Aurifil 2017 May Designer of the Month – Mathew Boudreaux

I’m Designer, Author, Talk Show host Pat Sloan.

This year we are celebrating the rainbow of colors in our color wheel. Each designer is assigned a color to create their block in.

Spinning around the color wheel we land on RED this month. Not only my personal favorite color but it’s also Mathew  Boudreaux favorite, that made this a perfect month for him!

 

If you are not on instgram yet, you’ll want to sign up just to be inspired and entertained by Mathew’s work!

One day I got an email asking if I’d seen the ‘woven projects’ by Mister Domestic yet? And If not, hurry up and look.

From there on out I was checking to see what fun new things Mathew was sewing up!

Mathew is also sewing along with all the designers each month and his blocks are fantastic! I LOVE the January Kittie block.. a kitting sitting in the center of doggies.. too fun!

CLICK TO see his Blocks

Each designer is sending me a photo of fabric with their thread color so I can build a fun collage of the color wheel with them.

Missed a month?

CLICK FOR PRIOR DESIGNER interviews

Remember we have a Challenge portion of our Designer of the Month interview.

Each month we select one random winner to receive a 12 spool BOX of Aurifil thread for just making the challenge block and sharing it at my website! (details at the end plus last month’s winner!)

Let’s get to know Mathew!

1. Where do you live and what is your favorite spot there?

   I live in Camas, Washington, which is right across the border from Portland, Oregon. My favorite spots are honestly either on the couch snuggling with my daughter Helena or in front of my sewing machine. Outside of the obvious though, I am surrounded by breathtaking scenery at every turn. My husband is an avid fisherman, so I’m able to spend quality time on many of the riverfront beaches around me. This one in particular is literally 5 minutes from my house, so it’s a great easy breezy getaway to enjoy some piece and tranquility.

   

2. When was your FIRST quilt sighting? Did it inspire you to start quilting?

   I honestly couldn’t tell you my first quilt sighting. It’s really something that I fell into. I considered myself an apparel sewist in the beginning of my fabric journey. And part of my learning process for garment construction was to use a seam ripper and take apart old clothes. I had a bunch of jeans that didn’t fit me anymore that I took apart and then decided to make a quilt with them. I didn’t realize at the time what it was called, but this string block quilt was my entry into the quilting universe and I’ve been hooked ever since.

   

   This project is also how I fell into weaving. I had scraps leftover from the quilt and remember that I had a pin on my Pinterest for this intrecciato-style weave, so I went for it and created two pillows with it. I never would’ve envisioned that ripping apart jeans to learn how to sew clothes would’ve opened up these whole new avenues for fabric play.

   

3. Did you have a career prior this, what was it? Do you still do this career while having your design business?

   I have always been very intensely right and left brain. I have a couple Masters Degrees and have worked in the pharmaceutical industry for much of my adult life. I recently started working in HIV, which has been a dream of mine since I entered industry, and can be seen here at a recent Art Auction for the Cascade AIDS Project. I’ve also always pursued my creative passions at a high level. I’ve worked in theater which transitioned into modeling and commercial work which transitioned into photography and now everything fabric. Without being a part of my entire creative journey, the flow from one to the next might appear abrupt, but it’s really been a seamless flow where one builds on the next.

   

4. Have you had a ‘light bulb’ moment in making?

   Since I’m relatively newer to sewing and quilting, I honestly feel like every day I have a new light bulb moment and love to share my finds on social media. Some of my most recent include using: Wooly Nylon in the bobbin when sewing knit on a Domestic machine, this new Clover Press Perfect Hot Ruler that you can iron on top of to create perfect hems, Thread Heaven thread conditioner, thimble pads and threadcutterz ring, and my seam roller has changed my life. Legit I rarely go a day without discovering something else new. It’s part of what I love about sewing and quilting is that there’s always something new to learn… and buy.

   

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

  My studio generally lands somewhere on the continuum between full on hot mess and organized chaos. And I’m one to always keep it 100%, so here are pictures of my studio as of May 2017. And honestly I’ve been doing a lot of English paper piecing lately, so this is probably the best it’s looked in a while. People often wonder how I get so much done and part of it is that I create in the eye of a tornado.

  

  However, IKEA has changed my life from the desk and the shelves and the adjustable table I have in the middle of my room. And my Wall Control Storage System is strong and amazing and allows easy access to the things I commonly use. And my design wall feels like an ever-evolving art installation. If I could change it, I’d want it to be twice the size. I have no idea why I took the smallest room in the house for my studio and gave Helena the largest for her playroom. She’s even offered to switch, but a part of me wonders if

  

• Do you have a GREAT tip on either storage, organization, sewing, stitching, find a tip that works for you.

