KayakQuilting Around the World Blog Hop

My goodness there's a lot of wonderful things happening in the sewing on-line world these days.   To complement all the beautiful pictures being shared by those lucky enough to attend Quilt Market, the semi-annual Bloggers Quilt Festival hosted by the very wonderful Amy's Creative Side is going on and in the voting stage. I highly recommend a few minutes browsing through the amazing work submitted by hundreds of quilters.  November is the time for the annual Handmade Holidays hosted by Sew Mama Sew, a wonderful place for gift inspiration (and daily prizes).  And then there is the  Around the World Blog Hop posts where bloggers have shared a little of how they think and create.

Well, it seems the Around the World Blog Hop has found KayakQuilting!  I was tagged to participate by the very sweet Tina at Modgeometry (don't you love that name?).   First I found this gorgeous quilt she made for her husband and then I met her at a Boston Modern Quilt Guild meeting, where she shared the quilt.  Lucky me!  Actually, Tina was one of the many people who chatted with me at one of my first BMQG meetings and made me feel welcome.  I had some serious trepidation about joining this group of super talented people (e.g. Tina) but reading her Around the World Blog Hop post confirms that I am not alone in these first doubts about joining a guild.  So, in summary, if you are thinking about joining a quilt guild but think you might be the only new person at the meeting, fear not!  You probably will not be and even if so, everyone went through a "first" and you will be most welcome by the quilting community!

But I digress.  Back to the assignment!

What am I working on?
In the beginning of the quilting adventure (about three years ago), I was a single project person.  This created a lot of pressure to finish a project before continuing to the next, even if I wasn't "feeling it."  Now, I happily bounce between a number of projects at various stages of completion.  Some are in the incubation stage, some have components in process and a few are in the quilting queue.  These projects are getting the most attention these days:

I sleep just fine knowing there will be something to work on no matter the mood.

How does my work differ from others in the genre?
I love this question as I think everyone's work is unique to their life experience, environment and motivation.  In my case, I am so thrilled to have discovered this craft at this stage in my life.  I strive to not take this gift for granted and reflect that by incorporating something unique in my work.

Why do I create what I do?
This is an easy question.  I create to learn, to gift, to relax and to have fun.  I can't think of anything I have made that doesn't fit into one of these categories.  I am pretty fearless when it comes to trying new techniques, patterns and materials.  It doesn't always come out perfectly but I assure myself that the next attempt will be much better!  The quilts below were gifts to celebrate the start of a new business, a marriage, a one year old birthday and a charity event.

I really think this post summarizes the best why I create.

How does my process work?
Of all the questions on the Blog Hop I have enjoyed reading answers to this one.  Perhaps it is because my own approach is so random.  Sometimes it is the fabric, like the Kate Spain used in this Penny Patch quilt:

 Sometimes it is the pattern that seems right for a project:

And other times my process involves just staring at fabric, magazines, various social media looking for the inspirational bulb to light up.

Now it is my turn to nominate another blogger to keep this blog hop moving.  And move it will from Massachusetts all the way to the other side of the globe to Auckland, New Zealand and the very sweet Linda at Koka Quilts!

Thanks again Tina for giving me this opportunity to participate in the Around the World Blog Hop!
Kathy