Calling of a Fiber Artist

My trip to Phoenix brought many wonderful experiences wrapped up in 5 days. I had mentioned we visited 3 different quilt shops during the week and they were not created equally.

A normal quilt store

Our first venture out

The very last shop was visited on my last day. My friend couldn’t understand why they would put this quilt shop in such a hard to find place, an isolated shop in the back of a mega business park. As we walked in, I saw there was very little fabric in the store. It was small by most standards with a few beautiful things on display at the doorway. That’s as far as I got. For 10 minutes or more I circled the large baker’s rack that held the most beautiful quilt I’ve ever seen. That’s saying a lot.

CC Best Quilt EVER

C. C. handkerchief quilt

CC Fiber Art in shadowbox

First view coming inside the door

I wanted it! I knew if it were for sale it would cost thousands of dollars. I tried to photograph it but my phone could only capture so much. My friend saw another acquaintance and they began a conversation about this work of art. My body then began to follow my eyes. There was one item after another that just left my mouth hanging open. Enough time and many questions later reveled the quilt was there for a class. There would be a class! And I couldn’t attend. The class would be held after I left, last several hours then a few months later another class for several more hours. Insert sad face here.

CC child’s patchwork quilt

CC jacket with everything fun.

CC ephemera mini

CC Crazy quilt mini

We gawked and chatted a bit more and another familiar figure popped out for my friend. It was her instructor of the pattern paper bird class. And the quilt, jackets and several other things were hers!!!

CC Original. My friend made one at this class

She would be teaching the classes on the quilts and my friend knew her. When she saw my lust for her works of art she showed me more. It just kept coming out of boxes and bags. Not all were my taste but all were unique and stunning in their own way. I thought my phone camera would overheat from use. Carol was delighted that I liked her work. I asked if she had it on Etsy or anywhere. No, but it might be necessary because there was so much of it and no more room at home. Hmmm.

Carol Collette published in Quilt magazine.

Would we call this woman a hoarder? Not me. I’d call her a very talented fiber artist. And she was willing to share her skill with anyone that wanted to learn. Unfortunately, there are some things you can’t teach.

CC Fabric book

CC One of many fabric pages

A website needs to be set up for her so she can showcase her Art and sell it directly from there. She had thought about a website but didn’t know how to go about it or if she could afford it. You shouldn’t hid this kind of talent. So I’m showing off for her and seeing what can be done to get her up and running.

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My friend had signed up for the class on the quilt and is hoping to have her knee healed enough from her fall to participate but they will not let her drive for 3 months after the seizure so it’s unlikely. Maybe the next time it’s offered. I would like to see classes like this offered here and she will travel if we can get a group and a sponsor. See me smiling?

Where do you find new and unique modes of Art? Have you seen any lately?

From my heart to yours,

Marlene Herself