretty Posies.

3. Why do I write/create?

I can't imagine not creating! I find making quilts fulfilling for my soul and a way to relax after a long day at work.

4. How does my writing/creating process work? 

I am all over the place with my process. I rarely make a quilt from start to finish. I will start it, stop and do something else, and then come back to it. My biggest problem for finishing quilts is the quilting part...I am still learning to use my mom's long arm machine, but I lack confidence and often avoid it!

My favorite way to quilt is to dig in my scrap bins and stash and make a quilt from nothing.

I organize my scrap bins by color and they are directly under my cutting table for easy access.

 This is my "Bee in my Bonnet Row Along Quilt" featured in Lori Holt's Quilty Fun book. It is not finished because I cannot make a decision regarding borders, but it was made using up some scraps.

This is my "Farmer's Wife" quilt also made from my scraps.

Thank you for learning more about me! I have tagged

Narelle over at http://pinsandwhiskers.blogspot.com

Diann over at http://littlepenguinquilts.blogspot.com

and

Kim over at http://quiltingwithkim.blogspot.com

They will all be posting on Monday, 9/22.