Describe where you grew up?
In Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
I am back in Pretoria after some travelling in my own country.
We also stayed in
Mohale Lesotho and in Maputo Mozambique for a few years
I am an full time art quilter and fibre artist
My first quilt memory was when we were staying in Lesotho The ladies there start a mystery quilt and I thought it was silly to cut fabric in small blocks AnD sew them together again. That was before I got hooked.
I was about 37 years when I start quilting and my first teacher was Ashley Whitehead Germani and her mother Beatris They went through a lot of trouble in supplying us with fabric and batting. She teach my the conservative quilting and rules
About this quilt
I am currently a member of the Jacaranda quilters group in Centurion
Depending on the projects Im working on , 3 to 4 day minimum a week
My most important tool is my sewing machine and threads
Because I am an art quilter I like to experiment with different techiiques If I have to choose one it would be prairy points in a modern way
Because I dont work from a pattern I never know how my final quilt will look like. I start with a basic painted surface which I fill up in the colors and textures I like It usually changes alot as I remember different fabrics in my stach and if you change one fabric or coloe everything after that also changes Thats what I LOVE about what I DO
My family is my biggest fans They support and encourage me and is always available to help wirh exhibitions
What I ind pleasing about quilting is that I see it as art. I have learned that art is an effective remedi for mental health. It is an expressive mediumand help me with communication, stressand in learning different aspects of my own personality
ON THE ART OF QUILTMAKING
I think color and composition are the most importantaspecs of an art quilt
Originallity makes an artistic quilt powerful
A great quiltmaker is someone who can break all quilting rules and ends up with a master piece
A great quiltmaker is someone that can break all the rules and end up with a masterpiece
At the moment I am drawn to the work of
Roy Starke who is also my mentor.
A quilt tell a story through naritive Therefore people can get a glimpse of the artist soul and circomstances
ABOUT THIS QUILT
The name of the quilt is EDUCATION I start making it in October 2013 . Madiba was already sick and he was a important figure in our history. It was my compassion for him and his family in mind.