Fresh Quilting is Malka Dubrawsky's new book, published by Interweave Press. Welcome, to those of you who are hopping across the country following Malka's blog tour. I'm so happy to be a part of her tour and have the opportunity to share this fabulous book with you.
Malka is a fiber Artist from Austin, Texas and was one of the first blogs I discovered when I started quilting. Her blog, Stitch in Dye is instant eye candy for those of use who love modern, striking work. Let's take a peek inside.
The book is divided into two sections, Projects for Home, Family and Friends and Fresh Quilts for Wall, Bed and Baby. Even thought the first section is non quilt projects, just about all of them could be easily adapted into quilts. I love that about her book.
This sewing machine cover will be my first project. What a great way to cover and take care of my precious machine. She'll be looking fancy soon!
I adore the quilts in the second section. Nate's quilt has always been one of my favorites. Malka describes her style as "looking at the traditional through a different lens." Nate's quilt is a perfect example of taking a traditional block and modernizing it with a bit of improvisation.
The honeycomb hexagon quilt is another classic block reinterpreted. I need to make this quilt.
I was thrilled to see Malka's explains how to piece hexagons by machine. You'll want to learn to do this!
And look at Strips and Stripes.....oooooh. I'm swooning over this quilt.
I wish I could show you everything in this book. Reading Malka's story is inspiring, looking at her projects makes me want to drop everything, grab some fabric and head to the sewing machine. Isn't that what a book should do for us? This one does for sure!In the book, Malka shares her style, her quilting knowledge, tips and techniques, but most importantly she encourages all of us to learn a little and then head out on our own. I'll leave you with some advice from Malka after a crafter friend encouraged her to "wing it."
Malka said, "She was emancipating me from a slavish devotion to patterns, allowing me take what I wanted or needed and leave the rest behind. Now I hope the same for you. Recreate the projects as they are pictured or adapt the elements for different purposes. Either way, you'll join in the magic of handmade by putting your stamp on something fresh and contemporary."
Making magic...Malka's book is one step in that inspiring journey.
If you'd like to win a copy of Malka's book, leave a comment telling why you make things. I'll announce the winner on Monday.
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED. I'LL ANNOUNCE THE WINNER SOON!
Be sure to continue the tour
12/13 with Blair of Wisecraft
12/14 with Kathy of Pink Chalk Studio
I think I make things for many different reasons. It is such a feeling of accomplishment to make something out of nothing, or to save money, or to have something original, or to make something beautiful and totally me...the list could go on and on.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh. Why do I make things? I can't not make things. The children needed clothes, I sewed and loved to sew and create with fabric, the studio overflows with fabric, lace, buttons, thread (there's just a path to the sewing machine and no one else fits in the room - I kid you not), and if I don't create, I am not myself.
ReplyDeleteGreat looking book, BTW.
I make things mostly for relaxation and making others smile.
ReplyDeleteooh, this looks like a fantastic book. I make things mostly for a creative outlet. I spend my day with a 2 year old and need to do something that is just for me!
ReplyDeleteWhy I make things.. there are several different sides to that answer. I use it as a stress reliever, handmade & from the heart is always better than store bought and I like the feeling of creating something beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI love the satisfaction of seeing something that I made and created...and having someone else love and use it also. Great feeling :D
ReplyDeleteI make things so I can give them mostly, but also so that I can get exactly what I want too.
ReplyDeleteI can't stop making stuff -- it's just part of who I am. I work with my brain for pay and work with my hands for fun. thanks for the chance at the book.
ReplyDeleteI make things for lots of reasons. When I do it for a gift, it's like giving a piece of me to that person. My children call quilts "hugs". When mom's not around and they need a hug, just wrap up in the quilt! It's almost as good!
ReplyDeleteI make things because I need a way to express myself in another fashion other than words.
ReplyDeleteI make things to:
ReplyDelete-express myself
-to feel good
-to share with others
and
-to justify having a stash!
I don't tend to think of it as a question of why but more a question of when I will make things, I always just want to make things, to explore the idea, to learn the process, to see the changes that happen along the way. Now finding an opportunity to do the making is much more difficult.
ReplyDeleteI make things because I can't draw or paint or anything like that. Sewing things together seems to give me more control and give me an opportunity to create something beautiful even though I have no artistic ability - at least when it comes to traditional art.
