Hello Guild Members! I'm thrilled to have Jen sharing today on the blog. Enjoy!
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HI!
I’m Jen Carlton Bailly, otherwise known as Bettycrockerass.
If you get to know me, I might share the story of how that name came
to pass almost ten years ago! I love to sew, garden, bake/cook and
read.
I’m
almost 40 (May 18), a stay at home mom and an avid self taught
sewist. When I’m not chasing my kids or and making something
delicious I usually have my head down scheming on a new sewing
project…figuring out how I can not follow the directions and use
fabric that I probably shouldn’t!
How
long have you been making quilts? What was your learning process
like?
My
best friend taught me how to sew a straight line about 10 years ago.
That lasted for a few days until I got frustrated. About four years
ago I bought an old 1972 Husqvarna Viking. Got frustrated. Then I
learned that I was putting the bobbin in wrong. Who knew! Well, I
guess I could have read the manual.
At
any rate, I really didn't start really sewing until about 3 years
ago. My daughter had received a quilt while in the NICU. I loved it
so much and was so touched I wanted to make one (some) to donate
back. I Googled "quilts" and my entire life changed. For
days I was plotting and planning. Then, I read about a "fabric
stash" and how everyone must have one! I had a little one, but I
NEEDED quilting fabrics! So I started fabric shopping... and well
now, I have a whole room dedicated to sewing.
How
long have you been a PMQG member and how did you find us?
I’ve
been a member since the beginning and was the first president. Alissa
(who co-founded the MQG) knew that I was interested in a local guild
and let me know when Elizabeth
got the ball rolling! Being nominated, as president was a little
shocking but the year was fun. We had lots of bumps along the way but
feel like we were able to move forward and create something people
were excited for.
What
inspires your designs/quilting?
Everything
around me inspires me. Right now it’s art. I see a piece of art and
I want to turn it into a quilt. My last quilt was exactly that. A
random piece of art that I saw on line became a great quilt that’s
going to be in the Modern
Quilt Guild Show Case
at The
International Quilt Festival!
How
many quilts do you think you've made in your life?
Around
60-I average about 20 a year.
Why
do you quilt? What do you enjoy most about it?
I
quilt because it’s an outlet for my artistic side. It gives me time
to learn something new, challenge my skills and then perfect them.
What
is your favorite quilt that you've made?
My
Orange Cross quilt that I did when reviewing Susan’s
Modern
Log Cabin Book.
Several people shared their fabrics with me (thanks again!) and I
used my favorite color. The linen gives it some weight that feels so
nice when you’re curled up with it. It’s not done. I’m hand
stitching it with floss after being inspired by Ale’s presentation
on hand quilting. It will get done at some point, it’s a labor of
love. It’s also the first quilt I’ve made for myself.
Fill
in the blank: "When I'm quilting, I feel _______"
Happy,
inspired, talented and some times really frustrated!
While
you're quilting, what is the environment like? do you listen to
music? enjoy the humming of the machine?
I
usually listen to Pandora or This American Life. My music tastes vary
with what I’m sewing.