Meet our Guest Blogger June 2016

I'm very excited today!!!.  I came across this blog a short while ago, and reached out to the author about doing a guest blogpost, she graciously agreed and responded in record time.  That means that she is our very first guest blogger, and I am very happy to let her introduce herself and her blog. Without further ado....

 

Hi! I'm Lorna McMahon - a maker, a mom, and an avid quilter. I am also a passionate pattern designer and the author of the Sew Fresh Quilts blog. I’m honoured to be here today and eager to share with you a little about myself and how quilting has changed my life.

I am a wife and mother of two teens. I live on a little 50 acre farm in Southwestern Ontario. We are beef farmers and do a little cash cropping of corn, wheat and soya beans. I never did figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up. But now that I am over 50.... It looks like I have become a quilter. Prior to motherhood, I worked in a variety of industrial and manufacturing settings and was previously employed mainly as an apprentice Millwright and welder. Now I finally realize what was meant by transferable skills. Whether you are talking about carpentry, metal work, or quilting, the Number One rule is  "Measure twice - Cut once". But in the quilter's rule book, you will find that this is quickly followed by rule Number Two: "Always buy more fabric than you need." I live by rule Number Two.

My quilting journey began back in 2012, when I designed my very first quilt for my daughter. I had no idea what I was doing at the time. But with all of the information shared by other talented quilting bloggers, I googled my way to a finished quilt. And from there.... I was hooked. Fast forward to today, I am living a creative and fulfilling life, sharing what I have learned along the way and connecting with quilters from across the globe at my Let's Bee Social link up.

My design style makes use of traditional piecing methods to create fun and modern minimalist designs. A few of my signature items are the “Elephant Parade”, "Black Birds" and “Dog Gone Cute” quilt patterns. My work is regularly sponsored by one of today's top fabric manufacturers - Northcott Fabrics - and has been published in Quiltmaker magazine and Quiltmaker 100 Blocks. One thing has lead to another and I am now doing trunk shows and leading workshops for quilt guilds within my local area.

 

Q&A:
 

1. What do you love about Modern quilting?

What I love about modern quilting is that you can interpret modern in whatever way suits you. I personally love to use traditional piecing methods to make minimalist designs and pictorial quilts. To me, modern quilting is also about the modern way in which quilters gather. We are a global support community. Gathering both in small and large groups via guilds and sew-ins. And gathering in cyber space, courtesy of the world wide web to meet at blogs and on social media. Quilters, by nature, are always giving support to one another and to those who are the recipients of our craft.

    2. Where do you draw inspiration?


 First and foremost, I am inspired by the One who is the Master of all things beautiful. God created a perfect world and filled it with the most amazing and lovely things. Nature is my inspiration. Other artists renderings of nature are also inspiring. Studying the work of Charley Harper has helped me to develop my own style of modern minimalism.

 

   3. What are you currently working on?( Can we have a sneak peak?)


What am I working on? Well, I do have a few projects that are currently in the design stage. Modernitional Bear Paw is one that I am currently obsessed with and hoping to start working on very soon. This design is intended for entry in the "MODERN QUILTS: Redesigning Traditions" show that will be held at the Ontario Museum of History & Art in Ontario, California from December 1, 2016 to January 22, 2017.

   4. Solids or Prints?


Solids and "reads like a solid" prints are my preferred fabric styles.


   5. Precut Bundles or Stash?

 

  As tempting as they may be, I am not a big fan of precuts. I tend to have a quilt planned before ordering fabric to suit the design. And use my stash for smaller projects.

   6. Favorite Tool or Trick you can't live without?


Aside from the over-the-counter reading glasses that I started wearing while quilting, my favourite tools that I can't quilt without are my pointy tweezers, seam ripper and small snips.

   7. What's your favorite Blog/Designer?



I really can't say that I have a favourite blog or designer/blogger. I spend a lot of my online time reading the blogs of those who have joined in the Let's Bee Social link up parties that are hosted each Wednesday at my Sew Fresh Quilts blog. At the party, these bloggers share a link to their blog post and then take some time to visit the blogs of other participants to see what they are sharing. I feel a strong connection to those who are regulars at the Let's Bee Social and have become close friends with many of them, following their blogs, and interacting on social media, such as Facebook and Instagram.


   8. What's one thing we should know about you?

One thing you should know about me is.... I live in a very isolated, rural setting. But, thanks to quilting, I am not alone. And am always open to meeting new friends. Hope you will consider joining me for a visit!

 

Quilting has opened up a whole new world filled with creativity and fun. And enabled me to make meaningful connections with so many like-minded makers and stitchers. I would love to meet you, too! Join me at the Sew Fresh Quilts website where we can share our love of quilting.

Keep On Quilting On!

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This guest post was written by Lorna McMahon, modern quilter, pattern designer and the author of the Sew Fresh Quilts blog. Lorna uses traditional piecing methods to create modern quilt designs. Popular items include her “Elephant Parade” and “Dog Gone Cute” quilt patterns. On her website you can learn from her creative processes as she shares her love of quilting, tips and clever tutorials.

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