May Star

I am so happy to introduce Duff to you. She is as unique as her name, and just so super talented! She is definitely one of the prettiest stars I have ever had, and she is as lovely inside as she is outside. I know you will love reading her interview and visiting her blog Bacon Then Eggs.

Name: Michelle Duffy, Hot Potato Extraordinaire, but most know me as Duff.

A Bit About Me: I teach English and reading at the local college, practice yoga/pilates regularly, have a Puggle named Bailey (but she answers to Stinkerella, Fatty Stinkenheimer, or Count Fatula), my "baby" Aidan will be 16 in another month (Send. Help. Soon.), I'm a Southside Chicago Irishwoman, and just started opera singing lessons. I began quilting over 20 years ago but stopped because the hand-piecing was just too time-intensive. I've been machine quilting now regularly since October, 2009. I love all the colors and unbridled expression that quilting has become!

What Inspires Me: Modern quilting! Quilters who throw caution to the wind and just create. Two of my favorites are Em of Em Celebrates and Mary Lou of Mary Lou and Cherries Too: these two gals aren't afraid of anything but boredom!!

What I Love to Do the Most Creatively: think of words as colors, colors as words: What am I trying to say and how can I say it through color?


My Favorite Fabric and Designer: Kaffe Fassett's Roman Glass. I love every color but interestingly, I've never made anything with it. Total chicken liver, right here, with lots of ideas.


UFO I Intend to Finish First...Strange story--I drove past an estate sale and then turned around as fast as I could. They were closing up, but I told the two ladies,"I'm supposed to by something here, I can feel it. Will you just let me take a quick peek?" They did and I was drawn to a back bedroom. In the closet, in a paper bag, was a 80 X 80 around-the-world quilt top in need of repair. The ladies didn't even know it was in there; they sold it to me for $10. I'm going to fix the seams (it's all hand-sewn) and then put it into service! :

What's on the Design Wall Now: I just bought some laminated Parisville by Tula Pink to make a beach/pool bag and a few fat quarters of very happy prints to experiment with Mary Lou Weidman's "Hoochy Mama" piecing method.

Who Would I Love to Meet: Famous Quilters? I'd love to meet Freddy Moran, Gwen Marston, and Mary Lou Weidman. Even though I consider Emily Douglas (Em Celebrates) a soul sista, we've never met in person--that would be wonderful! Other? John Cusack. Really! In one of his movies, someone had to put "spray hair" on his balding spot and (obviously) he didn't demand that it be taken out. Any man comfortable with his balding head is a man I consider confident and endearing...which leads me to...who's gonna set me up on a blind date with this guy??!

If I Had One Wish: If I only had one wish, then I'd wish that my son grows up to be a happy, healthy adult in a nurturing, appreciative, and committed marriage as well as has children just like himself--a blessing. Should it be about quilting? Then I wish I had intuition when it comes to putting colors and patterns together; I don't have a natural knack for it like so many quilters do.

Plans for the Future: I really need to take more chances with quilting (and with life!). I don't think I'm very good with 'breaking out of the box' so that's on my to-learn list. Yes, I have a "to learn" list. I think of it this way--when I'm senile, I want to ENJOY reliving my life!!

Thanks for the wonderful interview Duff! Your creations are out of this world!

You are one special lady!