Needle & Thread Interview - Bonnie from Pink Stitches

Today I'm excited to welcome Bonnie from Pink Stitches! I came across Bonnie's blog via link parties. I clicked on her projects a number of times and realised quickly that I was drawn to her beautiful sewing projects. I am a really big fan of the way Bonnie teams different fabrics to create her various projects, she has a great eye for colour matching to create really striking combinations. I am also excited that Bonnie, like me, has only recently caught the sewing bug and is self taught - I think she was born to sew! She also loves all the same books as me - we were meant to be friends!




In Bonnie's own words: 
Hello! My name is Bonnie and I blog over at Pink Stitches. I'm a stay at home mommy and I love every minute that I get to spend with my 3 year old son, AJ. We live in a Texas border town with my husband of 7 years (our anniversary is was this past week - April 23rd!). I love connecting with new friends through my blog and being inspired on a daily basis.

Is sewing a hobby you have had since you were young or has it been something you have come to as an adult?
 I first started sewing last January when I started my blog. I had nobody around to teach me so I was determined to teach myself! I read blogs, bought sewing books, looked up videos and read my sewing machine manual a million times. Now, I'm a self-proclaimed fabric addict and have even opened a little etsy shop!

Is/was your paid job or educational background creative?
I changed my major a bazillion times before becoming a stay at home mommy. I first wanted to be a medical missionary and went to school for that, but quickly discovered I couldn't stand the sight of blood. Then I was interested in teaching or one day opening my own business. Finally I enrolled for interior design but my life took a different course when I got pregnant and decided to stay home with my baby. So no, I never had a creative educational background but I do remember always being the kid in school who started clubs like "The Art Masters" or "The Hellen Keller Club" haha. Now that I look back, I guess I always did have that creative itch.

What types of projects do you enjoy creating the most?
One of the main reasons I started sewing was because I wanted to make my own bags. To this day, handbags and totes are still the things I enjoy working on the most. I've recently discovered a love of quilts though, and I think this year I'll be working a little more on those.

Name your top five sewing inspirations.

Just five?? How do I narrow it down? There are a handful of blogs that I have shamelessly stalked from beginning to end. I'm amazed at the talent and creativity of these amazing ladies:

Fussy Cut

In Color Order 

Pink Penguin 

One Shabby Chick 

Cluck Cluck Sew  

How do you balance your sewing and blogging with your ‘real life’ eg. Paid work, family?
The most difficult thing for me is feeling like I neglect my son when I sew or blog. I hate sitting him in front of the TV for three hours while I make a pillow so I usually wait until my husband is home for me to fully indulge. My husband works 7 days and then gets 7 days off so I do get quite a lot of time to check things off my list!

 Apart from sewing, what other creative pursuits do you enjoy?
 I'm obsessed with reading! I'm the kind of reader that is in the middle of reading a book and already has ten new books waiting to dig into. Some of my favorites include "Gone With the Wind" and "Pride and Prejudice" (I swear, I don't belong in the 21st century!). But I love ANY kind of book, really. I also like to crochet, although there isn't much need for scarves and mittens in south Texas lol. I like scrapbooking, party planning, shopping online, spending time with my family and eating chocolate. I LOVE meeting new friends who share similar interests so if you feel like we can be soul mates, come visit me!!

 Thanks Bonnie - I certainly DO feel like we could be soul mates! Can you believe Bonnie has only been sewing since last January!? She is amazing! You can find Bonnie here:

Pink Stitches Blog
Facebook
Etsy
Pinterest

Go on over and visit her! Have a great weekend!