5,4,3,2,1 Things About Me

So, Craftzine has been doing a really fun series of profiles using this 5,4,3,2,1 format. Then Wild Olive picked up on it and invited her readers to join in. And now Craftzine is inviting everyone to join in. So here goes. . .

One Project You Are Particularly Proud Of

1: My very first quilt. I had almost no sewing experience at that point and I designed this enormous quilt with insane needle-turned applique letters and hand quilting. I figured it out as I went along (this was - ahem - before the internet) and just took it one step at a time. And it turned out fine! That experience really informed what I do now - I think beginners can tackle just about anything if they take it one step at a time. The most important thing is to make something you're excited about making.

Two Mistakes You've Made in the Past

1: Not studying art in college. I was a good student and good students don't go to art school, right? Plus, I thought that artists were painters and I've always been intimidated by painting. I wish I had known back then just how many different careers there are for artists.

2: Doing too much production work in the first iteration of Shiny Happy World. For me the joy is in the designing, figuring out the kinks, making the construction as simple as possible to achieve the look I want. Once I figure all that out, assembly-line construction of 100 bunnies isn't much fun - though they look cute all stacked up. :-)

Three Things That Make Your Work Unique

1: There's a deliberate asymmetry and hand-drawn quality to all my designs that I think (hope) gives them personality and charm.

2: My color choices might look wild, but I actually have a very specific palette of bright, true colors I go to again and again.

3: Almost everything I do is designed to be made by beginners.

Four Tools You Love to Use

1: Needle and thread. I LOVE sewing and quilting by hand.

2: My Pfaff sewing machine with built-in walking foot.

3: My extra large cutting mat.

4: My extra-wide ironing board.

Five Inspirations

1: The Muppets

2: Ed Emberley

3: Eric Carle

4: Lauren Child

5: vintage toys (especially Fisher Price Little People)

Want to join in? Post your own profile 5,4,3,2,1-style and put a link in the comments so we can all read it!

Best,
Wendi