MEET CASSIE MADGE
Today’s Sea Breeze Mini Quilt-a-Long Link Party is being held by the ever fabulous Cassie Madge. I can’t quite remember how I meet Cassie, but it feels like she’s always been in my quilting world.
She’s generous, encouraging, inspiring and someone who makes you believe you can do anything. She has boundless energy and whenever I see her online I’m always amazed at how friendly and encouraging she is (two things I wish I was more of more often).
Cassie is new to quilting, but she’s got years of crafting behind her and a great eye for fabrics. I’m so happy to be sharing an insight into Cassie with you all today.
How did you come to be a quilter?
I have always done something crafty, and I started sewing for my growing family and myself back in 1998. I put away the sewing machine for many years, but was always jealous of people’s beautiful quilts when I saw them on blogs or in magazines. Eventually, after Sharon (ksharonk) got back into quilting, I just decided that I would give it a try. I went to the Craft show to try out the Babylock overlocker and bought a charm pack of Flora to make a personalised present for a friends new baby. That was in February 2012. The addiction hit hard and I’ve been quilting ever since.
What is it that you love about being a quilter?
Apart from getting to play with all the yummy fabrics? I love the variety. I love how 10 people can produce 10 different versions of the same pattern, or make the same fabrics look completely different. I love being able to play with colour and shape, and make something that is practical as well as beautiful.
What made you start blogging about quilting?
I’ve been a blogger for many years, mainly when I was a digital scrapbooker. I have kept it up over the years as a record of our little family, so when I discovered the amazing quilting community I wanted to be a part of it!
What gives you the most joy blogging about quilting?
I love connecting with people. When someone leaves a comment about how they were inspired by what I showed them, I get a real thrill. I really like the fact that I can give back in terms of hints, ideas or tutorials, just as I get help on things from other blogs. The ability to add to the pool of knowledge and connect over thousands of miles is a great thing!
What are you most proud of from your quilting experience?
I haven’t been quilting that long, but I think the two things I am most proud of are firstly, not giving up when I found it hard, and secondly taking on some new challenges this year in the form of bees and the Simply Retro Challenge.
What’s the one piece of advice about quilting that all new quilter’s should know?
Rules are just guidelines. There are lots of established rules in quilting, from which colours go together to how to press your seams. There are always several ways to do anything, so experiment and find out what you are comfortable with. Quilting should be about having fun!
Who’s the quilter(s) that inspire you at the moment?
That’s a hard one. I get inspired by so many people, a bit from here, a colour from there, and so on.
For long-arm quilting and beautiful stitching, I love looking at Trudi Wood’s instagram feed. She is a true artist.
For patchwork and hand piecing inspiration, I am completely in awe of Lorena Uriarte, who you recently interviewed. She’s such a genius with colour and pattern and a really helpful and wonderful person.
Finally, a new to me quilter crush is Adrianne on the Windy Side. Love her style.
What quilting challenges would you like to conquer in the next 12 months?
I would really like to improve and expand my free-motion quilting skills. I have several tops waiting to be quilted at the moment and my visions for them are rather grand. Hoping to finally tackle, and master, feathers for one thing!
I also have paper-piecing in my sights because I really would like to make the Lego Star Wars quilt for my eldest son.
What’s your three favourite quilts that you’ve made, who reflect who you are as a quilter?
That’s a tough one…. I’m still developing and changing my style as I go. I’ve only actually made 5 finished quilts, and 4 tops in the two years I’ve been quilting.
I would have to say my favourite is the Rainbow Rails quilts I made for DS2. I made up the cutting and piecing myself, then fmq’d the monster on my Janome in the middle of a heatwave! It turned out better than I dreamed it would.
Second would be the Swell quilt top that I just finished piecing for the June Simply Retro Challenge. I didn’t go into it with an actual vision, which is unusual for my process, but I love what came out of it!
Thirdly, I’m going to cheat and add a cushion, not a quilt. The Pink Star cushion I made with left-over HST’s from another quilt top. It’s a totally unique design and it makes me giggle with excitement whenever I see it. I genuinely can’t believe I created it!
If you weren’t a quilter, what other creative endeavour would you like to master?
I’ve tried so many…. I knit, crochet, dressmaking, cross-stitch. I’ve paper and digital scrapbooked, and I still dabble in paper crafting. However the one thing that is calling me away from quilting at the moment is Mixed media art…. paint, collage, mono-printing. My supplies are sitting in the studio begging to be played with!
A Bit of Fun
If you could only have one or the other for the rest of eternity what would you choose? You can just choose a word, or choose to elaborate on your choice, it’s just a little bit of fun.
1. Fabric: Solid or Pattern?
Pattern fabric, all the way.
2. Quilt Styles: Pattern or Improv?
Improv, but in a patterned way. I make up my own patterns mostly.
3. Seams: Open or to the Side?
Seams open. I hate bulk and love flat blocks. But to the side has it’s place too.
4. Stitching: Hand or Machine?
Machine stitching every time.
5. Binding: Hand or Machine?
Machine binding ditto.
6. Food: Sweet or Savoury?
Sweet food – I have a real sweet tooth. Love my tim-tams with my morning coffee!
7. Entertainment: Books or Music?
Books. Which is a hard call as we have a musical household.
8. Entertainment: Television or Movies?
Movies. We love our movies here, and quote them ALL the time. There’s always a quote for every occasion.
9. Computer: Mac or Windows?
Mac!! Once you go Mac, you’ll never go back. Although my phone is actually an Android 😉
10. Drink: Coke or Pepsi?
Coke. Can’t stand pepsi!
You can follow Cassie online in the following places: Blog | Instagram | Twitter
Don’t forget to head on over to Cassie Madge and add your link (either to your blog or to your instagram) for the Sea Breeze Mini Quilt-a-Long.
