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creativity The Creativity Project

The Creativity Project Week #29: Alexis Deise

Posted on July 20, 2018
The Creativity Project Week 29 Alexis Deise Leland Ave Studios:Kim Smith Soper

Alexis Deise is an artist working in quilts. Her fresh and modern designs incorporate motifs and techniques from traditional quilts, but place them in a current context. Usually working in series, her projects include: “Black and White”, variations on traditional quilt patterns using a stripped-down palette and alternative configurations; “Quilts for Ruth”, a series of quilts based on the feminist jurisprudence of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg; and “Kintsugi”, quilts inspired by the kintsugi aesthetic tradition in Japanese pottery. Alexis’ quilt, Kintsugi VII: Birds in the Air, was a winner at this year’s QuiltCon, and her quilts have been juried into numerous shows and exhibits. Her work has been published in magazines and books including: Curated Quilts; Modern Quilts: Designs for the New Century; and Simply Moderne Magazine. Alexis is an attorney by day and lives with her family outside of Boston, Massachusetts. Welcome, Alexis!
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creativity The Creativity Project

The Creativity Project Week #28: Kristin Shields

Posted on July 13, 2018
Kristin Shields The Creativity Project Week 28 Leland Ave Studios:Kim Smith Soper

Kristin Shields is an artist living in Central Oregon, USA. Kristin’s work ranges from modern, art and folk art quilts to sketching, painting and other media. She is influenced by animals, the environment, books, modern design, traditional quilts, and folk art. When not working in her home studio, she may be found exploring with a camera and a sketchbook in hand. She is an animal lover who has a special fascination with birds. This may have inspired her background in the sciences, where she has a Masters in Avian Sciences. Kristin’s quilts have hung in numerous shows, including the Pacific International Quilt Festival; QuiltFest Oasis; International Quilt Festival Houston; AQS Paducah, Chattanooga, Grand Rapids, and Syracuse; QuiltCon 2015-2018; Northwest Quilt Expo; and the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show where she was the featured quilter in 2013. Among the many ribbons her quilts have received, she received 1st Place, First Entry in to Paducah, 2016; 1st Place, Small Quilts, QuiltCon 2016 and Judge’s Choice, QuiltCon 2017. In addition, Kristin’s quilts have been published in books and magazines including Modern Quilts: Designs of the New Century (book and touring exhibit); Free Range Triangle Quilts by Gwen Marston and Cathy Jones; Minimal Quiltmaking by Gwen Marston; Modern Patchwork Magazine; Simply Moderne Magazine and QuiltCon Magazine. Kristin lives with her husband and son in Central Oregon. Welcome, Kristin! Continue Reading

creativity The Creativity Project

The Creativity Project Week #26: Diana Vandeyar

Posted on June 29, 2018
Diana Vandeyar The Creativity Project Week #26 Leland Ave Studios: Kim Smith Soper

Diana Vandeyar is an Australian-born artist who relocated to Virginia from South Africa. She uses quilts to raise awareness of social injustices, stir emotion, and explore new techniques. In fact, two of Diana’s quilts have been purchased by the Michigan State University Museum as part of their permanent collection. Diana is a frequent contributor to the Modern Quilt Guild, with her patterns being featured as block and quilts of the month. Diana’s quilts and designs have been published in numerous places, among them, Modern Quilts: Deisgns of the New Century; Simply Moderne Magazine; 50 Little Gifts: Easy Patchwork Projects to Give or Swap; Curated Quilts; and QuiltCon Magazine. Diana won both second and third place in the Modern Traditionalism category at QuiltCon 2018, and her quilt Log Cabin Quilter Unknown was month the MQG’s showcase at the International Quilt Festival 2017. Welcome, Diana! Continue Reading

creativity The Creativity Project

The Creativity Project Week #25: Mel Beach

Posted on June 22, 2018
Mel Beach The Creativity Project Week 25 Leland Ave Studios:Kim Smith Soper

Mel Beach is a San Jose, CA based quilt artist, teacher and lecturer. She breaks away from tradition by adding her own modern, beautifully textured and colorful twists. Mel has completed over 60 quilt challenges at the local and international level, many of which have been exhibited locally, juried into national quilt shows and traveling exhibits, published in books/magazines, earned awards/ribbons, and selected as Finalists. Mel uses her quilts to express her voice and make political statements. More recently, she is exploring the idea of incorporating unconventional materials to add depth and dimension to her work.  She is an Aurifil Artisan and a Featured Artist on The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims. In addition, she teaches all over the country, including at Craft Napa, and was this week’s featured guest on the Modern Quilt Guild’s creative webinar, Road Map for Teaching. Welcome, Mel! Continue Reading

creativity The Creativity Project

The Creativity Project Week #24: Leslie Tucker Jenison

Posted on June 15, 2018
Leslie Tucker Jenison Week 24 The Creativity Project Kim Smith Soper:Leland Ave Studios

Leslie Tucker Jenison is an award winning contemporary quiltmaker/artist from San Antonio, Texas. A surface design artist for over 16 years, Leslie uses dye and paints as integral components of her work. In addition, photography frequently informs her designs, literally or by way of inspiration. She has been a guest on The Quilt Show, Quilting Arts TV, Fresh Quilting, and more. Leslie’s work has been the recipient of numerous awards and has been featured in publications including Quilting Arts, Modern Quilts Unlimited, and Where Women Create: Quilters, as well as a number of other books.Her work has been shown internationally and is part of corporate and private collections. Leslie is also a fabric designer for RJR fabrics. She is a member of The Modern Quilt Guild, International Quilt Association, Studio Art Quilt Associates, and is one-half of the curating-teaching duo that is Dinner At Eight Artists. Outside of her studio Leslie loves to travel, cook, garden, and paint. She is married and is a member of an excellent/eccentric family. Welcome, Leslie!

