On Being Bold

I have always had a bold personality. But when it comes to quilting, it has been a challenge to be bold.

I learned quilting in a small town by a very unique woman who encouraged me to do my own thing, but who herself created very traditional quilts. So did the others who came into the shop to work together. It was a competitive atmosphere, not just with one another, but also with my desire to try new things, new color combinations, new imagery. It wasn't easy to be bold when that boldness was silenced.

When I began this journey, I looked to the quilters on Instagram and at the quilt shops and shows nearby. They all make beautiful work. 

I spent a long time piecing traditional patterns and studying traditional quilting before I realized I'd rather do my own thing. (I still make some traditional pieces too!) It isn't that I break the rules, because there aren't any, really. I just don't tend to do what others are doing. My work is brightly colored and uses imagery that is not traditionally used in, well, traditional quilting. My work has an unpolished feel that I think brings out the natural and fun messiness of life. 

This doesn't mean I don't take my artwork and the process of making it seriously. I work hard to create excellent art. I love what I do and enjoy putting my own unique spin on it.

It's just that I want to boldly go where no art has gone before.