Interview: Jenny from Mend & Make New

It's been forever since I've done an interview, and it's great to be able to bring them back! I love being able to share awesome creative people and their talents with you!

Today I'm excited to welcome my bloggy friend Jenny from Mend & Make New. I discovered Jen's blog ages ago via the Creative Spaces link party. I was instantly drawn to her style and sewing projects and her kiddos are totally gorgeous too! We've since become friends and hopefully we will meet in real life some day - we went to NZ last year but only to the South Island. Next time we will be going North for sure!

In Jen's own words:
I live in the beautiful Hawkes Bay, New Zealand with my husband, Andrew and our two kidlets, Noah, 4,  and Isabelle, 2. We also have a new arrival coming sometime in May! I love pistachio nuts, grapefruit juice and a good eggs benedict and am a bit of a night owl. I also enjoy going to craft markets, school fairs, garage sales and op shops.

Is sewing a hobby you have had since you were young or has it been something you have come to as an adult?
My Mum is a keen sewer and I she got me an ancient black Singer (basically an antique) so I could sew along side her when I was a kid. But I had a very short attention span for sewing at the time and left a trail of unfinished projects in my wake. Because of that, it's only been in the last few years (actually since I started having kids) that I really got into sewing. I found sewing for my kids was a good way to get back into it, since the projects are less time consuming than sewing for yourself, and the results are so rewarding.

 Is/was your paid job or educational background creative?
Not at all! I'm trained as a lawyer!

What types of projects do you enjoy creating the most?
As I said above, I really enjoying sewing for my kids. I've really enjoyed using knit fabric a bit recently and also love to dabble in quilting.

 What are your favourite sewing tools and materials?
I LOVE my overlocker/ serger... I've had it about a year now and I absolutely love it. Recently, I've been enjoying using freezer paper in sewing and craft projects. It makes great stencils and if you trace a pattern onto it, it makes a great iron on template that can be used again and again. It helps you to cut out really accurately and you don't need to pin your pattern! It's a life saver!

Name your favourite sewing inspirations.
I get a lot of inspiration from fellow bloggers especially the likes of Dana from MADE, Jess from Craftiness Is Not Optional, Sophie from Cirque Du Bebe (and Ros from Sew Delicious, of course!) Thanks Jen :)

More close to home, my Mum has to be one of my biggest sources of inspiration (she made so much of our clothes when we were kids) and one of my best friend's Rachelle. Rachelle helped me with a lot of handy sewing techniques when I was first getting back into sewing, and her level of professionalism is amazing.

How do you balance your sewing / creative projects and blogging with your ‘real life’ eg. Paid work, family?
It can be a difficult balance to strike. I use my blog to motivate me with my sewing and other craft projects, but try to remember that sometimes I need to step away to spend quality time with my kids. After all, there is no use them having great wardrobes full of hand sewn garments, but a Mum that's stuck to the sewing machine/ computer, is there? Because of this I try to 'steal' snippets of time when the kids are sleeping/ at kindy etc for the bulk of my sewing and blogging time.
I've just started doing a bit of paid work (part time, from home) for my husband's business; with this combined with a bit of pregnancy tiredness - I'll just have to see how it all fits in.

What other creative pursuits do you enjoy?
I've done a small bit of crochet and knitting, but would like to do more and I'll pretty much try anything if I get half the chance!

Thanks so much Jen!! Make sure you check out her lovely blog and give her some facebook love!

Are you are creative blogger? I'd love to feature you! Email me at roslynruss{at}gmail{dot}com and I'll send you some questions!

Needle & Thread Interviews - Abby from Things for Boys

Today I'm excited to welcome Abby from Things for Boys. Her sewing skills are amazing and she is also a complete whiz in the kitchen! We are lucky to live very close by in Melbourne, and I can now count Abby as an 'in real life' friend too! Make sure you pop over to her blog and check out her brilliant tutorials and recipes...after you read this interview of course!

Hi everyone! I'm Abby from Things for Boys. I live in Melbourne with my hubby and Roman, our almost 2 year old. He's a well travelled boy, being born in the UK and then visiting the US at 6 months old. Thankfully, there's no plans for any more world adventures in the near future... I'm quite happy being back in Melbourne and with all my family and friends. 

