In this new showcase I’m featuring four Modern Quilters that you will love!
Jo Evans
I have always sewn, to varying degrees of aptitude(!), but it was around 8 years ago
that I started making more patchwork cushions. I’d always think I could make
something then inevitably it would start to come apart or not work out quite right so I
started looking into quilting, to get some structural tips more than anything. I then
discovered the Quilters of Gee’s Bend and that changed everything. I loved that their
quilts were very clearly works of abstract art and I became very interested in art
made from textiles – I just really love the thought of softness on hard walls. So I did
one short workshop and started making quilts for walls. A key advantage of making
something specifically for decoration rather than use, is that you can get away with
less structure – they don’t have to survive the washing machine! Which lends itself to
my preference for the minimalism of solid colours and the quilting being barely
visible. Having said that, the quilting on Reflektor was a key part of the design and a
nod to the work of Josef Albers of the Bauhaus.
I used to work for a furniture brand and choosing the pieces and fabrics going into
the stores every few months was one of my favourite parts. It’s really important to
consider and plan the journey of the palette throughout the store, so colour is
something I’m quite obsessed with. I definitely prefer soft and muted tones and I only
use natural fabrics, mainly linen and silk. And I much prefer the look and texture of
hand quilting over machine. I want to picture the maker completely in their flow and
experiencing the making of something with their hands. There are some amazing
machines and designers out there, but I err towards the slow and traditional.
Right now, I’m predominantly making paintings without paint – I like the improvisation
of assembling, layering and fraying fabric. It means these pieces are very delicate
and not at all appropriate for the utilitarian quilt!
Lynett Muhaso
My name is Lynett and am the maker behind LynsAvenue. I made my first quilt in 2014, when a friend asked me if l could make one as a baby shower gift for a mutual friend. Coming from a sewing background, l knew how to sew so how hard could making a quilt be, right! Thanks to the wonderful world wide web, l managed to somehow make something that resembled a quilt, which, whenever l think about, l laugh at how it all came together but that is a story for another day. I have been hooked onto quilting ever since making a few more quilts for the same friend and others, researching and learning through the knowledge many generous quilters have shared on the internet. As the passion grew, so did my love of designing my own patterns to share the quilting joy with others.
As l continue to grow on this journey, l have developed a love of bright bold colours with bright hot pink being one of my favourites. I like for my designs to be simple, using big blocks that are easy to handle and quick to come together. I find inspiration for my quilt designs from everywhere and everything around me. This could be road signs, my kids playing with blocks, fences, buildings etc. As for design elements, l tend to gravitate towards curves as l love the finished look of curved piecing. I also love half square triangles and rectangle shapes.
I love to sew and I am so glad l said yes to making my first quilt as l have discovered a wonderful community that share the same passion for creating. I continue to be mesmerised by the beautiful quilts people make and most importantly the love and encouragement the community shows.
Lenny van Eijk
I grew up in the Netherlands and have since lived and worked in five different countries, the last 15 years in and around New York City. I learned to sew as a teenager, and periodically made use of those skills over the years, but I only discovered quilting in 2017. What started as creative stress management during a particularly stressful time at work, quickly became a hobby and then a full blown passion, and in 2019 I swapped my corporate life for a full time creative. It’s been an amazing journey so far, with lots of firsts, including publications and exhibitions, and I’m grateful for all the wonderful teachers I’ve been able to work with, both live and online. After initial skill building I quickly moved on to creating my own work. I discovered the fun of improvisational play with fabric and colors, to create abstract modern designs, mostly in solid fabrics. I’ve also started designing in EQ8 and I’m trying my hand at pattern writing. You’ll frequently find me at museums and galleries, and my favorite (non-quilt) artists include Georgia O’Keeffe, Sonia Delaunay and Hilma Af Klint. I’m a member of @saqaart and @njmqg, and currently serve on the board of the NJMQG as Treasurer. I love this online community of textile artists and quilters; I feel I found my tribe.
Naomi Hughes
I have always been interested in fiber arts and have had my hands in one needlecraft project or another as far back as I can remember. I started trying to make my first quilt in high school after visiting a quilt show and being absolutely floored by the artistry on display. It didn’t turn out so well because I really had no idea what I was doing and had no one to teach me (there was no Youtube, then!) but I never forgot what a joyful experience trying had been. I went on to study painting and photography in college and spent several more years after training as a contemporary realist painter. I carried the idea of making quilts around in the back of my mind but didn’t try again to make one for quite a long time. I picked it up again a few years ago on a whim and haven’t looked back. The colors I’m drawn to look a lot like the paint that used to be on my palette– earth pigments, neutrals, black. I like bold, graphic designs with simple principles as well as coming up with fresh takes on traditional, well-loved blocks. I draw a great deal of inspiration from antique quilts as well as from the natural world, folk art, and modern painting. Much of my work is foundation pieced–I draw all of my own templates and patterns –even for familiar blocks- because I really like figuring out the math. My FPP scraps become painterly, improv pieces that I stretch over canvas. I work mostly with linen and cotton solids and the occasional reclaimed garment. Though I machine-piece, I quilt entirely by hand.
