Around the World Blog Hop

I was invited to participate in an around the world blog hop by my friend Pat from Bell Creek Quilts.  Sounds like fun! 

Thanks for the invite, Pat.

 Pat and I met online a long time ago.  I found out that she had family in Michigan,

 actually not too far away from where I live.  

One time when she was coming to visit her mom we met up. 

 We had a great time!!  We went to the LQS and also went to have dinner at the local hotel.  

In the blog hop we are supposed to answer a list of questions, so I will attempt to do so.

1- What are you working on?

You guys have seen what I have been working on in the last few posts. 

 I had several finishes.  

I made a Tardis quilt top and back for my son.  

I am dropping this off with my friend, Kathy to quilt for me today after work.

He was making fun of me about the coasters I made for my FIL and 

told me he would throw them away if I ever made coasters for him. 

 So *of course* I started on some Dr. Who coasters for him.

I finished some charity quilts and my kitty mini swap quilt too!  

This was my favorite charity quilt, made from all the scraps I had left over from other projects.

 I have been practicing my quilting skills too.  How about those wavy lines??

I am working on a label for my Birdie Stitches quilt. 

 Still need to turn it into a proper label. 

 You know, sew it to another fabric, turn and press?  

Then it will be ready to stitch into the quilt.

I am working on a Secret Stalker swap mini quilt too, but I am waiting for something in the mail before I can really begin.
There is a HUGE idea forming so stay turned for that.

Hubby asked me to make a quilt for a co-worker that is getting married so
here is the beginning of that.
He wanted me to use my Daisy Field pattern.
Their colors are white and cream...huh?
I asked for an accent color and was told blue gray, so the flowers will be in blue-gray and gray.
I am using Lizzy House's white on white pearl bracelets for the background.
I am actually really excited to get to work on this one!

2-How does my work differ from others?  

I'm not sure how to answer that!  

It is probably similar to lots of other people's work.  

I think every time we make a quilt it is uniquely our own. 

 I do what I like and what I can't get out of my head. 

Whatever screams the loudest gets made.

3-Why do I create what I do?

Because I *have* to.  

Seriously. 

 I think I might actually explode if I didn't make things. 

 Quilts in particular. 

 I have been sewing forever.  (My girls told me once I was older than fire).  

I have sewn garments. 

 Maybe because I am not a small size I hated the way they looked. 

 I did love sewing Halloween costumes for my 3 kids.  

They never had a store bought costume!  

I did counted cross stitch for quite awhile and now it's quilting and embroidery.  

LOVE it!

4-How does my creative process work?

I wish I knew!  

Sometimes I can't turn it off and wake up in the night to scribble down an idea or sketch a pattern.  Sometimes I can't get motivated to save my life!  

I like to observe things around me and draw from the patterns I see in nature, 

in my work, at home and in life.  

I enjoy talking with other creative people.  

It seems to inspire and turn on my creativity.  

The internet and Instagram have been BIG influences in my creativity!!

5- Who is Mama Spark?

I am a wife and mother of 3 amazing kids, 2 daughters and a son. 

 I have been married to my best friend for the last 31 years.

I am a scientist at my day job and a wrangler of pets and kids the rest of the time.  

I love to make quilts for friends and family.  

I like to make quilts for charity too.  

We have 4 cats and a dog.  

The cats are a huge joy in my life especially now that all the kids are out on their own.  

My best friend cat, Jack passed away 2 years ago and even though we have 4 I miss him every day.

This is Jack

Our dog Abbey

Hallie (short for Halloween)

Aiden (aka Fatty McFatty)

Mosen (who says mama)

Autumn, who is the only cat besides Jack that comes into my sewing room.

Now that you know about me, 

let me introduce you to the other 2 people that will follow me in the Blog Hop.

First is my friend Sara.  

She blogs over at Growing Stitches.  

Sara and I met online.  

We actually even met in person!  

She lives near my middle daughter in NC, so on my first visit to her we met up. 

We met up with another blogger too and went on our own private quilt shop hop. 

 Sara is a  prolific quilter, very energetic and inspiring!  

She has a new baby and an amazing little man too, but I won't steal her thunder about them.  

Please go visit her on September 22.

Next up is my friend Anna.  

She blogs over at Woolie Mammoth.  

I think it is her sense of humor that drew me to her blog.  

Then I stayed for her amazing work.  

She does a lot of things I find interesting.  

Like her work with wool.  

Her blog is a great one to follow.  

She always has interesting things going on. 

 I hope that someday we can meet up too.  

Eventually I plan on going back to the pacific midwest. 

 I hope you take a few minutes to visit Anna on September 22 also.  

I think that pretty much covers things from Mama Spark's world! 

 If you have any questions, please ask away!!

~XOP~