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creativity The Creativity Project

The Creativity Project Week #23: Victoria Gertenbach

Posted on June 8, 2018
Victoria Gertenbach The Creativity Project Week 23 Leland Ave Studios:Kim Smith Soper

Victoria Gertenbach is a textile artist living in, working in, and drawing inspiration from her rural surroundings in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Victoria is continuously inspired by the old, weathered barns that she lovingly photographs for posterity and shares on her instagram feed. The colors and textures of the farmland itself also serve as a source of inspiration for her work. In addition, Victoria draws inspiration from old Amish quilts, Japanese boro, Indian kantha stitch work, Korean pojagi, American folk art and outsider art, abstract art, and mid-century modern design. Victoria creates quilts and intricate textile objects that inspire in their beauty and seeming simplicity. She sells her needle punch brooches and small quilts in her Etsy shop. Her “objects of comfort” have been featured on the cover of Quilting Arts Magazine and she has appeared on Quilting Arts TV. Her blog, The Silly Boo Dilly, continues to serve as a source of inspiration for the quilting community by sharing her well-written tutorials and encouraging others to live a thoughtful, creative life. Welcome, Victoria! Continue Reading

creativity The Creativity Project

The Creativity Project Week #22: Dash Masland

Posted on June 1, 2018
Dash Masland Week 22 The Creativity Project Kim Smith Soper:Leland Ave Studios

Dash Masland’s mother taught her to quilt when she was just 8 years old. Dash continued sewing throughout her young adult life, but it was only recently that she returned to quilting in a meaningful way. After spending time as a marine scientist, a financial officer of her own brewing company, an artist, and a mom to two boys, Dash decided it was time to get back to the core of what brings her joy in life. So shortly after she and her husband left the brewing industry, Dash started quilting and designing patterns to share with others. Under the name of Prow House Quilts, Dash creates pieces that are inspired by the shorelines and seascapes of her native Maine. Her quilts and patterns can be purchased wholesale or for sale through her website, and Dash teaches workshops and classes at local quilt stores. Welcome, Dash!
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creativity The Creativity Project

The Creativity Project Week #21: Carole Lyles Shaw

Posted on May 25, 2018
Carole Lyles Shaw The Creativity Project Week 21 Kim Soper/Leland Ave Studios

Carole Lyles Shaw is a quilt designer, teacher and author. Carole began her quilting journey when she decided to teach herself to make quilts so that she could gift them to her nieces and nephews. She connected with the African American Quilters of Baltimore, and in a short time, the members taught her the best techniques to express her quilty vision. Carole soon took on the role of teacher and began sharing her knowledge with other quilters to help them to discover and learn the techniques of modern quilting. Now residing in Florida, Carole is the co-founder of the Sarasota Modern Quilt Guild and has appeared on an episode of the Fresh Quilting television show about community quilting. Carole’s quilts have exhibited in the U.S. and internationally, and her books Madly Modern Quilts and Patriotic Modern Quilts are available for purchase through her website. Welcome, Carole!

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creativity The Creativity Project

The Creativity Project Week #20: Kathryn Upitis

Posted on May 18, 2018
Kathryn Upitis The Creativity Project Week 20 Kim Soper/Leland Ave Studios

By day, Kathryn Upitis (aka Dr. Kathryn Dundas) uses integrative medicine to heal people as a whole: body, mind and spirit. When quilting, Kathryn applies this same approach to the quilts that she makes. She infuses everything she touches with intention, positive energy and the desire for her art to heal. Kathryn has not been quilting for very long, but what she has made in that short time has been impactful. Her quilts have shown at QuiltCons in 2105, 2017, and 2018; and her quilt, Silver Lining, is featured in the Modern Quilt Guild’s book Modern Quilts: Designs of the New Century. In addition, Kathryn’s quilt, Rocky Mountain High, is currently touring with the Best of Quilt Con Traveling Exhibit 2018. Kathryn’s designs have been featured in Modern Quilts Unlimited magazine and have won awards in Sewtopia challenges. In addition to making award-wining quilts, Kathryn’s wellness spa was recently recognized as one of the Top 25 Spas of Canada and was the recipient of the Education Award in the 2017 Canadian Spa & Wellness Awards, presented by Spa Inc. magazine, the Spa Industry Association of Canada (SIAC) and its consumer arm Leading Spas of Canada. Welcome, Kathryn!

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creativity The Creativity Project

The Creativity Project Week #19: Shelagh Jessop

Posted on May 11, 2018
Shelagh Jessop The Creativity Project Week 19 Kim Soper/Leland Ave Studios

Shelagh Jessop is an American-born textile artist living in Western France. Shelagh studied textile design at the University of Kansas where she began her love of hand-dying fabrics. Inspired by the quilters of Gees Bend, Shelagh began using her own hand-dyed works in the creation of quilts that she considered to be like painting with fabrics. Recently, Shelagh began her company Stuart Moores Textiles, which she named after her great-grandfather, a hard-working inventor and engineer who inspired her with his work ethic and ingenuity. In addition to selling quilts, home goods, and templates, Shelagh is a brand new mom to her son, Julian. Only a month old, you can find his cuteness peppering Shelagh’s instagram feed amongst the gorgeous hand-dyed textiles and yarns from her projects. Shelagh’s work has been exhibited all over the world and you can find her webinars on appliqué and improv quilting on the Modern Quilt Guild’s website.  In addition, Shelagh teaches classes and workshops, and her work was featured in Curated Quilts, vol. 1. Welcome, Shelagh!

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