Behind the Book, with Donna McLeod | Modern Landscape Quilts
Meet Donna, author & designer behind Modern Landscape Quilts.
Donna, known online as XOXSew is the designer behind the brand new book, Modern Landscape Quilts. Publishing on December 5th 2023, Modern Landscape Quilts includes 14 quilts inspired by the great outdoors. We sat down with Donna to talk all things quilting, and here's what she had to say:
Tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m a self-taught quilter who loves designing and making quilts that can be pieced up in a weekend. I’ve also been putting my background in film editing to use by making YouTube tutorials that are quick and comprehensive. Everything I do is done at my home in Los Angeles, whom I share with my husband, two kids, and two bunnies. When I’m not sewing, you likely won’t find me in front of the stove. Instead, I’m probably reading or exploring a new place with my family (but only when it’s not hot out).
Tell us a bit about your new book?
Modern Landscape Quilts has 14 landscape-themed quilt projects, with each of the seven landscapes featuring a mini companion design. Even though most of the quilt-sized patterns are already pretty quick to piece, it was important for me to include a smaller version. This way, half of the projects in the book can be completed faster and with less fabric. The book also doubles as an all-in-one reference guide to finish a project. I was determined to make sure it has everything you need to make a quilt from start to finish. Quilting is a technical process, so I did my best to make the information quick and easy-to-digest, along with tons of visual aids for readers who are especially new to quilting.
What is your favourite project/technique featured?
Hands down the Mountain project. It was originally a companion piece to my Golden Canyon quilt pattern, but I’ve been a huge fan of the main quilt block technique that is used to piece the quilt top, so I decided to include it in the book. I’m really excited to share that method with the readers.
How do you think you reached this point in your craft?
Lots of practice and being confident in making mistakes. But, I’m not sure what point I’m in with quilting because I’m constantly learning. In many ways, I feel the same as I did when I first started. After years of quilting, I still very much enjoy making quilts written by other designers and I still very much dislike the business side of things!
Where do you look for inspiration?
I usually don’t look for inspiration in a conscious manner. I tend to draw sketches on graph paper of what I’m thinking or feeling at the time. For instance, the Golden State series (which began in 2019) was born from my family’s recent travels at that time. On the other hand, the Wonder Years series began in 2020, when the pandemic lockdown hit and I found myself feeling nostalgic about my childhood.
What makes up for the challenges?
Plenty! For me, this whole process is innately a practice of self-care. Outside of it, there are tons of responsibilities that require careful attention, time, and effort. With designing, writing, and quilting, it’s all about whatever I want out of it. There are no hard and fast rules that I follow when it comes to this craft, so it’s liberating to shrug off mistakes and stop second-guessing my choices. The outcome is a usable work of art no matter how imperfect the stitches are.
How big a part, if any, does sustainability play in your work?
I put a lot of effort in reducing waste in my work as much as possible, whether it’s saving fabric scraps or leftovers for a future project, designing and writing instructions that minimize fabric waste, repurposing sewing furniture, reusing paper templates, sewing in the daytime to work in natural light, or skipping fabric washing to eliminate water and electrical waste (not to mention the extra work!). But the environmental aspect is only one part of it. It’s linked with social sustainability
and that includes supporting vulnerable communities. I’m not an expert on this topic, but if you’re interested to learn more about it, a great start would be to look up your local organizations or mutual aid networks that pay attention to the needs of marginalized populations.
Who (dead or alive) would you invite to the perfect Crafting retreat?
Aside from my quilty pals from the online community, it would have to be a group of funny people who wouldn’t take things seriously and who probably wouldn’t mind some solo time throughout the retreat. Maybe Aparna Nancherla, Jenny Yang, and Kashana Cauley. Maybe Amy Poehler too. She seems like a take-charge person who can keep things fun, but productive.
What advice would you give to your beginner self?
Stretch frequently in between sewing sessions. I’m susceptible to back pain, so I’d like to tell my old self to prioritize physical health more.
In one word, how would you describe your book?
Approachable.
1 fun fact about yourself not many people know?
Writing a book was a fantasy I never thought would come true, so now I feel like the chances of my other fantasies coming true - like being in a dance crew or making a good living as the person who makes up paint color names - are not as inconceivable anymore!
What’s next for you?
More how-to blog posts, video tutorials, and easy-to-follow quilt patterns! I have a lot of designs that are waiting to become patterns. I don’t want to rush or put any stress into this process, so I’m excited to share them at my own pace.
Find Donna's book, Modern Landscape Quilts here.