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I can’t remember how I first met Sam; I’ve been following her on Instagram for quite some time, and this year I’m lucky enough to be part of the Aussie Blossoms Birthday Club which she runs in conjunction with Sharon (@lilabellelane). I also tested her gorgeous Breeze pattern earlier this year; I’m really looking forward to seeing more patterns from her.
Let’s meet Sam.
I am so excited about today’s interview. Instead of QuizAQuilter, we’ve got a QuizACoach profile today. Lauren Heys is the Founder and Velvet Sledgehammer at Moxxi, a Mindset Coaching business specialising in working with women to Be Courageous. I’ve been working with Lauren and her partner, Dan, of Outerspace Network, for a year now and I’m blessed to have met both of them. They are both warm, generous with their knowledge and all-round fabulous people.
This month is a big one for Lauren; she and Dan got engaged last week (yay – I love making wedding quilts!), it’s her birthday tomorrow and she’s chosen her birthday to launch her Moxxi Lady Program to the world.
I’ve seen the changes in the lives of women who have worked with Lauren – she’s very good at what she does and I highly recommend her.
For the record – I approached Lauren to do this interview before I became and affiliate, so this interview is unsolicited but does contain affiliate links.
Lauren Heys – Moxxi Group
All photos are Copyright Lauren Heys and are used with her permission
My name is Lauren Heys; I’m one of four kids and 62 grand kids who grew up in Tasmania and has ventured out into the big world! After being bullied at school I decided if I was going to be different I might as well be REALLY different and started investing in property and studying my butt of while working two jobs!
I graduated university and went straight into a job as a business consultant with Accenture, one of the worlds largest consulting firms. I worked internationally and within Australia and had the ‘dream’ life. Good job, nice house, decent car, a wardrobe full of Cue and I hated it.
I felt ungrateful and then guilty for feeling that way. I wanted to do something with meaning, not just play politics. I’d tried different organisations including CARE Australia and Ernst & Young, but that didn’t seem to help.
So I started studying what made us happy, what the ‘successful’ life people were doing and it kept coming down to one thing – having a bigger purpose.
I went to Timor Leste with CARE Australia as a project manager for an IT roll-out (which I was grossly under-prepared for) and I had the pleasure of meeting some of the most humble, beautiful, courageous people who loved with their whole hearts in the midst of the worst situations. One man invited me to dinner and when we sat down to eat he let me know that the food was from his extended family as one of his children had passed away that week.
What a shock. What a reality check. What an opportunity to embrace the learnings.
So I came back to Australia and went back to work with a mission. To understand why we hold ourselves back. Why we let the little things stop us. Why we don’t value ourselves… when those who had so little could live and give with such grace.
I became particularly interested in why women do not go after what they want. Being surrounded by exceptional women most of my life I was continually surprised by how little any of them believed in themselves… and then I was done. In love. Never to look back again.
Moxxi is a community of courageous women who pull their elbows in to support one another while going after their dreams to be more and give more to those around them.
The word Moxxi means to be courageous or have courage, and we spell it with a XX which is the female chromosome, so the word itself means women with courage.
We work with women to figure out exactly what they want, what’s holding them back, how to break through that to take the right action in the right order and finally build a mindset to hyper-drive their success.
Lauren at the snow – she’s a backflip ninja!
The eBook is called Permission Granted To Fearlessly Create The Life You Want. It’s written for women who want more out of life but just aren’t quite sure how to go about it. Women who are sick of the rah rah and want solid strategies and science that works! Women who are willing to work on themselves and get results. Women who are courageous! The eBook is all about how to set the foundations for your success, how to figure out exactly what you want, what the main things are that are holding you back and finally, how to train your brain to be your biggest supporter rather than a pain in the proverbial!
Your business is a direct reflection of you. If you are growing and putting yourself out there your business will reflect that. The limitations that we put on ourselves are the reasons we don’t succeed and that’s a tough pill to swallow!
Lauren on a working holiday!
High five themselves for being amazing! I like to have a chat with the ladies interested in joining our community so they should fill out a strategy form here to have a conversation about what’s going to work best for them!
Moxxi is on a rapid growth trajectory, which is very exciting! We are about to release the Moxxi Lady Online program internationally. We will be running this one at least annually and are building networks to ensure it has massive impact. Empowering just one woman can change a community, so image what will happen when there are hundreds of thousands of women who know what they want and back themselves!!!
