Jessica Levitt....a blog tour....and a book for you!!

October 10, 2011

Jessica Levitt....a blog tour....and a book for you!!

I first met Jessica Levitt in Pittsburgh at the Spring Quilt Market in 2009. She was shopping around a collection of fabric (see that portfolio behind her back...) and she was kind enough to let me take a peek (seriously, she's just one of the nicest people!). Here she is chatting with our friend Scott Hansen at our little mixer.

Well that was her Timber collection and I knew she'd go home with a contract, it was such a pretty and original line. She now has another collection out (again, beautiful) but we're not here to talk about that...we're here to discuss ...

...her new book!! Modern Mix! Jessica has teamed with the amazing folks at Stash Books to create this book and gosh it's a great one! It's just loaded with beautiful (and handsome!) projects and the nicest thing is, they are not overly complicated but have such a great finished look. I love that! Why make more work for people when you don't have to? Of course it might be the great illustrations and flawless instructions that make the projects look so welcoming but, whatever it is, everything in this book looks so "do-able" for beginners and old timers alike.

I was lucky to get Jessica to answer some questions for me...lucky because I waited until the last minute and also because I was totally stumped (seriously...I googled "interview questions for authors" to get some help!). Anyway, here we go!

1. When did you start sewing and when did you start to LOVE sewing?

The first thing I ever sewed (I think) was a little felt teddy bear in 6th grade Home Ec. Didn't love it, but looking back it was probably because we had to sew by hand. The next year we had sewing machines (I had to take Home Ec because there wasn't enough room in wood shop) and I'm pretty sure the love was instant. My mom was really more of a teacher than school and I made my first quilt shortly after that. I think discovering fabric stores was really all it took, even though quilt stores didn't have cool designer stuff they have now. I quilted and sewed costumes all through High School and the passion has never died...

2. Is this (fabric/book) what you imagined yourself doing when you finished school?

Absolutely not. I have a degree in electrical engineering and computer science. I went that way in part because I was good at math and science, but more because it was "safe". I was too practical to consider a career in any kind of art field. I wanted what I believed to be a stable and fairly lucrative career. And I got that when I graduated. I didn't hate it, but my creative side was really repressed and I hated to have to work regular hours particularly when I was bored. Lucky for me, I married a very supportive man who encouraged me to go for it, and I left engineering to start my own business. It has been amazing...

3. What part of writing the book most surprised you, and which part was most fun?

Well, I'll admit I can be a bit of a control freak so having to let go of the manuscript to have Stash Books do the photography was difficult. They really took a lot of input from on what look I wanted etc, but I think I still didn't believe they could make it feel like my style. And there were a few moments of panic there where I thought it wasn't going to be what I envisioned, but when I got back the sample chapters I was totally blown away. It's just so "me", that I was shocked but very pleased.

As for the most fun, well seeing the final product was such a thrill, but I think some of the sewing was actually the most fun. Just doing what I love, especially when I was done with the bulk of the writing of the directions.

4. Tell us about some of your other talents.....

Well, in the sewing arena I've done a fair amount of costume design and construction, both for theater and for myself and my family. I've also dabbled in ballroom dance gowns, which leads to another of my interests, ballroom and latin dancing. That's how my husband and I met and we still take lessons together. I also do interior design and love to add my own sewing to that. And I love event design and planning. I was a wedding designer/planner when I first left engineering and now I love to throw elaborate parties for my kids.

Wow! I really didn't know how multi-faceted Jessica was (great interview questions, right?)! I really can't wait to see what she does next.

Okay, here's where it gets good....Stash is giving away a copy of the book to some lucky winner, not only on my blog, but on all the other blogs listed below (I love these bloggers and am honored to be a part of this blog tour with them!). They will send an actual hard copy of the book in the US and they have kindly opened it up internationally (if you are outside of the US you will receive the book via email in pdf format).

Just leave a comment....the only requirement is your comment needs to be the name of your favorite celebrity (dead or alive). Don't think too hard since I know you have to visit these other blogs (just name the one that comes to mind first and move on....). Back on Thursday with a winner!

Thursday 10/6: Sew Mama Sew

Friday 10/7: Jaybird Quilts

Saturday 10/8: Blue Nickel Studios

Sunday 10/9: Handmade by Alissa

Tuesday 10/11: Quilting is My Therapy

Wednesday 10/12: Stitch Magazine Blog

Thursday 10/13: Oh Fransson

Friday 10/14: Generation Q Magazine

Saturday 10/15: Quilt Dad

Sunday 10/16: Confessions of a Craft Addict

Monday 10/17: Amy’s Creative Side

Tuesday 10/18: Pink Chalk Studio