Daphne Greig has authored several books on quilting, teaches workshops internationally and has offered a variety of exciting classes since 1990. She continues to inspire students wherever she goes. Last year, we were both teaching workshops in the same building with a wall between us; however, I can still hear the laughter coming from her class. Students say her workshops are fun and entertaining! She's innovative and a natural teacher who knows how to organize her time. This profile represents only a glimpse into her world of quilt related accomplishments...cinderella

• How would you define your style of fibreart?

The first word the pops into my head is 'eclectic'! I wear several hats. The work I create as a pattern designer and author has roots in traditional quiltmaking – but with lots of innovative ideas mixed in. I use modern methods and supplies for designs that many quilters might not attempt using traditional techniques. My Give & Take Appliqué method is a good example. I use fusible web in an innovative way to make traditional and non-traditional designs.

Another 'hat' is contemporary art quilting. In these pieces I celebrate elements and growth in nature, most particularly the growth of trees and plants and my personal growth as an artist. I focus on visual texture of fabrics and surface texture created with stitching and embellishments.

• What are some of your favorite projects you’ve created? (Images & Quilts are Daphne Greig Copyright ©2012)

My first contemporary quilt is still one of my favorites. Emily's Forest was a way to honour a great West Coast artist, Emily Carr. I learned so much when making this quilt, most particularly how to work spontaneously and let the piece talk to me throughout the creative process.

Arabesque is another favorite quilt. The design was started in a workshop with Ricky Tims and the quilt evolved over a long period of time (18 months!). I work well when I have a deadline and Ricky wanted pieces to include in his book, Rhapsody Quilts. The quilt was finished in time and is pictured in his book.

Some of my more recent work has the excitement (for me) of working spontaneously. By this I mean I do not have the final project mapped out before I start. I start with a very rough sketch and an idea in my mind. This is very different from the projects I create for patterns and books where every detail is designed and refined before I cut into any piece of fabric!

I enjoyed the challenge of 'hiding' the blocks' in Miyagi Tsunami and working out the construction methods to add the border area. The stamped fabrics were created using my own stamps, inks and paints. This piece was created for a demonstration of stamping I presented at International Quilt Festival in Houston in October 2011.

My latest book includes some of my favorite quilts too. I love New York Beauty quilts but knew I would never make one that required paper pieced arcs and curve piecing. With Give & Take Appliqué I don't need to use either of these methods – just fusible appliqué.

French Country Danse was so much fun to make. The fabrics are reproductions of traditional French designs that have a classic, fresh look. I discovered an innovation using the same block in a rectangle and enjoyed taking the design in another creative direction.

In Chutes and Ladders I added many of my sewing machine's decorative stitches with a wide variety of threads.

My work with decorative stitches resulted in two more recent pieces, both of which were accepted for the Quilts: A World of Beauty quilt show in Houston last fall.

Looking West is an adaptation of a photograph taken from the west coast of Vancouver Island. The background is textured with decorative stitches and neutral Rainbows threads. Paint, thread painting and bobbin work were used to make the trees.

Three Wee Figs is a result of a 'doodle' created in another Ricky Tims workshop. The doodle has been on my inspiration wall for several years and the concept for the textured background motivated me to create this piece. I painted the fabrics for the figs and used several Rainbows threads for the appliqué and background stitching.

•  Do you have a favorite sewing machine(s)?

My Bernina 440QE is my machine of choice. It has all the features I need including hundreds of built-in stitches! I have 2 other Bernina machines; I don't regularly use them but can't part with them since they are such good machines. One will be for my daughter when she discovers the joy of sewing and quilting!

• Which instructors or workshops have most inspired you?

I have been most inspired by my workshops with Ricky Tims. He is an innovative designer and master technician. Both of these qualities really 'speak' to me. I enjoy the challenge to master both design and complex sewing.

Jane Sassaman also inspired me in her workshops. The methods she taught for seeing, simplifying and abstracting are helpful in my design work.

On the business side of quilting, Morna McEver Golletz, is a wonderful mentor. Morna is the Founder and President of the International Association of Professional Quilters. She teaches business-focused classes to quilters, fiber artists and other creative professionals. More information about the organization is available at http://www.professionalquilter.com

• What other things inspire you to create?

I have lots of inspirations. Nature is a big one as you can see from some of my work. But sometimes a piece of fabric will start my creative juices flowing. I am also striving to create more abstract designs. I am finding myself more drawn to this sort of design recently. The interplay of texture, shape and colour are very intriguing!

• Whom is on your ‘instructor/quilter wish list’ to meet and why?

