Featuring Debbie — A Blogger’s Quilt Festival Quilter!

Happy Friday! Today’s featured quilter is Debbie!  Debbie won the Favorite Art Quilt category in the recent Festival, and her love of quilting shines through in her quilts!  Visit Debbie’s blog - Stitchin’ Therapy, and continue reading for a great interview with her!

1.   When did you begin quilting? 

I have been quilting since about 1985,  and sewing since…let’s just say forever.   I took lots of classes, started a lot of projects, and finished too few of them because I thought they had to be perfect to be completed.  With age comes wisdom, they say, and for me the realization that it is better done than undone, perfect or not.  Life intervened and after a  4 year hiatus from sewing and quilting, I jumped back into it in 2000 and began completing UFOs.  It took 2 years but all of them were finished or given away.  Along this path, I found my focus and discovered what I really loved in quilting….. working with lots of color in scrap quilts and creating watercolor quilts.

2.  Why do you quilt?

It is my therapy for body and soul.   The creative expression gives me such satisfaction and stimulation all at the same time.  I enjoy turning my thoughts and feelings into quilts.  I am very sentimental that way and like to feel one with what I create.  To create a quilt and give it to someone you love is priceless.  There is nothing like the joyous expression in their eyes when they see “their quilt”.

3.  What is your favorite quilting tip?

Do what you love!  Make the same pattern over and over, if that is what you like.  Enjoy what you make, don’t struggle with it.  And banish the quilt police from your life.

4.What was your inspiration for your Quilt Festival quilt (above)?

Persistence was my entry.  It is a watercolor wall hanging that features a thread painted Goldfinch on a branch.   I was doing a series of small water color quilts  with applique and thread painting, and this  photo was a natural inspiration.  The out of focus background became the watercolor and the flower seed head became a branch in the wall hanging.

5.  Do you sew other things?

Not very much anymore.

6. Anything else you would like us to know about you?

I love to let the color and fabric do the design work for me, so I do a lot of simple pattern quilts.  Scrap quilts are my second love.  I considered myself a traditional quilter, who enjoys old favorites  like rail fence or jewel box or a braid quilt.  I often make a pattern several times, asking “what if”, and changing the value placement or just the background color to see what happens.

I started blogging a few years ago because of all the wonderful information and inspiration I discovered in blog-land.  I would do a search for how to do something, or a pattern, and up would come these great blogs that shared so much.   I wanted to share and  pass on ideas to others, too and jumped in with both feet.    I love connecting with people all over the world.  Feel free to drop in and visit me…anytime at Stitchin’ Therapy. I would so enjoy it.

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Thanks for sharing Debbie!   I agree, everyone should banish the quilt police – life’s too short!

Have a great weekend, and don’t forget about the Tactile Fabrics Giveaway, open through the weekend!

Amy

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8 Responses to “Featuring Debbie — A Blogger’s Quilt Festival Quilter!”

1. Samantha says:

   September 7, 2012 at 8:47 am

   I love how you use color! I still have a way to go on using color to design for me. Very inspiring.

   Reply
2. Lauren aka Giddy99 says:

   September 7, 2012 at 9:15 am

   Love how the colors fade and bloom! And yes – banish the Quilt Police!

   Reply
3. Queenie Believe says:

   September 7, 2012 at 10:35 am

   Beautiful quilts and an awesome approach to their creation.
   Have a great day.
   Always, Queenie

   Reply
4. Becky says:

   September 7, 2012 at 12:04 pm

   Such gorgeous quilts – I just love her use of color.

   Reply
5. Beth says:

   September 7, 2012 at 2:04 pm

   Amazing!
   Smiles~Beth

   Reply
6. Dana says:

   September 8, 2012 at 6:24 am

   Debbie is an inspiration, her quilts are so beautiful. Thanks so much for this interview.

   Reply
7. Connie says:

   September 8, 2012 at 1:27 pm

   Great to see Debbie here, she has such a great blog and beautiful work!

   Reply
8. Mrs A says:

   September 10, 2012 at 12:26 am

   Wow they are amazing quilts, thanks for sharing!

   Reply