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

Quaker Marsh Sunset art quilt by Sue Colozzi

Spotlight: Sue Colozzi, Fiber Artist

Sue Colozzi has always had an interest in fiber arts.  She studied weaving in school but later found she preferred fabric as her medium.  After making her first scene out…
Kinga Foldi fiber art 1

Spotlight: Kinga Foldi, Textile Sculptor

Kinga Foldi has been creative since a young age. She studied traditional craft techniques but is drawn to textiles for their endless possibilities. Using pintucks and folds, she creates her…
Anxiety No. 11 by Judy Kirpich

Spotlight: Judy Kirpich, Fiber Artist

Judy Kirpich started her journey as a fiber artist by making her own clothes. A class with Nancy Crow was her first step into the world of fiber art. Her…
Mask 3 quilt by Scott Culley

Spotlight: Scott Culley, Textile Designer

Scott Culley began sewing as a child. He started quilting after the birth of their son. Inspired by the modern quilt movement, he uses his architecture background to design complex…
Small blue, pink and orange quilt by Rebeka Lambert

Spotlight: Rebeka Lambert, Art Quilter

Rebeka Lambert discovered modern improv quilting and a new world opened for her. She uses repurposed fabrics in her art and enjoys adding texture with hand stitching. How did you…
Moss Study fiber art by Rachael Dorr

Spotlight: Rachael Dorr, Textile Artist

Rachael Dorr has been creating with textiles her entire life. She now creates detailed fiber art, as well as heirloom quilts for families with Quilting a Memory, using recycled fabrics.…
Eves Journey Insignia by Naida Koraly

Spotlight: Naida Koraly, Fiber Artist

Naida Koraly has been sewing all of her life. After a career of graphic design, architectural drafting and interior decorating, she discovered fiber art. She traded her rubber cement for…
All Hail the Queen fiber art by Sarah Spencer

Spotlight: Sarah Spencer, Textile Artist

Sarah Spencer, who works under the alias Io the Alien, took an introductory quilting class, learned about improv quilting and became obsessed. She uses bold and saturated colors to create…