If you are visiting from Meg's blog- well hi and welcome to My Little Hen. I'm hosting a book and pattern giveaway of Sew Liberated, and Meg is hosting a giveaway of my new book Homemade Fun. Read on- Meg is so interesting....
R: Hi Meg, I’ve wanted to interview you again for quite some time and I'm so glad you're back. Thanks for being part of the Homemade Fun blog tour! First of all, I love your sewing book Sew Liberated. It sits on my coffee table and I flip through it often for inspiration. It makes me want to get out the sewing machine or try applique! It’s a beautiful book. I also have to say that Finn, the star of your blog, is adorable. He has bright eyes and looks very happy. Lovely job all around!
M: Thank you so much, Rae!
R: I understand that
you have a background as a Montessori educator. Can you tell us a little about
how you came to teaching children?
M: I've always had the opinion that positive social change begins with taking care of our littlest members of society. I started my foray into teaching by joining Teach for America and teaching 5th grade in the Bronx, but I wasn't comfortable in a traditional classroom setting, so I decided to take the training to become a certified Montessori teacher. After I completed grad school, my husband and I moved to rural Mexico where I had a job teaching (in Spanish) in a one-room Montessori schoolhouse of 3-6 year olds.
R: How did working in that type of classroom with little resources
challenge you?
M: I made many of the learning materials we used! I actually found that, if you have the time, a lack of money is not a hindrance to providing a quality education.
R: Now that you have Finn, how has all that teaching and learning been
transferred into your home? Do you ever feel that you have set up a “classroom
environment” at home? Or do you just consider home a learning environment?
M: Oh, I just try to follow the Montessori adage of “follow the child” in putting together our home environment. It's certainly not a classroom environment – it's just a home that meets the needs of all of the members of the family, not just the adults … nor is our home given up to piles of baby toys. Balance has been the key for us.
R: You are a talented seamstress. Your book Sew Liberated and all the creative patterns that you offer on your blog are easy to understand. I like simple! You once mentioned that your
mom was a seamstress and taught you the basics. How and why did you learn
appliqué?
M: Aw, thanks! I taught myself through reading books and fiddling around with fabric. Lots of my sewing skills are the result of just jumping in and making mistake after mistake until I get it right!
R: Where do you find your design inspiration for your projects? Do you
have a filing method for ideas?
M: I love ripping up magazines and posting the
inspirational images on my inspiration board. I don't use a filing method –
maybe one of these days!
R. Inspiration boards can be a work of art in itself! I know it’s
hard, but do you have a favorite project that you would recommend for beginning
sewers in your book Sew Liberated?
M: I'd definitely give the Funny Animals Children's Tote a whirl. It's such a cute project, and it will teach to the basics of bag making and appliqué.
R: Meg thanks for taking the time to chat! I love your story!
Leave a comment and enter the giveaway to win
Sew Liberated and Meg's Reading Pillow pattern.Comments close midnight on Sunday, July 4. Good luck!
Visit Sew Liberated for a giveaway of Homemade Fun!