Dispatches
January 2008

Happy New Year! I hope you are all having a productive and creative winter. Now that we have received our class confirmations for QBL ’08, planning can begin. If you have not yet registered, there is great information on the web site about class availability and it can all be done online! I hope you enjoy hearing more about our faculty for 2008 in this and upcoming issues. Give yourself a few minutes to do the design exercise, and maybe even read one of the books listed! There is nothing like a cup of tea and a few quiet minutes this time of year.

“Imagination needs moodling – long, inefficient, happy idling, dawdling and puttering.”

Faculty in the News
Design Exercise
Books to Consider

Faculty in the News

Pamela Mostek, from Cheney, Washington, is new to the QBL faculty in 2008. Pamela may be known to some of you already through her books on quilting, including Dazzling Quilts, which was released about a year ago by Martingale & Co, and is Pamela’s sixth book with them. She says, “I wear a lot of hats in the quilting world...book author, pattern designer, fabric designer, teacher, and art quilter, just to name a few. I'm constantly trying to keep all the balls in the air when it comes to each of those areas. I do enjoy them all…so the challenge is the balance.” No doubt part of that balance includes, as Pamela describes, being the proud grandmother of four (totally brilliant and beautiful!) grandchildren. “If it comes down to going without a little sleep or spending important time with them, I always choose to give up sleep!”

Pamela responded generously to the series of questions I pose to new faculty; read on!

Why fabric and thread?
I love the texture and tactile qualities of fabric and thread. My background is in art and I've spent many years painting, but fabric and thread are better! I love the added dimension and pattern that's possible with fabric. After working in fabric, painting seems a little flat and limiting to me. I'm always excited about the endless possibilities available with fabric and thread. Obviously, I've converted!

Did you grow up with quilts and quilters?
No, I didn't. In contrast to many quilters, there were no quilts in my growing up years. I was, however, exposed to fabric, and I'm sure this is a major reason I'm so passionate about it. My mother was an expert seamstress, making gorgeous clothing for all of us. She usually had a sewing project underway and this included tailoring wool coats and creating fabulous prom dresses! She was also an artist and taught me to see the beauty in everything from the gorgeous garden to a glitzy rhinestone purse! I love creating just about anything; I know I inherited that from my mother.

What has influenced you most? Has that changed in the last five years?
I'm constantly being influenced by everything I see, which is probably why I love traveling. There's always something new and different to add to my inspiration bank! Probably my study and degree in art has been a big influence on how I approach my quilts. I began my career as a professional quilter about seven years ago and have enjoyed doing how-to books to help people to make great quilts, but I find that more and more I'm being pulled back to my roots in art training. At this point I'm concentrating more on my art quilts, yet still doing commercial quilts for books and patterns.

Who were your most influential art and/or quilting teachers?
Nancy Crow has been a big influence on my career as a quilt artist. Not necessarily her style, but her dedication and passion for making quilts and taking herself seriously as an artist. I was fortunate to take a class from her several years ago, and it was a turning point in how I viewed myself as a quilter. It was probably the turning point for me as far as concentrating on my art quilts rather than commercial quilts. I'm very thankful for the opportunity to learn from her.

How would you describe your teaching style?
I spent fifteen years as a high school teacher, and I think this has been a big asset when it comes to teaching quilting classes. Contrary to high school students, quilters are in class to enjoy their hobby and they choose to be there so teaching to them is an easy delight. I would describe my style as relaxed and informal. My goal for my students is for them to enjoy the process and what they learn, and secondly, to finish their quilt and start another one!

What would you like your students to know about your class before they come to QBL?
I would like them to know that we are going to practice a little creative stretching….and enjoy the process of doing it.

Is there anything you consider absolutely essential that your students should come to class with?
Absolutely. They should come with a positive attitude and be open to learning new tricks and techniques. A good sense of humor is always an asset too!

Are there any books you suggest students read or look through before coming…or what books do you look to for inspiration if and when you get stuck.
I feel strongly that good design is essential in any quilt or other piece of art. I've met quilters who feel they are handicapped because they haven't had formal training in art or design, but this is something they can work on even without a background in design. There are many books based on the principals of design, so browsing the bookstore and selecting one that seems to meet your needs is a great way to get started. One of my favorite design books is Design! A Lively Guide to Design Basics for Artists & Craftspeople by Steven Aimone. Pick up your design book a few minutes a day and you'll be surprised how much you'll learn in a short time.

