It seemed appropriate to start off this year's Coffee Talk feature with our new guild President, Shirlene Davis. She's enthusiastic and a real go-getter and I'm happy for the opportunity to work with her and get to know her better.
Shirlene, how long
have you been sewing?
I anxiously waited for 8th grade to take the
block of classes with wood shop, art, home economics, and music. In home economics we had two sewing projects. The first was a pillow project and I chose an apple
with a worm coming out. It was red
broadcloth with a felt stem and worm appliquéd to the front. We had to sew a garment as well; vests were
really big so I made one from black corduroy and a patch with of a coat of arms.
I was going to get an “A” because my Mom was an avid sewer. Let’s say that it was not “A” quality work by
my teachers’ standards. I did a lot seam ripping because my seams were not
straight.
How long have you been quilting?
I got started quilting about 3 years ago. I had been contemplating making a t-shirt
quilt out of my high school t-shirts. I
still go to football games and needed a stadium blanket. I attended a co-workers
retirement party and asked what she was going to do. Just so happens she was going to be the
bookkeeper at Prairie Quilts. I asked if
they offered classes as she said “they sure do”. There was a t-shirt class they just started
offering and it was downhill from there.
Perfect timing! What or who inspired you to get into quilting?
My then new sewing machine made me get serious about quilting. With my new machine I could take classes
free, short of the supplies and quilt kit.
So I took a yearlong class to complete Stitcher’s Garden. I learned the ins and outs of my machine and
too many skills and techniques to count.
I need that class. I still don't know the ins and outs of my machine. What is it that drew you to modern quilting rather than a
more “traditional / classic” style?
Ladies in different classes I had been taking at various
local quilt shops were talking about things they were doing with their
guilds. I thought I might look into
joining one. I Googled “Oklahoma
Quilting Guilds” and ran across OKCMQG webpage.
Compared to the other guilds, OKCMQG site was the most inviting to my
likes and did not interfere with my Thursday night bowling league. I visited a
meeting and joined up. I value the
knowledge of the members along with the diverse way they apply the modern quilt
aesthetic to not only quilts, buts other
forms of sewing arts from handbags to clothes.
Traditional quilts I like as well, but there has to be a
design style that really speaks to me. I
have a couple of El Camino Real quilts I am going to make for my bed, one is
pieced, and the other is appliqué.
Who do you find inspirational in the world of modern
quilting and why?
That is a very good question. I am a class junkie and I love to sit with a
group and learn something new along with everybody else. I took 2 workshops offered by Oklahoma Quiltworks
the summer of 2014 where Carolyn Friedlander had two sessions offering instruction
for two patterns: Totem and Olive. I
have not really ventured into the world of paper piecing, but once you try it
you can’t help to be hooked. I really
met Carolyn for the first time when her Architextures fabric line came out and
hit the shelves. I found the color and
prints interesting and to meet her in person and find out she was a
professional architect was amazing. You
can see her life in her art from fabric to patterns.
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| Totem |
If you take a peek into my quilt supplies you will find I
have a good collection of quilt rulers.
Julie Herman of Jaybird Quilts is the other person I find
inspirational. I love her line of rulers
and their companion patterns. It is very easy to choose a color pallet or
precut fabrics to produce amazing quilts.
 |
| Snack Time |
What styles (designers, manufacturers) of fabrics speak to
you the most, and why?
If you look at my stash you will find precuts, solids, and
blenders. I have an infatuation with
solids. I LOVE Kona cotton solids by Robert
Kaufman fabrics. Any quilt I make will
have either all solids or at least 1 solid to bring out a color in a print I
really love. My favorite blenders are Grunge Basics by BasicGrey for Moda Fabrics. I like the fact that I can pull colors that
complement each other and have a really special quilt in the end. I mention pre-cuts because most manufactures
offer them, if there is a line a really like I’ll get a layer cake, if I love
it I buy a fat quarter bundle or both.