  I obsessed with the Invisable Ladder Stitch now that I’ve mastered it. I used to hate having to close pillows by hand because it often looked janky, but getting this stitch down has changed my life.

  

• What are your 3 favorite colors of Aurifil thread?

   Hands down my three favorite colors are Ermine, Mustard, and Blue Grey. They unexpectedly go with everything. Literally EVERYTHING. Ermine is potent enough of a true neutral to give subtle flavor to any project. Mustard is one of those colors that by itself makes you go hmm, but use in partnership with something else, oh em gee. Navy and mustard legit go together like turquoise and lime green. And mustard is the common top stitch color on traditional denim. And then blue gray, it’s another tricky chameleon that you wouldn’t know was so versatile. I’m absolutely obsessed with these three.

  

• Anything else you’d like to share?

  Right now, Pat Bravo and I are hosting a 24-week EPP Party where we’re sharing a new block every other week and have videos and tips and prizes. It’s a lot of fun and people can join at any time.

  

  I just launched my new YouTube channel which is bringing my fabric party to video. Right now, the videos are focused on English Paper Piecing, but I have plans for a series on Fabric Weaving and general sewing tips, so definitely everyone needs to subscribe and join the fun.

  

• My free and for-purchase pattern arsenal is always growing on Craftsy and I’ve been teaching my Improv Flower and Optical Illusion Patterns, which has been wild and awesome. I have a bajillion other things coming to a theater near you, so definitely stay tuned as the party keeps getting bigger and bigger.

• About your block – What is it about the color Red that inspired you, made you explore it in your block?

   When I think about red, especially in contrast with white, my brain immediately goes to the severe. It’s a very rich color in its pure form, very emotional, very heavy, almost dark. When I look at my color inspiration collage, it almost feels like the next season of American Horror Story, which absolutely wasn’t the direction I took for the block. Hence the introduction of the gift and ribbon. For one, May is both my own and my daughter’s birth month so ominous just wouldn’t work. And then I was all like how do I create a block the encompasses both my woven and my quilty side. So combine the rich red, the birthdays and my weavy ways and the Faux Weave Block was the only way to go.

  

*************************************

DOWNLOAD Faux Weave Block by Mathew

*************************************

And a few on the light side… 

• If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to, and Why? So firstly I wouldn’t want to go back and impact anything about my life because I love my life so fully that I wouldn’t change a thing. Not even the crummy stuff. However, I would absolutely travel back to January 31, 2004 so that I could find Janet Jackson and tell her not to expose herself during her super bowl half time performance. I’d let her know that she’s way too talented and the impact it would have on her ability to be played on radio and her legacy and the sadness she left in my heart because I knew she had so much more to offer. I know this sounds silly, but if you knew my obsession with Janet in my youth, this would make total sense to you.

• What’s the most interesting thing you see out of your office or kitchen window? Well, my studio has these two windows in the corner that cast the most beautiful light on all of my projects as I work on them. But it also peers directly onto the playground and down the Main Street of my neighborhood. I’d love to say I see Desperate Housewives style drama,t but so far it’s just kids playing and people cutting their grass and stuff. I do totally feel like I’d be that nosy neighbor character in the show that knows all the gossip though.

  

• Are you a Dog or Cat person?  We have two cats, but I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m a cat person. Out of the two, most definitely cats are the preference because you can fill up their litter box and food and water bowls and go out of town, but dogs you have to plan and stuff if you don’t bring them with you. And as much as I abhor constant cat hair on everything, both Jordan (under umbrella) and Camden are the sweetest creatures and have filled the house with love since 2002. Hmm… maybe I’m a cat person after all.

Visit Mathew at:

• Website: https://misterdomestic.net
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MisterDomestic
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/misterdomestic/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misterdomestic/

I have some TIPS for you on construction at my site I have all all the blocks together at my website  … they look great!!  For 2017 I am making all my blocks with Moda French General fabric.

Mathew is also sewing blocks (see his blocks)

ENTER YOUR BLOCK so you can be in the running to win a box of thread, last month’s winner is below

And  JOIN my fantastic online quilt group with the most incredible  quilt show each day… I’d love to meet you!

******* JOIN our Aurifil Family  *******

EACH MONTH we will pick one random winner that has made a block.. that person will receive a special Aurifil thread prize! Winners are all contacted email

Our RANDOM picker this month selected is Bette!  She has WON a BOX of Aurifil thread! Such gorgeous blocks entered .. see all the great versions at the FEB post HERE

REMEMBER – The Photo entry is moved to my website where more people can enter, right HERE

• Sign up for the Aurifil Newsletter… scroll to the NEWSLETTER box
• Become a member of the AURlfil fan page on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/aurifil.quilt.thread
• For more Aurifil project photos visit our FLICKR PAGE  HERE
• See more quilts using Aurifil thread at our Flickr page