Where’s McKenna?!
Name: McKenna
Blog: Textilediva
Guild involvement: Vice-president
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself – where you are from, etc.
I’m originally from New York state in the U.S. but I’ve moved around alot in my life. I now call Perth, Western Australia home because I married a wonderful Aussie guy.
2. Tell us about your quilting history – how/when you got started, who introduced you to quilting, what was your first quilt, etc.
I started quilting at a young age, taught by my grandmother who was a fantastic
needle woman. My first proper quilt was completed when I was 15 and it’s a sampler
(I still have it though it’s pretty threadbare) done in red, white and blue plaids. Its
queen sized and I hand quilted it myself. It took years!
3. What is your favorite thing about quilting? What is your least favorite?
My favourite thing about quilting? Two things really. It’s a fantastic method of stress
release for me. When I’m quilting I’m not thinking of anything but what I’m working on. And quilting has a wonderful social aspect to it. I love meeting and making friends with like minded, talented women. My least favourite? Running out of space to store all my fabric!
4. Is there a technique on your list to learn this year?
I’d really like to get some of the tops I’ve completed quilted so I want to further my
education in machine quilting. Though I’ve machine quilted a decent number of quilts, I’d like to explore the area of ‘quilt as you go’ in machine quilting. I like the idea of doing small pieces to be made into a larger one.
5. Do you like to have multiple projects going at once or do you usually finish one before starting another?
I ALWAYS have a bunch on the go. I’m flighty so when my interest wanes in one project there’s another waiting to be worked on again that I can just pick up in progress. I never get concerned about having more than one project on the go as they all get finished eventually.
6. Do you have a stash? If so, any big plans for it?
Do I have a stash? I’d like to hear from a quilter who doesn’t because I think that’s an urban legend that they exist. I plan to one day use at least half of my stash and the other half I’m going to will to my quilting friends upon my death.
7. What was the best thing you brought into your sewing room/studio to help you organise it?
The closet in the room I use for my quilting has been outfitted floor to ceiling with shelves. I don’t need to hang clothes in there so it’s all open storage. That’s helped me a great deal in keeping organized.
8. What is your current fabric obsession (color, line, style, etc.)?
Buying solids. I used to use solids and mottled solids a great deal at one stage and then moved on to prints. I now have an abundance of prints with few solids so I’m trying to boost my solids stash. I like every color under the rainbow so I don’t have a color preference.
9. What tool could you not live without?
A simple needle and thread. I’m mainly a hand piecer so I couldn’t do what I do without my needles.
10. How many sewing machines do you have?
I have five. My Janome 6600P is my work horse that does it all. I love her. I have a new anniversary edition Singer (the sexy black one) that I travel with because it’s light. And I have three antique machines – two Singers and one Jones. The Jones is a circa 1930’s treadle, and the Singers are a 1923 hand crank and 1950’s beige coloured electric. I use them all.
11. Do you do any other sewing besides quilting?
A long time ago I used to make clothes but not anymore. Now it’s all about quilting.
12. What are you currently working on?
Multiple projects of course. I’m completing a foundation pieced project for a blog
hop on foundation piecing that I have to have ready in a few weeks – the pressure is on, and I’m working on a solids log cabin that I’m hand piecing and making a quilt as you go.
13. What else do you want us to know about you?
I belong to three separate quilt groups. I’m a member of Running with Scissors which is mainly a traditional technique based group. I’m a member of the American Womens Club of Perth Quilt Group, which is an eclectic and philanthropic type group and I’m Vice President of the newly formed Perth Modern Quilting Guild that focuses on modern styles and techniques in quilting.
I have a blog called Textile Diva that talks about quilting stuff that runs around my head
and out through my fingers. You can find it at http://textilediva.blogspot.com
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