31 Days of Thanks: Day 11

Posted on Oct 11, 2013 in Blog | Comments Off on 31 Days of Thanks: Day 11

This was the second year for The Crafts Report cover contest. I was guilty. I saw the call for entries last year and thought about entering, but I did not make the time to enter the contest and let the opportunity pass by. Last year an awesome fiber artist friend of mine, Kent Epler of The Laughing Boy, entered, was selected, and made it to the final round. Kent was not the ultimate winner but did an amazing job. I knew that winning was possible and when I saw the call for entries this past May for the second contest I was all in! Thank you Kent for inspiring me to enter the contest in the first...

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31 Days of Thanks: Day 6

Posted on Oct 6, 2013 in Blog | Comments Off on 31 Days of Thanks: Day 6

I chose my college based on whether or not it had a fiber art program. During a local portfolio review day, Marsha, the Dean of the Art Department at Xavier University (Cincinnati, Ohio), was the only college representative to tell me I could potentially take a fibers class all eight semesters. Most colleges required you to take the basic foundation classes your freshman and sophomore year and would not allow you to start focusing on your concentration until junior year. Marsha’s offer was music to my ears. I held her to her word and that is exactly what I did. Throughout the eight semesters I took a fibers class, I learned all sorts of dyeing, weaving and surface design techniques under the guidance of Kitty, the fibers professor. I majored in Art with a concentration in Fibers and earned a Business minor. Thanks Marsha and...

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31 Days of Thanks: Day 4

Posted on Oct 4, 2013 in Blog | Comments Off on 31 Days of Thanks: Day 4

31 Days of Thanks: Day 4

I was first introduced to world renowned fabric artist, Penny Sisto, at a special leadership seminar my freshman year of high school. After hearing Penny speak and seeing her amazing quilts, I knew I wanted to shadow her through my school’s shadowing program. It took a few months, but the stars finally aligned and there I was spending the day in Penny’s studio. With Penny’s guidance, I made a wall hanging in less than a day, painting the background, creating the person, and quilting it all together. As I was sewing the person together, Penny cut the bird out for me to put in the figure’s hands. Ironically and unbeknownst to Penny, at the time I was reading “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” in English class. It was meant to be. I went home that day and proudly professed to my parents, “I know what I want to be when I grow up. I want to be a fabric artist!” Thank you Penny for inspiring me to be what I have...

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31 Days of Thanks: Day 3

Posted on Oct 3, 2013 in Blog | Comments Off on 31 Days of Thanks: Day 3

One of the reasons I chose to go to high school at Presentation Academy was because of its leadership program. At the helm was leadership coordinator, Ms. Hall. As a prospective 8th grader, the potential to take days off of school to shadow women in career fields that interest me was very intriguing. Ms. Hall made it possible for me to shadow a fabric artist and a dresser on a Broadway show. While I will talk about the women I shadowed another day, today is dedicated to Ms. Hall for making the connections that enabled me to start on the path toward my future careers. Thanks Ms....

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