| Having had my own studio space now for about | | | | Central on TV for a while. I guarantee |
| three years, I thought perhaps I could share | | | | you'll see some image, some pattern, some |
| some of my experiences about becoming an art | | | | technique that you would like to try.The |
| quilter.The first requisite is that you have | | | | third requisite is that you have access to a |
| a passion for fabrics. All kinds of fabrics, | | | | sewing machine, if not your own, a friend's |
| cottons, cotton blends, silks, organzas, | | | | or family-owned machine. Go check out the |
| tulles, yes, even rayons. You love the | | | | new machines, you'll be amazed at what they |
| texture of things.I had been sewing my own | | | | can do nowadays! You can also find a used |
| clothes since secondary school in Finland | | | | one at garage sales, a flea market or a |
| where I grew up. The fabric selection was | | | | newspaper ad. The sewing machine is your |
| minimal really because the emphasis was on | | | | friend, the most important tool you'll need |
| home decorator fabrics like Marimekko. NOW | | | | as you begin creating exciting things.The |
| Marimekko graphics are used for everything, | | | | fourth requisite is that you free yourself up |
| including rubber boots, and they're really | | | | from limited thinking about works and what |
| cute!!!During my married life, I used a lot | | | | doesn't work. Many older techniques and |
| of textiles to decorate the home, you know, | | | | views are being thrown out the window in |
| curtains, pillows, tablecloths, napkins, etc. | | | | favor of new ides and new techniques. This |
| I wasn't really thinking of quilting until I | | | | is not to say that you should give up good |
| saw a demo by Eleanor Burns in 1978 in a mall | | | | construction techniques and settle for |
| fabric store and I decided to make a bed | | | | something thrown together in a hurry, with |
| quilt with different color strips of fabric. | | | | threads hanging all over and unfinished |
| A pattern we know as Log Cabin, very basic, | | | | details.So, this is how you begin your |
| very old, very easy and fun to do.Then in | | | | creative fabric art journey! There will be |
| 2002 my husband was seriously ill, came home | | | | more tips in future articles. In the |
| and needed lots of attending to. I had to | | | | meantime, you can check out my website at: |
| find something I could do at home to pass the | | | | and see if you find something that inspires |
| time, to stimulate my creative juices and to | | | | you to try this art form!Good luck and have |
| take my mind off the everyday challenges and | | | | fun!Katrina Sjoberg has worked as a fabric |
| problems. So I started to go to the fabric | | | | artist for the past 3 years, designing her |
| stores, looked at magazines, found some | | | | own wall quilts in her studio space in Vista, |
| interesting books and began sewing again.So, | | | | CA. She is very happy that many have enjoyed |
| the second requisite is that you like to | | | | and continue to appreciate her unique designs |
| explore, to read, to go to classes, to be | | | | and she continues to experiment with a |
| willing to just start sewing something! You | | | | variety of textures, paints, surface |
| never know what's going to ignite your | | | | embellishments and fabrics. |
| creativity - watch Simply Quilts or Quilt | | | | |