Meet Your (Quilt) Maker: Christine Quirion

If you've been to one of our meetings lately then you know we are putting some Polaroid quilt blocks together for our next block of the "month". In honor of the lovely crafty lady who brought us this pattern, we have our next installment of Meet Your "Quilt" Maker.

Meet Christine Quirion!

What’s your favorite podcast/music/audiobook genre to listen to when you quilt?

I’ve been listening to Lotta Sea Lice by Courtney Barnett and Kurt Weill a lot, along with Stevie Wonder and Solange. Also Radiolab podcast.

What skill are you itching to master?

I want to go back to curves again, like a drunkard’s path or muffin top. My first and only Drunkard’s Path quilt languished for 3 or 4 years because I thought I had made too many mistakes--the other skill to work on is focusing on what is right in my quilts instead of my eye drifting to the mistakes.

What sewing skill are you most proud of?

Figuring out how to add hand embroidery to my quilts is something that took a lot of trial and error, I like doing a little customization or a small message in the quilts for people I care about.

An embroidered pillow of sad robots for my niece Lyla

Do you sew for a living?

What an interesting idea. Much of why I sew has to do with getting to work on what I want, when I want to without having to get agreement from other people (which is what I do a lot of in my work managing projects).

What kind of fabric are you most attracted to?

Prints! I love prints, my eyes are naturally drawn especially to black and white prints (dots, stripes, shapes, repetitive images of any time, you name it).  Much of what I’m looking at lately has been Cotton + Steel. I also love Carolyn Friedlander fabrics too. Anything architectural or pop art inspired really sings out to me.

Tell us about the quilt that means the most to you and why. This doesn’t have to be one that you made. And we’d love to see a picture!

The quilt that we have on our bed most of the year, which is a Modern Flying Geese pattern from Red Pepper Quilts. This was the first quilt I made on my own without taking a class.  I like adding a little bit of randomness, so I was able to turn a few of the blocks sideways and it makes me really happy.

My favorite quilt, Modern Flying Geese design by Red Pepper Quilts

How/When did you start quilting?

About eight years ago. I grew up crocheting and making clothes for dolls because my parents were always DIY-ing things. My mom got into quilting when she retired, so I followed along.

From designing and picking fabrics to watching a recipient’s face when they see your quilt for the first time, what is your favorite part of the whole process?

My favorite part is finding something I can do with the design or fabric choices that relates to the person i’m making it for. Next in my list is the Up North Pattern by Pen + Paper patterns, I want to add a dog and turn the camper van into a horse trailer for my aunt who loves collies and has horses.

Spooky spiderweb and ghost themed wedding quilt for a friend who loves Halloween 

What do you do get over a hump when you get stuck on a quilt?

Set it aside and move on to something else like improv log cabin squares. If things are looking too matchy, my husband sometimes gives me a second opinion to rearrange the blocks a little bit.

What kind of other crafts are you into besides quilting?

I knit, sew bags and clothes, embroider, and I do a lot of cooking.

Where’s your fave place to eat in Cambridge?

Trina’s Starlite Lounge, All-Star Pizza bar and Flour have the veggie options I need.

A mini version of the Rebel Quilt design by Libs Elliot which I made for a 
Quiltcon mini quilt swap last Feb. 

Do you have any favorite blogs/insta accounts we should know about? And where can we find you on the internet?

On instagram, I like to follow

@builtaquilt

@thencamejune

@libselliot

@sewyoursoul

@lisacongdon  

You can find me on instagram @quirionc

Anything else you want us to know about you?

I'm a scorpio and my preferred mode of travel is by bike.

Meet Your (quilt) Maker: Charlotte Howard

If you've been at Guild meeting/events recently then you're familiar with our amazing QuiltCon 2018 design. We almost completed the top at Sew Boston, there are just a couple of adjustments we still need to make. So while we can't show it to you quite yet, we can introduce you to the amazing graphic artist behind the design. 

Meet Charlotte Howard:

What’s your favorite podcast/music/audiobook genre to listen to when you quilt?

