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's fiber art career was sparked 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

Tiny felt fox

Spotlight: Delilah Iris, Fiber & Felt Artist

What's not to love with tiny felt animals and toys? Delilah Iris is a fiber and felt artist who creates adorable creatures with needle and thread. When she's not designing…
Finding Joy quilt by Robert J. Bosscher

Spotlight: Robert J. Bosscher, Quilt Artist

Robert J. Bosscher received a degree in art, concentrating on ceramics. He found his calling as a quilt artist when looking for a medium that would work well living in…
Large octupus squish crocheted by Tamara Kelly

Spotlight: Tamara Kelly, Crochet Designer

Tamara Kelly started out as a mommy blogger, evolved into a crochet designer and is now launching Made It Myself TV! She has been crocheting for over 20 years and…
A woven wall hanging in progress by Allyson Rousseau

Spotlight: Allyson Rousseau, Fiber Artist

Allyson Rousseau creates colorful and unique fiber art primarily using her own style of weaving. Inspired by the world around her, she often works in a series to see what…
Nature Nurture painting by Tawnee Corning

Spotlight: Tawnee Corning, Artist

Tawnee Corning discovered the rich and saturated pigments from oil paints to bring her ideas to life. She draws inspiration from 60s/70s gig posters, album covers, fabrics, wallpapers, and liquid…
On My Bed quilt by Luke Haynes

Spotlight: Luke Haynes, Textile Artist

Luke Haynes studied architecture which gave him the courage to push boundaries with quilting, redefining what was thought of as a quilt. To Luke, quilts are both a utility object as…
Red and white chicken on a windowsill

Spotlight: Sally Linville, The City Girl Farm

Sally Linville has turned her childhood delight in chickens into fiber art creations. Working with a team of "chickeners", each chicken footstool is created by hand and is uniquely individual.…
Sunlight Power by Kat Purent

Spotlight: Kat Puente, Fiber Artist

Kat Puente discovered art quilts and has never looked back. Take a close look at her work for the detailed stitching and other embellishments. Follow along with the stories her…