Kyra Reps is a quilt designer and teacher. Finding inspiration everywhere, she dabbles in many media to create her intricate quilt designs. What remains the same with each piece? She goes for perfection in every piece.
How long have you been quilting and designing? How did you get started?
My quilting journey started in middle school. I am self-taught because no one in my family sewed or quilted. My mom bought me my first Singer and I designed my first quilt for my Grandfather in 2004. It was very basic with no quilting whatsoever.
When was the first time that you remember realizing that you are a creative person?
I think I’ve been creative all my life. I have always been that person who lives outside the box. I think I made my own box and I dance to my own beat.
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Where do you find your inspiration for your designs?
Everywhere! In nature, carpet, wallpaper, my gardens. If you stop and look there is inspiration everywhere.
Do you have a dedicated space for creating?
Yes, we added an addition on our house for my studio about 7 years ago. Before that I was doing all my sewing in a 9’ x 9’ bedroom.
What are the indispensable tools and materials in your studio?
Everything! Lol! My INNOVA Long arm, My Bernina 570, My JUKI domestic sewing machine, and my die cutting machine that I have my own custom die’s made for cutting my kits.
Scraps. Saver? Or be done with them?
I save everything! Because I do an enormous amount of appliqué, scraps are a must!
Are you a “finisher”? How many UFOs do you think you have?
A lot! I have ADHD and so I see A LOT of squirrels and fall down a lot of rabbit holes! I have probably 10 UFOs. It’s hard because I will be working on a design and then wake up with a new awesome idea and there I go down the rabbit hole!
How often do you start a new project? Do you work actively on more than one project at a time?
I have several projects going on at the same time. I love to dibble and dabble into all kinds of things and having ADHD it is hard to concentrate on just one thing. I have several projects going then when I get tired of working on one, I will switch to a different one.
Which part of the design process is your favorite? Which part is a challenge?
I love watching one of my designs come to life as I progress through it. I love picking out the colors that I am going to use in one of my quilts. I also love sitting down and drawing up my custom quilting designs.
The absolute challenge for me is to bind a quilt. I can sit for hours hand sewing on turned edge appliqué but to sit and hand bind a quilt drives me crazy!
How has your creativity evolved over the years?
My creativity hasn’t really changed; it has just gotten better. I haven’t been in this industry for very long, but my techniques have improved. It’s repetition, doing something over and over again until it’s perfect and you have built that muscle memory.
What do you do to keep yourself motivated in your work?
I am always trying new things, new designs, creating new patterns, and because I work in so many different areas paint, fabric, thread I am never out of ideas.
What is the best piece of advice you have received?
Don’t ever give up, and never quit trying.
Do you enter judged shows? Do you approach your work differently?
Yes, I submit to quilt competitions nationally and Internationally. Whether I’m making a quilt for a show or a donation my work remains the same – I go for perfection. When I teach, I teach my students to get perfect turned edge appliqué not just so so. But I also explain it all comes with practice, practice ,practice.
Do you keep track of your work? Show’s you’ve entered?
Yes. This is my business, and I have quilts at many different shows all over so I have to keep track of where they are and where they have been. All my show quilts are certified, appraised and insured.
Do you lecture or teach workshops? How can students/organizers get ahold of you to schedule an event?
Yes!!! I love teaching! I teach for quilt shows and for quilting guilds. I offer a variety of classes to choose from. All my classes with descriptions are on my website www.quiltingtranquility.com They can also email me at [email protected] I have a FB page Quilting Tranquility, IG page Kyra.quiltingtranquility A youtube channel Kyra Reps @dotsaremytherapy
Where can people see your work?
Everyone can see my work on my FB personal page Kyra Reps, business page FB Quilting Tranquility, IG, at shows, and on my website www.quiltingtranquility.com
Interview posted October 2024
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