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

Painted cloth with embroidery by Ashlie Tran

Spotlight: Ashlie Tran, Mixed Media Artist

Ashlie Tran is a mixed media artist who creates beautiful floral arrangements that influence her drawings, paintings and embroidery designs. Each influences the other. You'll find paintings inspired by her…
Cylindrical Vectors by Nicole McHale

Spotlight: Nicole McHale, Textile Artist

Nicole McHale has always loved the process of building. She discovered she could break the rules of traditional quilting and make art quilts taking a bit from here and an…
Flow Series by Zwia Lipkin

Spotlight: Zwia Lipkin, Textile Artist

Zwia Lipkin enjoyed art as a child. She returned to art as an adult and has a zero-waste policy in her studio. Using home-decor textile samples, her work is full…
Alice in Wonderland Book fiber art by Lindsay Hawes

Spotlight: Lindsay Hawes, Fiber Artist

Lindsay Hawes is the creative mind behind Linden Acres. Look closely, she combines a variety of fiber art techniques to create original work that encourages the viewer to come closer…
Upon Reflection fiber art by Lisa Thorpe

Spotlight: Lisa Thorpe, Mixed Media Artist

Lisa Thorpe grew up in a multigenerational home with women who stitched for utility but always made it their own. She creates mixed media art inspired by a word or…
Submerged Sea Serpent crocheted by Megan Lapp

Spotlight: Megan Lapp, Fiber Artist

Megan Lapp has been creative her entire life. She experimented with a variety of media until she discovered crochet. Her creations come to life in her head and then she…
Microchip #1 quilt by Dan Olfe

Spotlight: Dan Olfe, Quilt Artist

Dan Olfe applies the skills he learned as an aerospace engineering professor to create detailed art quilts designed on his computer. His quilt designs have evolved as technology has evolved.…