Let’s Get Acquainted!

by Nicole
Welcome to Mama Love Quilts! I’m happy to be a part of the Let’s Get Acquainted blog hop organized by Beth of Plum and June.
Plum and June

I’m Nicole, the mama of Mama Love Quilts. I have two little girls, a 1-year old and an almost 4-year old and I recently celebrated 7 years of marriage to my best friend. When I’m not chasing after my girls, hanging out with my husband, or working as a researcher, you’ll find me at my favorite place: behind my sewing machine.

Even though no one in my family sews or quilts, I’ve always had a fascination with quilts. I learned to quilt while in grad school to relieve stress and channel my creative energy. Since making my first quilt more than 10 years ago, quilting has blossomed for me from a hobby to a full-fledged passion.

Six months ago, I started this blog as a way of sharing my work and connecting with other quilters. In that time, I’ve “met” some amazing people who have encouraged and inspired me to continue improving my skills.

Here are a few of my favorite things that I’ve made this year.

My creation

1. EZ Dresden Challenge Table Runner, 2. Oh Fransson bags, 3. Sewing Machine Cover for Modern She Made Swap, 4. Jelly bean2_full, 5. Me and my quilt, 6. Improv circle_logo, 7. Starburst, 8. improv, 9. old house

As you can see, I love working with solids (see #1, 4, and 8) and using improvisational piecing techniques (see #3, 6, 7, and 8). One of my most popular tutorials shows you how to use improvisation to piece a log cabin block (see #8 for the resulting quilt). I’ve also developed a recent fascination with making pouches (see #2) and using fusible applique techniques (see #9). My greatest challenge is how to fit in more hours in the day to sew. If you’ve got any tips on how I can get more sewing done, please do share!

Q and A:  

  • Favorite quilting tip? Practice. Practice. Practice. No one was born knowing how to quilt. We learn and improve our skills by trying again and again and again.
  • Favorite quilting design? Straight lines quilted 1/4″ apart
  • Favorite quilting mantra? The journey of a thousand lines begins with the first stitch.
  • Favorite sewing mantra? So much fabric, so little time. 
  • Favorite quilting tool? Hera marker 
  • Binding – by hand or by machine? It depends on how much time I have. If I have the time, I’ll hand bind. If time is short, I’ll bind by machine. I prefer the look of hand binding, but the speed of machine binding.
  • Favorite fabric? Children at Play. I’m having too much fun fussy cutting this fabric. Check out my w.i.p. here and here

Tutorial:

Today I’d like to share with you a tutorial on how to hang a mini quilt. The technique I use is quick and easy and doesn’t involve any hand stitching. You’ll find the tutorial here.

Tutorial: How to hang a mini

Be sure to stop by Jennifer from Sewlandia and check out last week’s post by Debbie from A Quilter’s Table and Sarah from Silly Banana Sewing. The next stop on the blog hop will be on Thursday, June 21 with Suzanne from SuzClass and Mina from Kindaquilty.

Beth has also put together a great series of advice for new bloggers and is giving away a custom fabric bundle from Fabricworm! Click here to find out more and enter the giveaway.

Happy sewing!

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40 comments

Jeanette June 19, 2012 - 11:26 am

Your work is beautiful! I can't believe how much you get accomplished with 2 very young children and working!!!! I love checking out your blog and seeing all the quilts you make, very vibrant and colorful.

Katy Cameron June 19, 2012 - 11:36 am

Nice to get to 'know' you better :o)

West Michigan Quilter June 19, 2012 - 11:55 am

It is so nice to get to know you. I love your work and am so glad you started blogging so I could see all the beautiful quilts you make. I love how you handle color.

materialgirlquilts June 19, 2012 - 12:49 pm

You have so many beautiful quilts Nicole! And that is also my favorite way to hang small quilts. Nice to learn a bit more about you (I'm also wanting to know how to create more sewing hours in a day!!)
Amanda

Foster June 19, 2012 - 1:20 pm

Hi Nicole-Stopping by from the blog hop. I'm already a follower and love your blog and your work.

Lori June 19, 2012 - 1:23 pm

Nicole, I love everything that you do! Just looking at your projects makes me want to go sit down at my sewing machine and get to work! Thanks for sharing!

Mina June 19, 2012 - 1:28 pm

Love all your work!!

I had to laugh at your sewing mantra because I hadn't heard that before šŸ™‚

Debbie June 19, 2012 - 1:56 pm

Fun post, Nicole! Thanks again for introducing me to the hera!

Barbara Konkle June 19, 2012 - 2:14 pm

Love this post! I love getting to know the person behind the blog more! šŸ™‚

B Greene June 19, 2012 - 2:19 pm

I love your quote "no one was born knowing…" because I use that all the time šŸ™‚ Mice post!!

bloomingpoppies June 19, 2012 - 2:32 pm

Glad to get to know you better Nicole! I love your blog and always look forward to the next bit of quilty amazingness you have in store!

Valerie June 19, 2012 - 3:25 pm

Ooo, the Hera marker is one of my favorites too! Enjoyed learning more about you today:)

Kelly June 19, 2012 - 4:18 pm

Great post Nicole and very cool tute šŸ™‚

Beth June 19, 2012 - 5:21 pm

Great post Nicole – I love all your tips and mantras! And every single one of the projects in your mosaic are absolutely beautiful! Thanks for participating.