ReplyDeleteI guess I make things so I can show my appreciation and love for people I care about. If I put heart and soul and work into something then I feel like it's a tangible expression of my feelings for them.
ReplyDeleteI love, love to make things for others. I am currently very busy making Christmas gifts. I also love to make things for my three girls.
ReplyDeleteI was born to create, even when it's not good! I think that we are created in the image of the great Creator and would be denying our true identity if we didn't create:)
ReplyDeleteI make things for many reasons: because they are practical and needed, because they add beauty to the environment, because the process of making them feeds my soul. . . . I'm not a happy camper if there isn't time to be creative.
ReplyDeleteI love to make things because the color and texture of fabric just make me want to see what it will look like another way and put together! I also love to give useful and beautiful things to others!
ReplyDeleteI make things because it's like a puzzle for me. It's fun to figure out how to make thinks come together
ReplyDeleteI love to make things for my home, for warmth and for gifts. I just love the creative side of making things.
ReplyDeleteI love to make things because it is my creative outlet. Plus I love the feeling of putting myself into something and giving it away. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not exactly sure why I make things, except I was born that way! As far back as I can remember, I am much happier and at peace when I am making things. I had a very long period where I stopped creating and I became extremely restless and unhappy without even realizing what was causing it. Quite by accident, I began to sew again and those feelings all went away. I mostly give away everything I make, I have very little of what I created at my home! I like it that way!
ReplyDeleteI make things to reduce stress. One day someone asked me what do I do to reduce my stress from work and I didn't have an answer. So I tried to think of something I really enjoyed that I wasn't making time for. So now I quilt and sew.
ReplyDeleteMachine-piecing hexagons?! This book will be worth the $$ for that tip alone. I love the look of hexagons but haven't mastered hand-sewing yet, so I need to get this book.
ReplyDeleteI make things to "scratch that creative itch" and, as others have said, relieve stress from my "day job"!
Selvages on their way to you shortly, Jacquie! : )
I make things for a stress release. To create and develope new ideas. To be able to give back. Oh there are so many reasons.
ReplyDeletei make things because i couldn't imagine not making things. it's in my genes. it makes me happy, makes me feel great about myself, and can bring joy to others. plus it's allowed me to meet so many kindred spirits. even if i haven't met them in person.
ReplyDeleteI make things for a very simple reason. Because I am compelled to. I've been doing so since I was wee (my mother says I sewed my first thing when I was 3)and 45 years later, I still have to make stuff.
ReplyDeleteI imagine that's true for many of us. :)
I started to make things because it was a way to be with my mom and do something together. I've continued because it's a really special thing to share not only with her, but with other crafters I've met.
ReplyDeleteMaking things is my way to shut out the rest of the world and just create something beautiful. I started sewing at 12 and haven't stopped making things since.
ReplyDeleteTwo words: craft therapy. Making things is a great way to escape the chaos of the world.
ReplyDeleteI love this question, and reading others' answers to it. I make because the sensation of manipulating materials into something new and lovely and useful is enlivening!
ReplyDeletemalka is so inspiring...wow, that's a great question. i love to see the finished product of a handmade good. i mostly enjoy the process, but it's the finish that keeps me going. plus, i've decided that i'm not the best gift giver, i usually second guess what i give someone...but if it's something I made, then i am completely happy with it.
ReplyDeleteI make things because it makes me happy to create something with my own two hands; I love the feeling of accomplishment it gives me. I especially love to make things to give to people I care about.
ReplyDeleteThis book looks like it belongs on my shelf! :) I have to make things, or I start getting fidgety and unhappy. Creativity is my outlet and I enjoy it so much!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a loaded question. I have a million answers, but I think most importantly, I value the craft of "handmade". It's not something made is mass quantity, it takes time and love to make something by hand.
ReplyDeleteI make things because I need to - it makes me happy, keeps me sane, and makes me feel fulfilled. And I can see that I really, really need this book!
ReplyDeleteI make things because I feel compelled to make things. Making very colorful things is what 'calls' me the most. Love her work and am really hoping to win a copy of the book!
ReplyDeleteI make things for my daughter and for my friends. Good stress reliever!
ReplyDeleteI do it to keep my sanity. It keeps me centered! This book looks incredible as is Malka's Blog.
