Getting to Know Tomomi of Slaney HandCraft

In an effort to show off the amazing talent and resources we have available here in Ireland, we have decided to post a few interviews/spotlights.  With any luck, you can find a new teacher, find a bit of inspiration or even someone new to collaborate.

To kick off the series, Fiona has interviewed the amazingly talented, award winning, Tomomi!  Take it away, ladies....

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Hi I am Tomomi originally from Japan and now living in Ireland over 15 years with my Irish hubby

and our beautiful daughter. Loving the life in countryside. I am making patchwork quilt for last 12

years and teaching locally for a few years. Now I have set up my own studio dedicated for quilt

making and teaching of the same. You can find about me slaneyhandcraft.wordpress.com

What inspired you to pick up patchwork/quilting?

I am actually not sure. I liked sewing and did some all the time. I started quilt making about 12

years ago when I had a bit more time and wanted to decorate the house. Hubby bought a hand

turning Singer for one pound! and I thought better use it. Local book shop had some magazines in

which colour and shapes of patchwork looked very interesting. Or maybe I just wanted to try

something I haven’t done.

Where did you learn to start quilting?

I am totally self taught through books and magazines. When I started, I didn’t know where to buy

fabric or tools in Ireland. I bought a craft rotary cutter and a mat from the office shop but no ruler

and then proceeded with hand turning Singer (this was only 12 years ago, believe me)! One day

quite accidentally I found Farmhouse Quilt in Carnew, Wicklow which is only 25 minutes away

then I started buying proper cotton, proper tools, proper everything. Oh and Hubby gave me a

electric sewing machine! That made sense for everything about quilt making on the magazines!

Do you remember your first completed project, and what was it?

Yes. I went a local curtain factory to get some remnants because I didn’t know any fabric shop as

I said. And with them made a lemonstar quilt without batting inside. That is not a good finish as

you can imagine but that was the start and I was so happy with it.


Which quilters inspire you the most?

I can’t point this to one or two quilter… I love the ones have secondary pattern, gradual change of

colour and Japanese quilters with intricate applique work and hand sewing. Bless them.

As for quilting, I love Angela Walters. She changes whole concept of fabric placement/patchwork

pattern by quilting. That is so clever.

What are your favourite styles of quilting?

A lot of decorative motif by free motion quilting.


What would you say is your no. 1 quilting tip?

Just enjoy the process.


Do you have any advice for beginner novice quilters?

Have a partner in crime!


Thank you so much, Tomomi!

-Fiona

An Interview With Ayumi!

It is with great excitement that we post this interview with Ayumi, author of Pink Penguin and creator of so many wonderful tutorials that I'm sure we've all used more than once.  (Seriously - if you haven't tried one of her tutes, do so immediately.  They're listed on the left hand side of her blog home page.) Ayumi, please tell us a bit more about yourself!

Hello! My name is Ayumi Takahashi. I am a wife to my American husband and a mom to a 9 months old daughter. We live in Tokyo, Japan. I blog at Pink Penguin, though I have been terrible at blogging regularly lately. I am also an author of the book, “Patchwork Please!”

What inspired you to pick up patchwork/quilting?

Lots of things inspired me, but I would say what inspired me the most was blog land. I found so many people’s work just amazing and I couldn’t resist getting a sewing machine so I could sew great things like them.

Where did you learn to start quilting?

I self-taught myself when I was still in the US.

Do you remember your first completed project, and what was it?

My very first completed sewn project was a pillow that I made in class when I was a fourth grader. I remember I was quite stressed out about the project because I never understood how the sewing machine worked exactly. I was rather surprised that I somehow ended up finishing the project. It felt great!

Which quilters inspire you the most?

Goodness I have way too many quilters who inspire me. It would be a ridiculously long list of people if I list them all! If I were to name my top quilting heroes, I would say Kumiko Fujita and Suzuko Koseki are some amazingly talented quilters.

What are your favourite styles of quilting?

Straight lines :) My sewing machine is pretty small, so straight line quilting has been just the most doable. And I like the modern twist it gives to your finished quilt!

What would you say is your no. 1 quilting tip?

Maybe finding tools and materials that you are most comfortable with  is a great quilting tip. Quilt basting spray is one thing I just can’t live without now!

Do you have any advice for beginner novice quilters?

I think it would be great for any beginner novice quilters to start from a smaller projects like potholders, table runners, and a baby quilt before they get into a larger quilt. This way you learn basics of quilting first :)

Thank you so much to both Ayumi and Fiona for producing this interview for our Modern Irish sewers. I am sure each and every member of our crew was reading with great interest. Ayumi, it's been wonderful getting to know you a bit better.