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