If I am hand-sewing a binding, I'll listen to This American Life and RadioLab, or watch a really bad movie/TV show that doesn't require much attention. Otherwise, I prefer to work in silence so I can hear my thoughts. Plus, I get vicious migraines from noise and vibration, so I have to wear ear plugs when I'm using the sewing machine.

What sewing skill are you most proud of?

I would say my hand-sewing skills are rudimentary, at best. But, I can do a mean Satin Stitch on the machine!

What skill are you itching to master?

I finally learned how to do French Knots a few weeks ago! That was a major victory, although it only took a few minutes of reading a tutorial to achieve. I am hankering to try making a bias tape quilt.

Do you sew for a living?

In the past decade, I returned to my first career as a graphic designer. These days, I mostly do freelance book cover designs for small presses. I love the work as I get to research images and art reproductions from all different historical periods, and figure out how to integrate text to tell a story about what's inside the book.

It is challenging and satisfying work, except for the part where I don't get to touch anything but the computer keyboard, and where I get eyestrain and migraines from the computer screen. Quilting is a way for me to create stuff with my hands, and to give my eyes a rest.

What kind of fabric are you most attracted to?

I prefer rich, warm, solid fabrics, like those found in Amish quilts. My parents run a furniture store, so from birth I was surrounded by passionate discussions about upholstery fabrics. One of my favorite jobs at the store was straightening up the fabric sample shelf in the back office. So many heavy binders full of gorgeous, thick, luscious fabric squares from each manufacturer...it was a tactile heaven of cut velvets, damasks, silks, & leathers.

Tell us about the quilt that means the most to you and why. This doesn’t have to be one that you made. And we’d love to see a picture! 

The first "quilt" I made was in Los Angeles in 2000. I was working 80-hour weeks editing horrible TV shows in small, dark rooms with multiple huge video screens and no windows. I was desperate to do something with my hands, so I took two sheets and cut them into triangles. It was such a relief to play around with layout and then (rather haphazardly) stitch them together. There's no actual batting, and I had no idea how to attach a backing properly, but it's still the quilt I use the most. because it makes me so happy.

How/When did you start quilting? 

See above. Before that, I had stayed away from any kind of sewing due to getting a "D" in Home Economics in the 8th Grade. I finally got up the courage to take a beginning sewing course at Brookline Adult Ed in 2011, and the teacher was much more positive. I told her I was interested in quilting, and she turned me on to a free quilt class at the Allston Public Library. People in that class mentioned Gather Here, and I've been taking quilting classes at Gather Here ever since.

From designing and picking fabrics to watching a recipient’s face when they see your quilt for the first time, what is your favorite part of the whole process?

For me, the most satisfying part is the process of designing the quilt. This Charity Quilt design is the only quilt design I've ever done on the computer, though it was simply a more complex version of a quilt I did for a Michael Miller Fabric Challenge.

Every other quilt has been about selecting/discarding colors, laying shapes out on my living room floor, staring at things for an hour/day/month/year, rearranging, sewing, ripping out seams, resewing. It's not a fast process, and sometimes it's not fun, as I tend to deconstruct the meaning of colors/symbols/life, which can lead to some angst. But once I find a solution, then I feel as though the process has been worthwhile for me.

What do you do to get over a hump when you get stuck on a quilt?

First, I go see a movie. Then I go for a drive in an area I know nothing about. Then I put the quilt away for several months/years. Whatever it takes to distance myself from the project and get a fresh perspective/new inspiration. I put this Drunkard's Path quilt away for almost a year before I knew exactly how I wanted to complete it.

What kinds of other crafts are you into besides quilting?

I'm not so into differentiating between "arts" and "crafts." The division is often a culturally imposed one that discredits the importance of work created by women and/or people from "other" socio-economic backgrounds.  I've tried all sorts of arts & crafts processes, including stained glass, handbuilt ceramic sculptures, photomontages, jewelry beading, letterpress printing, silk batik, weaving...

