Sew Adorkable Blog Tour
Meet Samarra:
How long have you been sewing/quilting?
When did you first start brainstorming this creative book collection?
What is your favorite project in the book? Ok, you can pick the top two.
As you might guess, depending on the day, I have a different answer. At this moment, I’m particularly fond of my Candy Dot quilt and my Prehistoric Portrait Painting, because they’re both comically over the top, fun, and are good reminders to not take everything so seriously.
It all started when I was in elementary school and ordered “Louis Braille” from my Scholastics book flyer. That book, which I still have to this day, had raised braille dots embossed into the back cover and I’d spend a great deal of time running my fingers across the letters and thinking about what Louis’ life might have been like. Having a brother with disabilities has always made me very sensitive to the challenges people can face. Aside from being enraptured with the brilliance of Braille’s alphabet system, I was also amazed at its graphic perfection being logical, functional, universal, yet simple all at the same time.
What is next from Samarra in the world of sewing, quilting, and design?
Any other info you’d like to share with quilters & seamstresses of all skill levels?
Leave a comment telling us which project you are most looking forward to in Samarra’s new book? Open internationally, however if winner lives outside of the US, they will receive a promo code to purchase the ebook version free of charge. US winner will receive a hard copy. The random winner will be selected October 26.
Tour Schedule:
- 09/14/15: C&T/Stash Books
- 09/16/15: Generation Q Magazine
- 09/18/15: Sew Timeless
- 09/21/15: The Fire Science Blog
- 09/23/15: Art School DropOut
- 09/25/15: Craft Buds
- 09/28/15: Pellon
- 09/30/15: Crafty Planner
- 10/02/15: Modern Handcraft
- 10/05/15: Imagine Gnats
- 10/07/15: May Chappell
- 10/09/15: Nancy Zieman
- 10/12/15: Dritz
- 10/14/15: Spoonflower
- 10/16/15: Sew Sweetness
- 10/19/15: Aurifil
- 10/21/15: Accuquilt
- 10/23/15: Schmancy Toys
- 10/26/15: Samarra Khaja
Bye for now,
Niku Arbabi
The typewriter tissue box cover! It combines two of my favorite things! I’ve been collecting both vintage typewriters and making and collecting tissue box covers since I was a teen.
Sally Murray
I love the Braille Quilt!!
Susan
I really like the Braille quilt. During Jr. High School, there was a blind girl in many of my classes that used a Braille typewriter. In my last job, one of my colleagues was blind and he used a Braille machine but it was a lot different from the typewriter the girl in classes used. He also used a computer that read what he was typing. I tried learning Braille once, but it completely baffled me. When I come across Braille, like in an elevator I always run my fingers over the dots.
Karin C
Oh my gosh, that flying tooth was too stinkin’ cute! I love*love*love the story behind the blind quilt and would enjoy making that and giving it away! Thanks for bringing attention to this book – I’d never even heard of it until now!!
Ollie Morton
I don’t normally like tissue covers,but the typewriter cover is me. That’s the first thing I’m making.
Emily
The Braille Quilt is wonderful. My husband works at a school for the blind … could be a great fundraiser!
Georgiana Maszczenski
It’s certainly hard to choose when they are all so adorable. However, I find it hard to resist the portrait of my dinosaur ancestor!
LoAnn T
I think I would make the braille quilt!
Marianne in TN
Love the Braille Quilt…. but ANYTHING to keep me out of trouble!
Debbie S.
I’m teaching my 9 yr. old granddaughter Samara (only 1 R)to sew…another Christmas idea! Her Mom would probably like the adult color book too. I’ll keep my eye out for them. 🙂
Ilana
I would make the candy dots quilt. I remember eating those candy dots as a kid.
Alisa Vogt
I love Toothy the tooth fairy. I hadn’t thought about adding the wings, what a great touch! I also really love the quirky humor in the pencil pencil skirt! Looks like a great book!
Mary Tague
The first project would be the tooth fairies!! The I’d like to make thd Braille quilt.
Diane C
They are all so cool. It is hard to choose which one would be first
Bobee
Oh definitely candy dots…makes my mouth water. And I always love dots anyway…big will.
Mary Andrus
What fun! I can’t wait to see the finished product. I must visit
Spoon flower to see what you have there.
Sandra Cantrell
I liked the dino portrait the best. Don’t we all have relatives that we think of when we look at that? Her “just do it” attitude and forget the perfection and not good enough attitude is great.
Wanda Frenzel
Hi 🙂 Not sure what I would make first…but enjoyed reading the interview with Nancy…I am a “newbie” at quilting, but I really liked the paragraph about “preconceived ideas…. ” that hit home with me !!! Always enjoy reading Nancy’s page !!
Emily W
The Braille Quilt is wonderful! My husband works at a school for the blind … great idea for the next fundraising event …
Frank W
I like the tissue box. something to hide all the boxes i keep. may even help find them.
Martha
My first project would be the tissue box cover and I would probably make it the same color. I have an actual typewriter that color. Wouldn’t that be cute!
Patsy Philson
Since I have a granddaughter that is blind and she teaches at a school for the blind, I would make the Braille quilt first.
R Newell
I love the Braille quilt, that is my project!
Dena Trask
The typewriter tissue box is making my fingers itch to make. In fact, I’d like to make one for all four of my office mates for Christmas, each in their favorite colors! And one for my daughter. And one for my sister…
Arlene
I would make tooth fairies for my 4 grandchildren.
Cherie
I think that I would like to make the candy dots quilt. Thank you!
Becky
Love the “adorkable” tooth fairies!
