I'm Vicki and I am going 'Round the World' with this blog hop!

First off I want to say thank you to Kim from Sara Lizzies for inviting me on this great journey!  She has been a great friend for a little over a year now, and I feel excited that she'd ask me along for the ride.

I have asked Val from Val's Quilting Studio to tell us her blogging story next Monday, July 14.  In the mean time, you can click on over to her site to see what is going on in her VERY exciting and creative studio.

....And you are?

Hello!!  My name is Vicki, and I am a quilter!!  I absolutely love what I do.  I live in California with my husband of 35 years.  I have 4 wonderful children and a grand daughter!  There are more details about me on my 'My Mission!' page.

When did you start your blog?

Back in February of 2013, I had never seen a blog, and really didn't understand what blogging was all about.  I was encouraged by my good friends Deborah - Simply Miss Luella , Cindy - Live A Colorful Life and a few others, to consider creating a blog of my own.  So, I set out on this adventure with a lot of trial and error, and here I am today!  My first post was on April 11, 2013.  My first few posts didn't even have photos - I didn't know how to download them from my camera.  I think I have done pretty well using the "point, click, and hope that the whole thing doesn't disappear" method!

What are you working on now?

I actually have numerous projects going on this summer.  Garments, a Raggedy Ann doll for my grand daughter's first birthday, curtains for my living room, and about 25 quilts and projects in my closets that are in different stages of completion.



I made this little beauty at a recent retreat.  I have it basted and ready to quilt.  You won't even recognize it when I'm done with it!

You talk about a 'Mission' in your blog name, what is this?

My usual 'Mission', is sewing for MCC/MDS. Mennonite Central Committee and the Mennonite Disaster Service which helps both locally and worldwide with disaster relief!  My quilts are auctioned off once a year to raise money for this service at the 'West Coast Mennonite Sales & Auction for World Relief''.  I would encourage you to go to my 'Who are MCC/MDS?' page to read more!  The addresses are in a page on my blog.

Where do you get all those gorgeous fabrics for your quilts?

Donations!  This is a very small sample of the donations that come in from quilters just like you.  We appreciate every scrap we get!

Who comes up with the patterns and pairings?

I do!  Sometimes kits, UFO's or BOM's come in so they are already together, but the rest of the time, I sit and either design my own pattern or draw from my collection of patterns for ideas.  In the above picture, the bottom shelf is full of bundles that are ready to be cut and sewn into quilt tops.

What do you mean quilt tops?

This quilt was made with donated antique 'flower pot' squares.  I make the tops, and the gals at North Fresno Quilters do the small stitch quilting, tying, prairie stitching or they are sent out for long arm quilting.

When they are quilted in the manner selected, they come back to me for binding!

I thought that you quilted your own quilts?

I am learning!  This is the first full sized quilt I FMQ on my domestic machine!  I just bought a new machine in April of 2013, so it has opened up a whole new chapter in my quilting life!

 

Oooh, new machine....what kind?

 

I bought an Elna Excellence 720!  She has features that I didn't even know I needed.  I am getting a whole new sewing room since this photo was taken.  I will blog soon about my new space!

 

OK, I am understanding a little more about what you do, but why "making lemonade from lemons"?

 

Our fabrics come in bits and pieces.  Some of them are more like lemons....not really sweet. I take them, match them up and make something really pleasing and appealing out of them...lemonade!  When choosing my blog name, I had to include that fact somewhere in the header.  It is our motto at NFQ!

 

What is something that others may not know about you?

 

I love to paint!  Yes, I do paint rooms, furniture and such.....but I'm talking about pictures.  I like abstract the best.  I am trying really hard to expand my color pallet.  That whole comfort zone thing.

 

Thank you so much for stopping by 'A Quilter's Mission'!  I have enjoyed meeting so many wonderful new bloggers and friends.  I am not one to push for followers, but if you'd like to keep checking back to see what new adventures (or, misadventures) I get myself into, I'd love it.  Also, I love receiving comments from all of you, they really do make my day brighter!

 

Thanks again Kim and Val for participating in this world wide adventure with me!!