Hi! My name is Alexandra but I go by Ali. My blog name, a²(w) (read as "a squared w") is a math joke based on my initials, AAW. Also, because I changed my last initial from A to W, it fits when people misread it as "a two w". :)
I have a husband who I adore. After many years of dating (somewhere around 7), we finally got married in April 2010. My wedding exactly what I was dreaming of (pictures here). It was very homemade and small! And yellow!
We currently live in Georgia (where we met and got married), but I have lived a few different places. I grew up in Miami, FL (and it's not as awesome as you think since I burn so easily). I spent a year in Paris, France studying architecture (it is as awesome as you think), then promptly moved to Albuquerque, NM. The photo below was taken along the Rio Grande.
I have a husband who I adore. After many years of dating (somewhere around 7), we finally got married in April 2010. My wedding exactly what I was dreaming of (pictures here). It was very homemade and small! And yellow!
We currently live in Georgia (where we met and got married), but I have lived a few different places. I grew up in Miami, FL (and it's not as awesome as you think since I burn so easily). I spent a year in Paris, France studying architecture (it is as awesome as you think), then promptly moved to Albuquerque, NM. The photo below was taken along the Rio Grande.
Sewing Journey
I learned to sew when I was little, but gave it up in high school and college. After graduation I dabbled in Interior Design. I needed to make pillows for a client so I bought a $30 miniature sewing machine from Target and got to work. I swore that I wasn’t into sewing and that I DID NOT need a real sewing machine. For Christmas that year my husband gave me a real sewing machine – still from Target, but it could sew sailboats! How fancy!
It sat in the box for over a month. I HATED that he had bought me a sewing machine. What kind of lame present is that anyways? (You are all laughing now, right? You know exactly where this story is heading). One day I decided to use the machine so that he wouldn’t know how much I hated it. I made a zippered pouch that I still use to this day. Then I decided that I NEEDED a yellow quilt. So armed with my sewing machine, a sewing book, yellow fabric, and my new fancy rotary tools, I set to work.
The rest is history. Seriously, check my blog archives! :) I love sewing just about anything that I chose, but I hate working on projects that I someone else has asked me to do a certain way. What can I say, I'm a redhead.
My Sewing Machine
I upgraded to a used Janome MC6600 in February 2011. I adore my machine. It's big enough to fit all my quilts under and has a bunch of fun stitches. Sadly, no sailboats. I rely on the straight and the zig zag stitches. I usually use the standard foot and scoot the needle over for my 1/4" seams, however the walking foot comes in handy with trickier fabrics and quilting. The only changes I would make would be to have the free arm (so that I can sew small circular things like armholes, but I rarely miss that) and a little storage cubby for the feet (have to keep those in a drawer).
Sewing Summit
I harassed Erin and Amy to let me help with the silent auction at the first Sewing Summit in 2011. When Amy stepped down, Erin asked me to join the team as the Teacher Coordinator. I'm so excited to be part of such a great event and to be able to bring the attendees the best classes and instructors!
More tidbits?
- Favorite color: yellow
- Least favorite color: purple
- Quilt basting method: Basting Spray
- Day job: Housewife, formerly middle school math teacher
- Favorite Food: rice
- Favorite sweet: Dark chocolate
- I love to travel! I have visited: England, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Italy, Greece, Japan, Costa Rica, Canada, Mexico (for maybe an hour) and a good chunk of the US. I'm hoping to visit Ireland and Scotland next!
Any questions? Email me at: ali@asquaredw.com
