Machine Quilting and Piecing Faculty
Mickey will be teaching classes 3004,4011,4013,5004,6006,7014
(Information about this class will be posted soon)
Matt: How long have you been quilting? What made you begin quilting?
Mickey: I have been quilting since 1987. As a daughter of an accomplished seamstress I have learned to love fabric, needle and thread from a very early age. The bicentennial quilts in 1976 (when I was 10) intrigued me and when I was married and spending evening s along (husband worked second shift) I decided it was time to learn to quilt. So I dove into the dusty books on the library shelves and taught myself.
Matt: Do you have a quilting studio?
Mickey: My studio is pretty much the entire basement of our home. It started out as a family room and slowly but surely I took it over and last year it got one last “remodel” and well…it’s my own slice of heaven on earth now!
Matt: What do you consider your quilting “specialty” or what makes you unique in the quilting world?
M: I am known for my whimsical art quilts..but truly I love and make traditional and art quilts. It is a joy to hear someone giggle when they view my art quilts. That makes my heart sing.
Matt: What is your favorite color schemes to work with?
M:I truly love all colors and as for schemes…I guess…just mixing commercial and hand dyed fabric (done by my dear husband Paul) together is my favorite. I find I can’t work exclusively just with hand dyes, as lovely as they are…well there are too many beautiful commercial fabrics out there that need a good home too. And I love the character/texture/movement that they bring to my work
Matt: What books or articles have you written?
M: Articles…to be honest…starting to lose track. The latest was just published in Professional Quilter . As for books…my book Garden Whimsy Applique is a technique /creativity book that discusses my method for machine appliqué and has 12 patterns (to which any style of applique can be applied) too! And I currently working on a new book….shhh….
Matt: What do you do while you quilt? Do you listen to music?
M: Music…oh yes! All types, rock, country, jazz, instrumental…my ipod is FULL. Podcasts too! And a funky thing that I listen to is my police scanner. I find it gives my brain just enough to hold it’s interest but I don’t get lost in it. Plus as a nocturnal person by nature I do a lot of studio work between the hours of 1am and 4am…very interesting police scanner time…that’s all I’m saying…lol.
Matt: What is your quilting inspiration?
M: Anything and everything has inspired a quilt. Current events to just a silly phrase someone has said. It is the spoken word that usually sets my creative muse into overdrive and half the time I have the image in my head before I can locate a pen and paper after hearing something.
Matt: What is the funniest moment you have had happen while you were teaching?
M: My first teaching gig was in Kentucky. And I was nervous. Of course..I’m only human. The class was Machine Quilting 101 and if was full..actually overbooked to the tune of 29 students. All were heads down about a few hours in working studiously…when Ruby (age 95 and bought a new machine just prior to class just to learn this technique…no pressure…) let out in a very loud voice. “HOT DAMN! I can do this!” the entire class bust out laughing and my life on the road has been a joy ever since.
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n for Linda Carlson who is recovering from surgery. Kathy and Linda are friends and Kathy is spending time with Linda to make sure she is including all the information from Linda’s classes that Linda had planned to teach.
