Émilie Trahan creates award-winning fiber art inspired by nature and the world around her. Working improvisationally, she starts by selecting a color palette and setting minimal boundaries for the finished piece.
How did you find yourself on an artist’s path? Always there? Lightbulb moment? Dragged kicking and screaming? Evolving?
In some ways I think it was always there. As a child, my parents were constantly taking us on trips and museums, and exposing us to many forms of art. Maybe it did spark something, or maybe the desire to create was always there, but as long as I remember, I had this need to make things, in all sorts of mediums.
When I later chose a more academic path towards medical school, I felt I was grieving a part of me. Only when I found my artistic voice, a bit randomly through quilting, I felt in harmony again.
When was the first time that you remember realizing that you are a creative person?
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I have a very vivid memory of me doing a drawing of my grandparents, when I was probably around the age of 6 years old. I remember feeling like I had drawn lifelike perfect replicas of them (when it was probably very far from the case!). And I was completely blown away that it was possible to translate ideas and images that you have in your head and bring them to life by creating something new.
I am not sure I remember feeling like I was creative, but I remember clearly being drawn to create. Feeling like there was this sort of power available in the universe that you could harness in making something.
I still have this feeling when I look at a work that I have done, thinking: ‘Where does this come from?’ ‘Who really made this?’. It holds somewhat of a spiritual significance to me, that I am still trying to understand.
Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
Because I work with curves and organic shapes, I get a lot of inspiration from nature (There are no straight lines in nature!). I am also inspired by other mediums of art, especially paintings. But really it is about everything, all of the time.
I try to take in what is around me the most I can. I would snap pictures of a color combination that interested me on a package at the grocery store, or of a ray of light reflecting on an object.
And to really get inspired, I find the key is asking yourself questions about what you see or feel. What do I like about this? What makes this interesting or different? Why is this color working well with this one? And so on.
Colors are most of the time the starting point of a project. To say I am obsessed with colors would be an understatement! I feel like there is a part of my brain whose language is color and shape. I can stand and look at a color combination, the same way some can stand still and listen to music.
Do you do series work? How does that affect your approach?
I am in the midst of my first series at the moment. It is centered on the color red, which to me holds a great strength, and its relationship with every other color. So far I have done red and orange, red and blue and I am finishing red and purple. Little scoop: next one will be red and green.
I think it helps focus the direction I am taking more clearly. I also love playing with different iterations of a similar idea and seeing how it evolves through time.
I am actually having so much fun in this series that I wonder if I would do another go around and see how I would interpret it differently. So I am not sure if it is a series or more of what I do now.
Do you have a dedicated space for creating? If so, what does it look like?
Yes, I am fortunate enough to have a studio space in my home. When we first bought our house, I claimed the master bedroom as my sewing space (it even has a private bathroom!). To help secure the space, I have made it so it can double down as a guest room with a Murphy bed. Once in a blue moon, my partner will try and discuss the idea of making it our bedroom, but it is a lost battle and he knows it!
It is crucial for me to have a space big enough so I can design on the floor. I often move the tables and furniture around to redefine the space, depending on the project I am working on. There is also a big closet where I can store my fabrics.
My process is very messy and chaotic, with fabrics and scraps everywhere on the floor, and every available surface, so it is nice to be able to leave everything in place, close the door, and be back in our living space.
Scraps. Saver? Or be done with them?
Save, save, save! I love scraps! Most of my projects start off with scraps; playing around with random pre-cut shapes is a great way to improvise. I also love the idea of reusing materials, as I work only with upcycled fabrics (bed sheets, pillow cases, clothing, table clothes,…).
There are scraps in every quilt that I make and I have to admit that my process creates a lot of scraps. I am fascinated with the dialogue it creates between each one of my quilts, to have bits from previous projects. It creates an endless cycle of quilts that are in relationship to one another.
How do you make time for creating? Do you try to create daily?
I try to create as often as I can. Daily is not really achievable with my schedule, but I would say there are more days where I create, then days where I don’t. Making time to quilt is a real challenge, as I am a mom of two small girls and my work as a palliative care physician.
First of all, I have to recognize the incredible help and support I get from my partner. Without him by my side, this would not be possible. He is a very involved and dedicated father. More than anybody, he knows the importance of quilting in my life, and even though he sometimes feels like he has to compete with quilting to spend time with me, he is very understanding and encourages my practice.
