e-Interviews: Rachel D (entry 83)

Hi everyone, remember my blog about e-interviews…today is all about Rachel D from Belgium…can you find Belgium on this map? There is 10.7 million people that live in this country and it’s way smaller then one of our Canadian provinces and we have 33 million people in our whole country. They speak French, Dutch and German there so since English isn’t her first language she did a FAB job of my interview…enjoy!

How long have you been quilting and what got you started?

• I’ve been quilting for one year. It all started in summer 2008 when I bought a special edition of a magazine called MagicPatch. This special edition was dedicated to Veronique Requena. I discovered a new passion and a new style: the country style. I just love and only regret I didn’t discover it earlier.

Some of you may also follow her blog and recognize her great photos…

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This picture represents my 1st real patchwork. I made it when attending to my first patchwork lessons. It was hand pieced and I started hand quilting it. It’s still an on going project but I promised myself to finish it this year so that I can proudly hand it in the house.

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Were you a sewer first?

• I was a sewer before a quilter. My mother worked for a cloth designer and taught me the basics for machine sewing. There was I time I would only wear but skirts I made myself.

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This second quilt was also made during a patchwork course. This time, it’s a machine pieced and hand quilted project. Colors are completely different from the original pattern as I wanted to give it a Christmas touch. I finished it on time for last Christmas. It’s one of the projects I’m mostly proud of.

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Favourite Technique?

• My favorite technique is hand piecing. It’s easy to do everywhere and allows me to piece in the train when commuting to and from work. I also like hand quilting because of the result but I’m not sure I would hand quilt a top bed cover.

This 3rd quilt was made before take patchwork courses. I didn’t have the basics so joints don’t perfectly match. But I love it anyway as I like making small projects. I was inspired by a Lucy’s blog for this project (http://lucyquilting.blogspot.com/2009/01/from-my-scraps.html). I just love mini quilts, perfect for decorating a house.

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Do you have a favourite store: Online or Brick & Mortar and why?

• A favorite shop ? Well I don’t know a lot. In Belgium (tiny country), there aren’t a lot. The only patchwork shop I had the opportunity to visit is The Cosy Cottage (http://www.thecosycottage.be/). The 2 ladies keeping this shop are absolutely nice and of good advise. But for finding nice fabrics, I would need to discover on-line shops.

What is a tool that you can’t live without?

• The tool I can’t live without: my thimble. Because I hate hurting my fingers. 😉

Who is your biggest influence in the quilting world, famous or other-wise?

• I don’t know if I have a big influence. I love visiting blogs here I discover beauties made by wonderful ladies. My influence of the moment is Marianne Byrne-Goarn from The Cinnamon Patch (http://www.thecinnamonpatch.com/). I love the mixture of fabric and felt.

Voilà Valerie. Here are the answers to your questions. It was a good exercise for me. I’m a quilting beginner and have a lot to learn and discover.

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Thanks so much Rachel for sharing with us and being part of Vals Quilting and Pastimes Online. Since I LOVE your blog, I would never have guessed you were new to quilting. You take excellent pictures, you are so committed to blogging, I’m a huge fan!! Thanks for doing such a good job and connecting us with another part of our world…

Okay ladies…wasn’t this so inspiring doesn’t it make you want to be interviewed next?

Have a happy and creative day,