making it fun: Introducing Michael Miller Fabrics Brand Ambassador

We are so pleased to introduce Kris Poor as our fifth Michael Miller Fabrics Brand Ambassador!

Kris has a dedication to creating innovative patterns. She is a major player at Quilt Market and we love her fun booth design and demos.

I am thrilled to be a Michael Miller Fabrics Ambassador!

Let me introduce myself; I am Kristine Poor, owner of Poorhouse Quilt Designs. I have a degree in Engineering and in my previous life, I worked as a manufacturing engineer (mostly writing assembly instructions!)! I started Poorhouse Quilt Designs in September 2006, after designing the Sampler Tote as a gift for a family member. The tote was a hit around town and a pattern company was born!

My pattern line has grown since that first tote - there are bags, bowls, quilts, banners, ornaments... Our most popular pattern is the Fold’n Stitch Wreath. I enjoy experimenting with unusual materials and sharing the results with you!!

I create our designs from our home studio in Derry NH. Most of my days are spent writing a little, stitching a little, sipping coffee, repeat! Where I stitch, I can gaze out to the trees and sometimes spy a deer or two walking by in the early morning!

My husband Bill works with me; he is a recently retired IT project manager. He runs our day to day operations as well as our laser cutter! We laser cut projects for quilt shops around the country. Laser cutting has been an adventure - we have even laser engraved a cheesecake!

Bill and I have 2 boys, Alex, 23 and Eric, 20 – both boys are recent college graduates, busy getting their careers going! Lastly, no pets here…. I am too sneezy!

1.What was your first sewing project?

Fun question! I had been playing with a sewing machine and just stitching on scraps (instead of practicing my flute) starting in about 4^th grade. About a year later, I decided I should make a dress for myself. My mother brought me to the fabric store and we got a pattern (ooh I loved those big pattern books….still do!!) and a lovely red polyester with big pink polka dots, pink ball buttons and a long red zipper. We made that dress and I wore it with pride! The moral of this story is: If you want your child to sew, put a sewing machine in the room where they are supposed to practice or study!!

2. What other hobbies do you enjoy?

I love to paint and enjoy being in the mountains in the summer.

3. What is your favorite color?

Red is my jam! I generally put a bit red in everything that I sew for my booth at Quilt Market so that everything goes together!

4.Where is your dream vacation?

A Scandinavian tour would be my dream vaca! I would love to visit my family’s roots in Dalarna Sweden (yes – think dala horse – I am a big fan!!), as well as the capital cities, the fjords, palaces and Viking ships. I guess I better get saving!

5. Who taught you how to sew?

I had 3 great teachers - my mother Jean and my grandmothers! As mentioned, I was playing with a sewing machine and asking questions that my mother found she couldn’t answer. She decided that she would take an adult ed sewing class (she was an athlete in high school and never took home ec). She taught me at home as she learned. I also learned from Dolly and Stina (grandmothers), who would help me to sew for my dolls. Great women with loads of patience! I still sew with my mother often (poor Jean – she gets stuck with sewing/testing my patterns!!)!

6. What food could you eat everyday?

Hands down – ice cream. Not just any ice cream – local ice cream at outdoor stands in the summer ice cream.

7. What do you want to be doing in five years?

The plan – teaching and touring the USA pulling a trailer for two! My husband and I plan to hit the back roads to hunt down quirky attractions, scenic views and meet quilters along the way. Bill is a railroad history buff, so I am sure we will include a few whistle-stops too!