Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Cheryl and I was born and raised in New Jersey and spent some years in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Rochester, New York before moving down to Greenville, South Carolina with my husband almost 9 years ago. Here is a a picture of me that my wonderful sister had taken in an surprise photo shoot for my birthday.
I have a 7 year old son who loves legos, minecraft, and sports and a 4 year old daughter who loves dancing, coloring, and anything having to do with the Disney princesses.
I am a chemical engineer, now working as a patent agent 3 days a week for a textile and chemical company. Most of the inventions I file patents for are technical woven and knit fabrics (ballistics, composites, tires to name a few). The work is very interesting and the occasional free fabric is a plus.
Why did you start your blog and where did your blog name come from?
I started blogging because I want to be able to better connect with the online quilting community and join in on all of the fun linky parties. I was sharing on Flickr and found that I wanted to write more and more in the descriptions.
I came up with the name Meadow Mist Designs for my blog because I live on Meadow Mist Trail and always loved the sound of it.
When did you start quilting and who taught you?
I started quilting about 3 years ago because I wanted to make a toddler quilt for my then 1 year old daughter, and have not look back since. I have learned almost everything about quilting from the online community (thank you all so much!).
I started quilting at a spare desk in our office and have seen taken over the guest room and converted it into my studio. There is much more room for fabric now that I have kicked the queen sized bed out :)
What do you sew on?
I started sewing on a 1980's slant shank Singer my mother had given me. Last year, my wonderful husband gifted me with my Bernina 710 for our ten year wedding anniversary present.
Favorite parts of quilting?
I love the design aspect of quilting along with all of the quilty math (I am an engineer after all) and fabric selection. I also love piecing blocks and the quilt top.
Least favorite parts of quilting?
Making quilt backings. More quilts than I would care to admit have Target cotton sheets as the backing so I don't have to do any piecing.
Random favorites:
Some of my quilt finishes:
A quick quilting tip - An Alternative to Thimbles:
Pinterest
Flickr
Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my blog today! Please take some time and hop over to some of the other blogs in the New Bloggers Blog Hop
I started blogging because I want to be able to better connect with the online quilting community and join in on all of the fun linky parties. I was sharing on Flickr and found that I wanted to write more and more in the descriptions.
I came up with the name Meadow Mist Designs for my blog because I live on Meadow Mist Trail and always loved the sound of it.
When did you start quilting and who taught you?
I started quilting about 3 years ago because I wanted to make a toddler quilt for my then 1 year old daughter, and have not look back since. I have learned almost everything about quilting from the online community (thank you all so much!).
I started quilting at a spare desk in our office and have seen taken over the guest room and converted it into my studio. There is much more room for fabric now that I have kicked the queen sized bed out :)
What do you sew on?
I started sewing on a 1980's slant shank Singer my mother had given me. Last year, my wonderful husband gifted me with my Bernina 710 for our ten year wedding anniversary present.
Favorite parts of quilting?
I love the design aspect of quilting along with all of the quilty math (I am an engineer after all) and fabric selection. I also love piecing blocks and the quilt top.
Least favorite parts of quilting?
Making quilt backings. More quilts than I would care to admit have Target cotton sheets as the backing so I don't have to do any piecing.
Random favorites:
- Movie: The Princess Bride
- Color: Blue
- Animal: Cat
- Season: Summer
- Food: Berries and all desserts
- Part of blogging: Meeting new and wonderful quilters :)
A quick quilting tip - An Alternative to Thimbles:
I really don't like thimbles, they seem to always fall off and they make my finger really hot. I have found that a simple, inexpensive band aid gives my finger enough cushioning and stays right where I want it to.
I hope that you decide to join me on some great quilting adventures! In addition to this blog, you can find me hanging out on:
Instagram
I hope that you decide to join me on some great quilting adventures! In addition to this blog, you can find me hanging out on:
Flickr
Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my blog today! Please take some time and hop over to some of the other blogs in the New Bloggers Blog Hop
Jen @ Bower Bird Patch
Afton @ Quilting Mod
Jessica @ One English Teacher
Barbara @ Suzy Homemaker
Cynthia @ Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework
Mary @ See Mary Quilt
Laurel @ Drowning In Fabric
Linda @ Talking Lunch Box Quilts
Rebecca @ One Wee Bird
Anne @ Hudson Valley Quilts
Diana @ Red Delicious Life
Terri @ Childlike Fascination
Hi Cheryl! Beautiful quilts. I especially love the churn dash quilt! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI am getting to where I am not a fan of quilt backings! I was just stuck on one and your mention of a Target sheet made me realize that it would be perfect for the one I am working on now! Thanks! I love the design part also! The quilt top is just so addicting!
ReplyDeleteHi Cheryl, I love your story and your quilts. Especially the churn dash one - I'm making one now and am struggling with the color choices. Yours is so pretty!