Is sewing a hobby you have had since you were young or has it been something you have come to as an adult?

I've been sewing for as long as I can remember. I started off making clothes for my Barbies and I've been sewing ever since. My Dad used to work at a clothing factory, but it closed down. Before they emptied it out, he took me pick whatever fabrics I wanted. It was a great way to learn as I didn't need to worry about mucking something up and wasting fabric, so I would just make things up as I went along...most of the time it worked! I still have the Barbie dresses I made all those years ago.

Is/was your paid job or educational background creative?

More like the complete opposite! I did an Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Double degree at uni and then worked as a computer programmer before staying at home with Roman. I'm not sure why I did that degree, I didn't like it all that much. 

  

 What types of projects do you enjoy creating the most?

I love doing projects that I haven't tried before or anything that teaches me new skills. I'm not very good at making the same thing over and over again. I also love making clothes for Roman. Kids clothes don't use a lot of fabric, so they're cheap and come together quickly. Some days I realise that everything he's wearing is Mama-made!

      

What are your favourite sewing tools and materials?

I'm not sure if it's a tool, but Google! Whenever I start a new project I take a look online first. There's always someone who has made what you're about to make so it's good to see how they went about it and how it turned out.  I recently bought my first rotary cutter and it's changed my life! It's so much quicker and less stress on my hand than scissors. Why didn't I get one sooner?

Name your favourite sewing inspirations.

I get inspired a lot by colour and also fabrics. I often buy fabric without having a clue what it's going to become, it just jumps out at me. I also love bright colourful things. This can be a problem because nothing in my wardrobe ever matches, but I'd die if I wore black every day. Right now I'm loving all things green! Blogs are always inspiring too. Some of my favourites are:

No Big Dill

Dana Made It

Fuss Free Cooking

I'm really looking forward to the next Series of Project Run and Play too! 

 

How do you balance your sewing / creative projects and blogging with your ‘real life’ eg. Paid work, family?

I like to keep myself organised so that when I have a bit of time for sewing, I'm ready to go. I keep my work table (our dining table) neat and have fabric out ready to start my next project. I make use of Roman's nap time to get things done and also do a bit once he's gone to bed. To maximise my craft time, I get him involved with the housework, so that we can spend time together and also get some things done. He loves to hand me pegs and put them in the bag when I'm hanging out washing. He also loves putting clothes into the washing machine. Sometimes he isn't as helpful as I hope, but it's still play time for him.

What other creative pursuits do you enjoy?

Anything that takes my fancy. I do a bit of knitting, although not a lot because I find it very time consuming, but it's good for nights on the couch. I also have a few furniture makeover ideas in my head, but I need to clean out the garage to make room to get them started. I also make my own cards because I think paying $10 for a piece of paper is crazy, even if it is sparkly!

Thanks so much Abby for sharing about your sewing adventures here today with us! 

You can find out more about Abby here - blog - facebook - twitter - pinterest - flickr - make sure you pop over and visit her!

Needle & Thread Interview - Corrie from Retromummy

Yay! The Needle & Thread Interviews are back! And will from now on be a monthly feature here on the blog.

Today I'm excited to welcome Corrie from Retromummy! Corrie's blog was one of the first blogs I read, and certainly the first Australian blog. Her blog is a bit like sitting down with for a cuppa and a chat with a friend - there is always lots happening - crafty projects, gorgeous kids, family activities,cooking and recipes, day to day family life and just recently, a beautiful new baby!

In Corrie's own words -
 I live in Sydney with my lovely husband Justin and our 4 little ones. Keira, Tillie, Finn and Elodie. Baby number 5 will join us mid July and we are very excited to be growing to a family of 7. {Edit - last Wednesday, Corrie & Justin welcomed their new baby son Emerson into the world! Congratulations!)

Is sewing a hobby you have had since you were young or has it been something you have come to as an adult?
I was a hopeless sewer at school. Absolutely hopeless. I just did sewing in Year 7 and didn't finish anything we made. While I was at uni my best friend was studying fashion design at TAFE and I was inspired to get out the sewing machine and did a short course at TAFE. The machine was packed away at uni and then when I had Keira I got it out again and started making a few things for her and my obsession really grew. I can't believe I started out with just a few metres of fabric and now have filled a whole room!

