Monday, 15 June 2015

Welcome to the New Quilt Bloggers' Blog Hop

Hi! I'm Hayley and I blog here at MooBird Stitches.

This is me! I think I may have cake in my mouth, hence the funny expression on my face

This year both my sewing and blogging has all been about trying new things. Perfect example: The New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop! I read all the posts last year and thought "I have got to try that one day" but I have come to realise that there is no time like the present! 

I started quilting about two and a half years ago when I was pregnant with my second daughter, Ms Bird (younger sister to Ms Moo - see where I am going here?). One of my dearest friends had told me how she had made quilts for her girls and that it wasn't that hard. Then I guess my sister got tired of hearing me talk about it and bought me some charm packs and backing fabric and gave them to me with a rotary cutter and a link to Flossie Teacakes' blog. I made my little girl to be a simple patchwork quilt and truly I haven't looked back. 

Here is Ms Moo holding up my Sierpinski "mini"- I designed this myself and am super proud of how it came out

By day I work in the financial services industry (at the moment at least - suffice to say I am a numbers person). Over the years I have tried my hand at various crafts (ceramic painting, anyone? At least with sewing you don't need to buy a kiln!!) but sewing is the one that has stuck. Like so many others, sewing is how I relax. I get antsy if I can't get behind my machine regularly. 

My most recent make - the Sea Star quilt

This year, as I said, I have been trying to expand my repertoire a little. I have set myself a personal challenge to sew a garment of clothing every month. I am still at the pretty basic stage, but I am determined to stick with it! I have also (over) joined some swaps, bees and a birthday club. I tested a pattern for Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs (quite daunting, that responsibility - check back here in a few weeks when it launches for a giveaway). I participated in the Spring Blogger's Quilt Festival and lastly, I hope to at least write up a pattern for my Sierpinski quilt to share the mathsy quilt love around. 

Princess Twilight Sparkle - a birthday gift for Ms Moo

Some of my other makes


So now for the speed round! 

Best blogging tip

If you don't know something, ask. Or at least google it. I haven't been blogging enough to have any awesome tips of my own, but there are very generous and helpful people out there who are happy to help. Someone has faced the same problem you might have before! I am hoping someone will post about how to make a collage (or leave me a comment, hint, hint)

Best quilting tip

Slow and steady wins the race. When I rush I get careless. My seams get wonky, my quarter inch isn't scant, I cut the fabric wrong. And always get your seam ripper out when you start to sew. It's like Sod's law - leave it packed away and you'll need if for sure. 

Quilting question 

Tell me your number one quilty pattern - either one you've made that you love the most or what is at the top of your bucket list. Mine is the Storm at Sea. Looooooooove. 

My faves

I used to have favourites that I strongly identified with (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, My Brilliant Career, Donnie Darko, Matt Damon) but as I've gotten older it has become more about what I am currently enjoying, rather than saying something is the best ever (except Matt Damon, he'll always be on the list). 

So I am currently enjoying the following:
TV show: Dig - I don't watch a lot of TV but after three episodes I am hooked
Book: I just finished The Moth and it was fantastic
Movie: Seriously, I have two young children, I don't go to the movies unless it has a Disney princess in it!


So if you have read this far, thank you! Have a poke around my blog if you like and please spread the bloggy love with the other fabulous guys on the blog hop!

Here are the other guys from my Hive (the New Bees - see the groovy button in the side bar) that are posting this week:
A big, huge thank you to our hosts / guides this year: Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl, Stephanie @Late Night Quilter, Terri Ann @Childlike Fascination and Cheryl @Meadow Mist Designs.

XX

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33 comments:

  1. Pedal Sew Lightly15 June 2015 at 14:50

    Fellow New Bee Hopper here. I don't really have a bucket list pattern. I just make what hits me at the moment. Love your story. Thank goodness for special friends and sisters!

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  2. Ali W15 June 2015 at 17:54

    I love your Sierpinski quilt. Being a numbers person too I think triangles are my thing and your design pushes my buttons! I have a hoard of Liberty fabric and plan on making postage stamp quilt - not a solid in sight and very busy-busy. It might take me a while...

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  3. Anonymous15 June 2015 at 21:05

    I had to laugh that you've done a MLP pillow. My niece is very into MLP, but I am hesitant to devote that much time to something that is likely to be only a very temporary favorite. (Buzzed over from Cheryl's blog--enjoying the new bees blog hop)

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  4. Crafty Ashley B15 June 2015 at 23:19

    Hi, there! I buzzed over from my own blog! LOL! :) Love these pieces; they are great! I'm glad to hear I'm not the only person who overdid it on swaps this year! I swear all I sew are pieces for a swap!
    Oh, and for the collage, try at Canva! Sarah at 123Quilts shared that website with me and I've had some fun playing with it!

