Ann’s Message

Betsie River

22" x 28"

Through the creation of this book, I hope to inspire traditional quilters and non-quilters alike to create an art quilt. An art quilt is a quilt that is made to decorate the wall, rather than to provide warmth on a bed. I hope to tap into your creative side and bring out the artist in you. I think most people underestimate themselves and don’t realize that they are artistic. You simply have to try it!

I prefer not to use patterns when using my collage technique. I believe by looking at photographs, choosing colors, cutting and placing fabrics as you go is the best way to be creative when making an art quilt. I have found this from trial and error. I believe this allows the creativeness in a person to flow and thus develops the artist’s own unique style.

When I was learning to sew as a child, I hated reading and following directions. So this “free-form” cutting and placing is perfect for me – there is no tracing and following exact, detailed instructions. Tracing and working from patterns can get very repetitive and time consuming. The more quilts you create, the more you will improve. Looking back, I find that my first quilts were very simplistic, and now eight years later, my quilts are very detailed and complex.

I have been very successful and feel very lucky that I have been able to produce and sell hundreds, if not thousands, of art quilts in the last eight years. Many people have said, “If you teach your designs and techniques, people will steal your ideas.” I have never worried about this and want to encourage others to take my techniques and develop their own designs into a “unique voice” all their own. Each art quilt is as unique and different as its creator. I enjoy teaching and seeing individuals develop and grow into artists. Each quilt looks different – even when my students use the same photograph and a fabric kit. I even have a hard time creating a duplicate quilt of my own!

I enjoy sharing my gifts and knowledge with others. I find that I learn from those who take my classes as much as they learn from me. Life is meant to be shared!

I hope my book opens your eyes to new possibilities and provides an inspiration for you. Use my ideas to develop your own techniques, but most importantly, have fun quilting!

A solid, light blue batik was used to create the sky. Light green to medium green hills were added along with a printed pine tree fabric in the distance. The river narrows to the vanishing point adding perspective to the scene. Light, medium and dark blue batik fabrics were used to create the water. Grass fabrics in the foreground with variegated thread add detail to the scene. The large birch and hardwood trees were created from a printed “tree trunk” fabric fused onto the background. Various green fabrics were fused for leaves in the trees. They were cut into leaf shapes and fused onto tree trunks and out into the scene. Solid black fused fabric was used to cut out the bird silhouettes. Free-motion machine stitching was added to the entire quilt for interest and texture.