Stacy Edell of Quiltingdiva
August 15, 2009 | By
Meet Stacy Edell of QuiltingDiva. Her interests include the beach, spending time with family (preferably at the beach), amusement parks and SEWING!! She confesses, “I can't start my day without my Starbucks Grande 6 pump vanilla latte in a paper cup with my 'Stacy' coffee cozy.”
Name - Stacy Edell
Shop Name – Quiltingdiva
Location- Tampa, Florida
How did you come up with the name of your shop?
I wanted it to represent my love for quilting, but don't expect Grandma's quilts in my shop :)
Tell us a bit about your craft/medium and why you chose it?
I fell in love with sewing during Home Economics in high school. I've been sewing since I was 14 and am a self-professed fabric-aholic!
Did someone teach you?
Besides my high school teacher, I used to sew with my ex-boyfriend's sister in high school. Other than that, I learned from books. My first quilt was trip around the world and I used the Quilt In A Day series by Eleanor Burns.
Where do you get inspiration from?
I get my inspiration from bright colors and the beach.
What is the most difficult part of your craft?
Finishing large quilts is always a challenge. I don't have a long arm machine so it makes it difficult to manage the big quilts. I generally make smaller projects that I can do in my spare time in between working full time outside my home.
Tell us about your workspace- Where do you create?
My family room has slowly evolved into an official sewing studio. I have lots of shelves with my fabric neatly folded and organized by color, holiday, flannel, solids and my favorite sections of "beachy" and "coffee" fabrics that have their own special spot. I recently bought a quilting table that my machine sets into and use my kitchen island (which is huge) as a cutting table. My family room is off my kitchen so it's a huge marvelous space! My family room is centrally located so I'm still spending time with my family while I'm sewing. I have every tool available which makes it more fun and since I keep it organized it makes it easy to set up and sew every chance I have. I have a DVD player in there so my son will often watch movies while I create.
Where can we find your work? QuiltingDiva.etsy.com
What kind of music do you listen to (if any) when you create?
I often pop in Seinfeld, Will and Grace, King of Queens, movies such as Mamma Mia, Dirty Dancing, Legally Blonde, or Anne of Green Gables while I sew.
What are your most productive times?
When I have a day off and don't plan to leave the house. I do this as often as possible on my weekends. We live in Florida so there's so much to do, but my favorite days are lazy pajama days when we hang out and create all day! I have had days where I am sewing for 18 hours straight when given the chance.
What has been your most successful marketing technique?
I bring my items into work- like wall hangings, purses and totes. I work in a call center and have sold at least 50 items to co-workers.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose? And why?
Florida was always my favorite place so instead of visiting every year during my vacation, we decided to move here and I couldn't be happier! We moved here in 2005 and I still pinch myself every day!
Do you have a favorite handmade item that you like to buy for yourself?
Anything flip flop!
Do you have a favorite item that you have made?
I have made tons of the kite quilt featured in my shop. I will find a cute beach fabric and create the colors of the quilt around that. I have made 12 in all different color themes.
Have you made anything that you just can't bear to part with?
I used to have a difficult time parting with everything I made, but since my house is overrun with quilts (and living in Florida - not so much needed), I am getting better.
What's your supply addiction; is the
re a specific color or type of supply you just can't pass up?
Well, I'm always collecting fabric, in fact, I go to Joann's almost every day during my lunch (no lie)! I am addicted to any coffee or beach themed fabric. I recently counted my coffee prints and I have 53 different prints! I have a hard time cutting into them so they continue to multiply :)
How about a few of your favorites-
food? pizza!
Quote? Life's a beach
Holiday? It used to be July 4th because it was in the summer, but now since every day is summer, I would have to say Christmas!
Who is your hero - artistic or otherwise and why?
My son is my hero because he loves life and isn't jaded by anything bad.
Photos courtesy of Stacy Edell.
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