Moxxi is a powerful community. Moxxi Ladies know what it takes to succeed.
In the next five years we will be running massive conferences for all the women who have taken part in Moxxi and having a wider global reach!
You can book a complimentary strategy session with me here:
https://moxxigroup.com.au/yes/
You can find my current video series here.
You can also find me here:
https://instagram.com/moxxigroup/ | https://twitter.com/moxxigroup
I hope you’ve enjoyed meeting Lauren; until next time – Happy Quilting 🙂
Today’s QuizAQuilter guest is by request from Cassie Madge. I’m so pleased that Sari agreed to be interviewed – I’ve loved getting to know a new-to-me quilter – her designs are full of rainbowy, geometric goodness. She’s a bit brilliant – she’s only been quilting for a bit over a year!
There’s so much I could say here because I really have become a horse of many colors! I initially started out as a commercial pilot and flew for an engineering firm based in Indianapolis, IN flying all over the midwest and southeastern United States. Since then I’ve added Certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor to the list, as well as wife, Air Force spouse, dog momma and quilter/maker.
Sari & her Family.
All photos are Copyright {sariditty handmade} and are used with her permission.
A little over a year ago. We had been at our new base for about a year, and it was a year of sadness and depression due to how horrible it was there. I decided to tap into my creative side and just crochet more and doodle and start sewing again. Who knew that would lead me to the Albuquerque Quilt Show while visiting my parents one weekend and then start the “big bang theory” of my quilting life. Bang. I tried a longarm machine and wasn’t too shabby at it on first attempt. And so the story unfold from there. Here I am!
I actually made a block rag quilt years ago for a boyfriend. But then we broke up…so who knows where that quilt is. Probably lit on fire. And I guess I technically made a “quilt” in the first grade where I painted on large blocks of fabric and stitched them together with “puffy stuff” in between it. Gosh, I wish I still had that monstrosity! I would bring tears to your eyes to see it! My first “real” quilt would be my “United States of AmeriKona” quilt I made last fall. I cut out each state of the U.S. to scale (except Alaska…that would’ve taken a LOT more fabric!) and did appliqué for them all. Then I loaded it onto my brand new HQ18 and FMQd different patterns into each state. I love it and am so proud of it for my first “real” project and first time ever FMQing an actual piece.
I love the freedom I’m able to attain using math and angles and symmetry and asymmetry! While I enjoy the whole process -yes, even the binding!- I think I most enjoy coming up with concepts then drawing them into paper reality knowing that my measurements will actually bring forth textile reality. I hope that makes sense! (Basically, I’m just a nerd who likes to color and likes to do math!)
FMQ was a happy byproduct of my boredom with straight lines and constant repetition. I went to the ABQ Quilt Show with my mom; played around with a few demo longarm machines; realized I was actually surprisingly decent; bought one; started quilting! “The big bang theory” for me. ;o) I’ve always doodled in notebooks. It’s funny to look through some of my randomly-saved (hoarder much?!) notebooks from middle school through college and to see the doodles in the margins. I never once thought those would become something for me and a future career path! So I’ve created the hashtag #sketchbookquilting for my own FMQ because that’s how I quilt best – like my sketchbook doodles.
In my head, Luminaria needed to be made from solids. I had not yet named it Luminaria, but only had a concept of a spectrum radiating out from the center of this design. As I made it, it appeared to me as fractal light and light rays glowing from the center medallion point. –Side step here…I lived in Puerto Rico as a child and have a lot of hispanic influence in the things I do and like today.– So the quilt reminded me the glow of the luminary lights we’d see at Christmas/la Navidad. And that’s where “luminaria” came from.
The pattern is being written NOW, in fact. It’s my first time ever writing a pattern, so I’m navigating through my own obsession to details and perfection to make it something I’m happy with sharing with everyone. Bear with me…I promise to be as expeditious as I am able!
Luminaria – designed and made by Sari
There is never just one project for me. Maybe I’m slightly lacking in the attention span department! haha! Right now I’m currently working on two more items for Lecien Fabrics for their Quilt Market booth, as well as putting the final touches on my first coloring booklet! I’ve chosen 38 of my doodles and am printing them into booklets for coloring fun. Kids…adults…whomever! I’m excited because I really do love to doodle and draw and also color!