I miss doing ceramic work as 3D sculptural pieces are very satisfying to create. Ceramics are heavy to cart around though! Quilts are much lighter.

Where’s your fave place to eat in Cambridge?

I used to love Algiers on Brattle Street, though their ownership has changed and their hummus isn't so heavenly anymore. The Afghan restaurant, Helmand, is quite good. Anything Middle Eastern is high on my list. I am itching to try Oleanna.

Do you have any favorite blogs/insta accounts we should know about? And where can we find you on the internet?

I'm on Instagram @charlaralotte

My (very outdated) graphic design portfolio is here.

Anything else you want us to know about you? 

The first quilt guild meeting I ever attended was a revelation. I was terrified going in, as I thought the meeting would be like the harsh & bitter art critiques of college. Thankfully, that format has never been in evidence. There's such a great positivity that means so much to me. Even if I haven't been doing a lot of quilting, I am always rejuvenated and reinvigorated creatively after guild meetings. So, thank you to everyone who attends and makes the meetings these delightful afternoon escapes from the cut-throat world outside.

Meet Your (quilt) Maker: Sandra Gregg

Were you surprised when you received the email about our FREE trip to the Garment District in New York in November? Well, meet Sandra (Sandy) Gregg - our treasurer who collects the taxes, pays the bills, files the tax forms, and tells us when we have extra money to spend on things like our upcoming field trip! Sandy's been quilting and guilding for years, and makes lovely art.

What’s your favorite podcast/music/audiobook genre to listen to when you quilt?

 I listen to the WBGH classical music station WCRB when I quilt.  It allows me to think my own thoughts and drowns out the sounds of the city.  Plus they pick the music and it’s a nice variety.

What sewing skill are you most proud of?

I’ve been sewing since 7th grade, which was a long time ago.  I think my sewing skills are average but sewing machines have advanced by leaps and bounds in the last 58 years.

What skill are you itching to master?

I want to be able to always have my free-motion quilting look perfect and it never has.  I have practiced a lot, and I think what I do works well enough and others probably don’t notice the things that I’m not happy with.

Do you sew for a living?

I am retired from working and my main hobby is quilting.  I do it for the love of the process.  Once in a while I make a little money but that’s not my goal.

What kind of fabric are you most attracted to?

 I usually begin with white fabric and if I am painting it, silk is my favorite because it glows.  If I am making traditional or modern quilts, then regular cotton works best for me.

Tell us about the quilt that means the most to you and why. This doesn’t have to be one that you made.

 The quilt that I’m working on at the moment is usually my favorite.  Since I love the process, once the quilt is made, I’m on to planning the next one.  Usually in a year I will make 12-15 large abstract wall quilts.

How/When did you start quilting?

I began quilting in 1976 which was the US Bicentennial.  The renewed interest in quilting began around that time.  I had just moved with two young boys to Lebanon, NH and was looking for a way to meet people.  I took a beginning quilting class at Adult Ed.  The group got along very well and we eventually went on to form the Northern Lights Quilting Guild which is still alive today.

From designing and picking fabrics to watching a recipient’s face when they see your quilt for the first time, what is your favorite part of the whole process?

I love the process of painting and dyeing fabric.  It’s also very rewarding to help beginning quilters. One of my granddaughters has learned to sew and she spent the weekend with me recently and we had a great time making quilt blocks.  All she needs is a line drawn on the fabric and she is good to go.

What do you do get over a hump when you get stuck on a quilt?

When I get stuck I go for a walk or work on other things.  Even just puttering around the room sometimes helps.  The ideas come at odd times, and I don’t obsess about it when I see that it’s not working.  I’ve even been know to throw things away or cut them up.  Sometimes even turning a quilt 90 degrees solves the problem.

What kind of other crafts are you into besides quilting?

I’m very curious about how things are done and how they are made so I’ve tried lots of crafts including crochet, macrame, embroidery, stamping, book making, screen printing.  You learn new things whenever you change up your routine and it all comes full circle eventually and shows up in what you are doing and how you solve problems.