What would you like to know about the QBL experience before you come to teach?
I am so pleased to be part of the 2008 faculty and am looking forward to soaking up the whole experience of teaching there. I don't have any questions….just eagerly await my visit there.

What is your favorite book?
This is a tough one! I love reading, but at this point in my busy career, I reserve reading for when I'm on the road traveling and teaching or traveling for fun. Since I live in Washington State, traveling to the east coast is about a one novel trip each way! When I'm at home, all my extra time is spent hand stitching or other work related activities so I love the forced isolation of the airplane! If I have to pick, I would certainly put The Thornbirds high on my list; however, I love reading all historical novels, especially those that take place in England. In fact, Elizabeth I is my new hero! Definitely a complex lady ahead of her time!

Pamela currently has quilts from her Paintbox Series included in the SAQA Creative Fore '07 exhibit which will travel for the next year and another quilt from that series included in Expressions: The Art Quilt, a traveling exhibit sponsored by Ricky Tims and his gallery which will be traveling through 2008.

If that is not enough, she also is designing fabric for RJR fabrics; her first line with them, French Flowers, will arrive at the quilt shops in February or March of 2008. You can see more at www.pamelamostek.com.

Carol Taylor reports that her quilt Evergreen is on the cover of the December 2007 issue of Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine, with an accompanying article on pages 72 to 74. One of Carol’s quilts also graces the cover of a new book , Skinny Quilts by Eleanor Levie. The book, due out this month, has “skinny quilts” by eight or so different quilters. Directions for Carol’s quilt are in the book as well. I was intrigued; what is a skinny quilt? I think this photo clears that up!

Libby Lehman was teaching in Japan in November and early December! Libby says her absolutely favorite new book is Made to Stick by Chip & Dan Heath. Libby says it has changed the way she thinks, and organizes her classes (and other things). A must read!

“Watch yourself. Every minute we change. It is a great opportunity. At any point, we can step out of our frozen selves and our ideas and begin fresh.”

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Design Exercise

Two of the design principles most familiar to quiltmakers are those of repetition and harmony. The repeat block and using related colors are both common to even the most traditional quilt designs. In this design exercise you may find a new twist on an old friend.

Repetition with variety is more interesting;
without variety, your design might be monotonous.

1. Grab an inexpensive booklet of some kind (or do as my grandmother did and use an old discarded book), a glue stick and a bunch of magazines.
2. Pick a shape, and cut out as many versions of that shape that you can find. Look carefully. You may find a shape within another picture that has interesting texture, color, shading etc.
3. Glue the cut-outs into the book in a collage fashion. You are not designing here, just gluing the pieces down randomly.
4. Cut a 2” by 2” window from a plain piece of paper.
5. Move the paper across your “shapes page” looking for interesting designs. When you find one that appeals to you, you can photocopy or scan it, or just trace the shapes with tracing paper.
6. If you like computer designing, see what you can come up with. Try to design a block with your selection. Could it be a design for a whole quilt? If so, how would you put it together? Would you create shapes with whole pieces or by moving texture/color/value across the design?

Repeat the exercise with harmony as the focus of your magazine search. Look for similar, related elements, or adjacent, complimentary or some other combination of colors from the color wheel.

Have fun!

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Books to Consider

Jeannette DeNicolis Meyer recommended If You Think You Can Write by Brenda Ueland a couple of years ago while teaching at QBL. I recently, finally, got around to reading it and highly recommend it. Although generally about writing, it is really a wonderful, down-to-earth discussion of creativity. I cannot recommend it highly enough, and now that I have finished it, I think I will read it all over again!

Here are some other books recommended by QBL students in the 2007 session.

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Happy Quilting!
Kathy
qblnews@aol.com

Past Dispatches
June 2007
April 2007
January 2007
October 2006
June 2006
April 2006
February 2006
November 2005
June 2005
April 2005
February 2005
October 2004