Claudia will be teaching a three day class, Monday-Wednesday, #1301 Tis the Season
Personal: This Phoenix, Arizona native loves chocolate and reading biographies. Her favorites have been “No Ordinary Time” by Doris Kearns Goodwin and “John Adams” by David McCullough. “Both are brilliant,” says Claudine.
Claudine has three children and ten grandchildren and wants everyone to know, “I am not that old — I just started early as did my children!!”
How did you get started in quilting? I started quilting in my 20’s. I have always enjoyed working with fabric and manipulating it in different ways. Applique was my first love and still is one of my favorite techniques today. About 14 years ago I purchased my first embroidery machine and quickly embroidery has become my passion and love! I have turned my favorite hobby into my company, Claudia’s Creations. I have been digitizing and designing ever since that first embroidery machine and can’t imagine doing anything else.
Does anyone else in your family quilt? My maternal grandmother and great grandmother both enjoyed sewing. My grandmother was an excellent seamstress and my great grandmother was an expert quilter and hand embroiderer.
Where do you find inspiration for your quilting? I seem to find inspiration when I am not looking for it and least expect it! I am always inspired from workshops I take and enjoy the challenge of incorporating those techniques into my patterns.
What is the one quilting tool you can’t live without? One of my favorite quilting tools is my cutting/ironing table. It is high enough that I do not have to bend over to cut or press fabric. The height is crucial for sustaining comfort, strength, and endurance.
What do you like to do when you aren’t quilting? If I am not quilting I am surely digitizing! I not only find digitizing fun and exciting but relaxing and rewarding!
What is the best class you have taken? One of my favorite classes was a week-long landscape workshop with Gloria Loughman, a quilt teacher from Australia. She is inspirational, fun, and generous with her knowledge and time.
Where is the farthest you have traveled that is quilt related? I teach nationally and have taught across the United States from California to Virginia and Montana to Texas.
What do you like best about teaching? The best part about teaching is watching the face of a student grasp an idea and light up! Their eyes widen, lips curl upward, and joy reads on their face. When the spark of knowledge is understood and that student starts to add their own touch into what they are learning, viola creativity is born!
What is your best quilting tip? My best tip for quilters is accuracy! If the pattern calls for a quarter inch seam, measure to make sure you have a quarter inch seam! The reason most quilts do not lay flat on a wall is because the seam allowance is not accurate. Always measure before adding another piece of fabric. Before adding borders, measure the top, middle, and bottom width. They should all measure the same before adding any borders. The quilt will lay flat if it measures square!
What do you want your students to get out of your class? My students will learn how to properly stabilize and hoop fabric for embroidery. They will master my “Perfect Placement” technique for multi-hooping with complete precision and accuracy. They will learn how to hoop the fabric within millimeters of the exact spot. These skills will produce better embroidery in every project they create!
You can contact Claudia at: http://www.claudiascreationsaz.com
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