I have always needed alone time to recharge my energy. I work mostly in the evening/night when the kids are asleep. You could say I am a night owl; it is where I am my most productive and creative. Most nights I have to force myself to go to bed (and always too late!).
Despite the fact that I frequently feel like I don’t get enough time to create, I have started lately to ‘flip the script’ and wonder if the limited time I have to work on my projects might be the reason why I get to be more creative. If I had all the time in the world; would I get this strong urge to create?
I try now to view it more as if my ‘two lives’ are fueling each other.
What do you do to keep yourself motivated and interested in your work?
I face mostly the opposite problem! How to not be too motivated and obsessed by my work!
For now, I feel like I have endless inspirations, ideas, projects, and so on. Maybe again because the other parts of my life (motherhood / end of life care) are feeding this need to create. Or maybe because I don’t get to spend that much time on my creative work, so the well never dries up.
Maybe because it is my way to cope with death.
Maybe because it is where I feel the most alive.
When it comes to creating, are you more of a planner or an improviser?
Improviser all the way! Isn’t it more fun and exciting when you don’t know what is going to happen? Isn’t it real freedom?
Quilting improvisation is a whole topic by itself that I am extremely passionate about. It teaches us to be present in the moment; to react, adapt, and accept. It is a great way to explore new directions, practice solving problems and grow as an artist. Improvising is at the core of my creative process.
How often do you start a new project? Do you work actively on more than one project at a time?
I have established this rhythm where I discipline myself to finish a project before I can start a new one (except for group projects that can intertwine in between my personal work).
I love starting a new project, so it is my reward when I have laboriously finished a quilt. I mostly do that because I usually dread the quilting phase of a quilt. So I would go ahead and start a new project, and piece quilt tops over and over, without ever completing any quilt, if I did not put this rule in place.
Of course, sometimes I stray from my own system, and I have to quilt two quilts in a row only to tell myself: Never again!
Can you tell us about the inspiration and process of one of your works? How does a new work come about?
First, I collect some inspirations all of the time and keep track of them with pictures or notes in files. When the time comes to start a new project, I go back to my inspiration source and establish the parameters of the project I am starting.
Even though it is improvisation, I give myself some guidance or boundaries at the beginning, for example; colors, dimensions, theme, shapes that I want to explore, etc. I also like to start off with a question: ex.: What would happen if…?
I will then pull fabrics and scraps together and start playing around until something excites me. I often start more randomly and I will get more and more intentional with what I am doing as the work progresses.
Which part of the design process is your favorite? Which part is a challenge for you?
The designing and piecing of the quilt is by far my favorite step. It is also the most intense phase. I can barely think of anything else during this period. I call it my ‘brain on fire’ phase. The quilt is always on my mind, I miss it when I am at work, I have trouble getting asleep, and then I dream of quilts!
The challenge comes when I have to undertake the quilting. Suddenly, I fear I am going to ruin the work that I have done. To me the quilting part is the most technically difficult. I do my quilting on a domestic machine, and with the sizes of most of my projects, it is quite a work out. But at least it serves as a break from the intensity of the creating stage, and allows me to cool down and reflect before a new project.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
During her keynote presentation at Quiltcon 2024, Jacquie Gering said that when she walks into her studio, she tells herself: I am not afraid to make crap!
I think it is the best advice for any creative person; reminding ourselves constantly that the only real risk we are taking is creating something bad, and when you accept that possible outcome, you let go of the fears, and you are truly free.
Do you approach your work differently for entering juried shows?
I don’t really have shows in mind when I create. It is mostly the other way around; when a work is done, I wonder where it would fit in. Although, I will now try to keep dimensions in mind, because when time came to submit work, I have realized that my recent quilts are too big to fit the criteria of some expositions.
How do you keep track of your work and shows that you’ve entered? What works for you?
I started in the past year keeping a file on each of my recent quilts, with their information; dimensions, year of completion, artist statement, materials used, where they were shown and if they got an award. It is the early stage of my ‘archives’. I had to find a way to keep track, because I was starting to feel a bit overwhelmed. Ultimately, I also wish to label my quilts with basic information (title, dimensions, year and my name) in the near future.
How does it feel to be a QuiltCon winner?
A big soup of emotions! From being proud and touched, to wondering if they made a mistake, and again feeling seen to wanting to hide behind a curtain! In the end it is a great honor for me and I appreciate the opportunity that it has provided me, but I also recognize the subjectivity involved in rating art.
Where can people see your work?
On Instagram at @mili.tra, until I find the time to create a dedicated website!
Interview posted May 2025
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