Pat Sloan - Little Bits Blog tour

I love a great book tour for a great book! Kathreen Ricketson is know to many of you as the gal that runs http://whipup.net/  .. a fabulous site with loads of ideas! (psstt.. photo above snagged from Kathy Mack at Pink Chalk... I like her book pic better than my book pic... thanks Kathy!!)

The new book is "Little Bits Quilting Bee"  and it's full of twenty wonderful projects for precuts!

First let me tell you that Kathreen and I have one Giant thing in common..

BIG SHAPES.. holey moley look at those adorable BIG popcicles! And I love the tabs on the border too!

Since I LOVE to interview people ... I asked Kathreen to answer a few questions.. so get to know her better...... hang on!

What does your Studio and home look like.

This is one side of my studio (the neat side), I like to have this side kept a bit tidy so I can quickly make some thing on a whim! On the wall behind are a few vintage quilt squares for inspiration as well as other various snippets that I change and add to every now and again.

This room belongs to my 9 year old son Orlando. He is a big soccer fan, plays the guitar and likes to draw (on his wall!) The quilt that is on his bed is a simple quilt using Layer cakes, the directions for making this quilt appeared in Australian Woman's Weekly last year.

This room belongs to my 11 year old daughter Otilija. She loves Harry Potter and stuffed toys! On her bed is a homemade stuffed horse and a patchwork a love heart pillow. The quilt on her bed appears in the Little Bits Quilting Book - its her favourite quilt!

This cosy room doubles as the spare room/study/music room, the framed pictured on the wall is a sketch of me as a child - its a good likeness - my auntie did it. There is a bunting hanging up over the coloured glass - its made of vintage scraps.

The Family Room: This is one side - with a couple of cosy chairs I recovered with Ikea fabric - and the cushions are made using Cloth - an Australian brand of hand painted fabric which I love. My basket of yarn and crochet projects is within easy reach, and a quilt from the book (community garden) is hanging on the wall.

Lounge room: This view is the big comfy couch - with handmade crochet rugs, and soft squishy cushions, the quilt is the back of one from the book - behind are painting by my children and Rob's Didgereedoo!

Where did you learn to sew?

I learned to sew as a child - from my mother and grandmother. My grandma (her name was Gertrude) lived with us since I was 5 years old and she was an amazing woman who sewed all her own clothes (including underwear), she knitted her own sweaters and some for us too, she crocheted doilies all the time (I have her collection) and was a fabulous baker too (her sponge cake was divine).

I was her little apprentice, threading her machine when her eyes became bad, pinning things for her, pressing seams etc - thats where it all started. My mum sewed too - but she also worked full time - but weekends were crafty and thrifty - we would spend our weekends in the kitchen baking or in the garden or else it would be canning season or jam making day - and we would be there peeling, cutting and stirring whatever was needed.

My mother often left us to our devices and we were allowed to use the sewing machine and raid the scrap fabric bin - I think the first things I sewed were little patchwork cushions and clothes for my dolls. I remember my little brother actually used to make himself clothes, but I don't remember doing that myself until I was a teenager when I made my prom dress (ugh - hideous thing!).

what is your favorite color?
Red - deep blood red

What book are you reading right now?
Olivier and Parrot by Peter Carey http://petercareybooks.com/Parrot-Olivier-America

cheers and thanks Pat!

Want to win a copy of "Litte Bits"?

Leave me a comment by Saturday night telling me

Where YOU learned to sew

Chronicle books is hosting the giveaway (USA only)

CLICK HERE for directions on how to leave a comment

Visit Kathreen at her site http://whipup.net/

Scroll back to visit the other blogs on the tour!

Monday, November 7 – The Long Thread (sample project review)
Tuesday, November 8 – Craft Nectar & Comfort Stitching (interview and review)
Wednesday, November 9 – luvinthemommyhood & Elsie Marley (reviews)
Thursday, November 10 – True Up (my five fave fabrics)
Friday, November 11 – House on Hill Road & Craftypod (reviews)

Next week there is more…

Monday, November 14 – Handmade by Alissa & Hello My Name Is Heather
Tuesday, November 15 – West Coast Crafty & Foxy Art Studio
Wednesday, November 16 – Patch Andi & The Last Piece
Thursday, November 17 – In Color Order & Pink Chalk Studio
Friday, November 18 –  Camp Follower Bags & Quilts

Monday, November 21 – Quilt Dad
Tuesday, November 22 – Pat Sloan & Pleasant Home

Comments

[Mary T. Salmon]

Hi Pat!
I learned to sew from my mother. She did not actually "teach" me to sew. She was always making vestments and things for the church...sewing was a constant occurence in my house. Thanks, Mary

[Jane Bitz]

My Mom taught me to sew on my Grandma Anna's Singer treadle machine. My Grandma Helen taught me to cross stitch on a printed pattern, then how to embroider. Helen and her sister Clara grew up in a Catholic orphanage until they were old enough to work. Both of them made lace and embroidered pillow cases. I have many of them safely collected and have thought about how I could use them in a quilt. I still love to do hand work, mostly embroidery to embellish my quilts.

[Mary Jo]

I taught myself how to sew when I was about 9!! I had hand sewn a few things but wanted to use the big machine!! My Mama told me I was too young! She would go to the beauty shop once a week and during the summer, I would get her machine and instruction manual out and practice while she was gone, then put it up before she arrived back home. I only sewed through my finger ONCE with machine, right next to the index fingernail and it went all the way through my finger! Couldn't even tell her about it because I thought I would get in trouble! Imagine her face when I presented her with the first blouse I made! She THEN told me that if I had told her I wanted to learn she would have shown me! Sheesh!!!

