This one’s for all my tactile lovers!

I know I’m not alone in loving the feel of all the yummy fibers we get to work with in our quilting journey and today’s What’s in your Sewing Bag guest knows a thing or two about gorgeous textiles.

I’m not sure how I first stumbled on Shelagh’s gorgeous Instagram feed, but I was hooked from day one! Her creative journey over at Stuart Moores Textiles is filled with her very own hand dyed fibers. That alone sparks my curiosity, but then add in her beautiful hand stitching, mending, knitting and sewing and it’s all the textile eye candy you can handle!!!

Her passion for her craft is contagious! Which is why I’m so excited for you to get to know Shelagh’s creative journey all while sneaking a peek at some seriously gorgeous fibers.

INTRODUCTION

Introduction – tell us a little about yourself! How did you get started on your quilting journey?

Hello!  My name is Shelagh (pronounced Shay-la) and I run Stuart Moores Textiles (Stuart was my great grandfather).   My quilting journey started a long time ago and I would say my journey really started when I had piles and piles of hand dyed fabric and needed to do something with them.  I am at heart a dyer; I love to mix up colors and create combinations that can’t be found anywhere else.  I really like to put together color combinations and quilting was a perfect next step on my creative journey.

I adore your hand dyed fabrics; they always make me want to create – and that’s always a good thing 😉

SEWING BAG

What kind of sewing bag do you have? (e.g. did you make it? Buy it?)

I have so many!  But they are not all bags.  I make large market totes out of plant dyed fabric and I use those a lot when I am running around town.  I can keep my projects in there along with anything else I need for the day.  I always try and have at least one project on me at all times.  I have a young child and when he falls asleep in his stroller or in the car, I use that time to stitch (instead of sitting in the parking lot scrolling on my phone).  It depends on what I am up to, but I like to always have at least one project on my person (aka in my tote bag) for unexpected down time.  Besides my tote bags, I use a lot of baskets for projects.  I actually prefer them now and carry them out to the car with me when we leave the house (even if it’s only to go to the market and back).  I use baskets that are shaped like serving trays and just carry them around the house with me and around town.  I like being able to work on something, put it down, and then pick it up right where I left off and continue working on it (even though I’ve changed venues).  Sounds crazy but I found this method saves a lot of time.

What a genius way to stay creative and sneak in some stitching time! As I was reading that, I totally had visions of you walking around your town with your tray of hand stitching goodies – such a lovely image! I don’t have many trays, but I do love using plates and bowls (mainly ones I’ve picked up on my travels) to keep my WIP organized. But you’ve got my mind going with your tray solution!

ALL-STAR ESSENTIALS

What are your all-star essentials? Your tried-and-true must haves that you can never run out of?

My sewing pouches are always on me.  They have everything I need at the ready and I can throw them in any bag or basket without having to find my bits and bobs every time I want to take a project with me.  I started making them about ten years ago when we were always in transit and I don’t leave the house/town without them today.

I love sewing pouches for exactly this reason too! They’re genius at keeping all the essentials in one place and easy to toss in a bag before heading out the door.

FAVOURITE ITEM

What is your favourite item in your kit? Why?

Since my son was born, I mostly do hand sewing and the perfect needle for every job is really important for me.  So, I always have a lot on me.

It’s funny you should mention having needle options, as my own hand sewing exploration has introduced me to all the options out there. Turns out you really do benefit from different types of needles depending on the sewing task at hand!

SURPRISE ITEM

What’s one thing we’d be surprised to find in your bag?

I think the most interesting thing one might find in my sewing bag is just the wide variety of my projects.  I really love so many textile arts, the more traditional/historical the better, so at any moment there are bound to be a vast array of tools, fabric, yarn, and floss. 

Multi-passionate creative!!! Yes! I love hearing that! Plus, I know from following your IG feed that you’ve got some pretty spectacular and unique fabric, yarn and floss tucked in there 😉

QUILT KITS WILL TRAVEL

When do you find yourself using your kit the most? (Travelling, on the sofa, attending sew-ins?)

Where I go, so goes my sewing bag/basket!  I have lost all ability to be embarrassed crafting in public and I do it all the time.

I love your energy and enthusiasm for your craft. I can feel it just by reading your responses and that in turn gets me excited! I adore being creative too and love taking my projects with me. It feels lovely to be connected with another maker who just adores the process of creating.

TRAVEL MEMORY

What’s your favourite travel memory with your sewing bag?            

Almost every time I go through the bag scanners at the airport my sewing bag gets flagged for a hand inspection.  The look on the face of the security agent for the first twenty seconds when they are doing the inspection (and have absolutely zero idea what, for example, my circular knitting needles etc. are for) is always priceless.  99% of the time they go to ask a superior if I can bring ‘this stuff’ on the plane and many times someone will recognize what it is and say, ‘You sew/knit/cross stitch/ needlepoint? Me too!’ and we all have a good chuckle.

Hahaha – priceless!! At least they haven’t confiscated anything – that’s always my worry!

WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU?

Tell people where we can find you?

I am on IG at StuartMooresTextiles and also on YouTube (again Stuart Moores Textiles) for tutorials.  Our website is www.StuartMooresTextiles.com.  Our website is under construction at the moment, so we have a shop up on Etsy https://www.etsy.com/shop/StuartMooresTextiles until it’s finished being redone.

Oh, good to know you’re in the middle of an update. Look forward to seeing the new site!

Anything else you’d like to share?

Not that I can think of, thanks for including me!

Oh, thank YOU, Shelagh! It has brightened my day reading your lovely responses and feeling your passion and love for your craft. I really appreciate you sharing your creative journey with us and sharing the great idea to carry a tray around the house (and town) so we can pick-up a project exactly where we left off!

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For more What’s in Your Sewing Bag fun, check out these guests:

 

Happy stitching!

xo,

Shannon

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