Is/was your paid job or educational background creative?
I definitely had a very un-creative job. I studied Commerce, got my CPA qualifications and worked in banking for 10 years before leaving work to have Keira back in 2006. I must say though that I wasn't a typical banker and would bring in cakes and brownies for the office. Great way to get to know everyone on your floor by the way.

What types of projects do you enjoy creating the most?
 I love making things for my little ones to wear. I love that they love wearing them and I love receiving comments from other people on their outfits.  It's just a huge feeling of satisfaction when you make something and I just wish I had more time to make their clothes. Now that I quilt I love making quilts and having them all over our house. My kids have one of each of their beds and I love having a big stack in the loungeroom to snuggle under. 

What are your favourite sewing tools and materials?
I love my sewing machine! It's a Brother QC-1000 and does so many great things. I'd be lost without it. I also love my floral Olfa rotary cutter and love using a rotary cutter for some sewing projects. When it comes to fabric I pretty much stick to 100% quilting cottons as they wash and wear beautifully and just last. And I'm a sucker for anything pink, pretty and floral as well as cute Japanese prints.

Name your favourite sewing inspirations.
I love reading blogs! Just a few I love are:
Posie Gets Cosy
Soulemama 
V & Co.
Crazy Mom Quilts
Anna Maria Horner

How do you balance your sewing / creative projects and blogging with your ‘real life’ eg. Paid work, family?
Well having 4 little ones and a big pregnant belly certainly keeps me busy. I love to blog and blog everyday and try to do my computer time when everyone is playing or napping. I am a night owl and that also helps with getting things done. Sewing time is generally on weekends when retro daddy is home and can give me a few hours of peace and quiet. I find it very relaxing to get a bit of time to myself. I also knit most nights and love that I can sit in the lounge room and be doing a bit of craft while the little ones play or watch TV.

What other creative pursuits do you enjoy?
I love to knit and crochet. I started knitting again in my 20's and it's been a real hobby of mine with a stash that almost rivals my fabric stash. The best thing about knitting is making lots of lovely warm things for my little ones and I take very good of care of them to pass on to the next little one of mine. 

Thanks so much Corrie for sharing your creativity with us today! If you'd like to know more about Corrie and her blog Retromummy, you can find her here -

Blog - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Shop

Needle & Thread Interview - Cass from Cass Can Sew

Today I'm excited to welcome Cass from Cass Can Sew! Cass was one of my first Australian bloggy friends and as luck would have it we discovered that she lives just near my parents in sunny Queensland! Last time I was up there we met in person and it was so great to chat about sewing and blogging while our girls played together! Things I love about Cass, her blog and her style - she just whips up amazing outfits and bags without a pattern, she writes with a lot of humor and fun, and vintage has become a real signature for her. Her creations from thrifted fabrics and linen have that old world beauty with a new practicality and purpose. She has also just (this past week!) opened her etsy store, Rosylou Handmade, where she will be selling her gorgeous items made from vintage fabric. Welcome Cass!

 In Cass' own words:
Hello there! I'm Cassandra... some of you may know me from Cass Can Sew!  I was so excited when my lovely sewing friend Roslyn asked me it take part in her Needle and Threads Interview Series.
I'm lucky enough to live in a lovely little bay side community just north of Brisbane, Queensland, right on the water! Literally!  I'm not kidding... there's only about 5m between the beach and my back patio!!!  Here, I reside with my fiance Tony... better known as "My Man the Muso" & my two gorgeous girls Emily (11 yrs) & Hannah (13mths) - HUGE age gap, I know!

 Is sewing a hobby you have had since you were young or has it been something you have come to as an adult?
I HATED sewing when I was young!  I recall grumbling my way through the sewing module of my home economics class in High School.  When we were set the task of making an alteration to an item of clothing, I cut off a pair of my jeans and frayed the edges!!!  As you can imagine, my teacher was less than impressed with my efforts!  Sorry Ms Ball.
I only discovered my love/addiction for sewing about two years ago!  To be honest, I can't recall exactly what it was that made me decide to learn again... what I do know is that it must have been my destiny! LOL!!! 

