I've had this idea bubbling away for a little while now and finally have a bit of time to make it a reality. There are so so so many creative bloggy type people popping up on the ol' internets all the time. So many to keep up with and so I've found that I tend to stick with the select few that I've been reading for years.
I have to be honest though, I think I'm sorely missing out on some awesome bloggy goodness because I'm too lazy/time poor to go out and look for more blogs to read. So with that in mind, I'm introducing a new series to my blog interviewing the amazingly talented people behind some of the lesser known (but no less awesome and inspiring) blogs out there to hopefully introduce some new people into your reading repertoire (and I get to make new bloggy friends in the process!).
So, without further ado, I'd like to introduce you to Melissa from Scavenger Hunt.
Melissa and I really hit it off after we found out we have more than a few things in common besides sewing. She lived in Tonga for a while and has visited many parts of New Zealand (including where I was born) and I lived in California for a year. We both have two cats, love vintage and are trying to figure out the whole knitting thing (I'll have a whole other post on that later...). Melissa is an amazing seamstress and produces beautiful, vintage inspired silhouettes, but don't just take my word for it...
I live on the central coast of California with my boyfriend Phillip and our two cats Ruby and Bosley. I work full-time at a day program for adults with disabilities and in my spare time I love to make things and hunt for vintage finds at thrift shops and estate sales. My boyfriend and I have a booth at a local antique mall and I sell vintage patterns and sewing supplies in my Etsy shop. I'm dreaming of starting another shop to sell my handmade creations, but there are only so many hours in the day! I'm hoping to get it up and running by next year.
My Mom taught me a bit of sewing while I was growing up - she does a lot of quilting. But I really got into it after high school when I took a class at the local community college. I think my main motivation for learning was (and still is) my interest in vintage fashion and my desire to create clothes that reflect my personal style. I've taken a few classes off and on throughout the years, though mostly I've learned through a lot of trial-and-error. Like I said, I discovered the blogging community a couple of years ago and it's opened up a whole new world of knowledge and inspiration.
Yes! I'm pretty sure there's no craft I wouldn't try! Over the years I've tried everything from leather working to pottery, to painting. Lately I've been dabbling in jewellery making, re-covering thrift store furniture and I'm trying to learn how to knit and crochet! One of my goals over the next couple of years is to learn how to use software to create my own patterns and fabric designs.
I think that would be competing in the Super Online Sewing Match on Sew Mama Sew. I was honoured to be chosen and I actually made it all the way to the final challenge! Though I didn't win the grand prize, I was really proud of myself for getting that far and holding my own with so many amazingly talented sewers. It's really inspired me to push myself to do my best and to take my sewing and blogging to a new level!
Thanks so much for taking part Melissa! Make sure you head on over to her blog to take a peek at a few more of her amazing creations!
Do you want to be featured in an interview and introduced to some of your other bloggy pals? Well then, flick me an email to jenniferlauren.is@gmail.com with a link to your blog and any other tidbits you feel like sharing and we'll arrange an imaginary internet tea and cake date and get to know each other a little better!
Looking forward to hearing from you :)
xx
Jen
* You can be any or all of these things :)
Due to the volume of requests, it may take me a little while to get back to you :)
I have to be honest though, I think I'm sorely missing out on some awesome bloggy goodness because I'm too lazy/time poor to go out and look for more blogs to read. So with that in mind, I'm introducing a new series to my blog interviewing the amazingly talented people behind some of the lesser known (but no less awesome and inspiring) blogs out there to hopefully introduce some new people into your reading repertoire (and I get to make new bloggy friends in the process!).
So, without further ado, I'd like to introduce you to Melissa from Scavenger Hunt.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your blog
My name is Melissa and I blog over at Scavenger Hunt. I share my sewing and crafting projects, vintage finds and any other little adventures I have. I discovered the blogging world about 2 years ago and after about a year of avid reading, I finally got up the courage to start my own. I've loved every minute of it - it's been really fun and inspiring to connect with other people who love the same things I do!
I live on the central coast of California with my boyfriend Phillip and our two cats Ruby and Bosley. I work full-time at a day program for adults with disabilities and in my spare time I love to make things and hunt for vintage finds at thrift shops and estate sales. My boyfriend and I have a booth at a local antique mall and I sell vintage patterns and sewing supplies in my Etsy shop. I'm dreaming of starting another shop to sell my handmade creations, but there are only so many hours in the day! I'm hoping to get it up and running by next year.
Why did you start sewing?
My Mom taught me a bit of sewing while I was growing up - she does a lot of quilting. But I really got into it after high school when I took a class at the local community college. I think my main motivation for learning was (and still is) my interest in vintage fashion and my desire to create clothes that reflect my personal style. I've taken a few classes off and on throughout the years, though mostly I've learned through a lot of trial-and-error. Like I said, I discovered the blogging community a couple of years ago and it's opened up a whole new world of knowledge and inspiration.
Do you get up to any other crafty adventures?
Yes! I'm pretty sure there's no craft I wouldn't try! Over the years I've tried everything from leather working to pottery, to painting. Lately I've been dabbling in jewellery making, re-covering thrift store furniture and I'm trying to learn how to knit and crochet! One of my goals over the next couple of years is to learn how to use software to create my own patterns and fabric designs.
What has been your greatest sewing achievement so far?
I think that would be competing in the Super Online Sewing Match on Sew Mama Sew. I was honoured to be chosen and I actually made it all the way to the final challenge! Though I didn't win the grand prize, I was really proud of myself for getting that far and holding my own with so many amazingly talented sewers. It's really inspired me to push myself to do my best and to take my sewing and blogging to a new level!
And have there been any crafty-related disappointments?
Oh my gosh, too many to count! Especially when I first started sewing. I've ripped holes with my seam ripper, cut things out wrong, made garments that were hopelessly small, large, ill-fitting etc. I tend to mess things up less often now, but I still have disappointments every now and again. But I think you just have to keep trying and take each one as a learning experience. Sometimes I'll just set a particularly frustrating project aside and after taking a break for a while, I'll come back to it with new energy and a willingness to figure it out.
Invisible zip, lapped zip or centre zip?
I tend to think invisible looks the nicest.
What is currently on your sewing table?
I'm just starting to work on my dress for the Fall for Cotton sew-a-long. I'm going to try to do some fun things with stripes!
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I'm still trying to figure that out! I majored in Anthropology in college, was a teacher in the Peace Corps, and now I work with adults with disabilities. But now I think that I would really love to find a way to make a living doing something creative.
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone thinking about learning to sew?
My advice would be to just go for it! Realise that your first work isn't going to be perfect, but you'll gradually get better and better. The internet is a great resource - it seems like there's advice and tutorials for everything so you can get an idea of what to do beforehand. One thing I wish I had done more when I first began to sewing is to slow down. I would get really impatient to be finished so I would often try to go too fast and cut corners. Now I'm realising that when I really take my time, my projects turn out so much better!Thanks so much for taking part Melissa! Make sure you head on over to her blog to take a peek at a few more of her amazing creations!
Are you a *sewing/knitting/crocheting/baking/vintage/
cat-loving/creative/crafty/awesome owner of a blog?
Do you want to be featured in an interview and introduced to some of your other bloggy pals? Well then, flick me an email to jenniferlauren.is@gmail.com with a link to your blog and any other tidbits you feel like sharing and we'll arrange an imaginary internet tea and cake date and get to know each other a little better!
Looking forward to hearing from you :)
xx
Jen
* You can be any or all of these things :)
Due to the volume of requests, it may take me a little while to get back to you :)
