Pat Sloan Sew Merry and Bright Book Tour!

I adore Linda Lum de Bono's designs.. she makes fun and lively quilts.. often with WORDS!  I love the WORD part best as we are kindred sprits when it comes to words.

Linda answered a few questions so we can get to know her better....

 

Since your book is about Christmas.. what is a favorite memory of your children at the holidays?

I remember the simplicity of it from my childhood. We'd go to our family restaurant and have a great meal that was authentic Chinese food. Then we'd have an ice cream log cake for dessert. lol

CLICK HERE for a pattern for Linda's stocking and to read a post she did about Christmas

What is your favorite quilt thing to do? Why?

Hand applique if I have time. Machine applique for fun when I'm doing zig zag. I love to see the finished edges that Aurifil thread gives my applique shape. Is that weird?

What does your work area look like .. what is your favorite part of it.. what would you change?

Right now it looks like a disaster. The kids are home and they like to do origami, play with Lego, etc. I am only sharing this with you because I love you, Miss Pat!

I love my wall. It put up things for inspiration, my kids, photos of things people/companies have made with my fabric. For eg., the trim on the rubber gloves are from one of my fabrics as is the background of the placemat. [blue fabric]

 

What is the last piece of fabric you bought?

I bought some Cloud 9 monster fabric

and some felt from Purlsoho!

If you could only pick one word, what would it be?

dumb! I am try to curb my swearing because my little guy is starting to pick up on it so that's the best that I can do for now! My dad's buddies used to swear all of the time so I can swear like a sailor. I don't do it everyday but when I get to the point of being seriously angry at something ...

Then my little guy and his buddy dropped the f-bomb at school one day. My little guy was a little less daring than the other boy because he said "fr*cken" but I knew that I had to stop especially when he told the teacher that he was sure that I would allow him to say it.

 

What was the best piece of advice you ever got, who was it from?

I had a summer job at Mutual of Omaha and at the end of the summer, an anonymous person dropped off a note with a message on it. I can't remember the exact words but I can still see it in my mind on my desk. I still remember reading it. The advice was: live life to the fullest, you're talented and don't waste it by doubting yourself because of others. Go with your gut.

I never found out the author.

 

What was the most interesting trip you have ever taken? Why?

I went to Asia right after graduating from university. It was beautiful, sad, and exciting all at the same time. The beauty and excitement were obvious but the sad part was seeing poverty and how certain people adapted in certain parts that we went to. Thailand was emotional in that way. Having been born and raised in Canada, the trip gave me a sense of where my family had come from. I know that it is cliche but it really did.

(linda told me this table was a HUGE find for her.. I love it!)

What’s your motto/advice you live by?

My motto, "live your dream and live it well." Funny enough, I found a bracelet when I was at Market in Kansas City with part of this saying.

snow or sun?
sun but I love and appreciate a beautiful winter day

What are five things you can’t live without?

• My family - they inspire me
•  my passion - it drives me in all that I do
•  my sense of humor [though one could say that it is too dry or sharp] - it gets me through a lot and makes me more tolerant
•  my desire to create - I can't imagine not creating. I don't know what I'd do with myself. Probably drive my family and friends insane.
•  my electronics - sadly, I use much of this daily. I try to unplugged as much as I can but I can't live without my iPhone or my cameras. [My lifeline and my means of documenting my family and life]

Dog or cat?

Neither. Really allergic.

I love ceramics. This piece is from Kosoy and Bouchard [http://www.kosoyandbouchard.com/everyday/vases.html] from Canada. Designs are pressed using old stamps like the ones they use in batik printing. You just have to look at their site.

 

 

Any exciting news or best posts at your blog you'd like to share?

Yes, I have been at a crossroads for a long time with what to do with my business. Some of it was wanting to do something else and some of it was embracing the digital platform.  I hadn't done fabric in a while but I am putting together some new stuff. I have a group on Facebook called Inspired Workroom [been neglecting it a bit - sorry guys] but it is because I am working on a new brand to go with my original work.

So the mess on my desk is a book project idea to go with this idea and the fabric will hopefully come together too.  Still a work in progress but exciting.

My husband's co. closed his office this year and we turned down the offer to move. They need him for his expertise right now so he's been commuting to Maryland a few days a week. I've had to work around  that so things have been moving but moving slowly.

Your Favorite Project - I am still working on my Byzantium quilt. I originally made a fused version but I want this one to be hand-stitched.

Your favorite Local places - My local shops are very cool. There's a small town but retro vibe in the shops around here. I go into NYC for inspiration.

Inspiration Spot - I like to go to Canada for inspiration too.  I like the European sensibility. Some of it is old historical stuff and others are the modern designs from Europe. I miss the diversity of Toronto, the beauty of the Ottawa Valley and the glorious history of Montreal and Quebec City.

Would you like to win a copy of Linda's book? 

Linda's Blog http://lindalumdebono.blogspot.com/

"Tell me your FAVORITE Christmas Ornament or Decoration EVER"

I will leave this contest open for 2 weeks... ending Aug 7, 2012 at dinner time!

