One Artist's Story

A heartfelt story found on Craft Industry Alliance blog written by Carrie Bloomston….who followed her dream for twenty something years, but couldn't pay the bills.  She's still following her dream on another path.  




Photo by
Jill McNamara

 

Spotlight on Amy Aderman, upcoming GSQA presenter

I smiled while reading how Amy Aderman's new job digital marketing manager Vanessa Denniston, started her introduction of Amy..."The new kids, they always get all the attention..."   It's a good read, so here's the full article.   

So, yes, let's give Amy even more attention.  Amy is the Gulf States Quilting Association's quarterly meeting presenter, July 28, 2018 in Long Beach, Mississippi.    Applause 

Amy has a long history of touching, cutting, sewing fabric beginning at the knees of her grandmother at about 4 years old.  Amy continued  through the years to make garments and home décor until she started making quilts about six years ago.....and, as they say, 'the rest is history'.   Now, a  sales rep for Jaftex Corporation, a 4th generation family owned business based out of New York City, Amy enjoys the pleasure of being  one of the first to see all the new fabric lines of Blank Quilting Corporation, Studeoe Fabrics, 3 Wishes,  Stof, A E Nathan Co., and recently purchased Free Spirit and more.

When I asked Amy about her GSQA program, she readily admitted that she was still working on that!  But, she went on to say that included will be her experience as a fabric rep....what she does, what life on the job is like, how shops select and order fabric, and other aspects of the fabric industry - design, production, where and how it's made, fabric quality, etc. 

Here's what Amy says about how her sewing/quilting history has helped her job performance: 

"Many sales reps in the industry do not sew or quilt.  But Jaftex realizes that people who know and use their fabrics are an asset.  My knowledge as a sewer/quilter helps me connect with and relate to my customers. They respect and appreciate my understanding of their business and their retail customers.  I am able to suggest projects and uses for the fabrics and what's trending now in the quilting community." 

Amy's response to "What was your greatest fear when starting your new job?"

"I'm sure it's the same thing everyone fears with every new job....FAILURE.  I started this job with no previous sales experience and sales was something I never thought I'd like or be good at.  My pay is commission based on my sales, so if I fail, my bills don't get paid!  That was pretty scary at first.  It was also a big lifestyle change for me - from 9-5 office jobs, to a 100% self-employed job where I set my own schedule, spend a lot of time away from home, driving and staying in hotels."

When asked about her most rewarding moment, Amy readily agreed that

"it is just awesome to get paid to do something fun and spend time with people who share my biggest passion - making stuff!" 

Just recently completed is Amy's liberated log cabin quilt inspired by the quilters of Gees Bend, Alabama, which was a blue ribbon winner at the April GSQA quilt show - 1st place in the Modern Category.

Congratulations, Amy. 

We look forward to your Gulf States Quilting Association presentation in July. 

Introduction to Free Motion Quilting ~

 

Free Motion Quilting Workshop

Teacher – Amy Aderman

Friday, February 23 or Saturday, February 24

 

Do you have a stack of quilt tops eagerly waiting to be quilted?  It’s time to learn to quilt on your home sewing machine.  It’s easier than you think and is so much fun!  This class is an introduction to free motion quilting.  You'll learn  the basic free motion quilting techniques and several great quilting designs.  You’ll also learn about basting and how to manage large quilts on a small machine. 

 

 

Amy Aderman....a beautiful lady who shares her talent.  Amy is a sales representative for Blank Quilting, Studio E Fabric, AE Nathan, Stof Fabrics and Air Lite Batting.  She has been sewing for years and quilting for a few of those years.  Amy leans toward the modern aesthetic and focuses on clean lines and open space in many of her quilts. 

Amy will begin her weekend with us on Thursday, February 22 where she will be sharing her wonderful quilting talent with Quilters' Guild Acadienne members and guests.   Want to learn to use your home machine to produce a finished quilt to be proud to show the world? 

When:  February 22 @ 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Where:  Northwood Methodist Church, Lafayette, Louisiana

Amy will follow up with two free motion quilting workshops on Friday and Saturday.  "Entwined" pictured below is just a sampling of the stunningly beautiful quilting Amy allows her home sewing machine to complete. 

Entwined
by Amy Aderman

Also mark your calendar for July 28.  Amy will be the GSQA presenter at the July meeting in Long Beach, Mississippi. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spotlight on the filmmaker ~

We all know Ken Burns as a prolific filmmaker. But there is a surprising side of Ken Burns that we might not know.  He is a quilt collector!  Did you know about his quilt collection that is now on exhibit at The International Quilt Study Center & Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska?  Now on exhibit are 28 quilts in his collection that now numbers around 75.  No, don't go telling Ken Burns that 'quilts are quaint'! 



Photo Credit Benjamin Norman
for The New York Times

Enjoy the article and interview "Show Us Your Wall" by Judith H. Dobrzynski for The New York Times published January 16, 2018. 

About Fabric Collage ~

Quilt art anyone?  Can't you just see and feel how much Deborah Boschert loves what she does.  Let's get inspired to fabric collage.  Go big screen and enjoy Deborah's interview with Ricky Tims at The Quilt Show. 

 

 

Deborah has a blog  and is on Facebook and Instagram.....

is published - Art Quilt Collage is in her Etsy shop

and oh, my, a  U Tube Channel

her schedule is filling fast as is her art quilt gallery

Don't miss a thing

She is adorable

 

 

 

 

 

Who Has Talent?

QGA's own Connie Soileau certainly has quite a bit of talent and expresses it beautifully in her Bible Awareness Quilts.   Connie says she got started many years ago when her young friends began to marry.   She would gift each newly wedded couple a quilt she made that embraced marriage scriptures. 

Connie started quilting 42 years ago but took a 20 year leave-of-absence while her children were young.   Connie, who is a member of Krotz Springs Quilt Guild, joined Quilters' Guild Acadienne in 2016 and is a very prolific quilter, having recently completed one Bible Awareness Quilt - but Holy Moses....she's completed 200 or more quilt blocks.  Connie says her goal is to complete one block a day in the upcoming year. 


It's been interesting trying to figure out which bible verse Connie is interpreting in her quilt blocks and enjoyable reading The Bible verses shown to wonder at her interpretation of each biblical legend. 

Connie admits to  being a modern quilt maker and says "I prefer modern quilts because I don't like to make the same square over and over." 


Congratulations, Connie.  You have talent!