Hmmm….well, I’d really like to say that within 10 years’ time, the Mr and I will be living in Colorado. We both have discussed that as being our end destination – his job, the mountains, pine trees, skiing, altitude…plus some of my greatest friends are out that way! As for the next few years…we’ll remain here in the countryside just outside of Washington, D.C. while the Mr finishes out his military commitment. I’ve got a LOT of design ideas already on paper and swimming in my head, so I’ll be working on converting those into reality.
I am a HUGE advocate of Instagram! I’m often there: @sariditty
I also have a FB page: www.facebook.com/designsbysari
And my web site is in the works!! www.sariditty.com
If you’ve been reading my blog or followed me on Instagram for any length of time, you’ll know that I am Christian. This blog post isn’t about quilting, or creativity or business tools particularly; it’s about a book that I’ve read recently, written by the pastor of my church. I should add that this is an unsolicited book review.
Almost four years ago, David McDonald, who is now the pastor of the church I attend, was diagnosed with Stage Four Terminal Inoperable Lung Cancer and was given not very long to live. Although I don’t know him very well, I still remember the shock I felt when we heard – healthy almost-fifty-year-old non-smoking pastors who are about to plant a new church in Darwin aren’t supposed to get Stage Four Terminal Inoperable Lung Cancer.
By the grace of God, Dave now has no evidence of disease in his body and is still passionately teaching people about the Bible and Jesus, as well as still receiving three-weekly chemotherapy treatments.
Two years ago, Dave wrote a book about his experience, Hope Beyond Cure. It has taken me until now to read it, I’m not sure quite why. I bought it Sunday morning and finished it in one sitting on Sunday night whilst listening to Jonas Kaufmann’s glorious singing and with my dear son asleep next to me.
A little over four years ago my son got very sick and spent three weeks in hospital. For some of those three weeks we didn’t know if he would live – it was the scariest thing I’ve experienced as a parent and I pray that I never have to again. He still has health ramifications from this event and catches everything that comes his way. This is the book I would have benefited greatly from reading at the time, had it been written then, although paradoxically I don’t think I was in the right frame of mind in the midst of it.
Christians and non-Christians alike have differing attitudes to death. At the time of my son’s illness, a well-meaning person who should have known better told me not to worry because if my son did die, we were certain that he would go to heaven and be with God. Although true, it’s not what you want to hear when your toddler is lying with tubes coming out of everywhere and the doctors can’t tell you what’s wrong. For three weeks we prayed desperately that God would allow him to live. Another person decided it was appropriate to tell me that it would have been better if we withheld treatment and let him die, as by letting him live we were changing the timing of his death and thereby allowing him to suffer further later in life.
So, what of the book? Dave starts by talking about his diagnosis and the weeks that followed – he is blatantly honest about his feelings as he faced what he thought was his imminent death. It was refreshing to hear that someone whose job it is to teach the Bible and encourage others about God was questioning God at a time of intense pain. I have an idea that “successful Christians” (what a ridiculous term that is!) are somehow above doubt and have got it all together.
The book moves on to ask the question – “if there is no cure, is there still hope”? Dave then clearly and methodically gives the reasons why Christians believe that God provides a Hope Beyond Cure. He references the Bible often throughout the book. The tone of the book is genuine and very straightforward without being at all condescending. Most importantly, it discusses the fact that Jesus was proved to be historically real and that His death and resurrection can therefore be trusted. It is aimed at people who have either experienced suffering, or are caring for someone who is and who is searching for answers.
One of the hardest things about suffering is that God doesn’t promise to ‘fix’ everything for us. I have had chronic, often daily migraines since I was a teenager. I have prayed more times than you could imagine for them to be gone. This book served as a gentle reminder that as a Christian, there are no migraines, cancer or illness at all in heaven (happy day) and that we will be given new bodies, suitable for our new life there. There will be a time when there is no sickness, disease or death because Jesus conquered death when He died and was resurrected.
Another quote from the book that stuck with me is – “don’t let the good become the enemy of the best”. I’ve read that a number of times recently in a number of different places and it’s something I need to constantly keep in mind. We can get so caught up in the day to day minutiae of life and forget what is actually important. Facing death puts things in sharp focus.
