[Please note this giveaway has ended. Scroll down for the winner's name.]
We at Quilters Newsletter are spoiled in terms of having access to famous quilters and designers, a nice perk to the job to be sure. But we also love meeting and telling you about people you maybe haven’t heard about yet but whose work deserves your attention. We had a very difficult time picking only 10 people to include in this Top 10 list of folks we featured in QN this past year — trust us, it was almost a Top 37 list. Read our list (presented in alphabetical order), then scroll to the end to learn how you can enter to win a giveaway.
1. Kathy Arroyo The designer and maker of our August/September 2011 cover quilt, All Because I Bought a New Rug, uses whatever tools and methods she needs to create her quilts, whether by hand or machine. “Quilts will talk to you if you listen, and they always guide me — most of the time in the right direction.” (August/September 2011)
2. Hortense Beck The late Beck combined a love of history with a passion for applique to create stunning quilts, both replicas of well-known quilts and original designs. When she died in 2009, 54 of her quilts were donated to the International Quilt Study Center at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska. Because they can be displayed more often than their older counterparts and can be displayed outside the museum, they are now part of IQSC’s educational collection. (August/September 2011)
3. Michele David When David was forced to take a medical leave of absence from her work as a physician because of a debilitating illness, she turned to quilting for its therapeutic qualities. She looks to her Haitian background as a main source of inspiration for her art quilts. “Quilting heals because it’s soothing, meaningful and insightful. I found a joy in quilting that helped me regain my health.” (December/January 2012)
4. Jeanetta Holder Known as the “Indy 500 Quilt Lady,” a love of fast cars and quilting are a winning combination for this veteran stitcher and die-hard race fan. Holder has made a quilt for every Indy 500 winner since 1976 and is well known among the racing community, including Al Unser, Mario Andretti, Roger Penske and Rick Mears. “I’ve had drivers walk up to me and say, ‘You got a blanket? Hope so ’cause I’m gonna win.” (April/May 2011)
5. Jimmy McBride Art school-trained McBride merges a love for science fiction with traditional piecing and quilting techniques to make his “space quilts” under the guise of his intergalactic trucker alter ego. “I thoroughly enjoy making the quilts and love every aspect of them, although I don’t see myself as solely a quilter. The quilts are part of a larger story that I’m trying to tell.” (August/September 2011)
6. Karla Overland Known for the exquisite collections of gradated fabric she produces as colorist for Cherrywood Fabrics, Overland blurs the line between personal art and professional career. “I love that I can still make wonderful garments and quilts for Cherrywood, but also develop my own artistic style through my personal work.” (February/March 2011)
7. Sue Patten Self-avowed doodling addict Patten has a passion for free-motion thread art. Her whole-cloth quilts feature vibrant, detailed thread painting. “I love to create art on fabric with a single piece of fabric and a multitude of threads.” (October/November 2011)
8. J. Michelle Watts New Mexico quilter Watts describes the quilt that graces our February/March 2011 cover, Fiesta de Talavera, as her version of a Baltimore album inspired by hand-painted Mexican Talavera ceramic plates. She generously shared her design process with us. “I consider it my applique masterpiece.” (February/March 2011)
9. Barbara J. West Quilt artist West is inspired in equal parts by her love of textiles, a commitment to women’s creative expression and living in the Canadian Rockies. “Over the past couple of years, the sketchbook has become one of my most important tools.” (April/May 2011)
10. Rachel Wetzler We liked Tropical Radiance so much — and thought you would, too — that we used it on our October/November 2011 cover as well as included the pattern in our December/January 2012 issue. Wetzler shared with us how she designed the quilt using a palm block and careful attention to color and value. “I feel a deep sense of satisfaction when a quilt top is completed. I could just sit and stare at it for days.” (October/November 2011)
So again, tell us what you think. What profiles did you particularly enjoy this past year? Who would you like to see featured in future issues? We want to know! Leave a comment below to be entered for a chance to win a fat-quarter bundle of the Little Gatherings collection by Primitive Gatherings for Moda, a lovely set of small-scale, neutral prints in cream, taupe, brown and black that would be a great addition to any quilter’s stash. Leave your comment before 11:59 MST on Wednesday, December 28. One comment per person, please. This giveaway is open to people who haven’t won anything from Quilters Newsletter in the past 90 days.
