Spotlight: Valerie Ostenak, Artist and Designer
What do metalsmithing and painting have in common? Valerie Ostenak, an artist who releases the physical into her metal work and the emotional into her painting. Inspired by the natural...
Spotlight
Spotlight
Our Spotlight artists are a talented bunch. At Create Whimsy we share the stories of makers, inspiring each of our creativity. We believe that creativity crosses mediums, and love to see what makes different people tick.
We love learning what inspires makers, seeing where their magic happens and their journey to where they are today. Some are organized and plan their projects out to every detail, and some let the project take them on an adventure, not quite sure what the final piece will be — but, they know when it is done.
Browse through our interviews, where we spotlight makers learning about their journeys to where they are today. Linger on their pages and visit their websites for inspiration!
Spotlight: Karol Kusmaul, Fiber Artist
Karol Kusmaul's first quilt was a project she and her class of third grade students put together for a school fair. Now she makes graphic art quilts - portraits, landscapes...
Spotlight: Susie Nicholson, Yarn Bomber
Susie Nicholson has found her superpower, and she summons it with a crochet hook. An avid yarnbomber, Susie brings color and whimsy to her Los Angeles neighborhood. Meanwhile, her alter-ego,...
Spotlight: Natalya Khorover Aikens, Fiber Artist
Natalya Khorover Aikens creates art with a big city vibe. Her work is filled with architectural imagery and stitched on repurposed single-use plastic bags, turning trash to treasure. How did you...
Spotlight: Shirley Hudson, Designer
While her first embroidery project at age 10 presented challenges, Shirley Hudson is glad she persisted. She has made a career out of stitch, and her work designing patterns doesn't...
Spotlight: Susie Monday, Fiber Artist and Teacher
Raised in a creative home, at the age of 9 with the gift of a "real" artist box, Susie Monday became an Artist-with-a-Capital-A. She believed it, and so it was...
Spotlight: Alexis Deise, Contemporary Quilter
As a contemporary quilter, Alexis Deise works in series to focus and dig deeper into ideas that are important to her, all while honoring the women who built an enduring...
Spotlight: Cindy Needham, Quilting Instructor
Cindy Needham caught the quilting bug at a young age, inspired by traditional quilts she saw while growing up in the Blue Ridge Mountains. By incorporating vintage linens into her...
Spotlight: Sarah Ann Smith, Artist, Author, Quilter and Teacher
To do what you love is a gift. To be good at it takes practice. And Sarah Ann Smith works hard at art quilting, resulting in a body of work...
Spotlight: Susan Lenz, Fiber and Installation Artist
After spending a couple of decades studying and working with artists, Susan Lenz found her true calling: to BE an artist. She pushed the boundaries of traditional expectations with her...