((WINNER PICKED, thank you everyone!))

*** NEW HERE? ***

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Comments

[Suzanne Adler]

My very favorite is one that my daughter made when she was in pre-school - it is a picture of her in the middle of a round end of one of those frozen orange juice containers and they put glue and sparkles around the edges -- I love it! And I would love to win Linda's book!

[Virginai Finsterwald]

Love that inspiration wall! That idea may end up on my inspiration wall. Thanks for sharing :)

[Mary Ellen Chevalier]

I feel all of mine are my favorite.alot was made from kits or patterns.Some are crochet,cross stitched,sewn.and plastic canvas.They all give me happy memories when i am placing them on the tree.a few were made back in the eighties.

[Karen Barrie]

My dad's tree had a brightly colored glass ornament and the light made the water inside bubble. It makes me think about being little and having him pick me up to place the ornament on the tree. I believe it was from his childhood.

Great book !!! Bright, colorful ideas !!!

[Delores Wagg]

I LOVE all christmas decorations, but my crocheted angel for the top of my tree is awesome. Can't picture a tree without it!
Love to win the book.

[Frances]

I love putting up my nativity set for Xmas. Even when I cut back on decorations it always goes up.

[Sandy Spence]

My favorite ornament is the bubble lights that we used to have on our tree. Now they are available again. How cool is that!
Thank you fo e chance of winning the book!

[Pam]

Hiya! I love my nutcrackers. I remember watching the ballet on PBS every Christmas Eve since I was a little girl. I have nutcrackers from 3 inches tall to over a foot tall, and at least one of them is out year-round. (Usually more than one.) The book sounds awesome. Thank you for having the giveaway. Blessed be, hugs!!!

playamom57 at yahoo dot com

[Jane]

My favorite Christmas ornament is a whole choir of angels. They are tiny and carved from wood. My granny used to collect those and buy one each year if she could afford it (they are sooooo expensive...)
These little wooden angels are so precious. I always put them at a place where my kids can see them but cannot reach them since I kinda fear that they would break off the wings...

[Cathy]

I have an ornament depicting The Snowman from the animated tv special of the same name. It brings back such happy memories!

[Lynn]

My absolute favorite Christmas ornament is actually a 'box' of handmades...made by a college friend of mine...given to us as a 'wedding gift' (June wedding...34yrs ago). Every year I take out the little gold box and carefully unwrap the trinkets inside and always remember Paula, our wedding...our family and friends. In fact, I've continued the tradition from that year on...for weddings my gift is always a box of ornaments I've made. Thanks for the memories your question brought back.

[Karen H.]

I love my two giant elves from Finland that are also advent calendars! You can put little treats in the apron pockets.

[Karen Em K]

You don't seriously expect me to pick only 'one' favorite, do you? There are so many that I cherish, crafted or gifted by family and friends, but one I especially cherish is a little brown paper mache' star dribbled over with Elmer's glue and lots and lots of glitter, created by my not quite two-year old daughter, one of our earliest crafting sessions :) Thanks for the chance to reminisce!

[Binks]

I absolutely have a favorite ornament. It's a small hard stuffed santa holding a strand of 3 stars. I don't know why, but it's become a little tradition for me to hang him. He's just so cute.

[Ellen M.]

I have a set of little elves made out of pinecones that belonged to my grandparents. Nothing fancy, but I think of my grandparents every time I see them. Thanks for the chance to win!

[Debbie Goodwin]

one of my favorite ornaments : a childhood favorite of my husband's & hung on our first tree~ a small, soft fabric stocking only large enough to hold a single bite-sized candy cane or Hershey kiss ~ he still looks for the tiny surprise left inside every year

[Liz Nix]

My favorite ornaments? Had to be the blown glass ornaments on my grandmother's tree. They were family heirlooms from Germany.

[Barbie In NC]

My favorites are handblown icicles from Mt Rainier...my whole tree is decorated in "ice"...and my fav quote is "Its all in the details!"

[Shirley in Canada]

Did I mention that my plan is to have pillows as "ornaments" under my Christmas tree? Yes, these pillows would work well!!

[Shirley in Canada]

Love the pillows - really I do!!

[Beth T.]

what a great interview! My favorite Christmas decoration is a stuffed snowman my mom made. I keep it with our "Go Bag"--if we ever have to leave in an emergency situation, I'm taking the snowman with us.

[Mary Sue]

The decoration I remember best from my childhood was a door decoration we made of a Christmas tree pieced from velvet, not sewn put glued to a hard background. I remember it from my grandmothers house, she always had some type of project to do from sewing, crafting, gardening or ceramics.

[Ann]

My favorite ornament is a very old Christmas light shaped like a dog. Lots of family memories in it!

[Hopeful Homemaker]

That was a fun interview! I'm totally smitten with the ornaments in this book. I'd love to make them. Thanks!

[Vickie Wright]

Love the colors would be great for sunny Florida Christmas. The stocking is adorable and surely would make a hit with grandkids. Did I win? Hope so.