Good luck! And remember, the best way to learn about giveaways and contests is to follow us on Facebook.
UPDATE: We have a winner! The random number generator chose #15, Dorothy Holt. Congrats, Dorothy! Please contact us at submissions@qnm.com with a mailing address and we’ll ship your prize to you. Thanks to all who participated!
I’ve enjoyed so many of the profiles! I too would love to see more about the “up-and-coming” quilters who’ve recently won at quilt shows (when they started, how long it took them to reach that level, what they found most helpful, etc.).
I sure liked Karla Overland’s story. I have always been in love with Cherrywood fabrics but seldom see them for sale in quilt shops– just the Internet or the really big quilt shows like Houston. I never thought of Cherrywood as having a colorist work for them, but of course it makes sence. I would like to see more articles about product designers.
I liked Rachel Wetzler’s profile and can identify with her feeling of accomplishment and how she could sit and look at her quilt for days. I loved the Tropical Radiance quilt and the starting from palm blocks. I have some foundation piecing papers ready for a palm block quilt but just haven’t got to it yet. I love the fact that there are so many methods in quilting and the way each and every quilt is an original piece of art.
enjoy reading about all the different quilters and their approach to making and designing quilts. giving others inspiration to make our own quilts, Quilts help us keep our sanity some days and lose it others. hope to take some quilting classes in near future, could improve on technics.
Barbara West has to be my favorite. I work in a some what high stress, typically male job and there are days i feel i can’t leave the house if i don’t have a sketch book with me. It gives me freedom to combine the technical and creative worlds to find a balance to my day.
I loved Kathy Arroyo’s quilt on the Aug/Sept 2011 issue. And also it’s name “All because I bought a new rug” I have an old star quilt to repair and finish for my daughter and Arroyo’s quilt has inspired me.
I really enjoyed learning about Rachel Wetzler and her process, Really enjoyed Radience. It is beautiful. Actually just enjoy the whole magazine.
Being from Indiana I enjoyed hearing about Jeanetta Holder. She’s been doing the quilts since 1976 and hasn’t been recognized at the race as she should. It should go along with the milk.
Jeanetter Holder was inspirational for me. Making quilts for the winners of the Indy 500 seemed like such a unique idea. I can picture the appreciation the winners have for her creativity and her love of the sport!
All of the artists that you feature are an inspiration to my love of quilting. I may not have the skills as they do, but one can only dream that you can possibly quilt along with these wonderful artists.
Rachel Wetzler’s quilt “Tropical Radiance” was absolutely stunning, the colours chosen were wonderful, so bright and colourful, also Fiesta de Talavera, just as bright and colourful, so very different, yet both so stunning, thank you so much.
Barbara
Great stories. I appreciate the inspiration.
I have enjoyed reading each of the profiles. Jeanetta Holder’s story was especially unique and interesting. She seems like a wonderful lady.
Very good profiles! In a future issue I would love to read about Barbara Brackman and her Civil War quilts. It is absolutely fascinating how she combines history with block patterns of that era.
I liked Jeanetta Holder’s story. That’s a cool thing to do!
Jeanetta Holder’s article made me laugh and warmed my heart. What a woman and what an interesting passion!
Love all the stories, but especially the Indy 500 quilt ladies’ story…like to see stories on the “little guys” of quilting, folks that are new to quilting and what some of their experiences, success and failures have been
Although I am just beginning the art of quilting on my own, my mother and grandmother were both accomplished quilters. Unfortunately they are not with me anymore to help me in my endeavors, so I greatly appreciate the information in all of your issues and look forward to reading the stories that each quilter shares. I love their varied backgrounds as well as their different approaches to quilting.
Michele Davids’ story could be mine! I was an esthetician before I got sick and becme disabled. I have always loved sewing and quilting but never had much time for it. Now all I have is time so I’m quilting constantly….hopefully for a v ery long time.
I enjoyed Kathy Arroyo. I think she’s correct that quilts talk to us. Her quilt is so colorful and joyful
I’d love to see a feature on Frances Holiday Alford. Her work is unique and always amazes me. (No, she’s not my sister lol). I enjoyed the Indy 500 lady feature!