Where’s your fave place to eat in Cambridge?

I like to cook and usually eat at home.  When I’m looking for something tasty I often go to Flour Bakery

Do you have any favorite blogs/insta accounts we should know about? And where can we find you on the internet?

 I have a web site but don’t have a FaceBook account and I am not active on social media.  I follow a few blogs but find that people seem to post less and less often as they explore other platforms.  The bottom line for me is that following social media takes a lot of time, and I’d rather spend that time making art.

Anything else you want us to know about you?

I’ve been retired since 2002 after spending many years as an administrator at Dartmouth College.  I was a quilter then, but naturally my productivity increased once I had time to take classes and follow the muse.  My advice to everyone reading this is to take as many classes as you can.  You only need to learn one new thing to make taking the class worthwhile.  There are always new things to learn.

Meet Your (quilt) Maker: Rebecca Shawgo

At our July meeting we'll be working on our QuiltCon 2018 charity quilt. Yes, it's already that time again! We're fortunate to already have the process well underway - designs were solicited, voted on, and the work will now be divvied up into manageable chunks that members can take home to work on. And it's only July! We have our Charity Committee Leader, Rebecca to thank for the majority of the work that has gone into making this process easy and fun for the rest of us. Also, a big shout out to Rebecca for the Camp Erin quilt drive she organized that resulted in 26 campers going home with a quilt made by the CMQG! See you on Sunday, but in the meantime...

Meet Rebecca Shawgo:

What’s your favorite podcast/music/audiobook genre to listen to when you quilt?

I'm not very musically inclined, typically don't listen to anything while I sew.

 

What sewing skill are you most proud of?

I think I have an accurate 1/4 inch seam.  I nest most of my seams and sew by feel more than by pinning.

 

What skill are you itching to master?

I recently started doing improv/fantasy feathers on the (rented) long-arm quilting machine.  I'm not good at them but found them to be tons of fun!

 

Do you sew for a living?

Nope, but I have a couple quilt patterns on sale at Etsy!  I do project management for pharmaceutical research & development.

 

What kind of fabric are you most attracted to?

This is tough, it really depends on the project and how I am feeling.  I love being able to try out different palettes with one quilt without making a commitment.  I do use a lot of solids and textural blenders for my projects.  I tend towards scrap quilting and would prefer to use 12 shades of a color rather than only one fabric.

 

Tell us about the quilt that means the most to you and why. This doesn’t have to be one that you made. 

I have two!  One is the quilt that I had on my bed when I was a teen, that then each of my sisters used and it is now in rather poor shape.  This was made by a great aunt and had parasol girls embroidered on it, with yellow gingham on the back.  It is quite traditional but very much the style of quilts around when I grew up.  

The other one is the first pattern I made up completely, based on the beginning of the Fibonacci sequence using bright solids that my sister has on her bed.  

 

How/When did you start quilting?

I wanted a new cover for my bed about 7 years ago and my mother said that if I pieced a top, she would do the quilting.  I was looking to develop a new creative hobby and gave quilting a try and have being doing some off and on ever since.  She does a lot of my quilting since she doesn't like piecing much.

 

From designing and picking fabrics to watching a recipient’s face when they see your quilt for the first time, what is your favorite part of the whole process?

Any part that is designing.  I love improv quilting and scrap quilts because I get to keep making design decisions every step of the way.

 

What do you do get over a hump when you get stuck on a quilt?

Two parts, I look for inspiration from art and photos or I go off and do something else for a while.

 

What kind of other crafts are you into besides quilting?

Cooking and decorating/renovating the home.

 

Where’s your fave place to eat in Cambridge?

Very hard to pick just one!  Lone Star Taco is a current favorite.

Do you have any favorite blogs/insta accounts we should know about? And where can we find you on the internet?

Instagram and Etsy handle is piecesofrebecca, no blog.

 

Anything else you want us to know about you?

I hate pinning and will do almost anything to not pin a quilt!