Artist's Statement
I admit to being obsessive about quilting--I don't think a day goes by that I am not actively working in my studio or teaching a class. If I am busy with other obligations, then I find myself planning what to do when I can get back in the sewing room!
Over the years I have taken classes to explore a variety of art mediums. Although I have adapted several of these techniques into my quilts, nothing has overtaken my passion for creating with fabric.
One class did send me in another direction - weaving colorful paper into baskets. I have become completely enthralled with this craft, and there is now a corner of my studio devoted to these lovely baskets.
I love experimenting with traditional quilt blocks, and frequently challenge myself to come up with new and easy ways to construct familiar quilting designs. I find that developing innovative ways to create old favorites and then teaching these methods is very rewarding.
I also enjoy creating unique, orignial art-- with fabric as my medium. Fiber art is an expressive
outlet that gives me a means of dealing with my dreams, concerns,
and emotions that I tend to internalize. My art quilts have
given me a positive way to deal with the life changing affects of
Hurricane Katrina and the extreme health problems of our grandson,
Jackson. The one of a kind art pieces I create are a visual record of my
personal life journey.
As much as I enjoy working in my studio, I have to say that without a doubt, I love teaching just as much. This statement would not be complete without a thanks to all the students that have allowed me to come into their lives and share my passion.
Profile
Nancy began quilting as a hand work purist. Although quilting
was taken up as a challenge to complete an unfinished project of
her mother's, it quickly became a full blown obsession. When
rotary cutting was introduced and a new Bernina sewing machine
purchased, machine piecing quickly took the place of time-consuming
hand stitching. Today Nancy enjoys doing applique and bead work by
hand, but primarily pieces and quilts by machine.
Nancy is a gifted fiber artist who has developed her own innovative quilting techniques over the past 30 years. Her work has progressed to include everything from traditional bed quilts to original contemporary wall hangings. Her quilting classes focus on quick machine techniques and creating original designs.
YLI Thread Company selected her as one of their designers, which gives her the opportunity to share new and exciting techniques with fiber artists around the world. Her quilts have been viewed in many juried art and quilting exhibits across the country. Several magazines articles, published in such periodicals as Quilting Today and Quilters Newsletter Magazine, have given Nancy's work international exposure.
She is a quilting instructor who travels extensively to generously share her craft with others. Teaching internationally has given her the opportunity to meet quilting enthusiasts from all walks of life. Nancy particularly enjoys teaching weeklong workshops in several different venues. 20 years ago Nancy and her family discovered the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina (www.folkschool.org), where she now teaches and has numerous students who return year after year--for new quilting ideas or weaving colorful paper baskets. She now teaches long format classes other places including Arrowmont School of Arts in Gatlinburg, TN (www.arrowmont.org), Sew Many Places quilting cruises, and in 2013 at the Abruzzo School of the Creative Arts in Italy (www.abruzzoschoolofcreativearts.com).
Nancy lives in Covington, LA with her husband. Dennis is now retired from teaching at Delgado Community College in New Orleans and is busy in one studio or another doing architectural drawings,woodworking, enameling, mixed media collage, or theatre. Their two grown children follow these same aspirations as designers and artists themselves-- traits that will most likely be passed on to their three grandsons as well.