Interview with Emily Breclaw
Posted by Deirdre Quirk on May 18th 2017
Please welcome Emily Breclaw to the blog! She's the amazing author behind Adventures in Hexagons, and we're so excited to share her interview answers with you.
Where do you find your quilting inspiration?
I'm inspired and challenged by Japanese and Australian quiltmakers. Their attention to detail and willingness to tackle challenging quilt blocks amazes me.
Who has inspired your creativity?
I grew up in an artistic family; my mom is a graphic designer and art teacher, my sister and aunt are both amazing at creating beautiful cakes and cookies, and my brother is a fantastic wildlife photographer. My husband has become my go-to for fabric inspiration—his ability to pick out unlikely colors and make them work well together is uncanny.
How do you stay up-to-date on new trends?
Pinterest and Instagram are my favorite places to scope out trends.
What was your favorite part of the book writing or production process?
Every part has been an exciting experience, but seeing the book cover and designed pages for the first time was the absolute best.
What are your go-to colors?
Brights. The more saturated the colors, the better!
What projects are you working on right now?
All the ones that got pushed aside during the book creating process. Namely, a way-overdue double wedding ring quilt, the recipients of which will celebrate their twelfth anniversary this summer.
Where do you shop for fabric?
I'm fortunate to have two wonderful quilt shops within two miles of my house, Quilt Among Friends and Sew Fabricated.
Can you share with us one quilting or sewing tip?
I love using very narrow washi tape when hand piecing. I put a small piece on my left thumb (I'm right-handed), and it gives me a visual quarter-inch guide to keep my seams accurate.
How did you come up with the idea for your book or product?
At a comic book store with my husband, I found a package of hexagon graph paper used in board gaming. With that paper and a pack of colored pencils, I started creating many of the rosettes, sprockets, and medallions that ultimately became the framework for Adventures in Hexagons.
What is the one tool or notion you can’t live without?
My thimble. I hand-quilted my first five quilts without a thimble, and I will never, ever do that again!