ReplyDeleteLike lots of others, I make because I need to. I used to "do" for the kids, now I "do" for the sheer pleasure of arranging shapes and colors to please my eye.
ReplyDeleteI make things because it gives me enjoyment. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteGood question! I think it is a way to exspress one self be it in fabric or any other medium. Also I find it's a challenge, not always sucessful but I am proud of the efforts I put into a project. Hope fully I keep learning & growing. I guess it keeps my mind & spirit active! Sharonj.
ReplyDeleteI make things because it's what I love to do! I love to see a project go from start to finish and the feeling of accomplishment that comes at the end. Of course, there can be lots of ups and downs along the way, but that's all part of the ride!
ReplyDeletewhat a beautiful book! i make things because it's something i do just for me (even though most of what i make are gifted to others), it also lets me rewind after long days of work. thanks for the chance to win the book!
ReplyDeleteI love making things as an outlet for creative expression. I also love bring able to create one-of-a-kind things as gifts. Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteThis book looks amazing! I love that yellow hexagon quilt! Making things is my creative outlet for sure, I just really enjoy the process and especially the end result! Thanks! mle_mcclendon(at)charter(dot)net
ReplyDeleteIn all the pictures I've seen so far from this awesome looking book, I think the same as you in wanting to make that sewing machine cover myself.
ReplyDeleteI love making things because it is such a great feeling to stand back and admire anything I've made to know I accomplished something beautiful. Just for the self satisfaction I think is the biggest reason I love making things myself. That and the fact that I LOVE giving things to others and what better gift at any time of the year than something beautiful you've created yourself and put part of your heart into the project for someone special.
I make things cuz it makes me so happy to create something pretty with my 2 hands and I love, love. love the giving part....my heart and soul are pieced right into my work ...it is who I am.
ReplyDeleteLove this book...Thanks for the chance to win.
I love the process of making something out of seemingly nothing. I also love to end results, warts and all.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the peek at the book which is now on my wishlist.
ReplyDeletei like the creative process...i like to go from A to B. The sense of accomplishment is awesome...love working with fabric.
ReplyDeleteI am a better person when I create
ReplyDeletewow! Sure wish I could "wing it" and come up with such treasures!
ReplyDeleteI love to see things move from separate items to become a thing of beauty when all combined. There is something satisfying in completing something, and knowing it won't be undone an hour or two later.
ReplyDeleteI love the escape-ness of creativity. Escaping from grad school, from my 9-5 job, from all the stresses in my life. But the process of making things also brings me back into life. Especially with quilting. They are projects that friends, family, or myself! get to enjoy for years and years.
ReplyDeleteI make things for my home and to give as a present. I love making things from fabric. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI mostly enjoy planning a project, lol. Some projects are too good not to make! Also, my very favorite possessions are things that were made for me. I love being able to do the same for others. (Plus, there are times when what I want just can't be found. It can always be made, though.)
ReplyDeleteI love that sewing machine cover! What fun. So many books, so very little sewing time...
ReplyDeleteI make things because it's a compulsion at this point! I love having a way to express my creativity that leaves me with a tangible product to show for it at the end.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy the process--I find it very relaxing and a great way to express myself. Very different from my work life with databases!
ReplyDeleteI make things because I need to feed that thing inside that says "make it"!
ReplyDeleteWhy do I make things? I make things because it gives me a sense of accomplishment to finish something. I make things because I love to give a part of myself in my gifts. I also make things because I love handmade items!
ReplyDeleteI usually make things because I fell in love with either the fabric or a quilt I saw and it motivates me.
ReplyDeleteI have an inner need to create. It is like breathing to me.
ReplyDeletePartly because I need the creative outlet and mostly because I love it when I give a gift and they realise it was made just for them.
ReplyDeleteI make things because I sit at a desk all day long. I need to come home and have a creative outlet.
ReplyDeleteI love looking at a piece of fabric and thinking about all the possible things it could become and then making one of those things happen. Thanks for the giveaway. I'm off to check out your blog . . .
ReplyDeleteI make things because making things makes me happy! I love the satisfaction of KNOWING that I made something beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI make things because I LOVE to (and hopefully someday to make a living at it). Thanks for the chance to win! :)
ReplyDeleteI make things for the pure enjoyment of creating! I find a certain peace in the process that's really wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great looking book and I'd love to know how to piece hexagons by machine as I have around 800 of them to piece! ACK!
