The question this week:
Write about 5 quilters who have influenced your “quilting world” and how they did so. These do not have to be “famous people”. They can be anyone who influenced you attitude towards quilting.
My answers .. and these are the first that came to mind:
- Bonnie Browning – I met Bonnie when she first asked to use one of my quilts in one of her border books and we spent a little time together and she encouraged me to send a book proposal to AQS.
- Alex Anderson – When I was getting more and more confident using the internet, I came across Alex Anderson’s Message Board. I met so many wonderful folks there and it truly changed my quilting “community”.
- Bonnie Hunter – Though I’m not a scrap quilter, Bonnie has had such a positive influence on the quilt world during our day. She’s a wonderful, friendly person but also a real celebrity in the quilting world.
- Ava Lea Broussard – She was an elderly lady who worked in the quilt shop where I first learned to quilt. She took me under her wing, invited me to her home for lunch at least once a week and her love and shared her love and enthusiasm for quilting!
- Diane Gaudynski – Her gorgeous machine quilted feathers inspired me to learn to do them, though mine will never look like hers, but I love quilting feathers.
Which 5 would you name as influencing your quilting through the years?
Susan says
That’s a really good question. I’m going to have to give it some thought. One name leaps to mind, but I know there are probably at least five.
Juliet S says
Eleanor Burns and her Quilt in a Day books, my dear friend, and quilter, Beth (bzyqltr) who always encourages me and will collaborate unselfishly, McKenna Ryan who introduced me to beautiful nature quilts, Suzanne at Strawberry Patches in Bakersfield–awesome and inspirational and beautifully curated quilting fabrics and patterns and my mom, who taught me to sew and “gifted” me her sweet Featherweight machine!
Dottie N. says
That is a great question, Judy – unfortunately there are more and more quilters that influence me.
I’d have to say my grandmother first because without her influence, I might not have started quilting.
Then there are my husband’s 2 aunts who do and have done BEAUTIFUL work (one no longer quilts and the other continues to quilt, but, no longer does the beautiful hand work she used to do (quilting and applique).
In the beginning of my quilting life, Georgia Bonesteel (with her quilt as you go) and Eleanor Burns with her unique quick tips.
That’s my first 5 – over the past 20+ years of quilting, there are SO many more quilters who have influenced me (including you, Judy) with so many innovative techniques.
LadyBaltimore says
Great question. My thanks to the following five:
1. Zena Thorpe – She is a true master quilter. Her appliqué
and pictorial quilts have inspired me ever since I first laid eyes on them. I stand in awe of her quilts.
2. Elly Sienkiewicz – Inspired my love of Baltimore Album quilts. Her knowledge of Baltimore Album blocks, quilts and symbols has been a treasure to me and the quilting community.
3. Michelle Cole – my dearest friend; she makes the most perfect needleturn stitches I’ve ever seen.
4. Gay Goddard – my BFF and partner in quilting “crime”. She’s always right there buying fabric with me when I have another design idea. Does beautiful hand quilting too.
5. My on-line quilting group – Wowed by their talents and their friendship (I met Judy through it). Learned so many helpful tips and loved all the diversity of fabric choices and quilts. They’ve applauded my designs and appliqué and sure made me feel special. I’d be lost without them.
Rhonda says
As others have said……good question…here goes
1.Eleanor Burns – her quilt in a day books and TV shows were great when I was first starting.
2 Nancy Zimman – I bought my first ruler which was inspired by her spiderweb quilt.
3. Virginia Greaves – she is an outstanding pictorial artist who brings photos, still-life, etc. to life via fabric.
4 My Aunt Pinkie – she pushed me into quilting in the first place by challenging me to sew on the machine instead of by hand.
5. My 5 Wacky girlfriends who encourage, push, prod and talk me into challenges all the time.
Viki says
Eleanor Burns got me started in quilting with her simple methods and detailed instructions which were great for a new quilter.
Deb Tucker helped me put precision into my work with her incredible rulers.
Deloa Jones really got me off and running with a class I took from her on quilting borders and sashings.
Karen McTavish got me started on quilting heirloom feathers and mctavishing.
Jamie Wallen taught me so much and gave me confidence in quilting all over freehand designs. He was one of the most humble “famous” people I’ve ever met.
Sue S says
1. My first inspiration was my grandmother, who taught me to sew and to quilt. She used my grandpa’s shirts when she didn’t have fabric. She made me a quilt when I was small, it’s long gone but I still can see it in my mind. Bonnie Hunter reminds me of her style, and for that she ties for first place.
2. Eleanor Burns and Quilt in a Day — fussy cutting! Tossing the scraps over her shoulder! Knowing so much history. Her instructions were good for a beginner.
3. Kaye Wood — Who taught me that being a pointless person wasn’t all bad, you just had to change your paradigm. And maybe the patterns you use.
4. Trudy Hughes — Who taught me that accurate cutting and seaming are more than just a couple of words in the instructions! Taking a class with her made me want to improve my skills, so now I can sew matching points.
5. My aunts and cousins, with whom I get together ans sew almost weekly. They inspire me because we always have fun and we put love into every project.
Sandy says
1. Bonnie Leman, whose Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine taught me about quilters and quilting around the world.
2. Mary Ellen Hopkins taught me about PPMs (Personal Private Measurements) and brought humor to quilting.
3. A quilt by Yvonne Porcella published in a magazine made me suddenly realize I could use beautiful and bright fabrics in my quilts, rather than the ditzy calicos that were popular at the time.
4.Erma H. Kirkpatrick inspired my interest in vintage quilts and their history.
5.The friends I made when I joined a guild and a small quilting group introduced me to Symposiums and big quilt shows in other parts of the country. We have taken some wonderful trips!