Monica AD
The Pencil Skirt … FIESTA 🙂
Sharon P
It has got to be the dino portrait. It is great!!!
teri
Love the Braille quilt also.
Laurel Lee Pedersen
I’d make that darling “pencil” skirt!
Donna Fecteau
I think I like the candy dots quilt. But the dinosaur is really cute as well.
Shirley
I just love the Tooth Fairies!!!
Bonnie
I am liking the typewriter tissue box cover
Joanie
I love the Braille quilt! How cute and modern!
Julie Guenther
I am really digging the prehistoric painting…as it is and another with a different creature. For the grandkids. Well, maybe for me, too.
Amy S
I would really love to make the dinosaur portrait, and then I would try to adapt it to make dino-portrait versions of myself and my hubby for hanging in the living room…
M Williams
It’s between the typewriter tissue box and the dinosaur portrait, I guess the tissue box because I could take it to work.
Barbara Knight
Ive got to make the pencil skirt! I drive a school bus and my kids love colorful colors and fun prints. They will love that!
Adecia
The tissue box cover
Chris Reeske
The tooth fairy…I want to make one for my dental hygienist, who has a toddler and will need a tooth fairy soon.
melissa c
I would really enjoy making and then using the typewriter tissue box cover! I also can’t help but get a silly grin when I see the candy dots. How fun and happy these projects are! Melissa Childers email address [email protected]
myra karachy
The typewriter tissue box caught my eye right away.
craftygramma
I love the braille quilt. The idea of introducing braille through a quilt is fantastic!
jane d
I’d love to make the Tooth Fairy!
Lily Kamikhara
Love the braille quilt. So simple it makes one smile.
janet moilanen
I am obsessed with the typewriter tissue box cover -it will be perfect for my quirky upstairs bathroom.
Carol Stephenson
I would love to make the Braille quilt for a blind relative. I think he would love it. I hope the alphabet is there so I can choose the message!
Bonnye
The typewriter tissue box is adorable. This note comes from someone who still has several vintage typewriters
Irene Arrigo
My first item would be the typewriter tissue box cover. It is so fun!
Debbie Chenoweth
I love the tooth fairy project and the Braille quilt.
April Curry
The braille quilt would be my first choice, I see it as a great learning tool.
Nicole Rodgers
The typewriter Kleenex cover would be my first project, with the Braille quilt a close second.
Susan T
A tooth fairy wearing tube socks…my kind of humor.
Corinne
I’d love to make the tissue box cover for my desk, and the wonderful tooth fairy for a dental hygienist friend.
Patty G
I want to read the description of the Braille quilt. Is there a meaning to the dot placement? I love the cheerful colors she used in her quilt.
Christine Murray
Any quilt project!!
Julie Willis
The dinosaur! The dinosaur!! The dinosaur!!!
BJ Marley
Is the pencil skirt in the book? I definitely love that one.
Marty
Definitely the Braille and typewriter-motif projects are what I’ll make first!
Adeline
I am totally emotionally touched by the Braille quilt and her ability to translate it to a comforting quilt interpretation. Way to “bump” it up!
Elnora Chambers
Wow! I’m looking forward to seeing how to make that awesome Braille quilt!
Kay G
The calculator project- my retired engineer most wonderful husband tutors advanced math at our local high school and would love it!
LindaC in AZ
I love the braille alphabet quilt. I don’t even quilt and I want to make that.
Tina
I like the candy dots quilt
Berenice
My sil, an English teacher, would totally love that pencil skirt & the typewriter tissue box. Most of her students probably have never seen a real live typewriter!
Joanne Donovan
I would love to win the book for the Dinosaur quilt! He is too cool! Thanks for the chance to win!!
Cheryl
I really like the braille quilt and the prehistoric painting. Been wanting to try a portrait like that.
JR
I’m looking forward to making skirt with pencils for my daughter-in-law who is a new teacher. All the projects make me smile. Anything that brings joy to the world is a winner to me. JR
Doreen Hersh
I love the Braille dots quilt. It would be a perfect piece of realia when we read “The Blind Hunter”.
Linda E
I’d like to see the teacher tool belt. I’m sure I’d enjoy the design spin you created.
Kathleen
I love the pencils pencil skirt! That’s just awesome.
Diana G.
I would have to say the Dino picture as I have a granddaughter who is so into dinosaurs, she lives, breathes and would eat dinosaur if she could !
Thanks for the chance to win
Patti
Love the pencil skirt!
Patti
The pencil skirt!
Ell
Braille dots quilt – great colors.
Doreen Linehan
I think the typewriter tissue cover is cute.
Doreen Linehan
I think the typewriter tissue box cover would be cute to sew.
Kathy E.
I like the Circle Dot quilt too. It would be so much fun for any age kid!
Chris
The Braille Dots would be great for our Nursing home.
Debby
As a geeky math teacher, I am lovin’ that pencil skirt. So fun!
teri
The Trawzers wiykd be adorable for my grandson.
Jean
I want to make trawzers for me to wear at the next quilt retreat
Roi-Lynn Munsey
I love the Braille Quilt. It is hard to pick just one. I love that a sense of humor is infused in the book.
Alla @ rainbows.bunnies.cupcakes
I’m with your team, Nancy: I love the Braille quilt! So stunning, so simple, such graphic punch. And who can resist trying to learn the Braille alphabet while snuggled under it?
JoAnne T.
The Braille quilt intrigues me. My grandfather was blind and we kids always were delighted when Grandpa read us from a book WE could not read. That was almost sixty years ago and I hadn’t thought of that in years, thanks for bring back those memories, they’re very dear to me.