I love to create, it's such a stress reducer from my job and I love sharing what I have created. Thanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDeleteWell, I make things because I enjoy creating things - I like trying to be creative - and I also really love fabric. I'm a total fabric-o-holic!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI make things because it makes me happy, I like to make others happy and I get to use all the lovely fabric, paper, buttons, beads and all sorts of junk and materials I love to get my hands on!
ReplyDeleteI make things because I love to create. I'm an engineer by day, but I love to quilt on my down time for something creative. Plus I love to see the faces of people I give things to. You can't beat it.
ReplyDeleteI love to create as a way to unwind, and of course if it's a quilt then a handmade quilt is soooo cosy on a cold winter night x
ReplyDeleteI make things because adding something beautiful to the world makes me really, really happy.
ReplyDeletei don't remember ever not making things! i have a very creative mom and there are just so many inspiring people and paper and fabric, they all call to me, "you could do that yourself, and then add your own ideas to it"
ReplyDeletehappy creating all,
Erica
I think I make things to get out of my head for awhile. Sometimes it's the simplicity of stitching pieces of fabric together and the tactile joy of feeling something created with your hands to validate my existence on the planet.
ReplyDelete(a little heavy, I know)
I am so looking forward to this book. Malka's designs are stunning!
ReplyDeleteThere is something deep inside me that pushes me to make things. I also like to make quilts to spread the love. There is nothing better than getting a picture in the mail of a baby on one of my quilts. I am crazy about that striped quilt too!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a wonderful book - so many beautiful projects. Why I make things - I really enjoy doing something with my hands, and have something to show for it. It's the mystery of how the different colors and shapes and fabrics and patterns will combine into a quilt or other project.
ReplyDeleteWow what a loaded question! I make things because 1) I inherited my Great Aunt's antique Singer sewing machine and want to carry on family tradition, her memory, and also participate in my Appalachian culture in a more modern way; 2) because sewing is therapeutic and relaxing to me (except when I have to re-thread, then it is not therapeutic!); 3) I love making things for people and seeing them enjoy the finished product!
ReplyDeleteWhy do I create? Lots of reasons, I guess. It's cheaper than therapy, it's been a part of my life ever since I was young, and it makes me happy!
ReplyDeleteOoh, this book is on my wish list! I make things because I love having something EXACTLY how I want it- the colors, size, shape... And I really love giving gifts that no one else could give, thinking about what would make it just right for the recipient.
ReplyDeleteI liked reading other people's answers to this. I think making things speaks to who we are. It makes me happy to create, it makes me happier to give people things that I've created just for them. It's a source of entertainment for me as well, along with cooking and gardening.
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, tough question. I make things because it feels so good to know that "I made that" and I love the feeling of giving things away to friends and family.
ReplyDeleteI make things to feel productive, and creative, and...to let my mind wander and go wherever it wants. To create my world.
ReplyDeleteHi there Jacquie! Malka was one of the first quilt bloggers I started reading too. She is just brilliant. I quilt for control. Being an Army wife I have very little control over where I get to set up my family and little control of having a long term career, but when I enter my sewing studio, I am in charge! I command that space. I bend the fibers to my will and can put my personal stamp on what I make. I love quilting. Thanks for giving us the chance to win this great book. I miss you and the KCMQG!
ReplyDeletexo, Tia
Hmmm... I make things because I like to. I love to pick out fabric, plan what I'm going to make and then do it. Plus I love getting to spend time looking at all the pretty fabrics and finding ways to bring them into my home.
ReplyDeletelooks so lovely!!!
ReplyDeleteI've not really thought before about why I make things. I guess I like the feeling of self sufficiency. I feel the need to be creative, to do something.
ReplyDeleteI like making things because I get to create what's in my head. My favorite part is near the end of production when you can see how it's going to look. So great!
ReplyDeleteI make things because I can!! That is my talent, my passion! When someone asks, "why make it when you can buy it?" I try to explain how much I love to make things. Sometimes the person will understand and sometimes their eyes glaze over!
ReplyDeleteI love to make things to give away. There is no better feeling then seeing your handmade goodness loved by someone you've given it to.
ReplyDeleteI make things because I HAVE to. My life would not be complete if I did not have a creative outlet. I've dedicated the past 10 years or more almost exclusively to quilting but it applies to any art/craft form that I have done throughout my life. I need that creative outlet to transport me away from the day to day pressures and demands. I don't like to go more than a few days w/o being in my studio!
