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This year we have two new hosts joining us for the Great Jelly Roll Bash. Pinch me!! Today I am introducing you to one of them. I can't believe she said yes... Brandy Maslowski from the Quilter on Fire podcast is joining in on the fun. I first met Brandy a few years back at QuiltCon in Phoenix. We both attended an after hour-mixers. I distinctly remember her jean jacket that had flames stitched on the back. Last year I advertised on her podcast. Since I had a host spot opening, I decided to put on my big girl pants and ask her if she would be a host, and guess what? She said yes!! I love her podcast. I love her story. She is and sweet so down-to-earth, even though she teaches, host quilting vacations, works on magazines, judges shows... The question is really, what doesn't she do? I feel so very excited to be working with her. So, grab your favourite drink and let's get to know the lady behind the Quilter on Fire.  TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF? I am a quiltmaker, textile artist, teacher, speaker, author and NACQJ certified quilt judge. I have curated a portfolio of workshops from modern improv to textile art which aim to nudge the quilter into their own personal creative zone. I am the founder and host of the Quilter on Fire Podcast and can be found everywhere online as the Quilter on Fire. E: Wow!! I am so impressed. I don't think you sleep. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST QUILTING PROJECT? A friend said to me, “You are kind of crafty, can you make a quilt for my great-grandmother?” She wanted photos, lace, and floral fabrics in the quilt. I said yes. It was the perfect disaster, but she loved it, and the rest is history. E: What a story for your first quilt! That is amazing and sounds sew fun!! HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN QUILTING? OVER 30 YEARS. Since I was about 21. I’d say over 3 decades, but I don’t want everyone to jump on their calculators to start doing the math. Just the fact that I said calculators instead of Siri might have you guessing I’m Gen X. E: LOL!! I grew up on calculators but love using Excel because my fingers don't always work the way I want them to. I can also double-check I typed the right numbers. WHY QUILTS? It the tactile nature of cloth for me but also the giving nature of quilters. We wear fabric in our clothing, we wrap ourselves in it to sleep, it brings us comfort in many areas of our lives and there is just another level of comfort having a textile art piece on the wall that has beauty and a purposeful meaning. WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR YOU? The biggest business challenge for me in quilting has been saying yes to too much, especially volunteer work and not taking the time I need to build the foundation and systems of my biz. I’m getting there now with the help of mentors but it can be hard to avoid the last minute crunch of deadlines. (as I answer these questions at the very last minute) E: It can be hard to say no and there are only so many hours in a day. I definitely feel that.  WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE QUILTING TECHNIQUE? I love free-form, layered, raw edge quilting to build layers of colour, texture, stitch and embellishments. This is what I teach in my Colourways Workshop. E: Oh my gosh this sounds fantastic. How do I sign up?  WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PATTERN? Although I love many patterns and designers, I don’t buy patterns. I’ll mention my own Glorious & Free Pattern here because I designed it for Quilts of Valour and it gives me joy to bring benefit to sick and injured soldiers. E: Same. I can't follow a pattern to save my life. I always end up doing it my way. WHAT IS THE THING YOU LIKE THE MOST ABOUT QUILTING? It provides a thoughtful, engaging, creative outlet and calms my mind. HAND OR MACHINE BINDING? Hand for sure. I love to get cozy with my dog, watch a good movie and hand stitch the binding. E: Sounds like the perfect rainy-day adventure. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO QUILT A QUILT? For modern quilts I love geometric walking foot quilting and for my art quilts I do all over free motion original designs as I go. ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD? If you are ever wondering if you should try to do something new that appeals to you, or you feel scared to try something because you love it, but it looks hard, that is probably the exact thing you should do. You have that feeling for a reason. Surround yourself with people who are experts at it and go for It! Thank you so much for letting me interview you. The Self-Care Checklist you gave us is so useful. I am going to start using it. I really need to make moving a part of my routine again. I feel so inspired!! I am going to go into my sewing room and work in my Fields of Flowers Quilt.
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