Brooke Biette, born on april two eighty,
By day she is an anesthesia technician helping to serve twenty-three operating rooms.
Brooke has been sewing since she was just a youngster, initially taught by her mother, and more self-taught once she got to college. She finds the most joy in the planning and executing (sometimes by the seat of her pants) of the project, as opposed to the race to the finish line. Brooke has sold handmade quilts on etsy.com since 2005. She taught classes in 2011 on the Disappearing 9-Patch quilt block, as well as hand-sewn paper-pieced hexagons.
There are not many people out there who are a perfect blend of creativity, charisma and knowledgeability, but I would have to say that Brooke Biette is the complete package. I first met Brooke about four years ago at the Maine State Quilt Show in Augusta, where, every July, Alewives Fabrics has a vendor's booth and we bring our best contemporary fabrics. At barely five feet tall, dressed to kill and with hair that was always a bright shade of blue, she was hard to forget. Each year I would look for her to visit our booth. One year, we finally struck up a conversation and we have been friends ever since. In addition to a mutual love for modern sewing, I've gotten to know Brooke in a different way through her blog which is a perfect showcase for her amazing eye for detail and her gorgeous photography. After reading one of her blog posts on making hand-pieced hexagons, I invited Brooke to officially visit our shop as a guest instructor and teach my customers how to make hexagons using the English Paper Piecing technique. I was so pleased when she agreed to come but even more pleased as a business owner when the class sold out in less than a week. She arrived for class ready to knock our socks off. She brought several examples of the English Paper Piecing technique, from modern designs to antique quilt tops, provided thoroughly researched and developed handouts and even gifted each student with some fabric squares from her own stash. I was impressed with her attention to detail and her professionalism, but I have to admit I knew exactly what I was doing when I invited her to the shop: I expected nothing less than the home run she delivered. We are all looking forward to having her return as a guest instructor many more times in the future.
-Rhea Butler, Alewives Fabrics
Brooke is one of the most creative people I have ever worked with. She has an incredible eye for detail and color and is incredibly thoughtful in her approach. We have worked on several projects together and I am always blown away by the finished product. Not only is she super talented but she is the nicest and easiest person to work with!
- Jessica Weiser, Fidelio Photography
Styling and hobby landscape photography is often a popular part of the april two eighty blog, bringing a down-to-earth look at the usual. Brooke enjoys searching out the inspirational and beautiful everywhere she goes.
Another greatly loved part of april two eighty, and last (but not least), Brooke is momma to three circus kitties....
The medically challenged:
Honey is 3 years old, an adopted shelter cat, and had major surgery in 2011 for intestinal and colo-rectal issues. She has made an awesome recovery and left us with a very hefty vet bill. She is on three medications daily, as well as a prescription diet. Her most recent activities include getting into trouble.
The socially challenged:
Rockie is 8 or 9 years old, and also a shelter cat. She wants to love you one second, and the next second she wants to rip you to pieces, don't be deceived by how cutely she sleeps. She is loud and in charge, and her favorite past time is smacking the other cats upside the head. She is Brooke's mighty protector - she is not afraid of bats, in the slightest.
The all-around challenged:
Wookiee is 6 years old, with a flat face and bulgy eyes. Wookiee was the runt of his litter and the meekest of our kitties. He does not like loud noises, children, car rides, being brushed, wet washcloths, or dry cat food. He likes to be held over your shoulder like a baby, and will always steal your seat if you get up from the couch.
SOME FAQ's:
What type of camera do you use?
I use a Canon EOS digital Rebel XTi - digital SLR. I use the standard lens that came with it (the 18-55mm), as well as a 0.45m/1.5ft macro lens. I also have a battery grip attached to the bottom. I love love LOVE this camera, find it so easy to use, and couldn't be happier with it. I take it pretty much everywhere.
If you would like to use any of my photos on your blog, etc, please be sure to credit and link back to me whenever possible. Thankyou!
What program do you use to edit your photos?
I use Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2, as well as Picnik.com.
Can you tell me where you got some of the decor items in your home? Where do you shop?
Some of my favorite places to go shopping for decor items, furniture, and accessories are: Ikea, Home Goods, and Target. I am also a big fan of Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, West Elm, and Urban Outfitters.
What type of sewing machine do you have?
My boyfriend bought me a Husqvarna Emerald 118 in 2010. Before that I used a simple/inexpensive Brother sewing machine (I think it was $100.00!) that I'd been using for almost ten years. The Emerald is amazing - still basic but has just enough bells & whistles to make things interesting. I purchased a walking foot for it to help with quilting, otherwise I only use the standard pieces it came with. It has variable sewing speeds and a bunch of different stitches. It is very user friendly, and I completely recommend it if you are on a budget and looking for a reliable new machine.
Are you taking custom sewing orders? Can you make me a quilt?
Unfortunately, I no longer take custom orders or do custom sewing. I do not foresee being able to take custom orders any time in the near future, but thankyou for your inquiry?
Where do you get your fabrics?
Are you taking custom sewing orders? Can you make me a quilt?
Unfortunately, I no longer take custom orders or do custom sewing. I do not foresee being able to take custom orders any time in the near future, but thankyou for your inquiry?
Where do you get your fabrics?
* I try to frequent a handful of local fabric/quilt shops:
Alewives Fabric Shop
Sew Portland
Z Fabrics
(and of course, every once in a while, jo ann fabrics)
* I purchase most of my fabrics online, however. I find it easy to do after work when iIm just chilling at home - there are some really amazing quilt shops online, but these are my favorites:
fabric.com
equilter.com
fatquartershop
And I love supporting all of the little fabric shops on etsy.com! I can easily spend hours looking through all of the goodies in shops in the US and also abroad. I think shopping via etsy is a great way to be exposed to fabrics you may never have seen before!
*I am also very lucky to have some amazing friends all over the country who are always up for swapping fabrics with me!
How do you choose your fabrics?
I think that choosing fabrics is my favorite part of the creative process - and I think its a very personal part. I choose fabrics that speak to me, either based on design or color, for one reason or another. I'm a very visual person, and I tend to pull emotions from a lot of things around me.
I think its very important to pull inspiration from everywhere - colors, patterns, shapes.. you can see some ideas on this in a group i moderate (with Heather!) on Flickr - {portland pairs} quilt inspiration thru photography. (You can see my submissons, here.)
Recently I've been pulling inspiration from things I love: music, tv shows, etc. I'm really excited to have a bunch of quilts that really reflect all aspects of my personality and interests!
Fringe inspiration
Caribbean inspiration
Hayley inspiration
Gaga inspiration
Caribbean inspiration
Hayley inspiration
Gaga inspiration
If you aren't sure where to find inspiration on your own, simply finding a fabric line by a designer that interests you is a great place to start! When I first starting making quilts, about ten years ago, I started by stashing collections as a whole. I found that helped in making fabric choice and color matching a little easier. Once I had built up a decent sized stash of fabrics it got a little more fun to mix and match from one collection to another! Interestingly enough, I rarely buy collections as a whole anymore (with a few exceptions). But I do continue to shop the heck out of my favorite designers: Anna Maria Horner & Heather Ross.
Having a good variety of styles, prints, designs, and colors in your stash is incredibly helpful when trying to put together fabrics for a quilt. You would be really surprised to see what looks good together!! I hear people tell me often, I would have never put those fabrics together but they look awesome! You've just got to be willing to blur the edges a little bit and go for it. In a project, having one focal print with many colors in it is very helpful, too.
I think that creation and creativity is really an individual craft, so just have fun with it! You'll find that you will get more and more creative as time goes on, and don't be surprised if your style/tastes changes along the way.
