Today’s Sips of Inspiration conversation is with my long-time blogging friend Karen Lowry Reed.

Karen and I “met” through her real-life friend Judy. Judy and I “met” through our blogs during Art Every Day Month in 2010. I’m so grateful for the kindred spirits I’ve encountered through blogging and I still dream of a creative blogging renaissance.

When we first became blogging friends, Karen was not yet living full-time at her “bit of earth” in Vermont.

Autumn beauty at Karen’s “bit of earth” in Vermont

Over the course of our friendship, it has been so inspiring to watch as she made her dreams a reality.

Karen’s original blog and now her new website and blog is called Sew and Sow Life, reflecting a love of stitching and gardening. Some of the fabric she uses for her creations is dyed with plant materials she’s grown or foraged on her “bit of earth”.

Karen’s natural dyeing experiments using plant materials she grew on her land

Karen is an inspiration not only with the beauty she cultivates and creates, but in the way she embraces thoughtfulness, intention and a connection with the natural world.

Some of Karen’s sewing bits and bob including a handmade needle case and pin cushion

For one project she created a quilt with each block inspired by her “bit of earth” and documented it in a beautiful book (which I can’t seem to convince her to offer for sale).

Karen is a founding member of the Vermont Modern Quilt Guild (pay attention to the beautiful wall hanging behind her in our interview. You can read about it here).

One of Karen Lowry Reed’s quilted wall hangings

I hope you enjoy our chat.

Be sure to visit Karen’s new site and watch for the launch of her shop in early 2021. She’s started a new Instagram account, too, if you want to follow her there.

Curious about the snail mail gear she made for her granddaughter? Read about it here.

Thank you, friends, for being here on my journey this year. Today’s post is the last one for 2020. I’ll be back with a new blog post on Friday, January 8. Until then, I wish you much joy as this year passes into the next.

*the ginkgo leaf fabric Karen used in the top zipper pouch is one of my designs available on Spoonflower! I love how she used it here.

Sips of Inspiration: an Interview with Karen Lowry Reed