NQA Member Spotlight

My path to quilting was a long and winding one. I have in the past done extensive work with collage and mixed media, painted in watercolor and acrylic and have taught both. I turned to art quilting because I wanted a medium that was cleaner and not as physically demanding. I do love working with design, color and textures. I signed up for a quilting class and bought the materials. I never knew shopping for fabric was so much fun, but the class was canceled. Not being easily deterred, I decided to wing it.

The initial results were pretty dismal, but I kept at it. I took some classes and workshops. About 2 years ago I saw a notice in the local paper for Village Squares Quilters. I called the contact person and she encouraged me to come to the next meeting. I met a friendly, somewhat rowdy group of about 60 women whose ages spanned from 20 to 86. I joined that day. I have made some new friends, attended lectures and demos, gone to shows and taken workshops through VSQ. Last September I chaired the committee for the boutique at our semi annual show. I have joined two mini groups that have been very helpful. We critique, advise, network and teach each other new techniques.

Through VSQ, I learned about the National Quilting Association. We are a subsidiary group. Last June I entered the Sew Batik Challenge and won a ribbon for "Most Original Overall" for a piece called "The Eye of the Blackbird." (Shown here in the Spotlight) It is also in the "Quilting Quarterly 2010 Show Special Edition." Our group regularly contributes several pieces for the "Little Quilt Auction". The Winter '09 issue has a photo of 6 members of our group with their "Make a Face Playtime" workshop results. I entered the "Hoffman 2010 Challenge"; my piece, "Into the Mystic" was chosen for their traveling collection (Trunk A) and will tour the U.S. for one year.

My background in collage is a great help in designing my quilts which are, after all, fabric collage. I enjoy nothing more than going into my studio, designing, stitching, embellishing, painting and layering fabric. Going to quilt shows and buying fabric and accessories makes me real happy too. I love learning new techniques. A whole new world has opened up for me. I am thrilled to be featured in the "Spotlight."

Contact email: parrart@aol.com.

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