Is/was your paid job or educational background creative? 
Not in a crafty sense.  The closest I've come to working with clothing would have to be when I took a job slicing up clothing (by the 20kg bag) for those rag bags that mechanics use!  Let's just say that I didn't stay in that job long... working in a sweat shop environment just doesn't suit me... but it helped out a teeny bit until something better came along.  I've actually got quite a mix matched resume that includes Dental Nursing, Postal Clerk, Waitressing, Food Service, Customer Service & Administration.  Out of all of these, I'd have to say I enjoyed my role as a Major Projects Administrator the best and will quite possibly go back to it again one day once Hannah is of school age.
I've always been the creative type though.... I've gone through the arty stage, card making stage, knitting stage & have always had music in my bones!

What types of projects do you enjoy creating the most?

I love working on upcycling projects!  I love how I can take something pre-loved, like a vintage dress or pillowcase and give it new life as an adorable little outfit for Hannah or a market bag.  Every time I sew something new, I can't help but look at it and chuckle at how clever I can be!!!  Go on.. admit it.. you do it too!!!

What are your favourite sewing tools and materials?

I couldn't live without my rotary cutter & mat.  If you don't have one... YOU NEED ONE!!!  They make cutting patterns soooo much easier!  I also have to give a mention to my overlocker (serger).... I just love being able to create that professional finish on my projects.

As for materials, although I love working with lovely vintage cottons, I'd have to say my favourite fabric to work with would have to be knits.  I often read that people are afraid of working with knits, but I've never had an issue with them.  I love that if I'm feeling a bit lazy while working on a knit skirt project, I don't have to hem the bottom because the end will roll up nicely on it's own!

Name your top five sewing inspirations.

Wow... this is a hard one to narrow down into five!  So I'll go with sharing the fantastically creative and helpful crafty bloggers who have taught me almost everything I know in the world of sewing & who I stalk regularly....

Dana Made It 

Little Betty 

Threading My Way 

What I Made Today

and of course.. Sew Delicious!!!

How do you balance your sewing and blogging with your ‘real life’ eg. Paid work, family?

LOL... this is always a fun question!  Ummm.... with a fair bit of neglect to the housework!!!  It's not like my house is filthy... I'd just rather sew or blog... or play on Pinterest... than fold washing!  I have my sewing space set up in our living area, along with the laptop... so if Hannah is playing nicely, I'll quickly get a bit of sewing or blogging time in.  It's extremely rare for me to get even the quickest of projects completed without any interruptions. I have also commandeered the pool table as my cutting table.... much to the disapproval of My Man the Muso!

Apart from sewing, what other creative pursuits do you enjoy?

I love music!  To me, music = Life!  I'd be so lost without it.  When I get the time, I like to play my guitar, sing & write little ditties.  It's been a while, but when the opportunity arises, I love to perform & have been known to make the odd appearance in open mic nights, jam sessions.  I love nothing more than doing duets with My Man the Muso and even Emily has joined me at the microphone a few times.

Oh! and I LOVE fishing!  Which is helpful, considering that we live right on the water!  Although I don't mind eating seafood every now and again, I'm not what you would call a seafood lover... but I love catching fish!  There's nothing like feeling that tug on your line when you've hooked something!!!

Thanks so much for sharing with us today Cass!  How gorgeous are those pictures of your little girl Hannah?!

You can find out more about Cass here:

Blog

Facebook

Etsy

Pinterest

Have a great weekend!

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! 

Needle & Thread Interview - Nic from Yardage Design

I first discovered Nic from Yardage Design way before I started blogging and sewing, when she was interviewed in a magazine for one of Melbourne's major newspapers. I loved what I saw and when I began to follow blogs, the Yardage Design blog was one of my first. A textile designer by trade, Nic also creates amazing sewn pieces with her beautiful hand printed fabric. If you are looking for a special and unique fabric for your next quilt or sewing project, you will adore Nic's stunning designs.

In Nic's own words:
Hello! I’m Nic (Nicole), and I’m a textile designer with my own little label called Yardage Design which has been around since 2009. When I’m not designing, screenprinting or sewing, I am a mum to a 5 year old and wife to an engineer. We normally live in Melbourne, but we’ve been living in Madrid (Spain) since June last year. Whilst we are well travelled, this is our first time living overseas ~ it’s been an adventure, a challenge and a dream all in one! From a design point of view, it’s been very inspiring.

