Liebster award

Alice nominated me for the Liebster award, which is for blogs with under 200 followers. I'm usually rubbish at responding to these things but as it is a chilled out Friday night chez SewStylish, it seemed like a good opportunity to answer a few questions, and to pass on the award to two bloggers I have only recently discovered.

1. What made you start your blog?

I joined Patternreview.com and began finding blogs to read through other member's profiles. I started to find I had more I wanted to say than a simple pattern review format allowed, and I knit as well as sew so I wanted one place where I could have a record of what I had made. I started blogging in May 2006 and never stopped.

2. Favourite project so far?

That's a tough one. My Colette Patterns Lily Rose dress has been worn on a couple of nights out and to a wedding and always makes me feel great. I worked hard to get a good fit and I love the fabric choice.

3. When do you find the time to sew?

I usually sew at night after my daughter has gone to bed. She has just started pre-school which means I finally get two afternoons a week to myself. I try to spend at least one afternoon sewing, it is great to have a bit of natural light!

4. Favourite sewing pattern?

This is a tough one too! At the moment I love Cake patterns Tiramisu dress as it is so versatile. I have already made two dresses and a t shirt version, and I have plans for more. I also love Colette Patterns Lily dress, which I have made three times. So it would have to be a tie between these two.

5.Are you a self-taught seamstress or have you taken any classes?

My mum showed me the basics and let me play with her machine when I was a kid. I did GCSE Textiles in high school which helped me along a bit. I then spent a lot of time learning from books and the internet. Recently I have started taking Craftsy.com classes and participating in online sewalongs which are very much a collaborative learning process.

6. How long have you been sewing?

I have always been interested in sewing. I used to make Barbie dresses for my dolls. I sewed bags and a couple of garments in my teens and while at university. I was given a sewing machine by someone who was moving house, and started garment sewing on a more regular basis (and actively trying to get better at it) in 2006.

7. Favourite place in the world?

New York City has an energy that makes me feel alive, and the most amazing fabric shopping! There is so much to see and do, I could visit over and over again.

8. What's your favourite food?

I love the flavours of Mexican food. But when I'm tired, I crave mac n' cheese!

9. What/who inspires you?

Other bloggers. My Google reader is full of amazing talented people. I love seeing what fabric people choose or how they interpret a pattern.

10. Favourite pastime, other than sewing and blogging?

I knit a lot. I love to read but don't often find the time.

11. How many languages do you speak?

I speak French fairly well - I studied French literature at Montreal University. I studied Spanish on and off, and I also studied Catalan as an elective at university. The most random language I ever learnt is Inuktitut - I took a 1-semester linguistics class where the professor taught us the Inuit language and then had us dissect it in order to figure out its grammatical rules. I can just about remember how to ask for a cup of tea but I'm not sure if that will ever come in handy!

I'm going to pass this on to two bloggers I have recently discovered:  3 Stitch studio and Hanny Bobbins Go check them out! And ladies, if you have time to post your answers to these questions too, that would be fab!