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Tuesday 4 September 2018

2018 Online Quilters Meet & Greet

Benita Skinner of Victoriana Quilt Designs is running the 2018 Online Quilters Meet & Greet during the month of September, and asked if I would like to join in. Of course I said yes, I love any opportunity to meet fellow quilt addicts from around the world!



Throughout September you can visit Benita's page where you will find links to lots of wonderful quilt bloggers, some you may already know, others will be completely new - what a great chance to make new friends and be inspired!! Benita is also running an amazing competition open to all who take part - you can learn more and enter by clicking below.



So let me introduce myself, I am Louisa Goult, I live in Middlesbrough in the Northeast of England, though I am originally from London, and I run my own quilt business, Sewmotion. I have always been fascinated by colour and geometry, particularly symmetry in design, and what better way to express this than through designing quilts! I started quilting in my teens, then had a break in my 20s where work/career took over. Then when I and my husband were both made redundant, we decided to embark on a round-the-world trip which included the US, New Zealand and Australia. It was on a rainy day in Australia, hunkered down in our campervan where my love of quilting was reignited thanks to some wonderful Aussie quilting mags.



When we eventually got back from our travels, I had a couple of jobs in craft retail to learn the ropes as it were, then in 2014 I decided to take the plunge and set up on my own (eek!) Having worked in a quilt shop for four years, I knew how the craft was growing in popularity, I had so many people come in looking for classes where they could learn this great skill, and this is where the idea for my first quilt kit, the Beginner's Quilt kit came from. I also provide free tutorials on the website, including how to make your first quilt which can work in conjunction with the kit if people prefer to follow photographic instruction.



From that first kit, I now offer around 50 kits which include quilts, cushions, runners, purses and hoop art projects, as well as a growing collection of patterns. I have also developed a curved English paper-piecing technique, which seems to be taking over my life at the moment. This method is used in my block of the month quilt, Curve Motion Medallion, which is also a quilt-as-you-go project. You can learn more about this 16-months of hand sewing joy here. I have also made my first YouTube film, a four part tutorial on how to make my EPP Flower Cushion, hopefully there will be more of these in the future!

Having just exhibited at the Festival of Quilts in the UK, I also entered a quilt for the first time, another curved EPP creation, using scraps from my stash. I then big-stitched quilted around the rings in the grey background space.



I also send out a Sewmotion Newsletter, which includes a free pattern every month based on my love of quilting pre-cuts, though it does seem to be whatever inspires me at the time! You can learn more about that here.

Well, I think that more or less covers me and Sewmotion. Working on my own from home everyday, I love meeting fellow quilters online and sharing experiences and ideas, thank you so much Benita for running this great event, hopefully this will be the first of many! Don't forget to enter the competition - the more blogs you visit the greater the chance of winning those amazing goodies!

34 comments:

  1. Wow -- a lot of talent displayed in this post!! I sometimes wonder what it would be like to have a quilting related business...but I'm pretty sure I don't have the discipline for it! Kudos to you -- and nice to meet you! :)

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    1. Hi Denise, thanks very much for dropping by, running my own business from my hobby is amazing, and really hard work, just as well I love it so much! ;)

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  2. What an amazing quilt journey you've had! I'm stopping by for the Meet and Greet. SEW nice to meet you!

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    1. Thanks very much for stopping by, it's lovely to meet you too :)

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  3. Your quilt is jaw dropping gorgeous!! I am so glad to have found you. This M&G party has been fun!

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    1. Hi Amy, thanks very much, it's lovely to meet you too!

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  4. Good for you for taking time to find what you loved the best! Great quitls!

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    1. Thank you Alycia, yes, it took a while, but I think I've got there in the end :)

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  5. Nice to meet you and visit your blog today. You have some gorgeous patterns and quilts.

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    1. Hi Tammy, thank you, and thanks for stopping by :)

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  6. Hi Louisa, nice to meet to! Beautiful quilts, you have a new follower now ;)

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    1. Aww, thank you very much, it's lovely to meet you too!

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  7. The Meet and Greet hop is proving to be great fun. It's nice to meet you and see your work. My EPP has been limited to hexies -- I will check out your curved method.

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    1. Hi Nann, thanks very much for stopping by, yes, Benita has done a great job here. You must try the curved EPP, it's so much fun!

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  8. When I first came across your blog this summer, Louisa, I knew right away I liked you!
    Now reading your story just confirms my first thoughts.
    Thank you for your encouragement - I'm already considering doing a 2019 Quilters Meet & Greet, too.
    What I love about that idea is the new 'set' of quilters for a 2019 list, that I invite, would also include a link back to the 2018 list - forever letting us be included in further Quilters Meet & Greets & continue to meet the new ones!
    What do you think? :)
    Thanks for being part of the my first Quilters Meet & Greet! <3

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    1. Aww thank you so much Benita, it's been a pleasure to take part and so much fun. I have to admit, the beginning of this month has been mentally busy, so I haven't had as much time as I would like to visit everyone, but I will definitely get round to everyone over the month, it's a great idea spreading it over the longer period, and I've already met some lovely people. You should definitely make this an annual thing. Thanks again for inviting me :) xx

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  9. You are very prolific with all your designing, tuts, videos, etc. I see lots of great quilted things. I'm glad you became reacquainted with quilting.

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    1. Thank you so much LJ and I hope you find inspiration in my work :)

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  10. Nice to meet you on the Quilter's Meet and Greet! Beautiful quilts!!

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  11. Starting Sewmotion was quite an adventure for you, but it sounds wonderful.

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    1. It was indeed, but so glad I took the giant leap!

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  12. Congratulations on hanging a quilt in the Festival of Quilts!! I got to go to that show back in 2013 with some quilting buddies from Florida - simply amazing show. The quilt you made for it is fabulous. Thanks for participating in the Meet and Greet!

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    1. It is an amazing show, and HUGE! I'm glad you enjoyed it, yes, it was a little nerve-racking, but I'm so glad I entered the quilt and had some really positive responses :)

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  13. Nice to meet you. Thanks for sharing. As a new quilter, I love your tutorials😊

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    1. Hi Kathy, it's lovely to meet you too, I hope you find some help and inspiration in my tutorials, the kits are also a great place to start if you're new to quilting :)

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  14. You are one energized lady! I went to the Festival of Quilts about three years ago. I live in the US and have been to the quilt show in Paducah, KY once. My paternal grandfather was born in England and came to the US when he was 18. I have always felt an attachment to his homeland. So, when I saw of a quilt tour in England, I talked to a friend and she and I flew to England and met up with several mostly quilters from the US and a few from other countries. Our finale was the Quilt Festival. It was fantastic. You are brave and worthy to enter your quilt. It is amazing! I signed up for your newsletter. Thanks for participating in the Meet and Greet.

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    1. A quilt tour of England sounds amazing, I would love to know where else you went before Festival, I so glad you enjoyed your finale, it is an amazing show! I hope you enjoy the Newsletter, thanks so much for signing up :)

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  15. Beautiful quilt you have entered in the UK festival. It's a winner with all of us here!

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  16. You're obviously a very busy lady! Thank you so much for inviting us over for a visit.

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  17. Wonderful Story. How fun to meet all these new quilters.

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  18. Nice to meet you Louisa. Thanks for sharing.

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