ReplyDeleteJacquie, after thanking you on your blog yesterday for helping me overcome, I did jump out without being slavishly devoted to patterns, and made a fabric box I saw on Amanda Jeans site. I read through it quickly, was on my mind all day, and in 30 minutes last night at 1000 I did it. Think I need to go back and read the tut. Something I thought I never could do, I just jumped in and did it and love it with its imperfections! Making things allows me to have something to share with others that is a part of me (not parting with my children yet), gives an expression of creativity that lasts beyond a meal or an edible that vanishes leaving no other evidence, and, perhaps most importantly to me,it's part of the legacy of my Grandmother, who was the Queen of repurposing before it was fashionable - living through the Great Depression, wars, challenging economics, etc., makes one appreciative and resourceful!
ReplyDeleteThis book is going on my Barnes and Noble list today! Thanks again for another great recommendation!
Glynis
I make things because I think handmade items are so much more personal as gifts and are a great way to express yourself! It's nearly impossible now for me to find presents at a mall now!
ReplyDeleteI make things because they're pretty and fun, but still practical and usable in everyday life.
ReplyDeleteooooh! that's the first time I've seen the hex quilt. Now I REALLY need this book!
ReplyDeleteI make things because I do not want the cookie cutter look in my home. I want me in my home. I love to create with color and fabric. I just starting to learn how to use color. I like the sewing machine cover.
ReplyDeleteThis book looks amazing, thanks for the chance to win. I make things because I have to. I have always made things since I was a little kid. Making things makes me happy.
ReplyDeleteI make things because I want to be surrounded by my own colors and not anyone else's designer stuff that is an imitation of my taste. I love to live authentically and that is reflected in a home that is filled with my trasures many of which were made by me.
ReplyDeleteI normally make gifts, especially baby quilts...they are the perfect size project! I love to create (especially with scraps) and love to see all the little random pieces turn into something beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI don't really know WHY I make things...it's just who I am, I guess. I've always been this way! Ever since I was a young girl I have stitched and built things. I'm never happier than when I'm creating. I guess for me it's a way of relaxing, but also a way to contribute a bit of myself to the world.
ReplyDeleteI really want this book.... I love the look of the project that have been shown!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful intro to your blog -- love the photo of lilacs, one of my favorite flowers!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it's in my genes! I just love creating
ReplyDeleteGill
I craft and sew because I like that the item is personal and personalized. I like that I can tailor an item.
ReplyDeleteI make things because I love creating. I love taking these individual parts, which, on their own, don't amouont to much, and putting them together to create something beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI make things - both cloting & quilts - because I like things that are unique and I absolutely love to sew! I have been sewing for about 50 years now & have never gotten tired of it!
ReplyDeleteIt's cheaper than therapy!!! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win this beautiful book!
Having a creative outlet makes me happy ~ and it's more exciting than housework.
ReplyDeleteourbusylittlebunch(at)hotmail(dot)com
making things makes me happy. :)
ReplyDeletecreating things is so satisfying to my mind and soul. It makes the world go round when life (in my life) needs it. My life would be not as interesting without being able to sew! thanks for the opportunity to have that book and thanks for your blog.
ReplyDeleteI make things because I love the process and the satisfaction of creating
ReplyDeleteI have had this book on my wish list for so long! My fingers are crossed!
ReplyDeleteSomeone earlier said they can't not make things and I think I feel the same way. I want to make everything, from quilts, to clothes, to paintings to delicious things to eat. This weekend I'm going to try to make a floating bed platform. I don't know how this will turn out, but I can't wait to try. While I'm at work, I think about the sewing or knitting projects I'm going to work on when I get home. Thanks for the chance to win this beautiful book!
ReplyDeleteI love doing anything with my hands -- seeing the finished products are so satisfying (not like pushing bytes of data around all day on a computer!). And I love putting together colors and seeing what the end product looks like. Fun! This book is gorgeous -- I have been dying to get my hands on a copy!
ReplyDeleteI make things because I have to! I have some sort of biological imperative, I think -- plus I've been addicted to playing with fiber since I was a child.
ReplyDeleteI have yet to buy a pattern or a book. I think that is quite obvious in my earlier quilts :). I'm glad to hear that this can be a good thing. Good luck with the book tour!