ReplyDeleteHere from the hop...welcome to the world of blogging quilters!!
ReplyDeletePrincess Bride, so much memories !
ReplyDeleteI also love quilty math, except when I make silly mistakes.
ReplyDeleteYeah band aid! I do the same thing ... thimbles are such a pain to me. My little quillt bag has a box and people always ask me if I sew/cut myself a lot :)
ReplyDeleteI share your dread of making quilt backing. I made one quilt with a pieced back that I adored, but other than that, I think I mostly consider them a necessary evil. Thanks for the band aid tip. I'm getting ready to travel, so I'm going to take a hand quilting project along with me; now I need to remember to tuck some band aids in with it.
ReplyDeleteGreat bog Cheryl and nice to get to know you a bit more. I think I'd like to live somewhere that has a meadow mist trail....very romantic. I imagine some of your quilt photos may be seen along this trail perhaps? Thanks so much for sharing and I look forward to more posts.
ReplyDeleteI think all of my first dozen or so quilts had backings that are sheets. I didn't even know you COULD use something other than a sheet for quite a long time... it's kind of fun to grow and learn though, right? Right? Yeah, I have WiPs sitting around waiting on something as simple as the backing. :) And yay for quilty math. I get all excited when I can use a bit of trig to make something work out just right!
ReplyDeleteI also love your blog name! The band aid tip is something I never would have thought of, thanks!
ReplyDeleteI love that you live on Meadow Mist Trail - it's fun to learn how ppls names connect with them. Happy hopping!
ReplyDeleteI like the name and sound of your blog too :-) Nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you, Cheryl. Your quilts are lively and pretty, and your husband sounds like a keeper! What a great gift. Where do your guests sleep now that the bed has been kicked out? I'm picturing them snuggled up on top of piles of fabric! Ha!
ReplyDeleteHusbands who buy machines are legends! The fun thing about this hop is finding out peoples other talents besides sewing, your is obviously pattern writing. Love your patterns!
ReplyDeleteMy boys were all Legos freaks and I probably have a house deposits worth in a box in the ceiling!
I particularly like the quilt of your own design, so I'll be checking out your Craftsy store later :)
Yes! I use a band-aid too! Those pesky thimbles never stay on my fingers :)
ReplyDeleteI don't use a band aid or a thimble - and then I wonder why I get sore fingers!! I love your churn dash quilt - aqua and orange is always just a great colour combination.
ReplyDeleteHello and nice to meet you! Beautiful quilts, I'm going to have to have a poke around your blog now! my husband loves the Princess Bride, I'd never heard of it until I met him! I can't use a plaster ("band aid") on my finger as I'm allergic to them!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the Band-Aid tip, so simple! I wish I had thought of it sooner, I also have thimble problems. Nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteCan I hire you to do my quilty math? :D It is the part of quilt making that makes me the craziest as I always end up getting it wrong :) makes for interesting design elements though!
ReplyDeleteYay for another engineer!!! I've never understood others aversion to quilty math, its just so nice and relaxing. But maybe that's because I'm a nerd (and my husband is a mathematician, so I might have an unfair advantage) :D. My husband just made me watch Princess Bride for the first time a few weeks ago. I had read the book nearly 100 times, so I was really worried about the movie living up to it. I still go back and forth on which was better...
ReplyDeleteYay Princess Bride! I've started reading the book (years ago) but I haven't finished it yet (I can't remember where I was up to...).
ReplyDeleteI've thought about using sheets for quilt backs but I prefer patterned backs over plain and it's reallllllly rare I see patterned sheets. And I mean nice patterns I like and not old fashioned florally ones or checks. I'd definitely use them if I could find fun sheets (maybe I check out second hand stores for vintage sheets o something). The biggest hurdle I have with making pieced backings is getting them to line up properly when basting/quilting so it's straight compared to the front!!
Lovely quilts and I'm glad I'm not the only one using sheets for backings! Once the front is done I'm usually desperate to get it finished and have no time left anyway. My favourite backing would have to be a vintage sheet, but recently I have tried making slightly more of an effort and seeing the backing as a good place to personalise a quilt slghtly.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind thback so much as the basting! I use it as an excuse to put on a movie while I'm on my knees stabbing my quilt with safety pins! Love the Princess bride, book & movie both!
ReplyDeleteHi Cheryl! I sometimes wish I did use sheets for backings since piecing a backing can sometimes delay (in a big way) the completion of a quilt. Your quilts are lovely and I can't wait to see what you have in store for us in the future!
ReplyDeleteI used to use a band-aid when I was hand quilting! I find a thimble works well for hand stitching, but not for quilting for some reason. I thought I was the only one to do that. Your quilts are all lovely and I've used sheets for backing before too.
