What’s in Your Sewing Bag? Special Guest: Quilter’s Candy

Welcome back for another What’s in Your Sewing Bag!

I remember the first time I heard of today’s guest, she’d recently launched a gift box subscription and it was one of the best modern versions I’d seen come out at that time.

Since then, Elizabeth Chappell of Quilter’s Candy has gone on to launch a membership site, a pattern writing course, as well as her Craft to Career podcast that I love tuning into 😊 She’s a creative and business force to be reckoned with!

I’m thrilled she’s giving you a peek at the notions she can’t quilt without!

*This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission.

INTRODUCTION

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

Oddly enough, I grew up in a home where my mom was an award-winning quilter – but I had NO desire to quilt until my 30s. My desire to quilt came more from a desire to have a business. I started a monthly subscription box for quilters and realized I better learn how to quilt!

Whaaaaa?! That’s crazy cool! I didn’t know that about your mom. Wow, I can appreciate having no interest as I had discounted quilting as something I’d be interested in. Funny how life works 😉

SEWING BAG

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

I have a (bag) that a dear friend bought for me. She loves to travel and go to quilting retreats, so when she finds a must-have, she gets one for me. (Thank you, Cheryl Tessitore!) So, my bag is what all the cool quilters have.

Gifts from fellow makers, whether made by them or not, are just the BEST! Makes them extra special to use 😊

ALL-STAR ESSENTIALS

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

I LOVE my olfa rotary cutter. I keep at 45mm in my bag, that sizes seams like the universal size for quilting. I also make sure to have a Creative Grid rulers*. They’re my favorite! 4.5” square ruler* is my go-to. I also love my Tulip pins.  I feel like a pin diva now, I don’t want to use anything else. And of course, I have my go-to seam ripper, the Tula Pink surgical seam ripper*. It was a bit intimidating when I first saw it, but now I don’t use anything else. And then of course I need my hand quilting supplies.  That would be my thimble, needles, and pearl cotton thread.

So many fun goodies! I haven’t tried the Tulip pins*, I’m curious! I have a similar seam ripper and it scared me when I first pulled it out! Those things are sharp.

FAVOURITE ITEM

What is your favourite item in your kit? Why?

My favorite? Oh, that’s a hard one.  But I will go ahead and say my starch spray*. Once I learned the difference starch makes in my piecing, I have never sewn without it! Even when I travel.

Oh, you’re a hard-core starcher! I remember watching Kimberly, from the Fat Quarter Shop*, going through her starching process and being fascinated by the steps, while also having zero interest in doing it for my own fabrics – lol! Ever since I heard starch attracts bugs, I’ve been leery about using it. The increased accuracy is tempting though!

SURPRISE ITEM

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

Lip gloss.  I keep a beautybio brand lip gloss in every drawer, purse, and bag that I own.  I am convinced my lips would dry out if I went more than 20 minutes without reapplying. Just writing this has me reaching for my lip gloss.😉

OMG, we twin! Well, close, I’m lip balm obsessed and need to have one in every room – ha! Heading off to check out who beautybio is! Ok, that was fun!! I love skincare brands and I’d heard of BeautyPie but hadn’t heard of BeautyBio – thanks for sharing 😊

QUILT KITS WILL TRAVEL

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

Since I haven’t traveled much in a LONG time, I have to think back to when I used it. It was all pre-2020, and I would bring my bag to retreats or to sew at my friend’s house. I also bring it on vacation if I know I can work on something while gone.  That usually ends up being hand quilting.

Oh, gosh, a sewing retreat sounds blissful right about now! I’m with you, I mainly work on hand quilting or stitching down binding while I’m on the road.

TRAVEL MEMORY

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

We went as a family to a lake house in Austin, Texas.  I packed my sewing machine, a load of fabric, and of course my sewing bag. It was on that trip that I created my first ever Band-Aid quilt, and it was mixed with family time on the boat, lots of games and yummy food.  Every time I think of that quilt it reminds me of traveling with my sewing machine and quilting supplies and quilting in our VRBO.

I LOVE that, Elizabeth! One of the best things about quilts is their ability to spark memories from that time period when you made them. Family memories are definitely the ultimate.

WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU?

Tell people where we can find you?

I’m mostly on Instagram at @quilters_candy, but you can also check out my website www.quitlerscandy.com. And if you are a podcast fan, check out ‘Craft to Career’ wherever you listen to podcasts.

Oh, I love your Craft to Career podcast. There’s been lots of great business nuggets or inspiration and encouragement that I’ve picked up from tuning in. In fact, I was just listening to your latest chat with Emily Dennis of Quilt Love (a previous WIYSB Guest!) while I was driving home before sitting down to type this 😊

Thank you so much for sharing more about your creative journey and giving us a peek inside your sewing bag. I’ll think of you (along with Jeni who also sneaks lip balm into her sewing bag) every time I reach for my lip balm 😉

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

• Tiffany from Village Bound Quilts
• Saija from Saija Elina
• Claire from Made Just Sew
• Chery from Cheryl Arkison
• Kathleen from Cowden Quilt School

Happy quilting!

xo

Shannon

PS don’t forget to sign up for the weekly newsletter so you don’t miss out on any future WIYSB guests!

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