ReplyDeleteI started sewing because I couldn't find what I wanted already made for a price I wanted to pay - in the case of the original "incident", it was a Halloween costume! The same thing holds true today - I sew because I can control color & pattern choice... plus it's relaxing!
ReplyDeleteI preordered this book as soon as I learned about it. And it IS a fabulous book! I sew for therapy,so it's a bonus that beautiful things can be made in addition to feeding the soul.
ReplyDeleteI make things partly because I like to, and partly because it is an excuse to not do housework!
ReplyDeleteAm also a reserved kind of person, not easy for me to express my feeling, so I make things for the people in my life that I care about to say I love you; I'm thinking of you; You are important to me. I get the enjoyment of making it and then giving it away.
ReplyDeleteI would love to win this book! :) I make things for my family and friends. I love giving handmade things to people. I also join in making some charity crafts and quilts.
ReplyDeleteI make things because I can... lol... I like to express my creativity.
ReplyDeleteI make things to stay sane and to be useful. Thanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDeleteWhy I make things? Because it makes me happy!!
ReplyDeleteSometimes I make things "just because," but more often it's because I can't find what I want in a store (or at least not for a price I want to pay!).
ReplyDeleteWhat a hard question. I don't really understand why I make things other than I really, really love it. This looks a wonderful book to add to my library.
ReplyDeleteI love to make things, because I love to create! It makes me so happy to know that I made something! I wish I could just hide in my sewing room all day long!!
ReplyDeleteI would love this book!!
h_freund@Hotmail.com
I love to make things for a creative release and artistic expression. It makes me happy to see handmade things, so I love filling our home with them.
ReplyDeleteI make things for that rush you get once you complete something and it turned out great, or even better, than you had imagined. It is such a creative outlet!! I also use it to cope with chronic pain. It has helped tremendously.
ReplyDeleteI make things for the process, for the product, to give the, to have them, to bless others!
ReplyDeleteI make things because it feels so darn good. I love working with colors and cutting and arranging.
ReplyDeleteI make things because it's fun and it literally keeps my hands busy. You know what they say about idle hands.
ReplyDeleteHmm..that's a great question to ponder. I make things as a way to express myself...to be creative...it's so fun to watch something come to life through sewing - such a feeling of accomplishment i think.
ReplyDeleteWow that's a hard question, I don't supposed "just because I have to" will do?
ReplyDeleteIt makes me feel happy to have created something with my hands and skills and mind, I love thinking that it started with just a flat piece of fabric or piece of paper and some paint and turned into something amazing.
I make things as an outlet. To keep myself sane. and because i get inspired by all the beautiful fabrics and yarn and supplies around me.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to win this book. I have her first one.
ReplyDeleteI make things because I have to. My fingers and brain just won't stop and then the end results are just so satisfying!
I make things to keep myself sane! I can't sit quietly and do a single thing (other than reading!) so making fills the void in my head :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the fun giveaway!
I'd love to win Malka's book-I LOVE her work!! I make things because the process makes me happy. It feels good to put things together for people and see their faces when the finished product makes it to its new home. Honestly I hardly have anything for myself, I like making things for other people!
ReplyDeletePerson expression and the joy of giving away a thoughtful handmade gift.
ReplyDeleteI make things for all kinds of reasons. I love the process of putting things together and seeing what happens. I make because I'll see something to buy and know I can make it for a lot less. I make things for my family and friends because I love them and it's a way to express that. I love to try out techniques just because, so I have a lot of snippets of things I made and someday I'll make them into something finished.
ReplyDeleteOh there are lots of reasons why I make things....I love to clothe my girls in one of a kind items so they don't look like clones, I like to make things that I need but can't find in the shops, I like to challenge myself in trying new techniques and getting a kick out of items that I've designed my self. The most important reason is that creativity is a need for me and crafting and sewing is my happy place.
ReplyDeleteI make things because they are among the few things in my life that actually stay finished--the dishes, laundry, cooking, etc are never done. But, a quilt--that stays done and I love it.
ReplyDeleteI feel more accomplished when I finish a handmade project than I do any day at work!
