October Designer of the Month Amanda Woodward-Jennings!

Hi I’m Pat Sloan the Aurifil Designer of the Month coordinator. For October we continue our stitchery series with the super talented Amanda Woodward-Jennings! Amanda is co-owner with Ashleigh Gilberson of the stitchery company  “The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery”. Amanda goes by the name of “Mrs. McPorkchop” and has the most amazing and creative projects and photography. You must start to follow her blog.. hurry! http://msmcporkchopquilts.com/

I know you are going to love Amanda’s interview and her block is incredibly adorable… but that means you need to work on catching up so you can see all the blocks together!

Remember to post your photo at our Flickr folder of a project given by one of the Aurifil Designers of the month (see tab on right for all the profiles). One quilter EACH MONTH will win a prize of Aurifil thread! Just post a photo of your completed block. Everyone in the Flickr folder is in the running! We have a new folder for the 2012 projects

Flickr folder –www.flickr.com/groups/2012_aurifil_featured_designerofthemonth/

Let’s get to know Amanda!

When did you first start to do embroidery or stitching? Where did you learn (class, family, online… )
I taught myself how to embroider in college, I thought it was a super fun way to embellish things and a budget friendly craft. I learned how to quilt from the amazing ladies at Scottie Dog Quilts/Redwood Sewing Center in Eureka, CA!

Favorite go to stitch?
Back stitch! For sure! I love making all the little bumps and it’s not terribly hard!

Did you work at another career prior to your design business?

I left college to work on my sewing business full time, now I work with my very best friend Ashleigh on The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery!   It’s our kawaii cross stitch pattern company and our most favorite thing on earth!

What does your studio look like?

I sew at our kitchen table. I used to sew in our dining room but I love being able to sit in front of windows and keep an eye on whatever I have going on the stove or oven. I cook pretty much nonstop so this way I can sew AND cook!

What is your favorite storage tip or place? 

I recently lost an entire bag of half finished cross stitches, patterns and thread so now I’m REALLY diligent about keeping all my supplies in one spot. Chop, my husband, surprised me with a vintage picnic basket, I keep my color cards, floss, projects, patterns and hoops in there.

Plus! It’s portable! So I can take  it in the car and outside, I love having everything in one cute spot!

How do you fill your soul? What I mean by this is – what makes you SO HAPPY that you know that if you do this you are experiencing a little ‘Heaven on Earth’.

I love catching up on Masterpiece Mystery with Chop, hanging out under a quilt, knitting, reading and just being COZY.

Or when I’m teaching people how to cook and can, it feels pretty amazing to watch things “click” on peoples faces!

How do your ideas develop? Do you sketch, doodle, put ideas on a mood board?

I generally make little wonky sketches and email them to Ashleigh, my bff and Frosted Pumpkin Partner in Crime. She’s incredibly computer savvy and just amazing. I am the WORST at technology, she turns my sketches and ideas into pdfs, patterns, etc.

I LOVE TO DRAW. I went to college for art and would fill up dozens of sketch books. I think that might be why I love quilting, it’s like drawing but with thread.

What are your Aurifil ‘go to’ thread colors?

I have a secret. I piece special quilts with special colors. Last winter I pieced a neutral quilt with 4020 (the perfect hot pink), I’m currently piecing a Single Girl quilt with 4660 (variegated pinks!). I believe that quilting should be fun & I won’t waste my time piecing with white. If I absolutely HAVE to use a neutral, my favorite is 2310, I pieced the majority of my Farmer’s Wife quilt with it.

My other two VERY favorites are 2605 (amazing gray!) and 3840 (variegated purple). I’ve never ever ever had Aurifil thread show through to the front of the quilt so why not play with color? There is something super satisfying knowing that your favorite color (or who ever gets the quilt!) is hidden in your quilt.

What is your favorite stitching tool?

I have two that I *love*! My amazing friend Lindsay (http://www.eileenquilts.com/) sent me this acorn needle minder (http://shop.theworkroom.ca/product/kelmscott-designs-brown-acorns-needle-minder) that I absolutely ADORE!

I have the worst habit of laying in bed stitching and poor Chop always gets stuck with a needle! And my other one is from my Clover Embroidery Floss Needle Threader!http://shop.theworkroom.ca/product/clover-embroidery-floss-needle-threader that I got from my sweet friend Karyn (http://www.makesomething.ca/) sent me! It makes needle threading a BREEZE. Can you tell my friends know my notion obsession?! 😉

If you could train with, or work with, or follow one person for a day.. who would it be and why?

Hands down without a doubt Heather Ross. She is my hero, her fabrics are so dreamy and perfect. I love that she draws inspiration from her childhood and the memories they invoke are just so amazing. I think I’ve used her West Hill Peach Ponies in every single quilt I’ve ever made. Her fabric just clicks with me and makes me want to sew sew sew sew sew!

‘Why did you select the image you did for your block’?
I originally planned a fall embroidery but as I went through the layer cake I saw the black and the orange polka dots and knew I *had* to do something REALLY halloweenie! I absolutely adore Halloween, my wedding anniversary is the day before and I just loooooove it! I knew I wanted to draw some laurel branches and add in some x’s and french knots for texture. Then Ashleigh & I started brainstorming with bats, ghosts, pumpkins, etc. We ended up with this design! It’s really fun and I think it would be super cute on a trick or treat bag or tea towel!

12 Wt Aurifil Threads Used in Amanda’s block

2620 – BOO! Lettering  & x’s
5016 – Green wreath
2975 – Tan french knots
1104 – Pumpkin
1147 – Pumpkin top
1133 – Candy Corn middle
2135 – Candy Corn bottom
Black
White

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CLICK HERE to print Boo! It’s October! Embroidery Pattern

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And a few on the light side…

• If they made a movie of your life, what actress will play ‘you’? good question! I think someone quirky like Drew Barrymore!
• Favorite Expression -I gave up cursing before I turned 30 and now I say DANG! like crazy. It’s better than putting $1 in my curse jar 😉

• The Book you are currently reading -I’m currently reading The Columbus Affair by Steve Berry, The Diviner’s by Libba Bray and Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs. I love to read and the best day of my life was when amazon invented the kindle 😉
• Your Favorite Movie -Can I cheat and tell you three?! Lost in Translation, The Royal Tenenbaums and Step Brothers!!!!
• Dream Vacation spot -The more rural the better! I’ve love to rent a cabin in Montana or Wyoming and hunt/knit/read/fish/cook/relax!
• The Color you have always LOVED…..Gray!!!!

CLICK HERE to order her stitchery tote pattern… so cute!

Amanda’s website http://msmcporkchopquilts.com/
Her stitchery site http://meylah.com/thefrostedpumpkinstitchery
twitter https://twitter.com/heyporkchop
Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/frenchtoastcake/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/msmcporkchop-quilts/122298967793620

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Looking for Aurifil 12 wt? CLICK HERE for a Store List and Roseann is selling 12 wt thread. Email or call  her from her website HERE

We would also love for you to ask your Local Quilt shop to carry Aurifil thread!

Visit “We Love French Knots” with loads of stitchery inspiration! If you need to freshen up your stitching skills, there is a series of videos by our Design team member Bari J. http://www.welovefrenchknots.com/stitch-videos.html

EACH MONTH we will pick one random winner that has made a stitchery block.. that person will receive a special Aurifil thread prize! Winners are all contacted via Flickr email and posted at our flickr page in the winner topics.

You can make ANY of the 2012 blocks to be in the running (and we hope you make them all!). Share your photos at our Flickr Folder… we can’t WAIT to see what you do!

www.flickr.com/groups/2012_aurifil_featured_designerofthemonth/
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