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    1. Sarah@123quilt19 June 2015 at 01:45

      I was just going to say that! Lol. I make my collages using Canva.

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  5. Cheryl16 June 2015 at 00:24

    Your blog looks great, very clean and well organized. I love the quilts you have made and when you write your quilt pattern I would be more than happy to review it for you!

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  6. Kristen16 June 2015 at 00:38

    All of your recent projects are beautiful!

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  7. Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl16 June 2015 at 01:20

    I have really been enjoying using Canva to make photo collages recently; I think you can find more details about it and PicMonkey in the Facebook group. :) In terms of patterns, I have been having a lot of fun designing my own recently, and my favorite is always the next one I dream up... your quilts and blog have such a crisp and clean ascetic; it really draws me in.

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  8. Sandra Walker16 June 2015 at 02:06

    My favourite block is any star block, don't really have a favourite quilt pattern, although I made a lot of Stack 'n Whack quilts and love kaleidoscopes. Your Sierpinski quilt is fantastic! Love the ghost triangles in the quilting ;-) No clue on the collage, but wait, what, didn't you kind of do one up there?! I use picmonkey, so will mess around in it when I have time in my next life, lol, as apparently from the other comments I see it's do-able there!

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  9. Wendy16 June 2015 at 02:08

    Hello, nice to meet you! You've made some lovely quilts, I love the mini you made for Miss Moo.

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  10. Ruth16 June 2015 at 02:28

    Gosh that's a tough question - I tend to make my own stuff mostly but a pattern I've made more than once is the Strip n Flip by Cluck cluck sew and I've been hoarding some noteworthy jelly roll strips to make one for myself - even though its a baby quilt!

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  11. Aunt TC16 June 2015 at 02:40

    Thanks for sharing your quilts.

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  12. Tish Stemple16 June 2015 at 03:21

    I love the name of your blog! And let me say that the nicknames you have for your daughters is just adorable. I love the pictures you posted of your quilts, they are so fun and full of color. I look forward to following your blog.

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  13. Jennifer16 June 2015 at 04:09

    Hi Hayley! Nice to meet you! Definitely check out Yvonne's tip about Canva. I just started using it and it's amazing!

    I look forward to seeing more of what you make!

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  14. Stitchin At Home16 June 2015 at 04:35

    My bucket list quilt is a log cabin. It seems I'm about the only one who has never made one.

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  15. Rosa16 June 2015 at 06:19

    Nice to meet you, love your quilts and fabric combo.One of my favorite block is log cabin and anything with stars.

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  16. Anonymous16 June 2015 at 06:43

    Hi Hayley! It was lovely to get to know you a little better. I love your work. It's taken me a long time to become comfortable designing my own quilts, and I've made a lot of other people's patterns, but I seem to be making the same things over and over again (one reason why I have twenty something minis all made using the same pattern, but I felt like making things to different patterns would sort of equate to playing favorites with my friends and family) and I'd love to branch away from that.
    There are so many quilts I just love, and would love to make. Have you seen Modern Rainbow by Rebecca Bryan? It's the best eye candy! I also love Julie Herman of Jaybird Quilts. I'd like to make a ton of her stuff, but I think it's time to start focussing on original designs for me. It's a shame, sure, but one of the things I realized early on is that there will never be enough time to make all the quilts you love or to use or all the fabric you can't resist. I think quilters should get an exception to the 24 hours in a day rule.

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  17. Unknown16 June 2015 at 07:27

    Hi Hayley! Fellow New Bee here. One bucket list quilt would be The Circle Game by Jen Kingwell. The other is La Passacaglia using Tula Pink fabric.

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  18. Lisa J.16 June 2015 at 09:58

    I'm buzzing over from Sewcial Swarm and I'm happy to get to know you . Your work is really lovely. I'm currently enjoying the Sea Star pattern...but you know that one already. I've got Jen Kingwell's latest book Sew Lovely and it's full of interesting quilts which could be on my bucket list.

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  19. Jayne16 June 2015 at 11:11

    How beautiful are those quilts! Stopping by from Sewcial Swarm, so enjoyed your post! I don't have a favorite pattern. Usually I make it up as I go! Love improv!

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  20. Anja @ Anja Quilts16 June 2015 at 11:11

    But Disney princess movies are fun to watch!! Would love to see a pattern for your Sierpinski quilt. It caught my eye the first time I saw it.

