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

When you see a Laura Wasilowski quilt, you can't help but smile. Her whimsical pictorial art quilts use her own hand-dyed fabrics and threads to depict fanciful scenes. Owner of the...

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,...

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

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...

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

Collection of seven mobiles

Spotlight: Karolina Merska, Pajaki Artist

Artist Karolina Merska takes the traditional Polish folk art of pajaki and transforms bright papers and modern materials into contemporary art mobiles. Karolina's work sparks joy from every angle, introducing…
Line Dance, Tree Ring Patterns. Var. 15

Spotlight: Barbara Schneider, Fiber Artist

Fiber artist Barbara Schneider sees details that most of us overlook in the natural world, then translates what she sees into cloth so that we can see it, too. Her…
Needle felted dog

Spotlight: Emma Herian, Fiber Artist

With creative parents as role models and cheerleaders, as well as a teacher who allowed her to knit on pencils during story time, it's no surprise that fiber artist Emma…
Beaded Dragonfly

Spotlight: Nancy Cain, Bead Artist

Every piece of bead art that Nancy Cain designs is creatively engineered to achieve her vision for a sculptural piece with inherent structure. Math Brain and Art Brain have worked…
Intertwined

Spotlight: Wen Redmond, Mixed Media Artist

Pioneering 21st century processes in the field of fiber art, mixed media artist Wen Redmond combines stitch with digital manipulation of images printed on unusual substrates. The result is ethereal,…
More crochet cactus

Spotlight: Emma Varnam, Crochet Designer

With a desire to encourage children to smile and hug, Emma Varnam designs crocheted soft toys and cuddly critters that invite interactive play. Her animal patterns will inspire you to…
Bright Bird 2021

Spotlight: Mandy Pattullo, Textile Artist

Trained as a surface designer, but dedicated to hand stitch, textile artist Mandy Pattullo is inspired by old, worn fabrics. Old quilts, bits of used clothing, discarded fabric scraps and…
Beaded pendant by Maggie Meister

Spotlight: Maggie Meister, Bead Artist

Inspired by architecture, ancient mosaics and historical jewelry, Maggie Meister's museum quality beadwork includes structural components and gemstone accents that look impossible to recreate. But Maggie's unique approach to building…