It’s a Launch!

The first post of my first blog. I've always had a lot to say, and here's where I'm going to say it. Most of the posts will be all about quilting of course, but many things inspire quilt design, so I'll chat about those too.

First of all, who am I? I'm Vicki, born and raised in Wisconsin. Jobs took me to Arizona and South Carolina, and finally to North Carolina, where I am now retired. My husband, a retired broadcast executive, now writes mystery novels. My stepsons and grandchildren live and work in western North Carolina. Every year I visit my home state to touch base with friends and family.

I began as a painting major in Fine Arts, then switched into electrical engineering (long story). I worked as a database architect, designing and consulting, until I discovered quilting about 25 years ago. Painting with fabric? Yesssss! My co-workers sent me into retirement with a quilting book and a hefty gift card.

So I spent many years reading other people's blogs, joining guilds and bees, learning technique and slowly getting better. I evolved from beginner quilts to traditional quilt designs to modern quilts and art quilts.

Beemates on Retreat

At one point I started teaching quilt classes, working at a quilt store, and finally writing patterns. A lot to keep track of! I still had databases imprinted on my psyche, so I maintain databases on all my quilts and fabrics, hours spent, shows where I exhibit, classes taught, patterns I've written and sold. I opened an Etsy store and moved my quilt gallery from Facebook to my own website.

One of my patterns on display at QuiltCon 2024: Sea of Pearls

The source of inspiration fascinates me. Color, interacting shapes, movement, and the emotions evoked by all of these make up a continual flow of ideas. A science show discussing new subatomic particles or the expansion of the universe gets my mind ticking. I lean toward abstraction because there's so much more to reality than what our senses can detect. With abstract art, viewers project their own interpretation onto a piece. That makes me smile.

Recent work: Attraction At A Distance

OK, now for the fun stuff. With the next post, I plan to provide free block patterns because I can dream up way more than I will ever make, so why not launch them into the world?

So, check out my gallery, follow me on Facebook and Instagram, go to the Contact page and say howdy!