Thanks for stopping by…I’ve been expecting you!

I am really glad you are here, thanks for stopping by like I always end my blog posts! On one of those random days I actually decided to scroll through my WordPress reader, something interesting caught my eye. Someone had posted about a New Quilt Bloggers group and I wanted to find out more. I definitely found out more and while I didn’t think I was even qualified to participate based on the stated requirements, I filled the form anyways and I have to say that’s probably one of the best decisions I’ve made all year! Fast forward couple of months later and here we are, it’s finally my turn on the Blog hop  but first, a  big thank you to the hosts of this 2016 New Quilt Bloggers advisory group Stephanie @Late Night Quilter (I belong to Stephanie’s hive and we are the Hive Sewciety) Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl, and Cheryl @Meadowmist Designs. Please stop over at their blogs to find out more about other new Quilt bloggers and for your chance to enter amazing giveaways by the sponsors.

My name is Sola and I am the daughter of Alice and Samuel Olusuyi… I lost my mum and dad 9 and 8 years ago respectively now. I knew at some point I was going to have a business name but I was so sure it will be a fashion design business so I had several ideas for a name but then quilting happened and I needed to have a name for that too. My parents were not only the greatest inspiration in my life but my mum was also a sewing enthusiast so it was a no brainier that as a memorial I should do something with their names, hence, Alice Samuel’s Quilt Co. was born.  Another alternative was Alice and Samuel… but I prefer the former just because it sounded better in my ears and it has taken on a personality of its own plus my friend said it sounded posh :). That is the brief story behind the blog name, some people call me Alice now and that’s OK because Alice Samuel’s is a great part of who I am right now.

I now live in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, the first of 4 children and married for a year now to a wonderful man I met on a very cold morning in Aberdeen Scotland while we were both there for our Master’s degree. I have a degree in Computer Science and another one in management; I currently work as a Computer Analyst in the Federal civil service which provides the money I need to fund my Quilting obsession.  I am probably the most introverted, most predictable and shyest person you’d ever meet. I love patterns, geometry, colors (when I’m not wearing them), I love fabric and I love sewing…what can I say, quilting and I were a match made in heaven and we found one another at the perfect time too!

Before 2012, I didn’t know what a Quilt or Quilting was all about but I’ve been fascinated with sewing for a long time! I was once known as the T-shirt and denim lady because I love my Tees and I figured well I have a lot of plain Tees and it would be nice to spice them up so I decided to dabble into patchwork and applique and a trip to Google for some patchwork inspirations yielded images of Quilt patterns and that was the beginning of my love affair with quilting. I was amazed at what people were making with fabric and I just knew I had to try it.  Below is my first trial and error after which I decided I needed to take Quilting lessons and through a divine turn of events I did(read more about me). I took a brief Quilting and Patchwork beginners class at Morley College Westminster London after which I relocated back to Nigeria in December 2013. That’s me in a better attempt! of my T-shirt experiments. Pattern is my version of a free paper pieced pattern called Indian Summer by Pieced by number

 

First attempt

That’s me in a better attempt! My version of this free paper pieced pattern called Indian Summer by Pieced by number

In 2014 I started Quilting actively alongside my full time job and in 2015 I decided to give blogging a try mainly as a journal to document my challenges and progress as I continue my journey of Quilting in Nigeria where it had previously been almost non-existent and to hopefully help someone else in my country who decides to join in the adventure. It has now become an avenue to share my experience with the amazing online Quilting Community – the only people I can relate with right now. I think that’s enough about me now let me show you some of what I’ve been up to since I started:

This is one of my favorite creations, it’s a wall hanging that I made last year. I had too many scraps to get rid of so I decided on a string plate (because I was excited about trying out foundation piecing) and I ended up with this giant ball that I didn’t know what to do with. Until I found this perfect variegated grey fabric that reminds me of the cloud and sea to which I added the appliqued birds to make it even more believable. It’s currently hanging in my living room and has recently been joined by the Ying Yang Mini I made for our one year anniversary…blogged about here

And there was this lap size I made last year which happens to be my first big Quilt and my first attempt at Quilt-as-you-go before that it was this baby Quilt I made for my God daughter when I started out in 2014 (I used Moda’s Color me Happy charm pack and Michael Miller’s Play date fabric for the backing)

I have made a number of cushions/throw pillows over time…they were perfect for trying out new techniques and practicing my Quilting designs and I am less likely to get bored with them

Recently finished are these double bed Quilts, I blogged about my progress here

Pattern designed by me Via Pattern Jam 72 x 90″

Another Random pattern based on the top fabric also 72 x 90″

Finally my work in progress is this Queen Size Quilt in the making that I wrote about in my latest post.

Random fact about me: I used to be a tenor drummer girl in a band and a quilty random fact…I am terrified of mixing prints so I am totally devoted to solids. I get bored and distracted easily hence every now and then I abandon what I’m working on to indulge in something else pulling my attention.

Quilting tips: Sometimes, your best work comes when you let go of all your plans and just go with the flow. Play around “often” with colors, fabrics and even Quilting designs – you’d be surprised at what you might come up with.

Blogging tips: If you are struggling to find the flow in what you’ve written…then it is most certainly going to be difficult for your audience to as well. Read your posts as many times in as many ways as possible to ensure what you are trying to say comes across clearly . It is very OK to delay a post until you are entirely happy with it (or maybe that’s my excuse for delaying posts…hmm).

Quilty dreams: I want to try Art Quilting, bias tape/ stained glass quilts, more paper piecing, complete all those Craftsy classes I have invested in and hopefully start a Quilting workshop here in Nigeria.

Quilty Question: Do you quilt alone or do you have an assistant? If you do, what part of the quilting process do you entrust them with? I am hoping to organize a quilting workshop/classes sometimes in the future, what advise can you give on getting started. What are the challenges and how did you overcome them?

Kindly head over to my fellow quilt bloggers in the hop today and thanks again to the wonderful hosts of the 2016 New Quilt Bloggers forum.

Shannon @Shannon Fraser Design

Tami  @Sew much for free time

Kathy @Kathys Kwilts and more

Suzy @Webster Quilt

I love and appreciate your comments and if you are new here from the blog hop, you are very welcome, please take a look around and I hope you come again and to everyone thanks for stopping by and do have an amazing week ahead.

Sola 🙂