I would definitely like to meet Carol Taylor (www.caroltaylorquilts.com/). I love her work. The colour is always exciting and it is very interesting to see how her work has evolved over the past few years.

• What would you like other stitchers to know about you?

I am passionate about creativity, quilting and sharing my work with others. I have been teaching quiltmaking and design for over 25 years.  My goal as a teacher is to encourage students to try new techniques in a supportive environment. I want them to have fun, expand their skills and enjoy the creative process.

• What determines your Thread choices in your projects? (any Superior favorites?)

I only ask one question when selecting thread: will it do the job I want it to do?

If I am piecing, will it blend with all the fabrics and sew a secure, and 'unbulky' seam? I love Superior's Masterpiece thread for piecing. I also used this thread for the appliqué stitching for French Country Danse. I found the perfect blending colours for this project.

For machine quilting my more traditional quilts I love a cotton thread and King Tut comes in so many colours that I use it exclusively now. Some of my pieces look best with multicolour variegated threads and others need a more 'blended' thread. I can find both these styles with King Tut. I also like the fact that there is very little lint with these threads. This means less cleaning of the machine and more sewing time!

I also like the sheen of Rainbows threads and I feel confident using these trilobal polyester threads for decorative stitching and places where I want some light reflection in my work.

• Tell us about your pattern design business and what you are currently working on.

I am the owner of Patchworks Studio, a publishing company for quilting patterns (www.patchworkstudio.com). I am also an author and teacher. I have been designing quilt patterns under the Patchworks Studio name since 1996. I have co-authored 5 quilting books and filmed an instructional DVD showcasing my Give & Take Appliqué technique. I also design patterns for new fabric collections for Northcott Fabrics and for several magazines. I present lectures and workshops for quilt shops and guilds, at major quilting events and festivals and teach online at Quilt University (www.quiltuniversity.com). I have also taught workshops on 5 quilting cruises. This is a great way to combine my love of travel and teaching quilting.

I am developing several new patterns to be released in the next few months. I am also beginning work for a new book and making more samples for teaching engagements throughout Canada and the US this year. To learn more about me and my work visit my website: www.daphnegreig.com

I will also be writing the Product Review column for the Canadian Quilter magazine. I am having fun trying some of the new products available for quilters and designers and seeing how they can help me and other quilters in our work.

Daphne's ideas, projects and workshops are always entertaining. Her knowledge of Thread is an asset, which she knows how to use--very well. I'm delighted to supply her favorite Superior Threads when she's in need. She is a an accomplished communicator both on paper and fabric. Congratulations on winning a Ribbon at the recent Victoria Quilters' Guild Show for the quilt noted above: "Looking West".

• Your comments for Daphne Greig are welcome (click below). 
• To view previous artists in my "Focus on Quilters/FibreArtists" series click LINKS; scroll down for archived Profiles

Cindy Scraba (www.cindysthreadworks.com)

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You could say "The PERFECT Quilt Show" took place this past weekend at Victoria, B.C. The Guild's decision to hold Journeys in an alternate venue (after so many years at the Saanichton Fairgrounds) provided a special opportunity to display some amaaaazing Quilts in all their glory: wide aisles, row-on-row in grand manor. The super charged volunteer team, under the leadership of Show Convenor, Theresa Harbidge and President, Karen Killins-Robinson deserve kudos. Here are some show highlights from the spacious Pearkes Rec. Centre--it's so big my camera flash couldn't compete.

What a glorious Guild Store for shoppers! A testament to the prolific stitchers, quilters and members of the Victoria Quilters' Guild...

"Razzle Dazzle" by Luisa Fimio earned BEST IN SHOW and a Ribbon

It was a pleasure to mail little 'care packages' of colorful, dazzling threads which Luisa handstitched so beautifully and aptly named her masterpiece "Razzle Dazzle"

"Out of the Blue" by Karen Killins-Robinson (VQG President). This was one of my favorite artquilts--just because.

"Evergreen Bough" by Laine Canivet. Recently her Artist Profile was featured in my Blog. (Sorry, I was vertically challenged to photograph so high up!)

"Looking West" by Daphne Greig--Watch for her Profile to be featured this month in my Fabric/Quilt Artist series.

"Serendipity" by Lenny de Groot is another talented fibre artist from the Victoria area. I adore this piece and her work. Too bad I was so rushed, my camera batteries failed and I wasn't able to reshoot another. I apologize for missing the top portion and her Ribboned entry "Rainforest"!

"Gulf Island Dreaming" by Susan Teece...one of her signature subjects--the Arbutus Tree, native species of Vancouver Island. We're so lucky to live here amongst this natural beauty and all these talented artists. Don't you just wanna visit our special Island? Join us at the next quilt show on the May long weekend; info below.

