Well……what can I say except that perhaps I am getting OLD? Just the other day I was browsing Daryl’s absolutely marvellous creations….admiring her work and WONDERING to myself why I hadn’t interviewed her for the sewist Interviews Series yet….
Well…..I was just about to email her when into my inbox popped an email from Daryl herself WONDERING whyΒ IΒ hadn’t posted her interview yet? LOLLL I really have LOST the plot, I tell you! I checked my files and sure enough, there it was….the interview AND all the wonderful pics to go with it!
SO …I am sorry Daryl…my humble apologies for not posting this much sooner! I really am a silly GOOSE! (Well I am sure there are a lot more colourful adjectives you can all think to apply to me BUT come on…..haven’t YOU done something silly like this too sometime?? PLEASE don’t tell me I am the only silly person to walk the earth?? LOLLL)
Over to you Daryl:
When did you start to sew?
I learned some sewing from my mother when I was a child, but I did more sewing when I was in high school in home economics class. Half the year we sewed and half the year we cooked in class. It was fun.

Who taught you or were you self taught?
I first learned some sewing from my mother and then in high school, but when I was older and on my own I taught myself more types of sewing and quilting. I got books from the library and learned. Then when I had a personal computer, I began to find all kinds of information online.

What sort of things do you like to sew?
I like to make quilts both pieced and appliquΓ©d, as well as bags and some clothing. I donβt sew much clothing for myself anymore, but I do like to make my grandson pajamas. I also love to make and use and give bags as gifts. I guess I am truly a bag lady, lol!
Do you like to use patterns or do you prefer to make it up as you go along?
When it comes to making quilts I prefer to make it up as I go along. I sort of design as I go. I usually have an idea in mind, but as the quilt progresses I will change things. I have designed a couple of quilts that I made into patterns and sell them on Craftsy: The Alphabet Quilt I designed and made in 2000 and then created a paper pattern that I sold in a few quilt shops and then last year turned it into a pdf to sell on Craftsy. I designed the Batiks Heart Quilt several years ago and this year put it on Craftsy too. The Batik Hearts quilt is my best seller.

With making bags, I like to use a basic pattern that I like, but I change things to personalize the bag to my tastes. I have made some of my own bag designs from scratch though without a pattern, but those were more basic simple bags. I have learned a lot about bag making from bag designers like you Christine and others too.





Have you made something that is your all-time favourite creation? If so, why?
The last thing that I have made is usually my favorite thing until I make the next thing, lol. I know I get better and better at my craft(s) with each item that I make. I look back at things I made a decade or more ago and I see such a difference in my workβ¦for the better of course, lol. You know practice makes perfect as they say. Well I am not perfect, but I feel like I know what I am doing now at least, lol.

Do you have a favourite fabric type that you prefer to work with? Favourite fabric line or favourite designer?
I like batik and hand dyed fabrics the best. I love the bright colors of both batiks and hand dyed fabrics for making quilts and bags. I try not to even look at fabrics in stores or online because I have so many fabrics in my sewing room that I need to use, so I donβt even know much about the latest fabric lines or designers that are out there.
Any sewing secrets you would like to share?
If I shared them they wouldnβt be secrets anymore, lol!!! Seriously, I think just taking your time with what you sew and reallyΒ enjoyingΒ the process is more important than the finished results. We all make mistakes from time-to-time when we sew, but if you learned something from it then just consider that part of the journey. Sometimes when you make a mistake you learn more from the mistake than if you hadnβt made a mistake. Mistakes can help you to really stretch your creative thinking skills so that you can take that mistake and turn it into something creative. There have been times when my mistakes have brought me to tears, but after the tears have dried I do start to think about how can I rectify this mistake? And you know some of those mistakes have forced me to create something I might not have otherwise and in the end I am so glad that I screwed up because the end result is even better than if I had not made a mistake…oh course this isn’t the caseΒ every time, lol.Β I never stop learning.
What type machine/s do you have?
I have a Brother PQ1500s that is a semi-industrial straight stitch only machine that I use the most. I love the power of this machine. It sews through thick fabrics easily. I have a Brother Innov-is 80 computerized sewing machine that I use for zigzag and other stitches. I also have an old Bernina 830 Record. The Bernina has a narrower free-arm that I like for when I sew clothing and other things when a free-arm is handy. Plus I have a lot of presser feet on the Bernina that I donβt have on the other machines. The Brother Innov-is also has a free-arm, but it is too wide for sleeve cuffs. I donβt know why they didnβt make it narrower? I have a Singer 301-A straight stitch machine too. The 2 older machines are what I like to use when I go to my sewing groups. Each machine I own has a feature or features that I like better than the others. Some machines I use for certain things that just sew better on that particular machine. No machine does it all or does it all well, so I just canβt part with any of them.


