My Modern Muse - Jennifer Ellison

Jennifer`s Cosmic Burst Mini

I am delighted to be kicking off the My Modern Muse series with Jennifer of Ellison Lane Quilts.  She has jumped on a magic carpet and traveled over to Marrakech for the day.  Welcome Jennifer!

I first came across Jennifer`s blog last summer and loved her chatty style and beautiful quilts.  I got to know her better when I did the Across the Seas QAL, which Jennifer co-hosted with Sarah.  The quilt I made remains my favourite quilt!

So after a walk round the souqs, Jennifer and I sat down over a glass of mint tea and she told me a little bit about what inspires her.

Annabella When you are offline, what things in life inspire you to create your beautiful quilts?
Jennifer I am often inspired by patterns I see in magazines such as tiles or colors of rooms.  I think you can find inspiration anywhere once you get used to looking for it. Before I became a quilter, I didn’t pay much attention to patterns in my everyday life. Now I see them everywhere and think, “Could I make that into a quilt?”

Tiles at the Bahia Palace in Marrakech

Annabella Is there a piece of music you love to listen to while in your sewing space?
Jennifer During the day I sew in snippits of time- a few minutes here, a few minutes there in between the kid’s needs, naps, and activites.  At night, I like to listen to pop music and put on my iPod and headphones and sew away.  What I listen to varies and is rather eclectic- whatever suits my mood at the moment!

Annabella Apart from your immediate family, who has been your greatest creative inspiration in your life and why?
Jennifer I think the other quilting bloggers have been the greatest influence on me as far as design and inspiration go. There is SO MUCH creativity out there and the online community has shared their talent so freely- it is so inspiring. I love seeing what others do and then putting my own twist on it.

Annabella Which blog do you find a constant source of inspiration?
Jennifer Faith of Fresh Lemons Quilts and Lindsey of LR Stitched always inspire me. I think their talents, color and fabric choices and designs are fabulous and I always love their style.

Annabella I love the quilts you brought with you Jennifer!  Can you tell me about them and what inspired you to make them?

Jennifer`s Dresden Plate Quilt

 Jennifer One of my most special quilts is the Dresden Plate quilt I made for my daughter. I wanted to make her a quilt she would love forever, one that had my favorite fabrics in it. I love how colorful it is.  It’s on her big girl bed, and I love that she’ll have it always.

Jennifer`s Improv. Log Cabin Quilt

I also love my improv log cabin quilt. It’s an all solids quilt, the blocks are improv pieced and wonky and I love it. It’s very modern, colorful and was one of my son’s most used quilts as a baby.

Annabella I happen to love quilting books, do you have one you can recommend me?
Jennifer I really don’t have a favorite as I own very few quilting books. I usually get them from the library but there are several on my wish list including Denyse Schmidt’s new book Modern Quilts, Traditional Inspiration and Katie Pederson and Jacquie Gering’s new book Quilting Modern: Techniques and Projects for Improvisational Quilts. I am also looking forward to Jennifer Paganelli’s new home book Happy Home.

Annabella Do you pin Jennifer? Where can people find you?
Jennifer Oh yes indeed- do I ever! I love Pinterest- it’s even my homepage on my computer! You can find me at http://pinterest.com/ellisonlane/

Annabella Is there a place you go which stirs your creative juices?
Jennifer I find I think best in quiet places. This is hard to come by in my house with a 3.5 year old and a 1 year old.  I like to get away to a coffee shop or a book store by myself and plan out my blogging ideas and quilting plans. It doesn’t happen often so I try to make the most of the time.  

Jennifer`s Improv.pieced quilt

Annabella Do you ever get the quilter`s equivalent of `writer`s block`?  What do you do to get through it?
Jennifer I had quite a bad case of “writer’s block” after the Christmas holidays. It took me quite some time to find my motivation and to get inspired. I allowed myself the break and then when I felt ready, I sewed a little bit every day. I started small and then I started something new I had always wanted to do- a larger ticker tape quilt. That felt manageable and was a good way for me to get back in the swing of things. Taking a break helped. Sometimes you have to turn off, take a break and step away.

Annabella If you could have 30 minutes with someone who really inspires you, who would it be?
Jennifer Denyse Schmidt or Anna Maria Horner. I am so inspired by both of them and would love to know how they do it all, balance it all and fuel their creativity.

Annabella What is your favorite ever line of fabric?
Jennifer It would have to be Loulouthi and the new Flea Market Fancy.  I can’t wait to see that in person! I love though that there is always new fabric coming out- always something new to work with and enjoy.

Annabella Lastly Jennifer, who is your favorite designer?
Jennifer Anna Maria Horner and Denyse Schmidt. I would say it is a tie. They are constant sources of inspiration for me.

Thank you so much Jennifer - you are an inspiration.  Do hop over and say hi to her and I`ll be checking out those books!

My Modern Muse (in March)

Muse  (myz)n.

1. muse

a. A guiding spirit.

b. A source of inspiration.

It`s March and surely this must mean the start of spring!  It`s certainly warming up here after a very cool winter indeed. Spring and autumn are my favourite seasons - it`s either warming up or cooling down.  No extremes.  I don`t like extremes so I`m totally living in the wrong place! 


Spring is also a time when I feel inspired and I`m excited to announce a new series I`m running this month each Friday and Monday! I get the chance to interview some of my favourite and most inspirational bloggers and find out what gets them creating.  It kicks off tomorrow so I hope you`ll join me.


Look, I even made a button! It`s my first attempt so be kind.

March Fresh Sewing Day

 1. Gee`s Bend Inspired Mini Quilt, 2. Pouch back, 3. We Bee Modern Too - February Block, 4. For the Love of Solids Mini Back, 5. do.Good Stitches (Care Circle) February Blocks, 6. Pouch Front, 7. perle hand stitching detail, 8. For the Love of Solids Mini Front, 9. do.Good Stitches (Care Circle) February Blocks

Oh my, February was one frenetic month and was fairly selfless as nearly everything I made was for someone else - either one of the two swap makes (Mouthy Stitches and For the Love of Solids) or bee blocks (We Bee Modern Too and do.Good Stitches). There was definitely a green and yellow thing going on too!

The only thing I made for myself was the Gee`s Bend inspired mini, which I love.  I made it as part of Jennifer`s super fun Modern Mini Challenge, the linky for which opens on Monday March 5.  This is my entry. It has really inspired me to use solids more and to experiment with improv,piecing.  The mini will hang in our kitchen and remind me that trying something new is fun!

I finally got my pouch finished for the Mouthy Stitches swap after the linen I needed finally arrived.  It`s winging its way to my partner and I hope she likes it.

I`m really hoping that March will be more laid back. There were times last month when it was all beginning to feel like work (because vital supplies took an age to arrive which is all stress inducing believe me) and for me that`s not what it`s all about.  So time for a breather.

Linking up with uber talented Lynne at Lily`s Quilts for Fresh Sewing Day.  Do hop over and see what people have been up to the last 29 days and check out some great smaller blogs in the Small Blog Meet.

 

*Edited to add Lynne`s new button*