Is sewing a hobby you have had since you were young or has it been something you have come to as an adult? I was taught to sew initially by my mum when I was in late primary school, but my skills were improved by my high school textiles and design teacher, Mrs Johnston. At uni, I was lucky enough to live down the hall from a student studying fashion, so I learnt a lot and was inspired by her. I launched a small brand of clothing that I sold through a local shop during my university days ~ it was a pleasant change from the science degree I was studying!

  
Is/was your paid job or educational background creative? I am an environmental scientist by profession and spent many years working in this amazing space. My professional training and passions have had a huge impact on the way I run my business ~ making it as sustainable as possible. There was little time for sewing or crafting until the birth of my son five years ago.

What types of projects do you enjoy creating the most? Nothing beats the thrill of creating a design, getting the screen made and seeing it come to life on fabric ~ I never tire of it. A close second, is making something with my own fabrics. At the moment, I’m enjoying making quilts ~ choosing the fabrics, deciding on a design, and ending up with a beautiful and useful quilt.

 Name your top five design inspirations.
1. Nature - leaves and flowers
2. Typography - especially old posters, signs and books
3. Geometry - shapes and lines
4. Architecture - old buildings and craftsmanship
5. Travel - new experiences are wonderful for igniting new ideas

How do you balance your business and blogging with your 'real life'? Lists! As a business owner, 

mum, wife and friend, I try and make it all work, with a varying degree of success. The reality is that a lot of 

things I need to do for the business or myself are done when everyone is asleep, or during school hours!

What other creative pursuits do you enjoy?I really love photography ~ looking at beautiful images and

trying to make them myself! I have lots to learn, but I am enjoying it. I’m also very addicted to Instagram at 

the moment ~ some very talented people sharing their images via this great application. I also love to cook, 

and grow things in the garden. 

Thanks so much Nic for sharing your creativity with us today! If you want to find out more about Yardage
 Design or you would like to pick up some of Nic's gorgeous fabric (Swizzle in blue and Verano petals in sea
green are my current faves!) you can find her here:

 

Yardage Design Website     

Blog          

Shop          

Facebook    

Twitter          

Instagram - @yardagedesign

Needle & Thread Interviews - Lyndelle from Little Olly

Today I am excited to feature my very talented friend Lyndelle. We met in 2009 when our babies were about 10 weeks old. Eight women from our local area with new babies ended up in same Mother's group, and luckily for us, firm friendships were made and remain now. A couple of years ago, I started reading blogs, getting inspired and I decided that I needed sewing lessons. With no room in the budget to pay for lessons, I asked Lyndelle to teach me how to sew. The rest, as they say, is history... and just yesterday I discovered that Lyndelle has been the co-conspirator with my husband and has helped him over the past few months in his secret mission to buy me an overlocker (serger) for my birthday - so I owe her lots of thanks!!

Our cheeky babies Liam and Anna - not babies anymore!

In Lyndelle's own words:
Hi, my name is Lyndelle. I'm thrilled to be part of Roslyn's awesome interview series! I live in Ballarat which is a large country town in Victoria, Australia. I have one little boy who has just turned 3, and like so many mums he has become my sewing inspiration.

Boy's pajamas - currently available in Lyndelle's shop Little Olly

Is sewing a hobby you have had since you were young or has it been something you have come to as an adult?

Definitely something I have been doing since I was young. I remember my mum bought me a basic sewing machine for my 10th birthday, and she was a fantastic sewer. When I was younger I mainly did cross stitch and a bit of knitting and crocheting, then moved on to patchwork and quilting.

 

Christmas Cross Stitch

Is/was your paid job or educational background creative?

In some ways yes it was creative. I have worked as a singer in a band on and off for about fifteen years, and I also owned a gift shop for a couple of years which is where I first started selling products that I had made. 

What types of projects do you enjoy creating the most?

These days my focus is really creating things for boys! We all know how many adorable projects and materials there are for little girls, and I think the boys miss out a bit. I love it when my little boy gets excited about wearing something I have made for him!

 

Little boy's bamboo trunks - designed by Lyndelle - PDF available soon!

 

What are your favourite sewing tools and materials?