Color Theory and Ombre Fabric by V and Co for Moda is next on my list
for pre-cut purchases. Do you see a Moda
theme here? Then of course I have
Carolyn Friedlander’s Doe is in my stash now with a nifty Ten square, Robert
Kaufman equivalent to a Moda’s layer cake.
When are you most productive? When do the most ideas strike you?
The last three years I have been in learning mode taking
classes to build my quilting skills and techniques. I am happy to check “Intermediate” when asked
about my skill level. There are 3 times I
am most productive. Before, during, and
after a class, workshop, stitching groups, or sew days. Before, because I am gathering supplies,
fabrics, and pattern for class or sew days.
This is when I get an ideas and inspiration. I look at what I am going to do with the
project after I am done. Is it for me or can I gift it? Based on that, I can look for fabrics and
complete any pre-tasks. During an event
because I have however long I am there to work on the project
uninterrupted. The guidance from the
instructor or even my neighbor in class eliminates the frustration and spinning
my wheel at home. After, because I want
to finish up that particular block or make another of the same project so I
won’t forget what I learned.
What are some quilt patterns or styles that you hope to
tackle in the near future?
2015 will be a busy year.
I’ll be working on completing works in progress (aka WIPS) for all of the
classes. A half day class is not enough
time to complete a quilt. I’m guessing I
have around 15 projects between classes and block of the months.
I am most looking forward to two BOM projects:
Jaybird Quilts, Gravity
Pile O’ Fabrics, Skill Builder BOM 2015 Technicolor Galaxy
Both projects use solids and blenders.
What quilt creation are you most proud of?
 |
| 1,000 Pyramids |
This mini was a project featured in Modern Patchwork
magazine. I looked at materials to make
it and I had 60 degree ruler, charm packs, and white yardage to make it and I
did. In looking at my stash, I pulled
blues and that one color of chartreuse and voila! The one cool thing about this mini was the use
of the strip tube technique to make the triangles. It was a timesaver and pretty cleaver. I think it aided in the points lining up so
nice. This is my first piece that has
been shown internationally, it was with collection OKCMQG members shown at an
arts center in Hungary.
Did you ever have a quilt project go terribly wrong?
I would say if you were a long-arm quilter and saw the back
of my Stitcher’s Garden quilt you would say no way. No amount of ironing will get those seams to
lay flat. As I progressed through the
quilt you can tell which ones were earlier blocks in the project. Between
learning how to read the pattern instructions and mastering the quarter inch
seam it was a chore to complete the quilt top.
At least it looks good all put together.
Ha, ha...thats what counts! If you had to choose one must have book or blog to visits
for modern quilting what would it be?
Can we make it plural with books or blogs? I have a huge appetite for information so
when I start something new at work or in my quilting I can do it with
confidence. Many of the members of the
Modern Quilt Guild have books and blogs. I encourage you to seek out your
favorites. I’ve narrowed it down to a
couple. I use an application called
Bloglovin' because there are so many I follow.
Here are 5 blogs I check the most often follow:
Jaybird Quilts
- I fun blog supporting her books and rulers, also Angela Waters quilts for her
projects.
Sew Mama Sew
- Tons of contributors if you follow one site, this is it. One stop shop for great info.
My collection of quilt books has evolved to where I am
comfortable to purge a few books, because they are not where I am at design
wise. These two books are new to my collection and I wish I had
them both when I started quilting Modern.
I would say these should be must have:
Carolyn Friedlander’s Savor Each Stitch is just a good read with
written stories along with great companion quilts. I have a beautiful signed copy I treasure.
Let’s not forget magazines.
I only get 2 in the mail. Love,
Patchwork, and Quilting because I love the freebies stuck to the front and many
of their projects require templates.
Block, by Missouri Star Quilt Co., incorporates great family stories and
projects from their business. Missouri
Star Quilt Co. is on my places to visit list.
Wow, you are a wealth of knowledge! What is your advice to someone just diving into the world of
modern quilting?
Try at least one workshop or attend a social group meeting
to tackle something you want to learn more about.
Great advice! Thanks so much for letting me interview you. I look forward to see your next project!