ReplyDeleteThat bandaid trick sounds interesting. I've never heard it before, but it is definitely worth a try.
ReplyDeleteI like the bandaid idea. I am not sure it'd hold up to my hand quilting, but sometimes I'm hand sewing something and I don't NEED a thimble but I need something. I'll try out your tip! Lovely looking quilts too!
ReplyDeleteI am pleased to meet you. I am a new follower via bloglovin. Drop over and visit me once in a while. Blog can be neglected but I do post giveaways there and sometimes interest and funny things.
ReplyDeleteI love your use of oranges and blues. So cheery! I agree about quilt backs; I'm currently halfway through a king size quilt and I'm already dreading the backing! My grandfather was a research chemist who came up with all sorts of all things. I did not get his science brain, however. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't like making backings either lol :) Although if I am honest, making just tops would suit me fine, as I hate basting too :)
ReplyDeletebeautiful quilts. I understand about making backing, I try to do one seam only because I don't enjoy it. I love the look of a pieced back, just don't enjoy making them.
ReplyDeleteCheryl - I love your quilts, and especially your machine quilting, and how you use negative space. I posted today too as part of the the blog hop. Your quilts are lovely, very fresh and colorful. I'm looking forward to reading more posts from you.
ReplyDeleteI love your bright happy colors.
ReplyDeleteQuilt math is one of the things I like least! I'm usually pretty good, but am so nervous about cutting things 1/4" too small and ruining all my fabric or triangles. I usually work it out by doing a test block just so I know for sure it'll work.
Your quilts and patterns are beautiful. My dad is a patent attorney. Your work sounds so interesting.
ReplyDeleteAha! A bandaid. I did just buy a new silicone thimble in hopes of avoiding the falling off problem, but a bandaid is a great idea if I find it doesn't work. Thanks for the top, Cheryl!
ReplyDeleteI use band-aids instead of thimbles too!
ReplyDeleteLove hearing more about you, thanks! Love the quilts you showcased, especially the churn dash quilt. Okay, I've never tried using a sheet for a quilt back (and I hate making backs too!) - have the quilts held up well? What thread count sheets did you use? Not that I plan on using a sheet in the near future but it's always good to keep my options open... :)
ReplyDeleteMy husband gave me a Pfaff for our 10th wedding anniversary- our guys are keepers! Tomorrow is our 21st anniversary- how can that be, I'm not that old. The Princess Bride is such a fun movie!
ReplyDeleteI love the colors in your quilts.
ReplyDeleteThe Princess Bride is a movie that is very hard to beat!
ReplyDeleteLove the colors and fabrics you are using! And your bandaid tip - very clever!
ReplyDeleteYour churn dash quilt is lovely! I am looking forward to seeing more of your work!
Happy Hopping! Linda
I still love the Princess Bride and I hate thimbles, too. Thanks so much for the band-aid tip! Brilliant because after binding 4 wips in a row my finger is so sore. :)
ReplyDeleteSo nice to meet you. My turn is in July. I'm trying to read everybody's blog and get ideas.
ReplyDeleteI found your blog as I was working my way through the list at Plum & June. Your projects are lovely and I enjoyed reading your story. Your "Oh, Deer!" quilt is just great, what a fun fabric line and I likewhat you did with it. I'll be back to visit again!
ReplyDeleteThe Target sheet is such a good idea! I never buy fabric wide enough for backings, so then I have to piece something.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to try out your bandaid trick the next time I pin baste - somehow I end up with a raw spot on my index finger from however I use the safety pins. A thimble wouldn't work for it, but I bet a bandaid would be perfect!
ReplyDeleteI love your churn dash quilt I made a large king size one and it was super fun and easy to put together. I also love the design aspect of quilting and all of the quilty math too - being an accountant I can't help it !!
ReplyDeleteYou know how I love your work Cheryl!! And your blog pot for the hop is awesome. I am such a huge fan!
ReplyDeleteGood call on the tip about using a BandAid as a stand in for a thimble. I can't stand using thimbles (I've tried and tried), but now I've settled on these little adhesive pads called Thimble Its. I cut them in half since they're a little too large for my needs! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat tip on the bandaid! Love your blog name too - it's very appropriate for a quilt blog.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to meet you! Beautiful quilts, your churn dash is stunning.
ReplyDeleteThe bandaid is a great idea. I am kind of anti-thimble and even though I have built up some strategic callouses, it still hurts when the top of the needle pokes in. Great to meet you!
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you! Yes, I am three weeks behind in reading blogs. I've found you through Beth's new blogger blog hop. Love your quilts.
ReplyDeleteFor my sore fingers who hate thimbles, I use plain old masking tape (sometimes in layers). Truly I enjoy this blog.
ReplyDelete