The Victoria Quilt Guild did a super job of marketing, organizing, and producing this show. From a vendor's perspective, it was fabulous. IF I could speak on behalf of the "Quilts" they'd say: "Oh yeah, we loved hanging out here for the weekend!" Congrats to the entire team of volunteers. It was a pleasure to be an event sponsor once again. To review the list of show winners click to the VQGuild website. Please share YOUR comments below.

My Thread Candy Shoppe will soon travel again and set up for the Parksville Quilt Show: Seasons by the Sea, from May 18 to 20th at the Community/Conf Center on Jensen Ave. I look forward to seeing everyone there as well! 

Cinderella

Cindy Scraba (www.cindysthreadworks.com)

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• What other things inspire you to create? 

Machu Picchu ©Laine Canivet

 

I like to walk and take photographs of beautiful things. I like to go to blogs, websites and quilt shows, in person or on-line. I read the Quilting Arts magazine.  I am fortunate to belong to a couple of small groups where we challenge ourselves to create a piece on a monthly basis  based on a keyword or a technique.  Commission work inspires me because often it involves something that I haven’t done before. And finally, but not least, there are deadlines, which definitely inspire me to create.

 

Irises ©Laine Canivet 

I started this project wondering if I could draw a decent flower using a botanical drawing as the reference. It worked so the irises eventually got paired with the background fabrics which had received many surface design treatments.

• Whom is on your ‘instructor/quilter wish list’ to meet and why? 

I don’t have a wish-list. But when I consider whether to take a workshop or not, it needs to be a well seasoned teacher and/or include new-to-me techniques. Creating a “finished piece” in a workshop is not required.

• What determines your Thread choices in your projects? any Superior favorites? 

The very first consideration is colour and the second is its purpose in the project. I quite like the Superior threads both for colour choice and quality.

• What would you like other fabric artists and quilters to know about you? 

Well, I would really like to see more opportunities here on Vancouver Island to show-case fibre art. Quilt shows are fine, but they don’t bring the audience I am thinking about. When people see what I do, they are always amazed. It would be wonderful to have more people amazed more often. Perhaps when I am finished some heavy volunteer commitments, I will think about how this could happen. Any of the fabric artists who read this and are interested in exploring this idea can send me an email (below).

For quite awhile, I wanted to work at the national level to learn more about what is happening across Canada in terms of quilting and fibre arts. Last year, when conditions were right for me, I volunteered to serve on the Canadian Quilting Association (CQA) as secretary/publicist. Now in my second year I have discovered it is very difficult to keep the ‘ship running’ as well as take on special projects or make significant changes without help. I have several enthusiastic volunteers writing articles for The Canadian Quilter and assisting with the set up a ‘Members Only’ page on the CQA website. The best part of being part of a national organization, either as a member or on the Board is being part of the bigger quilting scene – either going to the annual conference, entering a quilt into the National Juried show or reading The Canadian Quilter. We really do need to tend to our own quilters and fabric artists. 

Contact: laine@sovinfo.com     www.lainecanivet.com

It's always a pleasure to profile quilters and fabric artists as they share a common Thread--they're passionate artists and embrace Thread as their creative tool for texture. Laine's approach is fresh and unique to her. "Thank you" for sharing your talent, Laine! 

Cinderella (cindysthreadworks.com)

Cindy Scraba

• Visit the Victoria Quilters' Guild upcoming Show & Sale "Journeys", May 4-6th @ the Pearkes Rec Ctr.

• To view previous artists in my "Focus on Quilters/FibreArtists" series click LINKS; scroll down for archived Profiles.

• Please share your comments of encouragement below for Laine Canivet... 

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Today, I'm sharing a special invitation from Van Isl fabric artist, Laine Canivet. Locals and visitors to Victoria, BC can plan to take in this unique pairing of food and yummy fabric creations--enjoy their fresh appeal and her profile in my next Blog (Apr 23rd), which is part of my ongoing series: "Focus on Fabric Artists". Cinderella

Hi!

This year, for my Artist Open House, I have teamed up with Barry from Shine Café (formerly Demitasse) at the corner of Blanshard and Johnson.

Starting Saturday April 14 for about 6 weeks, you will be able to see my fabric art on the walls of the back room in the café.

I will be there in person from 2 – 4pm on two days: Monday April 16 and Tuesday May 1^st.

We have the back room to ourselves so it would be really great if you could join me on one of those two days.

I would like to show you my latest pieces and you can enjoy muffins and a drink for ½ price.

Sounds like fun - hope to see you there!

Laine Canivet

fabric artist

contact: laine@sovinfo.com                   visit: www.lainecanivet.com

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