In Which I Answer Your Questions: Part Two

More questions, answered! :)

(Don't mind me... I was about to put make-up on and the camera was beside me, so I took that picture. I apologise profusely.)

Q: At the post Halloween party, which was the prequel to the big romance, were you in costume? What was it and if not what should it have been, you, the hubs and throw in the ex gf - Stormy Days

A: I didn't go in costume because I'd just arrived and couldn't be bothered. But I told everyone I was a mail order bride though heehee :) The hubs and the ex gf were 50s greasers... or just lazy Halloween party goers because they were in blue jeans and white tees lol

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Q: What is it about summer that you don't like? - Michelle

A: I don't like being in the sun because I get a horrible itchy rash. My eyes are sensitive to light so I tend to get a headache from all the sunlight. Try not to be too envious of my brand of awesomeness.

Aside from that, it's just too stiffling to do much of anything, everyone (including myself) smells and walks around with a sheen of ick, the sun stays up too long and you think it's still early so you end up getting nothing done... I really could go on forever.

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Q: Do you quilt all the quilts you make yourself, or do you send some out to be quilted by a longarm? That free motion stuff scares me... any suggestions? - Karen H

A: I have quilted all the quilts myself with the exception of two quilts, which were used as store samples in the LQS I work at. I can understand how daunting FMQ can be but it's one of those things that if you don't try, you'll never learn. The best bit of advice I can give you is to just go for it, stay as calm as you can, and keep reminding yourself that you can do it. And if you need help, then see if your LQS has classes.

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Q: What is the thing you miss most about Australia? If you can pick just one that is :-) - Michelle

A: Oh you're cruel. Just one? Impossible. Obviously I miss my sister the most, but I think outside of that, I miss the people. Aussies are ridiculously friendly and funny, and I've always loved their sense of humour. I enjoy their ability to laugh at everything, and that you can take the piss out of them without getting stabbed.

I also miss living in the city, going to Pilates class with my little sister, watching beautiful Aussie men running (usually shirtless) along the river from my apartment, watching the Australia Day fireworks from my place, the tree-lined street I lived on, driving on the other side of the road... I could go on for days :)

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Q: Which is your favourite pattern, after the 1000 Pyramid one that you made for me of course. Where do you get the inspiration for the patterns and colours? - Averil, otherwise known as my middle sister

A: Wow. You actually asked a normal question. Are you feeling alright? Go eat some chocolate because you're scaring me.

I really don't have a favourite pattern since my favourite seems to change so often. I suppose looking over my work, I tend to like log cabin / square in square blocks the most. I'm now playing with traditional patterns so ask me again in a few months!

Inspiration comes from everywhere. Sometimes it's things I see, sometimes it's as stupid as me stacking my fabric and thinking "Oh, hey, that goes together, no?".

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Q: How long did you live in Australia - if you did that is - anne

A: I moved there February 1995 and moved to the States in November 2007. I did move back to Singapore for a couple of years in between to work though.

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Q: What location in Singapore is your favourite - anne

A: Well Singapore is so little that it's hard to say, but I like where I lived and my parents still live -- River Valley and Orchard Road. Everything you could want is there, and it's packed with shopping and food; two things every good Singaporean loves.

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Q: What is your all time fabric - anne

A: I don't have one, but I've loved everything Denyse Schmidt has put out.

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Q: What sewing machine do you like - anne

A: I'm fond of Janomes, and they're all I use. I love my little Sew Precise for piecing, and the Horizon for quilting.

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Q: What is your favourite music - anne

A: I'm very stuck on my faves... Nine Inch Nails, Tori Amos, Garbage, Vampire Weekend, Queen, Beastie Boys.

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Q: What is your fav food - anne

A: Chicken rice, laksa, steamboat... basically most things in Singapore.

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Q: What do you like most about living in USA - anne

A: I like that we can get in the car and go to a million different places relatively close by. I like that I can help my sisters buy things that are cheaper here than in Singapore and Australia. I like that books are cheaper here. I'm sure there's plenty of other things, but those come to mind.

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Q: Do you like vegemite - anne

A: No no no no no nooooooooo. So, no. Och I can smell it... Blergh.

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Q: Do you have a go to pattern when you want to make a quilt - anne

A: Not really. I tend to scribble out calculations whenever I start a new quilt. I suppose the only one I can think of are my square in square quilts I make with layer cakes. Those are pretty easy to make because there's no calculations to make. Just cut and sew.

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Q: What is your design process - anne

A: I'm not organised enough to have a process! But what I tend to do is figure out how much fabric I have and what my limitations are with what I have. Then I figure out block sizes, how many blocks etc. It's really a lot of math. And me living up to my stereotype :)

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Q: What cotton do you use - anne

A: I'm not sure how to answer this one... what do you mean?

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Q: Do you wash your fabbie - anne

A: I used to when I first started quilting because that's what I thought you had to do. I don't anymore.

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Q: Do you have heaps of rulers / templates - anne

A: I wouldn't say I have heaps of rulers or templates. Maybe three or four rulers, and six or seven templates. For working at a quilt shop, I really should have more!

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Q: Do you knit - anne

A: I can but I don't much anymore. It takes too long and I have ADD.

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Q: Are you sick of my questions yet hahaha - anne

A: LOL!

Yes. Yes, I am.

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Q: Do you drive a manual or automatic - anne

A: Auto. I'd be in deep shit if I had to drive a manual.

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Q: What would be your favourite holiday destination - anne

A: If I had to pick a place I haven't yet been to, I'd say Europe. I wouldn't pick just one because there's so many countries all packed together, so if I went, I'd go everywhere... Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden etc.

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Q: What is your favourite colour - anne

A: Red. Although I tend to wear black a whole lot.

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Q: Do you put on makeup everyday and then do the whole cleansing thing at the end of the day - anne

A: Nope, I only put makeup on if I'm going out that day. I'm pretty lousy about facial cleansing, so I tend to only cleanse when I have makeup to remove.

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Q: Are you sick of my questions yet hahaha - anne

A: Yeah, you're on my shitlist :)

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Q: What is your favourite food - anne

A: You asked me already hehe :)

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Q: What is your favourite recipe - anne

A: To cook, I'd say shells stuffed with ricotta and spinach... to bake, I'd say devil's food cake.

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Q: Do you have a favourite song - anne

A: Nope, it changes so often that I don't have a fave. But play anything by my favourite bands and I'll start dancing like an idiot.

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Q: How long have you been married - anne

A: It'll be four years this November.

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Q: How did you meet your hubby - anne

A: Answered that in Part One... click here and scroll down.

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Q: Do you love working - anne

A: Yes. Whether it's at the quilt shop or at home, I don't feel like I'm working.

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Q: Where do you work - anne

A: Most days I work from home, but a few days a week I'm at Quilting By The Yard.

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Q: Do you like summer or winter - anne

A: I hate summer more than I can ever put into words. It's not like I love winter, but it's the lesser of two evils, even with the potential of slipping on black ice. I really, really hate summer. HATE.

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Q: Can you ski - anne

A: No, and I don't wish to. I like my feet firmly planted on solid ground. I'm a textbook control freak, so I don't do anything that I have no control over. I tried roller blading once. I bruised my tailbone badly and that was the end of that.

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Q: Run out of questions - anne

A: Thank god. I'm going to have a lie-down.

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And that's all your questions answered! Maybe some day soon I'll do a Things You Don't Know About Me But I'll Tell You Anyway So Pretend You're Interested list :)