I have in the last few years started to use a lot of organic and natural materials. This is mainly due to my boy having sensitive skin, allergies and excema. My favourite to work with is bamboo. It feels absolutely amazing to the touch and is a sustainable material for our planet.

 

Lyndelle's sewing room

  How do you balance your sewing and blogging with your ‘real life’ eg. Paid work, family? 

 I don't have a blog but sell products I have made online in my MadeIt shop. It is always difficult and unfortunately my little fella probably gets neglected a bit when I am on a sewing roll! You do your best and try not to feel too guilty about spending time doing something you love that doesn't involve your kids. Difficult for us eternally guilt-ridden mums.

 

 

Apart from sewing, what other creative pursuits do you enjoy?
I really love all crafts and have given most things a go, but sewing is the one constant. 

 

Thanks Lyndelle! If you want to know more about Lyndelle's gorgeous clothes for boys (and there are a few things for girls too!) you can find her here:

 

Little Olly Made It Shop

Little Olly on Facebook

Happy Easter!

Needle & Thread Interview - K from Fog and Swell

For today's interview I am really pleased to welcome K from Fog and Swell. I came across her blog last year and have since looked forward to every new post introducing me to a beautifully detailed stitched creature or a breathtaking series of photos from the environs around her home on the Pacific North West Coast.  

 In K's own words:

It's just me and my man, living on the east side of Vancouver Island below snow-capped peaks and with the strait stretching out before us…except we actually can't see either from our house! We like to get out snowboarding, paddling, biking, hiking, foraging and generally taking advantage of our west coast island. But we also like to be homebodies - a lot of my stitching is done while watching TV and movies. I dream about someday living off the grid on a remote corner of the BC coast.

Is sewing a hobby you have had since you were young or has it been something you have come to as an adult? 

I have sewed and knitted and pursued other crafty activities since I was a kid. My mom is very creative and used to make clothing and costumes for my sisters and I when we were younger, and taught me the basics and I just continued from there.  

  Is/was your paid job or educational background creative?

I am a graphic designer, so there is some creativity there. I have some education in design and photography, although I also have a bachelor's degree in anthropology, so I have deviated a bit from my original plans. And it could certainly change again - I still haven't decided what I want to be when I 'grow up'. 

What types of projects do you enjoy creating the most?

I really like making the obscure creatures that a lot of people have never even heard of - nudibranchs, weird jellyfish, a mermaid's purse. I like to learn about the real animal in the process, and I usually get a greater appreciation for the wonders of nature. Often I am inspired to make them on my own and hope others will find them as cool as I do, but other times someone will approach me with an odd request (a recent one was a geoduck) and I'm generally thrilled at the challenge.

What are your favourite sewing tools and materials? 

I am pretty basic with my tools. While I use a sewing machine for certain projects or pieces, my main tools are needle and thread. Combine that with some natural fabrics - even better if they are natural dyed - and I'm pretty happy.

Name your top five sewing inspirations.

- The incredible craftsmanship and resourcefulness in traditional Japanese boro blows me away - Sri Threads is a great resource for info and pictures of these amazing artifacts.

- Regina of everyeskimo does such delicate stitching and gives such gentle personalities to her little soft creatures.

- Alabama Chanin

- Kathryn Clark's Foreclosure series of quilts

- Jude Hill of Spiritcloth

How do you balance your sewing and blogging with your ‘real life’ eg. Paid work, family?

Balance? I'm not sure that is the right word. :) My life feels pretty full with my day job and my side pursuits, plus the 'things' of everyday life (laundry, etc). But I do still try and find time for fun away from my crafty pursuits - I like a lot of outdoor sports, exploring and travelling, or just getting out for a good walk and some fresh air. I think a little nature therapy makes a huge difference in clearing your head and making the rest of the schedule seem less daunting.

  Apart from sewing, what other creative pursuits do you enjoy?

I love knitting, experimenting in the kitchen, drawing, and probably above all, photography.

 Thanks so much K!  If you would like to read more about K and her creativity (or like me you would like to own one of those divine creatures for yourself) you can find her here:

Blog  - Facebook

Etsy

Flickr

Pinterest

Make sure you have a look at my previous interviews and next Friday we will meet another talent with the needle & thread!