Today we’re talking about building a career as a quilter with my guest, Sue Bleiweiss. Last week I visited Sue in her home studio in Pepperell, Massachusetts which is about 45 minutes from my home and is a beautiful place to visit in July. We sat together in her studio to record this conversation.
Sue creates vibrant colorful art quilts intended to delight the eye of the viewer and draw them in for a closer look. The author of several books, she has written numerous articles for Quilting Arts Magazine, appeared on The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims and Quilting Arts TV. She’s currently working on her third book due out in the fall of 2018. Sue’s award winning quilts have been exhibited internationally and reside in private collections all over the world.
Quilt by Sue Bleiweiss.
Sue began her career working in corporate America and transitioned to becoming a full-time artist shortly after September 11, 2001. She knew she wanted to do something creative, but wasn’t sure what and explored a whole variety of mediums, including weaving and book arts, before landing on quilting. Sue describes how to methodically go about a creative exploration in order to figure out exactly what you it is you love best.
Sue hand dyes fabric and uses fusible applique to make her quilts. We discuss what makes a quilt an art quilt versus a modern quilt and where the overlap might be.
Sue is also one of the organizers of Threads of Resistance, a political quilt show that was installed at the New England Quilt Museum this weekend and will travel throughout the United States. She discusses how this show came to be and she and her fellow organizers have learned along the way.
And, of course, I ask Sue to recommend great stuff she’s loving right now. Sue recommends:
- Mistyfuse fusible web
- Cherrywood Fabrics
- Superior Threads mono poly
- Kai 7205 8″ professional shears
Keep up with Sue on her blog and on Instagram and Facebook.
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This episode is sponsored by Teresa Ascone. Teresa Ascone has created watercolor tutorials perfect for beginners! All tutorials include a framable print of the art, supply list, instructions and definitions. Teresa has taught art for more than 35 years, introducing hundreds of people to the marvelous world of watercolor – join her and access your own artistic expression! Try Teresa Ascone’s intermediate tutorials for ages 12 and older! You’ll get easy to understand instructions, a line drawing, a color reproduction of the painting (you can print and frame this!) and definitions. Most paintings can be completed in 3-4 hours. Try the wonderful world of watercolor with Teresa!
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Thank you for this wonderful episode. I very much appreciate hearing from someone, including you, always, Abby (!), exemplifying giving oneself permission to do creating whatever just the way one wants to and learning and developing personal techniques and joys. Especially not following the pack even though others scratch their heads, shake their heads, and keep asking or commenting: why don’t you, don’t you know that, but judges look for, but it’s not done that way, the extension service, “x” guild, whatever says . . . .
Thanks Abby and Sue for encouragement and inspiration to follow our interests in our own way and to just express ourselves without exercising any, no matter how small, addiction to validation and gold stars, and letting our interests lead us onward.
Glad you enjoyed it Kathy and I appreciate the positive feedback!
Abby, this was a wonderful episode! How great that you had the opportunity to visit Sue in her studio. Sue, thank you for being you and for encouraging all of us to do the same. I loved hearing about your journey as an artist.
There’s a whole discussion we could get into about what makes a modern quilt, isn’t there? I give a presentation to guilds regionally, and my definition is a bit different than the MQG’s. For instance, I don’t see the quilts at QuiltCon being very functional at all (as you’ve mentioned). Perhaps it’s more of a “modern art quilt” movement in some ways?
Thank you, Jessica. I agree with you that contemplating what makes a quilt modern is an interesting exercise and there’s likely no one definition that will work everywhere and for everyone.