Create Whimsy

Inspring makers and sharing their stories

Spotlight

Category: <span>Spotlight</span>

Join us for conversations that shine a spotlight on artists and makers who inspire us to live creatively every day. Their insights and experiences offer new ways to think and new ways to work.

Browse through our Spotlight interviews to learn about our featured artists: what inspires them, the work they make and how they create it. Linger on these pages, then visit their websites for inspiration!

Fiber Artists

Linda Fjeldsted Blust has loved creating with fabric since her grandmother taught her to sew. But like many creative people, especially women making art with textiles, Linda was urged to...

Without formal art training - but with an innate need to create, Deborah Weir started her fiber art career when she saw textiles displayed as fine art in the 1970s....

Art Quilters

Fiber artist Geraldine Warner had never quilted, but knew she wanted to somehow paint with fabric. Working mostly with silk, she immerses herself in every part of the creative process,...

Modern Quilters

Like many creatives, Audrey Esarey dabbled in many artful activities while growing up. But it wasn't until she went to a quilting class with a woman who would later become...

Jacquie Gering begins each quilt with an idea, but lets inspiration lead throughout her process, sometimes taking the work on unexpected, but welcome, turns. Known for her use of clean,...

Can art and science get along? Of course they can! With a Ph.D. in marine science, Sylvia Schaefer approaches quilting from a scientist's point of view, always asking, "What if?"...

Embroidery Artists

Taking her cues from nature, Sarah Godfrey renders the world around her using needle and thread. As an embroidery artist, Sarah stitches on sheer fabrics, adding a level of challenge...

Crazy Quilters

Jenny Clouston is happiest and most content when she is stitching by hand: crazy quilting, flower embroidery or English Paper Piecing. In embracing the process, she feeds her creativity and...

Valerie Bothell found crazy quilting over 20 years ago and has never looked back. Intrigued by the infinite combinations of fabrics, colors and stitches, every new project is a fresh...

Give Kathy Seaman Shaw a plain seam, and she will transform it with fancy stitches and beads. Kathy is a prolific crazy quilter, constantly designing new embroidery combinations and sharing...

Machine Quilters

Jacquie Gering begins each quilt with an idea, but lets inspiration lead throughout her process, sometimes taking the work on unexpected, but welcome, turns. Known for her use of clean,...

Fused Applique Artists

Sue Bleiweiss started quilting after an injury put a stop to her weaving passion. But with traditional quilting, there is this "following directions" thing, and that just didn't work for...

Frieda Andersen is a self proclaimed "Investigator of Ideas".  With a formal education in Art History, she has always been interested in making things - using her hands and mind...

Hand Applique Artists

Meet award-winning appliqué quilt artist Kathy McNeil! She began her creative journey as a young child, then later discovered the possibilities of making pictures from fabric. Her most challenging piece...

Nancy Lee Chong, Appliqué Artist and Instructor from Snohomish, WA, found her singular passion for stitching and teaching the art of needleturn appliqué, and has never looked back! The only...

With a love for stitching happy things, fiber art by Catherine Redford is sure to keep you smiling. She does a bit of everything: embroidery, appliqué, crazy quilting, modern quilting,...

More Spotlight

Soft Coral Reef #1, detail, fiber art by Irene Koroluk

Spotlight: Irene Koroluk, Textile Artist

Irene Koroluk creates intricate fiber and textile art inspired by the sights and experiences around her in Australia. She enjoys experimenting with new techniques to translate her visions into 2D…
Multitudes modern quilt by Heather Akerberg

Spotlight: Heather Akerberg, Modern Quilter

Heather Akerberg loves puzzles, and designing quilts is very much about solving puzzles! Many of her projects start with a concept or question that she is grappling with and how…
Mud Glorious Mud fiber art by Karen Hewer

Spotlight: Karen Hewer, Fiber Artist

Karen Hewer started sewing garments before discovering quilting. She made traditional quilts for about ten years. A bronze statue of a girl sparked an idea for an art quilt. Now,…
Balance #32 by Ann Johnston

Spotlight: Ann Johnston, Textile Artist

Ann Johnston began exploring dyeing fabric from a need for fabric in specific colors. She continues to challenge herself to create new textures and patterns for original fiber art. How…
Platform detail by Cat Chiu

Spotlight: Cat Chiu, Public Artist

Cat Chiu creates public art inspired by lived experiences, conversations, overlooked histories, and communities with whom she has collaborated. The overarching theme that connects her work is transformation, whether it…
The Golden Hour quilt by Hillary Goodwin

Spotlight: Hillary Goodwin, Textile Artist

Hillary Goodwin balances her life as an Emergency Medicine Physician and makes time to create textile art. Look closely at her work for the details and hand stitching. How long…
Home Front weaving by Soile Hovila

Spotlight: Soile Hovila, Tapestry Artist

Soile Hovila began drawing and painting as a young child. She creates detailed tapestries in her workspace, with a window that opens onto a garden with the forest beyond. Soile…