Books_Bound June 19, 2012 - 6:56 pm

I've been enjoying your blog for awhile now and was looking forward to your feature day on the hop! I didn't know you came to quilting during grad school too–that certainly does create a need for an outlet, doesn't it? šŸ™‚ Great tips for hanging the wall quilt!

Sarah Lou June 19, 2012 - 8:05 pm

Thanks for the tutorial, it's a simple tip, if you don't mind me saying, but it must make life so much easier! I love the pieces in your mosaic, especially #4.

Gertie Pye June 19, 2012 - 8:15 pm

Hello Nicole I am glad I blog hopped over to you because your little house mini is just too cute! I will be coming back to that again when I am ready to brave machine applique. I am very impressed with how many projects you have managed to do already this year – like you I have 2 girls (5 and 1) but I don't get half as much done as you! Love your blog, look forward to seeing what you make next x

sandyb June 19, 2012 - 8:26 pm

I have been stalking you for a bit now and just love your work:)

thank you for sharing!!!!

Cherie June 19, 2012 - 9:12 pm

Great post! Love the Q & A tips =D

Bethany (Make Me A Quilt) June 19, 2012 - 9:43 pm

Wow, you have done some incredible work! I love your aesthetic, and the different ways you do the quilting. Your machine cover is just gorgeous. Really nice to meet you! šŸ™‚

Amys Crafty Shenanigans June 19, 2012 - 10:50 pm

Great tutorial – I love using hanging corners on small projects. I am yet to do a full sleeve on a large quilt… one day!!!

Amanda June 19, 2012 - 11:38 pm

You've made some beautiful quilts! And thanks for the tutorial. I haven't made a mini yet, but it's in the back of my mind.

Heidi Staples June 20, 2012 - 12:29 am

Fabulous as always, Nicole! I'm so thankful for blogging friends like you!!

miamihoney June 20, 2012 - 2:34 am

I am always wow'd by your stuff. Thanks for sharing a bit of yourself with all of us. I will continue to stop by to see just what you have been up to. Best wishes šŸ™‚

Megan June 20, 2012 - 5:40 am

When I look at your 'favourites' I think I can see a very distinctive style that is all yours! Really enjoy following your blog Nicole and watching your lovely projects unfold.

creativedawn June 20, 2012 - 7:26 am

Well, I do love your work! It is a wonderful get away from life to sit at ones sewing machine and create. I follow your blog because of the wonderful work you do. I look forward to seeing the kids' quilts in progress.

Liz DandeliondD June 20, 2012 - 12:49 pm

I am here from the Blog Hop.
Loving your tutorial and just about everything else in fact, so I will be your newest Follower in about 2 secs ;0)
My turn on the hop isnt until October but I hope you'll pop over to my blog then xxxx

Julie June 20, 2012 - 2:59 pm

You do such great work! I love that tutorial and I'm a big fan of Children at Play too but sadly don't own any, yet.

Jess June 21, 2012 - 12:41 am

I'm a huge fan of your work! If you work out how to get more sewing time I'd love to know the secret ;o)

Quilting Lodge June 21, 2012 - 2:50 am

Just found your blog through the blog hop…very nice! I love all of your quilts made with solids. I'm on a solid kick too.

Vicki @ Quilting Lodge

Kristy QP June 21, 2012 - 6:31 am

Such beautiful projects! I love love love that mini at the end – gorgeous! Enjoyed getting acquainted! šŸ™‚

The Sewing Chick June 22, 2012 - 3:03 am

Hi Nicole, so nice to meet you. I love this blog hop because it enables me to find great blogs like yours. Your style is amazing. Seriously, I see a book in your future!! I am following you now and look forward to seeing more gorgeous quilts from you!

Janine June 22, 2012 - 3:28 pm

Lovely to meet you! You've got some fab makes. I love your dresden challenge table runner best šŸ™‚

Pile O Fabric June 22, 2012 - 4:17 pm

Your quilting is so good, I loved your Bloggers Quilt Festival Quilt. Thanks for the tutorial I will be using it on my Patchwork Prism Quilt.

Jennifer June 24, 2012 - 3:22 am

I love your work Nicole! Um the best time to sew with little ones is either get up really early or stay up really late. Either way its your quiet time. Also divide your process. Like one day a cutting and measuring day. Another day a piecing day and so on. After a cutting day you can always place your projects in a zip lock bag for when you can get to them.

Erin @ Billy Button Design June 24, 2012 - 10:28 am

love the old solids myself. Great tut and just in time. I 'm in a mini quilt swap and will be recieving one in a few weeks!

Tracey @ The Peony Teacup June 25, 2012 - 8:38 am

I recently put some hanging corners on a doll quilt I made for a friend's daughter so that it could be used as a wall hanging once she'd outgrown dolls – but I love the way you top stitched after folding the squares into triangles. Will definitely try that next time!

made by ChrissieD July 4, 2012 - 3:23 pm

Late joining the blog hop and have still been catching up with everyone but having read your blog I'm now up-to-date. And what a blog to finish on! Your work is stunning and you enjoy the same quilting styles that I do – I just love parallel quilting, so crisp and clean, taking nothing away from the quilt design itself and often adding to its graphic quality. Good to meet you šŸ™‚

Mike Pearson July 8, 2012 - 11:15 am

I love reading your blog! We have a lot in common. Thanks for sharing!

Smultronbo July 17, 2012 - 1:45 pm

Nice post and thanks for sharing. I love ur patience with the tiny projects. šŸ˜‰

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