Inspirational Wednesday

**ETA...sorry guys, I goofed up and published the wrong episode of IW...if you click the IW logo under my name, or the IW right below, it will take you to the new episode. As of right now (6:27am) it isn't on Itunes yet, but will be in a little bit. Again, sorry !!!**

I am SO excited about this weeks IW.

This week we introduce something that, I am SURE we will enjoy doing. It's called the CELEBRATORY BURN. We will burn those patterns(and products) that GIVE US HELL.....

What am I burning???????

THAT DAMN FISHERMANS SHRUG Now, I did learn a lot....HOWEVER, it gave me hell....so back to hell it goes....

Burn, baby....BURN!!!!!! I had to put my fire out before it got TOO big...someone I know (Kayla) is TERRIFIED of fire....she thought the house was going to burn down lol

DONE!

You guys often ask, "Where do you find the time, how do you get all this stuff done, with kids, a job, and a husband?". My answer? I LOVE to see things DONE! Toya started this thing, where she would say...DONE...DONE, DONE, DONE....so now when we finish a project....we will email each other, with ONE word on the email.....DONE. So how do I find the time...I SACRIFICE lol, nothing big, staying up a few minutes later, getting up a few minutes earlier...but when you can SEE the finish line...man, that is inspiration enough.

This week's interveiw is from a wonderful quilter....

Kim You can click her name for a link to all her quilts.

I have to say, that one day I was searching for "something" and found these beautiful quilts, that made me want to start quilting. Thank you Kim for inspiring ME!

How did you get started quilting?

My friend invited me to her sister's baby shower. I'd never met this sister, but I didn't know any other babies and I was dying to use this retro baby and stork fabric that was perfect for a blanket. I ended up coming across a very easy Simplicity quilt pattern, which was just a bunch of squares and used tying instead of quilting. It turned out to be a very good first-timer quilt, and it got me interested in trying progressively more complicated quilts. Along the way everything I've learned has been from books, the internet, TV, and from talking to people at the shops and the local quilt guild - maybe I should take a class someday!

Where do you find your inspiration?

The quilters of Gee's Bend are my number one inspiration. I discovered them, Denyse Schmidt, and Funquilts (Bill Kerr and Weeks Ringle) all around the same time, and was thrilled that there were quilters doing something other than the traditional country patchwork. Right now I'm trying to do "studies" of Gee's Bend quilts, just like someone learning to draw would do studies of the masters. I'm trying to doing this to learn more about color, scale, and line -- of course there's they put into these quilts that isn't reproduceable.

picture of a Gee's Bend quilt:

credit: Arlonzia Pettway, "Housetop" nine-block variation, 1982, 87x80 inches. From the book "Gee's Bend: The Women and Their Quilts," Tinwood Books 2002

Where do you get your fabric?

Austin is NOT the greatest town for fabric shopping! I get most of my vintage fabric from eBay, and most of my new fabric from various internet shops. I used to have better luck at thrift stores but I guess since sewing has caught on in such a big way in recent years, the thrift stores aren't as fruitful anymore!

What is in your stash?

Oh geez. I have one armoire, a stack of 10 wire drawers from IKEA, and a big stack of plastic shoebox containers filled with fabric. And the guest bed has some piles on it too. Does fabric take over your house too? It's pretty much all cotton -- not a lot of garment or home dec fabric. Maybe 60% vintage and 40% new.

What is your favorite piece of artwork?

Do you mean quilt art or all art? Well I'll just keep it to quilt art! And I don't think I could narrow it down to one piece, but some of my favorite quilt artists (other than the women of Gee's Bend) are:

Angela Moll

Denise Burge

Valerie S. Goodwin

Lori Lupe Pelish

Do you attend any expos? Where?

I went to the International Quilt Festival in Houston this past year, but I was in my first trimester of pregnancy, sick and exhasted, so not much sunk in. I entered a quilt (a Denyse Schmidt pattern) in the Austin Area Quilt Guild show last year, it was a good experience overall though I'm still embarassed about the bad quilting job I did!

What are you favorite blogs, websites for inspiration and or information?

I subscribe to about 200 crafting, quilting, and knitting blogs, I've tried to pare them down to the most inspiring/essential and that's the best I can do! They're all listed on the front page of Dioramarama.

I have to say though that for inspiration, Print & Pattern has something mind-blowing every day, Dan Goodsell's Tick Tock Toys is an archive of vintage packaging, illustration, and design that, if the Internet were burning down, I would have to rush in to save.

Do you have any unfinished quilts? If so how old are they?

Only one -- my Hop, Skip, and a Jump quilt (Denyse Schmidt pattern) which I started last summer. It was going to be a queen-size but I think I'm breaking it down into smaller quilts for the zillions of babies being born around me all of the sudden.

How has quilting changed your life and what would you do if you couldn't do it anymore?

It has definitely given me a creative niche, but since I've only gone from other people's patterns so far, it still feels like I'm more of an unremarkable crafter than an artist. I'm trying to move into my own designs and develop a creative voice, and if I can do that I'll be really happy.

And, well I hope I could still sew if I couldn't quilt! I will probably always collect fabric though, whether or not I actually use it.

