Meet the Quilter: Quilt Story Meg!

Every once in awhile I like to feature one of my favorite quilters. Tonight, I have an interview and eye candy from someone I have long admired. Megan of Quilt Story Meg. She is one of the most talented, inspiring sewists in our community. Every single picture on her Instagram feed is beautiful, her quilts are gorgeous, her garments are flawless and what about the lady herself? She's all that and more. She's a full package deal. I wanted you to get to know her a little better so I asked her a few questions. She was kind enough to answer them and send along an introduction. 

Enjoy!

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I'm Megan, I'm a stay-at-home mom of three, 2 sons and a daughter.  Last year we moved across country to Northern Virginia while my husband completes his Family Medicine Residency in Washington DC.  I write a blog with my sister Heather (www.QuiltStory.blogspot.com) and we write patterns by the same name, Quilt Story. On our blog we feature other quilters finished quilts, our own projects & tutorials and a linky party every Tuesday!

1. How long have you been sewing?

-I sewed my first project at about 8 (a quillow!) and sewed various things throughout high school, a quilt for a school project, decor for my room, PJ pants.  I learned how to quilt at 24 before I had my first son.  I guess I've been at it most my life, my poor math skills calculate that at 23 years!

2. Who taught you?

-I grew-up with my mom making all my clothes and I loved it!  She taught me how to sew and my aunt (her sister) taught me how to quilt.

3. What is the coolest sewing project that you've been a part of?

-I'm happy to have been asked to collaborate in a couple of books and another coming out Spring 2015.  Modern Quilts from the Blogging Universe and Sweet Celebrations.  But the project that has meant so much to me was helping to create 10 memory quilts a little more than a year ago.  My oldest sister Amy's husband passed away suddenly in the Fall 2012.  They had 10 children together.  My mom, sister (Heather), my aunt and I all collaborated together to make them for the kids.  He was a school teacher and we had a lot of dress shirts to work with.  It's been such a hard and sad situation, being able to create something meaningful is healing for everyone.

4. What is your proudest sewing accomplishment?

-Currently I've been decorating my daughter's room...and I think for me creating things for my home and people I love is my favorite.  Plus I get to see it all the time and impress myself that I made it, lol! When I had my daughter I jumped right into sewing clothing.  Actually the night I found out I was having a girl I had cut out two dresses! :)  This spring I made her a dress from a real pattern with no help from my mom (okay I called her).  I was pretty proud! 

5. Who are your sewing/quilting heroes and why?

-Hmmm when I first started blogging and found the online community I was very drawn to Crazy Mom Quilts, Oh Frannson and Cluck Cluck Sew.  Since then...there are too many to name!!! :)

6. What's on your sewing bucket list?

-The list is so long!!  I'd love to create a couple of larger duffle type bags for myself, a paper pieced quilt (I've just done blocks), Sew-Together Bag, EPP hexies, challenge myself with children's clothing, and more!! :) 

7. What is your current project?

-My dad passed away last December from a very very short illness.  It has been the hardest thing I've ever faced in my life.  When I finally returned home from my parent's home after 6 weeks I didn't to do anything.  I wanted to lay in my bed all day but with three little kids that wasn't a choice.  Instead I jumped into creative projects...it was the only thing I felt I could do.  One of the projects I'm doing is creating a Union Jack quilt made with my dad's shirts and other fabrics.  My dad is from England and it holds a very special place in my heart. 

8. Favorite sewing tip that you want to pass along?

-These aren't groundbreaking...but through my years I've learned the value in measuring twice before cutting :)  Also pin a lot.  Learn your own machine. For example I was having so many tension problems with my machine and ultimately discovered that a popular brand just doesn't work for me!  As soon as I switched it's been smooth sailing!  Lastly there is a lot of importance in pressing!  A strong hot iron (doesn't have to be expensive!) and starch.  I'm a fan of starching my fabrics for quilting.  It allows them to keep their shape without stretching.  Boom.  :)

9. Who is your favorite fabric designer?

Favorites include Sarah Jane, Heather Ross, Joel Dewberry, Kate Spain, Violet Craft, Heather Bailey, Tasha Noel, Leciens, Melody Miller and lots more!!

10. If you could go on a sewing retreat anywhere to learn from and with anyone where would it be, who would teach and who would be there to learn with you?

Ahh!!! I'm just game for being able to attend a retreat and I'd have to have my sister Heather there!!! :)

11. What is something about you and your hobby that most people don't know?

Well sadly I think there are too many people, especially those who know me from Instagram, who don't know we sell quilt patterns!! :)  

To find out more or to follow Megan, and her sister Heather of course, click the links or find her on Instagram.

