June 2014 Designer of the Month

Welcome to our JUNE Block of the Month! I’m Designer/Radio show host Pat Sloan! The theme for the Aurifil Designer blocks is a ‘woman who has given you inspiration’, our June designer has a wonderful story about her block that I bet a LOT of you will relate to.

Heidi Pridemore from The Whimsical Workshop joins us as our June Designer.  She lives in Chandler, AZ.  Once you visit Heidi’s site you will immediately recognize quilt after quilt you have seen in magazines and at your favorite fabric sites… she is a design machine! She also designs fabric, travels, teaches and has used Aurifil thread for many years.

I have had the pleasure of having Heidi on my All Quilting podcast May 7, 2012 . You can CLICK HERE and scroll back on the player to listen

We continue our MONTHLY thread BOX giveaway (seriously folks… you could win a box of my thread which is over $120.00 value.. for making a quilt block… you have to join in!).

And we have an added feature this year of a machine quilting tip from Natalia Bonner. Look for that at the end of each interview!

EACH MONTH we will pick one random winner that has made a  block from our 2014 designers and that random person receives a FULL BOX of my Aurifil thread as the  prize! Winners are all contacted via Flickr email and posted at our FLICK GROUP HERE

Let’s get to it!

When was your FIRST quilt sighting? 

The first quilt I saw was one my Husband’s Grandmother had made for him when he was young. She hand pieced and hand quilted it. She was a great lady who really inspired me to start quilting.

Do you still have your first project you ever made?

I still have the little Rail Fence quilt I made in my beginner class using the book “Start Quilting with Alex Anderson”. Unfortunately it is in storage at the moment (Highway Heros Kit)

When you go to a quilt show, what types of quilts are you drawn to?

I am drawn to quilts that have a strong color combinations. I like the fact that you can take a simple pattern or design and really make it pop with a good use of color. I also love applique quilts because each one has unique images from the designer.

We all have parts of the process we ‘prefer’ more than others. What part of quilt making do you ‘Prefer’ most and why? And which the least. and why?

I love designing the quilts for different fabric lines. Each fabric line has a story to tell and I feel it is my job to make sure that the design tells that story. I also love cutting the fabrics, not sure why, but I do. My least favorite part of the process is the binding. I am always itching to start the next project while I am finishing the binding on the current quilt. This is why I do all my binding by machine. (Downton Abby Quilt kit)

Did you have a career prior to making art, and what was it?

I have a degree in Industrial Design and my first job out of college was for a company that manufactured craft kits for the retail market. In 2000 I started The Whimsical Workshop. I was 28 years old and did not really think about how hard starting my own business would be So I dove in and just started. I am very lucky to have been doing what I love for 14 years and to have great support from my family. In 2010 my husband Matthew joined the company full-time so now I get to do what I love with the man I love everyday.

What is your favorite place to visit in your hometown?

I am from Rochester, NY and actually I just got back from visiting my family there. I love to go to Schaller’s for an amazing Cheeseburger

and it would not be a visit home without going to Wegmans Grocery Store ( I think you have to be from here to completely understand). I also love to see the Lilacs at Highland Park if there are in Bloom

Do you have a tip or trick to make your quilt making easier?

I have come up with a simple way to finish the ends of you binding and attaching the binding by machine. We sell the ruler and fully photographed instructions booklet at our website CLICK HERE to the booklet  

What are your 3 favorite colors of Aurifil thread?

Oh so many to choose from. I mostly use the lovely neutrals with Light Gray 1100 being my favorite. I also LOVE Aurifil invisible thread. For my favorite colors of the day are 2884 and 2600.

What does your studio look like, and what would you change in it?

Currently I work in our library as my studio. It is a pretty small room without any wall space to use for a design wall. I moved into this small space from a much larger studio so this took some getting use to.

This is a temporary space for me but it has taught me how to work without extra space. First I would love to have my design wall back. And Second I would like to have plain walls I can paint any color I like and more storage would be good too!

If you could follow one person for a day.. who would it be?

Nancy Zieman. I was lucky enough to spend a day with her in 2009 while working on my Fabric Jewelry book. She is an amazing person with a wealth of knowledge in so many areas. She is also one of the nicest people I have ever met.

Anything else?

I have a new line of fabric coming out with Fabri-Quilt called “Eggcellent Adventures” and currently have Under The Sea Collection available

and my Husband has a line out with Quilting Treasures “Mission-Space”. I am so proud of both our lines. It is so exciting to see our designs in print.

What woman Inspired your Quilt Block? 

I have so many amazing women in my life that have inspired, encouraged and supported me throughout my career! But this block represents my sisters and as the middle child I could never choose between the two. They have been my support throughout my life and always there for me. They are my bookends in life always supporting me.

They inspired this block, my little sister, Echelle is a woman of great inner strength. I am always amazed at how she deals with life. I love to visit with her and her furry family. She is represented by the light blue rings on my block. My older sister, Stacey has always looked out for us and been the trailblazer through life for her two younger sisters. I have always followed her lead and have shared a passion with her for creating. It always fun to spend time with her usually knitting or sewing. She is represented by the Red rings on my block. They surround and support the center block, which is me. I am so lucky to have them in my life.

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CLICK HERE to download the Chain Links Block Pattern

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Heidi Created this free pattern for a full quilt of Chain Link blocks. Plus she has kits available starting 6/2 on her blog! CLICK HERE

And a few on the light side…

• The Book you are reading – Buckingham Palace Gardens by Anne Perry
• Last Movie you Watched – The Winter Soldier
• Your current favorite Song – Radioactive by Imagine Dragon
• The snack you crave – Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate
• The Color you have always LOVED.-  Red

Visit Heidi at-

• The Whimsical Workshop  http://www.thewhimsicalworkshop.com/
• Blog http://heidipridemore.blogspot.com/
• FREE Patterns page on our website http://www.thewhimsicalworkshop.com/freepatterns.asp
• Baby Shower Kit Link http://www.thewhimsicalworkshop.com/profile.asp?productID=2039
• Baby Shower Pattern Link
• http://www.thewhimsicalworkshop.com/profile.asp?productID=1859
• Downton Abby Kit Link
• http://www.thewhimsicalworkshop.com/profile.asp?productID=1924
• Under the Sea Kit Link
• http://www.thewhimsicalworkshop.com/profile.asp?productID=2033
• Ollie the Octopus Kit Link
• http://www.thewhimsicalworkshop.com/profile.asp?productID=2039

The very talented Natalia Bonner has a Machine Quilting tip for you each month. Natalia will be quilting the final top for the Aurifil Gallery in Milan Italy!

Visit Natalia at http://www.pieceandquilt.com/

my block! CLICK to my blog for a tip on how I lined up this block’s points .. plus a FUN photo of all my blocks together!

Are you on Facebook? I have a new group with the most incredible show and tell going on! You should see it! CLICK HERE to join me… I’d love to meet you!

 

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The winner this month is  Marcia! She did a group photo, love her blocks all together!

EACH MONTH we will pick one random winner that has made a block.. that person will receive a special Aurifil thread prize! This month our random winning block is from Sheila! Winners are all contacted via Flickr email and posted at our FLICKR PAGE CLICK HERE

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