Thursday, July 2, 2015

JUNE... a Sewing Room Interview with... Teresa Wilson


I am so excited to share this months Sewing Room Interview... This gal is amazing, and the more I get to know her the more in awe of her I am... Lets get going with the Q&A
Presenting the Sewing Room of Teresa Wilson...

Q- What is your favorite thing in your sewing room?

A- My favorite thing in my sewing room isn't really a "thing." It's the thought
that went into the "things." I absolutely love the sewing table my husband
built to hold my Brother PQ 1500S. We got the table for $10 at DI, and he
cut a hole and installed a shelf with adjustable bolts. Having the sewing
machine at this height absolutely changed my ability to free motion quilt!
It made a huge difference. My other favorite things are my "made by" sign
made and given to me by my daughter-in-law, my "friends" cross-stitch
hanging given to me by a dear friend who I've been through a lot with, and
finally a picture I have hanging in my room about the important thing being
not the dress but what's in the dress.





Q- What is the most Annoying thing about your sewing room?

A-The most annoying thing about my sewing room is just that. . . it's just one
room! I keep trying to spread out into the family room, but my family keeps
me in check and makes me move back into my sewing room! ( I think we can ALL relate to that!!)

Q- What is the thing in your sewing room that you just cant live without?

A- I couldn't live without the storage bins in my sewing room. I get such a
thrill from finding just the right bin or container to hold my supplies and
stash. It makes me so happy to be able to find things when I need them,
which is easier to do when I have things organized in their bins! I also
couldn't live without the machines I have, including my Singer 9960, Brother
PQ 1500S, Brother 1034 Serger, and my newly purchased Innova 22" longarm
with PantoVision (digital pantographs you can sew from the FRONT of the
machine rather than the back. . . let me know if you want to give it a try
cuz it's truly awesome!). Also, let me know if you need something quilted!






Q- What is your current project?

A- My current project? Really? Does anyone have just ONE project? I'm currently
working on a Metro Medallions quilt to be used as a signature quilt at a
wedding reception on August 1st. I'm also working on a variation of a 3
Dudes pattern with an ombre effect for my son who is returning in less than
a month from 2 years abroad in France!

Q- Are you a music, movie, or silent sewer?

A- I don't watch movies or listen to music when I sew, but I frequently notice
that I'm humming my favorite tunes.


Q- Where are you from, and is quilting a part of your heritage?

A- I'm originally from Southeastern Idaho. My mom is a scrappy quilter, and I
learned pretty much everything I know from her (or from her directing me to
websites, tutorials, television shows, or her favorite books that she kindly
lends me whenever I have a need). She learned to quilt from her
grandmothers, who used clothing scraps, cardboard templates, hand pieced the
blocks, and also used a treddle sewing machine.

Q- What got you interested in starting quilting on your own?

A- I made my first quilt with some money I got from high school graduation so I
could take a nice bedspread with me to college at BYU. It was a wholecloth
yellow gingham quilt that I tied with alternating yellow and white yarn to
give it a diamond-looking pattern. I took a VERY long hiatus from sewing and
quilting while I completed my degree, got married, and started my family.
About eight years ago, I was diagnosed as having a major depressive episode,
which changed my life. I had never been through such a trying time before,
and I needed something (in addition to medication) to help me learn to cope.
All my kids were now in school, so I decided to start quilting again. I
quilted on my own for a few years. When I moved to Grantsville and met Ora
Bridges, Judy Peterson, and Carolyn Green, my life changed again! Carolyn
taught me how to applique, and they all encouraged me to come to quilt
guild. All of my quilt guild friends are such a blessing in my life.













Quilting and my quilty friends help me maintain a happy balance in my life.

Q- What is your favorite sewing room snack?

A- My favorite sewing room snack is semi-sweet chocolate chips and graham
cracker type cookies or peanuts.

Tell us something that we may not know about you!

I like to buy everything on sale and consider myself a bargain shopper. I'm
pretty good at finding just what I need or want for a great price. I love to
share my sale-buying techniques and tips with friends who are just getting
into quilting and sewing so it is affordable for them. I really like to find
great deals on KSL, especially furniture that could use a new life. I
envision the idea, and my husband helps (mostly does it himself) make my
vision come to fruition. We're currently finishing our basement. When it's
done, I plan to host sewing days at my house! I can hardly wait!

Thanks Teresa for sharing your sewing room with all of us!


Mothers Day... Sewing Room Interview

Sewing Room Interview for May 2015.... In honor of Mothers Day and because she is MY Mom, I decided to feature Marilyn Johnson in this months Sewing Room Interview...



This is my Mom... isn't she adorable? This is her favorite spot in the summer time. Just sitting out on the back deck with her doggie, Daisy and a good read .... and well sometimes, my Dad.

I informed my Father what I was doing and he suggested that I post his picture as well because although he doesn't quilt he has done some hand stitching ( which after much hand gesturing and charade type guessing we figure must have been some sort of  a crude form of embroidery!) So there he is in all his awesomeness!

Q- What is your favorite thing in your sewing room?
A-My sewing machine and serger!

Q- What is the most annoying thing about your sewing room?
A- It's just too squishy!... 

And because her sewing room is too squishy she tends to spread out a little... Ironing is set up in the dining room, she has the coolest antique ironing board that I think was a wedding gift to my grandparents. Note the pile of little green and white sundresses being sewn for charity.

The dining room sewing machine...

The sewing room sewing machines...



Q-What is the "thing" in your sewing room that you can't live without?
A- My good scissors!!

Q- What is your current project?
A- Sewing clothes for the children of Vanuatu.

Q- Are you a movie, music, or silent sewer?
A- I like to have the TV on for some noise.

Q-Where are you from, and is quilting a part of your heritage?
A- I am from Idaho, and yes, my grandmother quilted as did my mother and mother in law.

Q- What started you in quilting?
A- Watching my Mom quilt.

Q- How long have you been quilting?
A- Gosh! 50 years? Since I was a teenager, I started out by tying quilts.

Q- What is your favorite quilting room snack?
A- I'm not a snacker I'm a diet dew drinker!

Tell us something that might surprise us... I was a school teacher for many, many, years! Also I spent time in Peru on a service mission and I currently serve at the LDS Conference Center.



Chore Coat Class