Have You Met Amy?

I can't even begin to tell you how excited I was when Amy contacted me to be involved with the blog tour for her Craftsy Block of the Month Series. There are so many fabulous bloggers in the lineup I was actually expecting Amy to send me a message telling me she had sent me the invitation by mistake! Take a look at the other stops on the tour:

Feb 24 - Miss Print

Feb 25 - Hoosier Toni

Feb 27 - Fresh Lemons

Feb 28 - Qubee Quilts

Feb 29 - Amy's Creative Side

Mar 2  - mon petit lyons

Mar 3  - Mel's Own Place

Mar 5  - Breakfast for Dinner

Mar 7  - Sew Paint Create

Mar 9  - SoChick

Mar 10- Spin the Bobbin

Mar 12- Diary of A Quilter

Mar 14- Ellison Lane

Mar 16- Old Red Barn Co

The Craftsy BOM is an online video series taught by Amy Gibson. It is a free course available at Craftsy and Amy demonstrates two blocks per month. There is also a discussion forum where you can gets tips and post pictures of your creations. Sounds super fun, right? Over 25,000 people are already partying over there and you can sign up at any time, so what are you waiting for?

I think that I first met Amy through a Fussy Cut Swap she was hosting on her awesome blog
Stitchery Dickory Dock and I've been hooked ever since. She is so funny and sweet and makes some seriously awesome projects! Not to mention all her helpful tips and tutorials...

I'm channeling my inner Barney Stinson today so we can play "Have You Met Amy?"

~How long have you been sewing?  About 20 years.  My mother taught me through 4-H as a kid, and I think one of my first project was a denim elastic waist skirt.  I wish I still had it!  

~What kind of machine do you use?  I use a Husqvarna Viking Mega Quilter.  My favorite things about it are the fact that it's so solid (must weigh more than both my kids put together!), and the automatic thread cutter.  It's the ultimate time-saving luxury!

~Any favorite tools or tricks?  I adore Faultless Heavy Starch- I use it on every project.  I also really love this stuff called "InvisiGrip" by Omnigrid, that sticks to the bottoms of my rulers like window clings and keeps them from slipping.  It's like magic!  Hmm, oh yeah, and my Olfa rotary circle cutter (it's like a compass with a blade)- that thing just rocks!

~Care to share a few of your favorite projects?  Love the modern mini I just finished for Ellison Lane's Modern Mini Challenge- sweet old timey silhouettes of my daughters paired with some tiny wonky stars- it's definitely been making me smile every time I walk by it.

  And of course, it's a treat tucking my 3yo in bed every night with her new Disappearing 9-Patch "big girl" quilt that I finished last fall- my favorite part is the diagonal striped binding.  

Also, the Cathedral Window baby playmat I did for Moda Backshop in November- I adore it!  

Oh, I'm also teaching a class right now at Fancy Tiger Crafts on the Lil Fox paper piecing pattern by Artisania, and what a fun little project that has been!  I just love how cute it is in a simple wooden hoop, or worked into a project- like this knitting bag I made a friend for Christmas.

~What kind of work did you do before becoming a mom and quilter extraordinaire?  I worked as a commercial print model booking agent at a talent agency for about 8 years, and before that, I was a college student out on the East Coast,  doing musical theatre, changing my major every other week, and eventually meeting my husband.

~What exactly is Craftsy and how did you get involved with it? Craftsy is an online craft learning community that offers a myriad of interactive video classes on everything from quilting to gardening to jewelry-making.  I was so excited to find out that they were based right here in my home state of Colorado, when I met them at the Sewing Summit last Fall.  They have been so much fun to work with- I'm so blessed to be involved in what they're doing!

~Favorite block from your BOM series?  A hexagon applique block that I designed called "Sunny With A Chance of Hex"- it's coming up in April.  I just love the idea of pairing English paper piecing with free-form applique.  It's so happy!

~Anything new and exciting coming up in your future?  I can't wait to start my Swoon quilt this month at our modern guild retreat (3 days of sewing in a relaxing retreat space, with yummy food and no kids!!!).  Um, yes please!  I'm also excited to start stitching up a chunky chevron quilt based on February's block, for a friend who's due to have her baby any day now.  I better get on it!  Beyond that, who knows...only time will tell! :)

~How do you get your teeth so dazzling white?  Ha!  Yeah right!  I credit red wine, coffee, spaghetti sauce, and Crest White Strips! ;)



As if getting to know Amy Gibson wasn't exciting enough, the generous folks at Fat Quarter Shop have offered the chance to win a $25 gift certificate at every stop on the tour. So that's 14 chances to win!

To enter, just leave one comment telling me what your favorite quilt block/design is right now.
I'll randomly choose a winner Wednesday, Feb. 29 Saturday, March 3rd at 8PM Eastern time.