Today’s featured quilter is the fabulous Victoria of Bumble Beans!  I truly admire V and all that she does, I hope you enjoy getting to know her better –

1. When did you begin quilting?

Quilting was a part of my youth. Everyone in my family sews. My father has an upholstery business, and my mother made many of my clothes, and quilts for family members for their weddings. My grandmother was an avid quilter and made amazing crazy quilts that inspire me to this day.

2. Why do you quilt?

I have to MAKE stuff. Whether I am painting, sculpting, sewing, I just need to create. Sewing has always been something I enjoyed, and once I found “BLOGS” and then “QUILT BLOGS” well, I was hooked.  Each quilt is like a canvas, and the process of mixing fabrics like I mix paint, just makes my day.  Also, I like it that these quilts will be around a lot longer then I will, adding my life span.

3. What was your most recent fabric purchase?

My latest purchase was Vintage Japanese Kimono Silks.  I’m in heaven with them.  I just saw my movement of quilts shift to incorporate these gorgeous fabrics and it’s very exciting.

4. What is your favorite quilting tip?

Don’t think too hard.  People get hung up on color choices and design and perfection. I say, let it flow. Try new things constantly and making choices will come a lot easier. My system is there is no system.

5. What was your inspiration for your Quilt Festival quilt?

My inspiration was my grandmother’s crazy quilts. I was searching for a way to make my OWN crazy quilt.  So I dug out every orphan block  I had to figure out how they could all live harmoniously together.

6. Do you sew other things?

I do, but not as much as I quilt.  I’m obsessed with making quilts which are both necessities, with a purpose, and things of beauty. I like quilts that you must wrap yourself up in. Although now I am dabbling in ART quilts.  My background as an artist is starting to peek through in my quilts.

7.Anything else you would like us to know about you?

It has been said I am messy, but I’m not having fun if fabric isn’t flying!

And my charity Quilt Gather.

You can continue to donate quilts to BumblebeansBASICS.

Once we receive 200 quilts we are raffling off a Janome Sewing machine. So if you have a quilt to donate, please get it in soon, I think we are at about 150 quilts right now…

We just had a Quilt Distribution Day to give the quilts that were donated to the first 38 families with BASICS. It was an extremely emotional day for me.

You’ve all been so generous, including you, Amy.

I thank you for your block donation, your hard work with the Blogger’s Quilt festival and for letting me talk about my quilts today.

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Thank you V!  It’s so great to hear your process, and learn more about you!  I love your orphan block quilt – great collection!

Amy