The Five Favs Series with: Michelle of Compass & Wildflower Studio
Episode 14
The Story behind Five Favs
This series developed out of my love of movies, and specifically, movie lists. Critics and film geeks alike spend hours pouring over lists, ranking everything from best movies of the year (pretty standard fare) to top five music documentaries (getting a little more granular) to top five movie characters that shaped who you are (pretty personal and specific!). I thought it would be fun to play with this idea in the quilting world. Since we spend so much time in our sewing spaces, they contain interesting snapshots of who we are as creators, and can offer a sneak peek into other aspects of our lives, too. And so- the creation of The Five Favs Blog. This is a top five of the guests favorite items in their sewing space.
For this month’s episode, I am very grateful to have Michelle from Compass & Wildflower Studio on the blog! I first came to know of Michelle through her co-hosting of the Nocturnal Soul Stitchery, a spooky SAL from last year. And then I got to see the absolute gorgeous patterns she creates! Her quilts are beautiful modern designs that give a nod to traditional motifs, always showcased with amazing backdrops of the Utah landscape (which of course I love!). Michelle is an amazing cheerleader for the quilting community and I’m so grateful for the support and encouragement she gives to us all.
Welcome Michelle!
About Michelle
“Hey quilty friends! I’m Michelle, the modernish quilter, pattern designer, and owner of Compass & Wildflower Studio. I’ve sewn since I was little and I fell hard and fast for quilting in 2019. Many of my quilt pattern designs are inspired by nature, especially the mountains. One of my pattern collections honors maternal ancestors in my family, to whom I credit my love for creating. My patterns are illustration-rich, easy to follow, and have plenty of room for creativity. I enjoy cheering on the quilty community and find it amazing that we can connect with other quilters far and wide.”
Where Michelle Works
“My quilt holder hubby (Cameron) and I live in a basement apartment and share a “hobby room” (bedroom sized) where my sewing machine and his scale model stash and tools coexist (think model airplanes and tanks). We watch movies while we sew and build and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Additionally, I have a storage table in an adjacent utility room that transitions from cutting table to ironing table. It’s IKEA magic and a few extra parts, inspired by the tutorial by Alderwood Studio. My fabric storage is a messy work in progress, but I’m enjoying using Mini Bolts and clear bins to make sense of the chaos. For pattern writing, my laptop transitions from place to place depending on my mood.”
Fav 1 - Juki TL-15 Sewing Machine
“Hands down, my favorite thing is my JUKI TL-15 sewing machine. I bought it after extensive research and it marked all the boxes on my non-negotiables. It’s a straight-stitch only mechanical that does free-motion quilting like a boss. I’ve quilted queen sized quilts on this machine due to its large workspace. This cutie whips through a quilt binding like nothing else and also doubles as a nice display for stickers, obviously.”
Fav 2 - Hera Markers
“One of the handiest tools I use is also inexpensive. My Clover Hera marker creates impressions on multiple fabric layers at a time, which speeds up the process on half-square triangles. A small Hera marker opens seams before pressing (phew…my fingers are super grateful!). I splurged on a wood Hera marker from Modern American Vintage a bit ago because it was just sooo pretty.”
Fav 3 - Handmade Rug
“This sweet, handmade rug is the newest addition to my sewing area. My great-grandmother, LaNora made it years ago, and it was gifted to me. I enjoyed it in my childhood bedroom for years, and now it lives its best life under my sewing table. I love that it brings a bit of my great-grandmother’s memory to my sewing space, and it also keeps my pedal from slipping. I sew barefoot, so it’s a fun texture, too!”
Fav 4 - Mini Pressing Station
“Getting more steps by walking to my cutting/pressing table is smart, but for me, speed is queen. I keep a mini pressing station close by with a Oliso mini iron and small wool mat. It nests on a storage cart and a silicone baking mat keeps the surface below safe. I press seams open mostly, so I have starch nearby to keep things smooth.”
Fav 5 - LEGO Sewing Machine
“Confession: my quilt holder hubby and I are LEGO fanatics. I’ve loved them ever since I was little and when hobbies overlap, it’s magic. When Sewtopia carried these sweet LEGO sewing machines, I had to have one. Isn’t it adorable?”
Thank you all so much for checking out this series and learning a little bit more about Michelle and her sewing space! I’ll have a new guest talking about their favs next month!
Where To Find Michelle and Compass & Wildflower Studio:
You can follow Michelle on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and be sure to check out her website!