So, what will change for me as a result of this book? As the risk of being terribly corny, it has encouraged me to live a more “authentic” life, one that is worthy of the gospel (Philippians 1:27). This means there are changes to be made, specifically around the food I eat and the way I budget my time, most particularly the effort I put into building and expanding my business. Both are something I’ve been working on for quite a while now – perhaps this book has given me the impetus to keep going and not give up and indeed to step it up a notch.
I would encourage you to read this short book if you have ever wondered if there is reason to be hopeful. The book is available via Matthias Media. To read more of Dave’s blog posts, most specifically about his journey with cancer, go to www.hopebeyondcure.com or www.macarisms.com.
Happy Quilting 🙂
I first met Keera via a charm square swap we were both involved in. I love the freshness and symmetry of her designs, and that they have big blocks to showcase gorgeous fabrics.
In preparation for this interview, I decided it was time to finally make one of her patterns as they’ve been on my to-do list for quite some time! I’ve bought both Quatro and Morocco and wasn’t sure which to do first. I had a layer cake in mind for Quatro but recently I was lucky enough to find a Ruby layer cake so I put it out to my Instagram friends as to whether I should use the Ruby LC for Quatro and it was a resounding yes!! I have to tell you, I’m so glad I did because it looks perfect.
Keera’s patterns are very well written and are easy enough to follow for a confident beginner as well as catering to advanced quilters who are looking for a great geometric design to show off their favourite fabric. They come with cutting diagrams as well as instructions, which is something I really appreciate in a pattern. Also, she provides check boxes so you can mark the fabric off as you cut it – another feature I found very helpful. [Read more…]
Corinna is a talented and generous quilter who has been using her gifts to help overseas women in need. She’s also one of the founders of the Simple Six Inch Sampler on Instagram. She’s one of the IG friends I came across last year and I immediately found that I loved her clean, fresh style. We also share a love of Bonnie and Camille fabrics.
Let’s find out more about this lovely lady.
My name is Corinna Burrows and I am a Kiwi who has lived in Australia for the last 8 years. I love my husband, my family, the beach, sports, singing, scrapbooking and of course sewing.
I have been a Stay At Home Mum for the last 12 years raising my five crazy, boisterous, awesome boys.
Before kids I was a Primary School Teacher.
Corinna Burrows with her Family. All photos in this blog post are Copyright Corinna Burrows and are used with her permission.
I had previously been an avid Scrapbooker so loved putting together colour and pattern combos for layouts. But with the arrival of the twins at the end of 2011 all that fell by the wayside and I was too overwhelmed and exhausted to do anything creative.
Then I reluctantly started quilting three years ago in 2012. I say reluctantly because the only quilts I had ever seen were very country style, traditional quilts that weren’t really my style. One day my in-home carer (who helped with the twins), who also happened to be a Patchwork Teacher, handed me a huge bag of scrappy squares and said, “you’re going to make a quilt!” I had no idea what to do and didn’t even own a sewing machine! However, she loaned me her old Janome that had bits falling off it, and gave me a crash course on how to make an hour glass block, how to “press to the dark side”, and what a ¼” seam was and away I went.
Looking back at that quilt, I don’t like any of the fabrics in it, but I loved the process. This was something I could do that wasn’t going to get “undone” by the boys in five minutes.
After I made that scrappy hour glass quilt, I caught the sewing bug. I also discovered online quilting shops. Oh. My. Word!!!! What a mistake that was! Just kidding. Suddenly my eyes were opened to modern quilting and the huge range of amazing fabrics that are available. I fell in love with “Vintage Modern” by Bonnie and Camille and bought two layer cakes and made my first quilt. I call this one my first quilt because I made it entirely by myself from beginning to end. This is when my love for Bonnie and Camille fabrics started. I just love the fresh colours and the gorgeous “Vintage Modern” designs, and I guess that’s what I would call my style.
The Simple Six Inch Sampler evolved from chatting on Instagram with Anna @spanzy, Samantha @aqua_paisley and Peta @shequiltsalot. We were all wanting to make some kind of six inch sampler quilt like the “Farmer’s Wife” ones but wanted to keep it simple, open to blocks from anywhere and rotary cut rather than cut from templates. From there the four of us continued brainstorming all the details, came up with a name (thanks to Anna), and the “Simple Six Inch Sampler” was born. It’s been so wonderful to have able to have a virtual sew-along with so many lovely people from all over the world.