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  21. Deb@newcreativestate.wordpress.com16 June 2015 at 13:46

    Thanks for sharing a bit of yourself with us Hayley. First, let me strongly agree with you on the Matt Damon factor - the Bourne Identity movies are firm favourites in our house! I will be making the Aviatrix Medallion Quilt later this year as part of a class so I guess that is my number one quilty pattern atm. Your quilts are all gorgeous and the Princess Twilight Sparkle pillow must be adored by Ms Moo!

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  22. Sarah Goer Quilts16 June 2015 at 16:17

    I just invested in Blogstomp software for creating collages. I have some others that I use on my iPhone for instagram, but I think Blogstomp will be my go to for blog collage needs. I just used it on today's post. (Added the text in photoshop.) I'm dying to get started sewing my Swoon (the giant size) quilt. I started cutting fabric, but set it aside in favor of swap deadlines and a lengthy list of WIPs. Thanks for sharing. Your Sierpinski quilt is lovely! Triangles are also on my bucket list. :-)

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  23. Eleanor17 June 2015 at 01:35

    Is that a half-square triangle sampler I see in your collage? Whatever it is, it's gorgeous!

    Favourite pattern... Er... so many! I must admit to a weakness for flying geese in blocks, if that counts!

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  24. Unknown17 June 2015 at 03:00

    Hi! I'm a New Quilt Blogger-Sew Fabulous Hive member! Love the colour pallet of your blog and the Cross Stitch Title! So so cute! My Favorite pattern is one my mom designed called Sister Stars! I have a weakness for star quilts!

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  25. Diana @ Red Delicious Life18 June 2015 at 04:09

    Hi Hayley, great meeting you. I was part of last year's hop. You have some beautiful quilts. I saw that Yvonne from Quilting Jet Girl already posted about collages - she does some great ones. Quilting patterns on my bucket list are the lemoyne star and hunters star.

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  26. AStrangerView18 June 2015 at 04:11

    Hi Hayley, I feel ya on the lack of movie knowledge. Disney Princesses are my currently life stage also. :D But back to quilting, great work! I think taking time is important too, I always need to remind myself that I am not in a rush (even though I can't wait to finish it up and see it all done and ready to cuddle). I don't have an actual pattern in my bucket list. I really love the log cabin I made for my nephew (I'll blog about it on my blog hop week), but I am working on an Anna Maria Horner feather quilt (I'll get more blocks from my bees next month) and am loving the result. Although, it is not a super easy pattern (bias edges and such). Anyways, thanks for sharing!

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  27. Brianna18 June 2015 at 10:18

    Wow, beautiful finishes! I love your top in your picture - did you make it? My favourite quilty pattern of my own is the one I'm working on now!

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  28. Unknown19 June 2015 at 00:49

    All of your work is gorgeous but I really love you granny square quilt. Hmmm my favorite quilt pattern....I really enjoy log cabin quilts and half square triangle quilts because there are so many layouts you can use and come up with such a different quilt.

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  29. Sarah@123quilt19 June 2015 at 01:55

    Great post, Hayley! I have way too many quilts on my bucket list to pick a favorite. I love HSTs though and I think a sampler needs to get to the top of my list.

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  30. Cristy @ iloveyousew19 June 2015 at 04:58

    I'm getting into more garment sewing for myself too! As for sewing patterns, I love me some flying geese. I just think they have great visual impact.

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  31. Sew Stitching Cute25 June 2015 at 01:38

    Hello fellow bee-mate! You're gorgeous and I loved this post! So glad to get to know you more! That princess twilight sparkle... um, yes please! You do such lovely work and I think your writing and work speak for itself, lovely lady! I keep saying this because it seems that everyone is using so much more color these days but I am such a sucker for color and I LOVE the vast amount of colors you're using! HST are lovely and I could almost make them all day if I didn't get too tired of making the SAME ones! I have a need to want to always cut up more and more fabric. LoL Don't we all? Look forward to getting to know more about you!

    *Stopping by from the 2015 New Blogger Blog Hop - New Bee's

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  32. Cassandra19 July 2015 at 13:43

    Your Sierpinski mini is awesome! I love making my own patterns- isn't it a fantastic feeling to make something completely new and different? I love your goal of making garments. It has been a long time since I have sewn clothes for myself on a consistent basis, but you may just inspire me!

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I love getting comments! Feel free to say hi. I'll do my best to reply back - sometimes work and chasing after Moo & Bird might make me tardy.

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