Instagram @quiltstorymeg

Blog www.quiltstory.blogspot.com

Etsy https://www.etsy.com/shop/QuiltStory

Thank you so much, Megan! 

In Progress and Other Fun Stuff

A few months ago I was asked if I'd be interested in working on a custom baseball themed quilt. My first reaction was "as long as it's not a Yankees quilt!" followed quickly by my second reaction of "OMG I get to make a custom quilt??" Turns out, it's a new baby quilt for a boy born to a Red Sox FANily. Heck yeah!

 

We decided on a two sided/reversible quilt. I'll keep the second half a surprise for now (unless you follow me on Instagram). Here is the first side in progress, a cheater herringbone half square triangle pattern:

And now finished:

(Say hello, Fenway Frank!)

I shared a tip with my IG friends/followers while working on this quilt. If you decide to recover your ironing board any time soon, or you need to make yourself a pressboard (check Katy Jones/I'm A Ginger Monkey's blog for a little pressboard how-to) consider using flannel instead of regular quilter's cotton.

The flannel helps the fabric "stick" which practically eliminates that whole stretching-on-the-bias-as-you're-ironing thing. Pretty cool, huh?

Let's see...what else? Oh! I am an overachiever and have been assigned TWO Schnitzel & Boo Mini Quilt Swap Partners! Here is what I made for them:

And:

Do you like? The arrow quilt person has to wait until Friday when I can ship it (yes I'm the swap mama and I just threw myself under the bus. I'm a late sender! A horrible example! I meant it when I said we understand that stuff happens!) The star quilt person is out of town so I'm hanging onto it until they get back.

I joined another swap-don't tell my husband-because my friend Trudi (www.trudi-quiltingprolifically.blogspot.co.uk) told me to. I'd probably jump if she told me to, that's how much I adore her. Whatever ;) We had to make mosaics for our secret partner so this is mine:

Lots of good stuff there, huh? Isn't that sunshine zipper tab the cutest? And the darling little stamps with the envelope blocks? Not to mention the potty mouth embroidery?! >sigh<

Anyway, things are busy as usual around here. I'm chipping away very slowly at my to-do list. My Bee's have been sadly neglected and I haven't made it to a Guild meeting in three or four months. 

What have you been up to?

Happy Sewing!

-Kristi-

Modern Medallion: week two

Last week my friend Angela came on to guest post about my week for Crystal of Two Little Aussie Bird's Modern Medallion. I was SO VERY thankful to have her help because I was in Michigan without internet! ACK! Lucky for me, Angela is not only a brilliant writer but she's also a brilliant quilter (and friend!) This week I am home and she is out of town. 

I added the Plain Jane border to my New York Beauty Contest medallion. I used a hot pink linen which I think looks really good. I'm still working on my Drunk Geese border, which is apparently quite a challenge for me!

I cut 80 3" squares and 80 2 1/2"x3" rectangles and sat down to get to work.

Oh. Crap. I just cut 80 rectangles at 2 1/2"x3" not 2"x3 1/2". GROAN. Fine. No big deal, we'll just set aside those mistake rectangles and use them elsewhere...like maybe in my schnitzel & boo Mini Quilt Swap partner's quilt...

After a little digging, I came up with a piece of white linen with a silver tinselly thread stripe throughout. Perfection! 80 rectangles cut the right way AND NOW we're ready to get started.

(Actually, I like this better!) I'm still pretty new to quilting, I've always been a garment/3-D sewist so the whole Modern/Wonky thing is something that I'm just not used to. I dunno, maybe it's the angles. I finally had six geese sewn together but not after seam ripping three times. I'm eleven geese into it now and I'm still trying to get my thoughts around how to do it wonky not wrong. It's getting easier as I go, but I had to call it a night. I'm just too tired I think. I'll pick it back up tomorrow but for now, this is where I am:

I have decided that going with just two fabrics, instead of several different low-values and several different colorful scraps, for the Drunk Geese was perfect for me. I love that Crystal's pattern gives us the freedom to do whatever we want. We're designing and creating at the same time. That's pretty dang cool. The uniformity in color will tone down the wonky geese in my quilt, which is great for me because I have plans to get crazy with those awesome little pluses. Here's a close up of my progress: 

I do love me some animal print! Especially zebra!

Anyway, check out Angela's post last week for the links to check out everyone else's progress. You should also definitely scroll through the #modernmedallion hashtag on Instagram. There are some seriously awesome quilts happening over there! I'll update during the week as I get the chance!

Happy Quilting!

Kristi