[Terry Sams]

I learned to sew in HomeEc class in 7th grade and then got moe help from a wonderful neighbor.

[Diana]

Happy Birthday, hope it was happy. I usually have dinner out (no cooking) and get phone calls from my kids, great!!

[amorette]

happy happy birthday! for mine my mom took me and my son and my sister and her kids to the childrens museum, a great lunch and then playing cards at naptime- then i went home and had a lovely dinner with my husband! hope you had a great one too!

[Evelene Sterling]

Happy Birthday Pat and many more!

[Marianne King]

I learned to sew when I was 11 years old. By 4H leader Ms Abke in Hemlock Michigan. I made an outfit and got to model. Also entered my outfit in the fair and one a first place ribbon.

I still sew today along with my crafting, embroidery, gardening and flowers. Still at it today taking classes or joining sewing or embroidery groups. Mostly, learning on my own.

[Erin Hutchinson]

I learned from my mother-in-law right after my first son was born. She and I have NOTHING in common, so, to avoid killing her when she was getting on my last (hormonal) nerve as I recovered from my c-section and adjusted to being a mom, I asked her to teach me how to make a quilt. I'm so glad I did - not only did I find a passion, but now we have ONE thing in common. :)

[Ella]

My mom taught me to sew (as well as teaching my brother). I didn't really understand how to use a machine, though, until I did a costume sewing class in HS.

[Debbie G]

I learned to sew as a member of 4-H. My grandmother was also an inspiration as she sewed EVERYTHING. Since I started quilting, I don't make clothes any more. I just made a couple pair of pjs for a friends little girls and don't miss the clothing sewing. Love to quilt.

[Courtnie]

Happy Birthday Pat! On my birthday I too take the day off and go out to eat for dinner. I like the idea of going out for all meals that day.

[Jocelyn]

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAT!! What a wonderful way to spend your birthday, with us :-) I learned to sew in Home Ec, as no one in my family ever sewed. My favorite color....... hummmm, so many. I love red, and pink, and blue. I am currently reading The Wedding Quilt as a book review ;-D Have a great day!!

[SarDee]

My grandmother taught me while she was dying of breast cancel when I was a young teenager. I think my love of sewing comes from that time spent with her more than the actual sewing sometimes! We spent days piecing tiny 2" fabric squares by hand while she told me the "stories" of the fabrics.

[Cathy Leitner]

Happy Birthday Pat!!! Have a great one. Any plans, outside of working???

[Heather]

Happy Birthday! For my birthday I refuse to do any chores and get to choose my favorite meal:) My dad's girlfriend taught me to sew on a machine when I was a little girl. I thought it was the coolest thing ever! I had been hand sewing tube dresses for Barbie, now she could be a little more sophisticated:)

[Kathy]

I took a class while I was in college! The book looks awesome! Thanks and Happy Birthday!

[Sue Bland]

Happy Birthday Pat!! Have a wonderful day! I learned from my grandmother and mom. Then I taught one of my daughters and her daughter. Passing the fun along!

[Sue]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAT!!!! My Mom was a fabulous sewer so I learned from her when I was very young. She also taught me embroidery, also done when very young. I wish she was still alive - she would love the quilting and hand work I'm now doing.

[Donna Russ]

I learned to sew in the eight grade Home economatics Class,(Mrs. Hamrick) I won first place on the dress I made. My mother taught me to hand sew we would Quilt pillows, but she didn't tell me it was quilting, she said its just following the lines with a straight stitch...lol

[Sue Hart]

I learned to sew from my Grandmother and Aunt. Grandma would make me dresses when I was young - she would cut the patterns out of newspaper and design her own! She also crocheted and did rug hooking on burlap bags and designed the patterns.
I even learned to knit clothes for my Barbie dolls.
My grandma and my aunt were always making things for the Church Fair, a favorite were
the aprons that they made and they always inspired me to join in.
We would sew together on Saturdays and also bake. Saturday night was bread making night, we would mix the bread in the old bread mixer and it would rise all over the table the next morning, the aroma would be throughout the house!
When I was taking home-ec in Junior H.S. Dad bought me a $99. Singer sewing machine so that I could hem his work pants. I loved home-ec and continued it through high
school. I became very interested in making my own clothes and from this started to do quilting.
I will always remember the wonderful time I had sewing with them. We also worked in their beautiful gardens when the weather was good.

[Diana Bracy]

I learned how to sew from taking a class given by the Singer Sewing Company, in 1979. The class was a six week beginner course and I continued on, for years. I met so many wonderful friends there and it became a social gathering, since we had all learned the beginner courses, years earlier.
I also purchase my first electronic sewing machine, there and it was a a whopping $700.00, in 1979! I have since given up sewing clothing and on to quilting in 1996.

[Jackie Fitzgerald]

My Italian Mother and God Mother (aunt) Mary taught me to sew at a very young age. Aunt Mary lived with us and every afternoon they would sew something, weather handwork outside under the pear tree or inside on the singer. They made clothes, draper, slipcovers for the new furniture and knitted sweaters and blankets for the beds. It was a wonderful experience and I have passed it down to my daughter.

[Sherry]

I really began sewing with a machine when I was in Junior High School and took a Home Ec. class. My mom gave me my first "very old" sewing machine when I was 13. I made my wedding dress, many "prom" dresses and everyday clothes on that machine. I had been sewing by hand and making doll clothes for several years before that.

[ellen k]

My mom was not a sewer, so I was inspired by my first son's gift of a trip aroundthe world quilt. Being home with a new baby, I watched quilting shows, and then kept going. I got a job selling sewing machines and have learned so much from coworkers, friends and students!