Do you have any sewing goals?
Yes! I have so many ideas in my head that I want to sew. Mostly quilts and a few bags too. I just wish there were more hours in the day to sew, knit, email, blog, etc.
Any UFOβs?
Oh yes tons of them! Some decades old. Sometimes I put things away because I lose interest or I canβt wait to start a new project or I donβt know quite how I want to finish it yet. So I tuck it away until I get inspired again. I am glad that I didnβt finish some of them, because later I do get inspired and finish them in a better way than I would have if I had just finished it from the start.
When do you find time to sew?
Most anytime I am in the mood. I sew everyday or nearly everyday.

Do you have a dedicated sewing space or room?
Yes in fact I have 2 rooms, lol. One room has 2 sewing machines set up and a sewing table my husband built me. The other room is where I keep my fabric, ironing table, and cutting table. They are nearly always a mess too, lol!!! Too busy creating to keep it clean! They are small rooms and across from each other. If the rooms were side-by-side I would have knocked out the wall and made one larger room.

Do you have other hobbies that you like to indulge in?
Yes I love to knit and I crochet just a little, but prefer knitting. I also like to dry felt or wet felt. Sometimes I knit something and then wet felt it. I make things out of felt material too, mostly appliquΓ© things like penny rugs, pincushions. I do some fabric and yarn dyeing from time-to-time and tie dye clothing too. I do some Kumihimo (Japanese braiding).Β I like to rubber stamp, stencil, paint and use rubbing plates on fabric too. I do hand embroidery, especially on my quilts. I make a little jewelry from beads. I make handmade soap when we need it. Handmade soap lasts for so long that I donβt have to make it very often; about every 3 years I make soap. I used to macramΓ©, paper macheβ, do pottery, cross stitch, make dolls and stuffed animals and needlepoint too.




I married my best friend 33 years ago. We have 2 grown children and one grandson.
Thanks Christine for the interviewΒ andΒ for allowing me to share a bit about myself and some of myΒ creations with your readers.
If you or someone you know have some sewing to share why not do it here with us, by scoring yourself your very own interview! SimplyΒ email meΒ and we’ll chat! π
Same goes for any Pattern Designers wishing to share your creativity!Β Email meΒ to be featured in our pattern designer Series!Β π
Happy sewing!
I love Daryl’s work and just recently added her to my Bloglovin list.
I knew Daryl was talented but now,… wow!She’s really talented. Of course she wants more hours on the day. So many ideas and then all those sewing machines waiting to be used. I guess there’s no boring day for her. You are great Daryl!!
Yes it’s hard not to love Daryl’s work! LOLLL
Yes she sure is!
What a lovely interview. I especially love the leaf quilt.!! Must be the canadian in me π
Daryl is just SO talented and creative and I LOVE her work!!! That turtle Dresden plate is awesome. Great to learn more about you, Daryl.
Thanks for the interview Christine, it was fun. Thank you all of you who made such sweet comments too.
Yes it’s gorgeous…I love it too and there is no Canadian in me LOLL
Pam I love that turtle Dresden plate as well….so cute! π
I always knew you are talented Daryl BUT seeing it all complied here just blows me away! Thanks for being a part of the series! π
I’ve been following Daryl for some time now and she’s a very talented lady involved in making so many crafts. Anything you want to know and she’s only too happy to help you out. Such an inspiration.
Loved the interview. I had seen most of the photos but it was nice to see where Daryl sews, gorgeous room.
I’ve been following Daryl for about over a year and I love and admire everything she makes even though , I don’t sew I can really say that her work inspires me in my paper crafting. Lovely interview and it sure was nice to look back at all her projects and her sewing room:) Big hugs to Daryl:)
Hugs,
Norma
She IS talented in so many different crafts! AND…Yes it is a gorgeous room!…..It is always interesting to see where people spend their time crafting! I know I need to make mine a little more user friendly. I am in desperate need of some proper storage solutions…..will have to hit Pinterest for some inspiration and ideas! LOLLL
Thanks for stopping by Norma and it’s great that Daryl’s work inspires you in your paper crafting! I used to do quite a bit of paper crafting many moons ago BUT have to admit I haven’t done much with it for a while now…..too hooked on sewing I guess! LOLLLL
I am so happy to read all about Daryl and learn more about her creative pursuits and loves. I follow her blog and love what she sews. Thank you for sharing Creative Bliss…
Oh, I do love looking at her work!
Robin…..you aren’t the only one! LOLL
Thanks for stopping by Sherry! Yes….Daryl does great work and it is always a pleasure to follow her blog! π