ReplyDeleteI make things because it gives me a great sense of accomplishment- to take something and make something useful out of it. It also relaxes me and makes me happy!:) Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteWith so much in life that is unclear and with no definite results, it's so fulfilling to envisage a project, sit down and plug away at it, then stand up with a completed item in your hand and be able to say, "i made this! This is how my day was spent and I have something tangible to show for it!"
ReplyDeletePlus there's nothing nicer than seeing your loved ones tucked up in a quilt you made for them...
I make things because I can
ReplyDeleteIt is great to see an idea turn into something beautiful and useable
I think I make things first because I love to sew and second to watch the anticipation and happiness when the person actually opens it and sees the gift!
ReplyDeleteI am having my first giveaway on my blog. A gift card sponsored by CSN Stores. please do enter
Mostly I make things for the since of satisfaction and accomplishment I get from the finished project. Also the feeling you get from giving something handmade to someone who really appreciates it!
ReplyDeleteI make things because I love the process (most of the time) and it also uses some of my skills I've developed as a scientist, but in a much more relaxing way.
ReplyDeleteI make things to quiet the quilty voices in my brain . . . too many ideas, some of them need to escape. Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeleteI started quilting when I had 3 teenage daughters and I needed something else to focus on....my escape! My daughters are now all adults and I still escape to my sewing room to create and relax! Thanks for the great question. Really like the book and the blog hop!
ReplyDeleteI love seeing a concept transform into an actual finished item. I love seeing the colors come together. I love the feeling of satisfaction that comes from working hard at something and finishing it.
ReplyDeleteI create for therapy. It keeps me sane. I also like to use up my stash so I try to create to use up a certain fabric. I'm always left with just a tiny bit and I just can't throw it away.
ReplyDeleteThanks Cynthia
I make things to help relieve my stress. I may have another reason. Years ago I had someone tell me I'd never have to go to the mental hospital because that movement with hand sewing kept me sane. Believe me, when you get my age you worry about that.
ReplyDeleteI make things that I know will make people happy and I love to have happy friends and clients.
ReplyDeleteSo I don't go crazy!
ReplyDeleteI believe everyone is a creator in some form or another. The things I make are an expression of that creator inside me. I love to give something meaningful as a gift, and I also love to make things how I see them in my mind's eye, to put into reality what I have envisioned.
ReplyDeleteI believe everyone is a creator in some form or another. The things I make are an expression of that creator inside me. I love to give something meaningful as a gift, and I also love to make things how I see them in my mind's eye, to put into reality what I have envisioned.
ReplyDeleteI make things because it is therapeutic. It's 'me' time!
ReplyDeleteI make things to keep myself sane. Chasing 2 kids wears me out, sewing reinvigorates me.
ReplyDeleteI echo many on here - i make to slow down, and stay sane. and 'cause it makes me feel all pioneeresque.
ReplyDeleteI make things because I can't stop myself - it's like breathing ... Thank you for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI make things for many different reasons but right now, I am going through a very stressful time in my life. Sewing is my therapy. I take a trip to the fabric store , buy a half yard or two of fabric, sew from my stash...it's much cheaper than therapy and someone gets a beautiful quilt or pillow I created.
ReplyDeleteI think I started making things because I needed something to keep me from fidgeting. I think I keep making things because it makes me happy, gives me an ice breaker topic, gives me a way to bond with friends and make new ones, and over all makes me feel good.
ReplyDeleteI make things because it makes me happy through the process and in the sharing of the product!
ReplyDeleteI create because it's something I "need" to do. Usually out of love or need AND sometimes it's just something within me that needs to come out.
ReplyDeleteJane
I make quilts because it is fun to plan it, do it, and receive a pat on the back for my work. It taps my creativity and desire to work a project start-to-finish. And, seeing someone like the quilt I give them makes happy. It is an endeavor that I share with my mother, which strengthens our relationship.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all I make things because I really love to sew. But I also love to dress my little one in outfits that no one else will have. I'm just starting out on my quilting adventure and I'd love to win this book for some great inspiration!
ReplyDeleteBecause making things is who I am and what I am about. I have sewn forever, painted a good number of years. I love inventing and assembling fabric into something that appeals to me. If others like what I do, that is a bonus.
ReplyDeleteI make things because it makes other people happy! And that makes me happy..... ;-)
ReplyDeleteCreating keeps the mind young and the heart happy.
ReplyDeleteThe strips and stripes quilt is amazing! It may have to be a project for me!