Six Inch Sampler by Corinna Burrows
My favourite part of the quilting process would have to be putting together fabric combos and then completing that very first block. I also love hand sewing on the binding. So I guess that means the beginning and the end are my favourite parts. My least favourite parts are cutting and basting. During my very first cutting lesson I sliced open my finger, so cutting and I have never been friends.
I currently have a pile of 11 quilts that need to be quilted!!! I’m also working on Thimbleblossom’s new “Nantucket” quilt as well as finishing up my “Fancy Foxes” and “Painted Ladies” quilts. Plus I always have a stitching project on the go to keep me sane in waiting rooms.
Nantucket Block by Corinna Burrows. Pattern by Camille Roskelley of Thimbleblossoms.
Fancy Foxes by Corinna Burrows. Pattern by Elizabeth Hartman.
My friend Sue, from church, has been supporting and raising money to buy Birthing and Infant Care Kits for the desperately poor mothers and babies in the Philippines. Each kit costs $7 to put together and has sterile supplies in it like, a birth mat, a scalpel or scissors, a piece of string or cord clamp, alcohol wipes and a blanket to wrap baby in, as well as other supplies. With a 40% infant mortality rate, God really laid it on my heart to help. I went ahead and made a bunch of pouches to sell, but then thought we could do so much more with a bit of help. I saw a few posts on IG where people were making blocks but because they had turned out too small they couldn’t use them. That’s when I thought “but I could use them!” I realised most of us have an orphan block or two left over from quilts or test blocks. So I put out a post on IG asking people to send me their orphan blocks so I could turn them into something to sell. The response has been overwhelming. Blocks, fabric, thread and zippers started arriving from all over the world. To date I’ve been able to make 30 pouches, 45 pot holders, four quilts and 18 apple and pear pincushions. Also some beautiful friends have also made things to sell and so far we have raised over $500 to purchase 71 birth kits. As this is an ongoing project, if anyone has some orphan blocks or fabric I would love to adopt them from you.
Wow, I have so many things I want to try. I really want to try my hand at paper piecing. I also love embroidery and hoop art and have a million ideas that I want to design and try. I’ve had a Cathedral Window Quilt on my “to make” list forever too.
In the next two years I want to learn how to make clothing. Vintage style dresses and tops are my love. But in the meantime I want to improve my free-motion quilting and sew a little bit everyday. With our busy lifestyles we need to remember to refuel ourselves and for me sewing and creating is my happy place.
You can find me on Instagram @corinna_maycreations. You may also see a few pictures of the crazy antics that my boys get up to because sometimes they are just too funny not to share.
Please consider supporting Corinna’s Orphan Block Campaign, and until next time, Happy Quilting!
I am privileged to be in two bees with Michelle this year, one of which also involves Monique. I met them both “in real life” when I was in Sydney last year; we had a lovely coffee together. They’ve been quilting for a reasonably short time and both have a lovely sense of colour in their quilts. And they’re both very nice ladies so I thought we might meet them both for this week’s Quiz a Quilter.
I first met Alyce via one of her patterns – Bright Sky. I love quilts which use big blocks to show off the fabric, thus this one if perfect to show off some favoured Thomas and Chuggington fabrics for Little Boy for Christmas.
This year, Alyce is hosting The Bee Hive, a brilliant swap in which she introduces a new block each month and showcases some great Australian and overseas designers. I was recently Queen Bee and am looking forward to receiving my blocks and creating a beautiful quilt for another Christmas gift.
When you’re setting up your creative business, there are myriad things to consider in the realm of social media. No matter how small you are, it’s important to start right with a professional profile. When it comes to Facebook, this means setting up a business/blog page in addition to your personal profile. [Read more…]
Last year was The Year I Discovered Instagram. One of the beautiful people I met is Cassandra Madge. She is a fabulous quilter and one of the ‘good guys’ – a genuinely lovely and giving person who has coordinated some great random acts of kindness. I’ve been blessed to know her and watch her quilting dreams come true – she’s in the throes of setting up her long arm quilting business and I can’t wait to see it grow and for Tula Pink to knock on Cassie’s door!
Cassandra Madge NB all photos are Copyright Cassandra Madge and are used with permission
Tell us a bit about you? [Read more…]