What would you tell someone if they asked you, "What do I need to do,to begin quilting?

(and) what would you recommend for someone making a quilt for the first time?

People speak of quilting in hushed tones, like it requires crazy magical powers, but it doesn't. If you can sew a garment, you can absolutely make a quilt. Actually all you need basic sewing skills (using a sewing machine, stitching a seam, cutting fabric) and then just go for it! Start small, with a potholder or a pillow or a baby quilt, and build from there. If you don't have a color scheme in mind, there's nothing wrong with getting a bunch of coordinating fabrics from the same line. Or, go to a local quilt store and have them help you pick out fabrics. Definitely use high-quality fabric -- that $2-a-yard stuff from the superstores will do ugly things and make you think it's your fault. Unless you're experienced with bias-cut fabric, pick a pattern that only uses right angles. Traditional log cabins are fun and easy (but may tire you out from all that piecing) and there's a famous pattern called Yellow Brick Road by Atkinson Designs that is excellent for beginners.

There are a TON of persnickety techniques out to help your seams match up perfectly and your squares lay flat and your quilting stitches perfectly uniform, but they could easily overwhelm you and make you hate quilting if you try to know it all and execute it all right off the bat. Your eye for these details and your technique will evolve over time.

What is your favorite all time quilt?

Gee's Bend Study

Thank you Kim for taking time out to interview with us!!! Hope you have a GREAT IW!

Don't miss next weeks episode!!! We will be interviewing a WONDERFUL photographer!!!  Tee hee....

Toodles!

Comments

[melissa]

oh my at the burning ;)-i wish I could do that with my chemistry homework

and just admit it your a super woman..no explanation needed, hehe

[toya]

ROFLOL, isn't is liberating! I love Kim's quilt, she's the bomb, thanks for hooking that interwiew up girl

[Ronalyn]

ha ha burn, baby burn!!!

Great interview and read girl!! Maybe one day I will learn the art of quilting.. until then.. I will sew paper!! Have a good day girl!!

[Jane]

LOL at the burning pics! Loved reading this little interview too! :)

[Tany]

Adrienne, I just read Toya's post, you both are rocking!! Love, love this inspirational wednesday and the interview! Very inspiring, just keep doing what you do!

[stephanie]

quilts are cool!

[Stacey]

LOL @ Burn Baby Burn & DONE!! (I need to start e-mailing that out! Haha)

I really need to look into small stack draws for my yarn instead of them all sitting around in baskets/bags!Hahaha! Or at least one of those nice yarn baskets.

Now you know quiliting is my future quest!!! In due time :o)

I need to go read your IW (thanks for the link), b/c not only do I not have a digi cam...I also don't have an Ipod!! :op
I am gonna get with it one of these days! LOL

Have a Wonderful Wednesday!

[Rhonda]

LOVE the Gee's Bend stuff. Did you know that Shaw Rugs has a line of rugs in Gee's Bend patterns? The company was inspired by the store...and we saw them at market last year.

[Sarah Bowen]

So glad I found this post on your blog, I am just starting to get into sewing, i.e. pattern making and quilting, my mom has been doing bother for years, she has recently turned me into a fabric junkie!!

[Jamillah]

Fire is not fun...I am with Kayla. My mom use to burn our hair from the brushes. I use to hate the smell of burning hair. I glad that you can take out your frustations. Have a great IW day!!

Peace

[Isolde]

Lovely quilts!! Someday I want to start quilting too. When I have lots of free time, hahahah

[Sarah]

Wow -- great interview! I am so impressed by those quilts. And while quilting isn't in my near future, it's very inspiring for me as a knitter!

[~gkw]

you quilt too??? Is there anything you don't do!??

[Maria]

AWESOME interview! It so totally rocks! I loved what you did for IW this week! Thank you so much for the inspiration and taking the time! :)

[Cynta]

good job again ladies!!! burn baby burn
...LOL

[sheila]

Great Interview.

[Kristi Sauer]

After today there is no doubt in my mind that you and Toya are crazy!!! Burning those patterns!! LMAO!! But I love ya both anyway!!! xoxoxoxxo

[Robin]

I like the celebratory burn!! I'll have to remember that one. There's a few things I'd like to burn.

[Lufah]

Celebratory Burn is awesome. :) And talking about quilting so much is making me want to get out one UFO in particular that I started last summer, but I don't think I'll have time to work on it until June, unfortunately. I used to work in a quilt shop, so I got sort of burned out on quilting, but it's starting to sound appealing again. :)

[Cassandra]

You are too funny dear! Burning your patterns?

I can't wait to see your next completed craft. You are so amazing! I need to get myself in gear.

Have fun

[Jenrigg]

I've never tried quilting - looks too hard for me!! But I'm loving all your stuff :)

[Bev Love]

Giggles - my little chant is "Over Done With Gone" (from the movie CUJO written by Stephen King). Love the burning ritual. I know what I'll be using for tender in the fireplace next winter :D

[Julia]

Hey, I was standing by Caro(splityarn.com) when she took that picture of Kim and her quilt. That was my first quilt show and I am trying to remain calm, but I may be hooked. There were so many beautiful quilts!