ReplyDeleteWorking with my hands relieves my stress, lets me see something tangible that I've accomplished... And making someone happy by giving them a little part of me is pure gold.
ReplyDeleteI make things because it keeps me sane; t let's me use parts of my brain that I wouldn't otherwise get to use that often; and, most of all, because it makes me happy.
ReplyDeleteI "make things" because I have to. It is the way I love those around me. When making something for them, I think of them, I enjoy the process and feel like I am with them as the product comes together. I "make things" because I love the way the colors and fabrics make me feel and I love the satisfaction of seeing something come together. My artistic son started out in science and is now in graphic design, because he was only happy when he was creating something. I know just how he feels.
ReplyDeletei make things because i need to. it challenges and refreshes my mind and leaves me a better person for my family. :)
ReplyDeletebess
I make things because it's my creative outlet after a day of crunching numbers at work! I also enjoy making gifts for family and friends. Love Malka's work and would love to win a copy as it looks fantastic.
ReplyDeleteI make things for many reasons, mainly to save money. I see so many wonderful things that I want, but just don't have the money for, so I make them instead.
ReplyDeleteI make most things to give away...so the main reason is to make others happy.
ReplyDeleteI made things for the great sense of accomplishment and to save $$. I had to stop making fun of my mother for her mounds of fabric because she lets me take what I want! This book looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteI make things because I just have to! Since childhood I've had one project or another going. Now my eldest is 3 and her favorite thing to do is crafts and her favorite store is the craft store. I think she'll be an inherent creative crafter, too! yay!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to enter. I'm looking forward to this book!
Some of the times I make things to be practical. But I really enjoy making things the most when I come up with an idea or a picture in my mind and turn it into a reality. That's fun and fulfilling, and it's also something that is a concrete product of my efforts, unlike most of the efforts in my life.
ReplyDeleteI make things because it makes me feel whole and complete. I believe that we all have the urge to create in us because we are made in the image of God, the great Creator.
ReplyDeleteI like to make things because handmade things are the best kind of things!!
ReplyDeleteFrom a very small child making something with my hands has played an extremely important place in my life. From collecting bits and pieces (for who knows what/why) to caressing cuts of fiber/fabric/yarns to the smile on a recipients' faces. There, that smile is why I make things!
ReplyDeletehugz
Pam
I make things to bring a smile to the faces of people I love. And a bigger smile to those who really don't expect any thing from me. A favorite moment was when I gave a quilt to an artist friend of mine. She's always creating. I handed her the quilt with a big red ribbon wrapped around it, the label showing. She just cried and cried. When she finally stopped crying she told a group of us that no one had ever made anything for her before! She's 56 years old...comes from a family of artists. Apparently all the art work went elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteI learned knitting in Brownies and have not stopped making crafts since then. I love creating with my hands and seeing the finished product.
ReplyDeleteI make things because I'm obsessed, because I love the feeling of creating, because it's funner than housework!
ReplyDeleteI've never come up with the exact reason why I create things. Maybe it's the outcome that makes the doing worthwhile - having something special to show for my time, when things like cooking, cleaning, reading and such leave nothing for future generations to remember or know me by.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this great giveaway!
Why DO I make things?? I enjoy it. I like doing things with my hands. I like making things for other people. It makes me smile!
ReplyDeletekelsiesands@hotmail.com
'Cause I love fabric, colours, pattern, and giving stuff away.
ReplyDeleteWhy do I make things? Because I love to create and use my hands. I love to make things for people to show I care and making them something special is a way of letting them know they are special. The creative process is also a spiritual practice, a way for me to connect with the Divine, and is a centering activity that has tangible rewarding results.
ReplyDeleteWhy do I make things? Because I love to create and use my hands. I love to make things for people to show I care and making them something special is a way of letting them know they are special. The creative process is also a spiritual practice, a way for me to connect with the Divine, and is a centering activity that has tangible rewarding results.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine NOT making things. How boring would that be! My creative bent is part of who I am....I can't not create. Plus, it's so much fun to bless others!
ReplyDeleteI think every project I do, I do for a different reasons. I made my dad a quilt because he's helped us out a bunch this year and that's the only way I can repay him.
ReplyDeleteI made a quilt for my best friend that has a brain tumor. She lives 700 miles away and the quilt will hold her hand when I can't.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Why do you quilt some of your things?