I often look at someone's art and wonder who inspired them to quilt, embroider, and stitch. Did they start by hand sewing or go straight to the machine?
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| Deborah Boschert |
Today I'd like to give you some insight into Deborah Boschert. Deborah describes herself as an art quilter, coffee drinker, crossword puzzle lover, wife, and mom. That tells you a lot about her already! In her art, she combines unexpected materials like worn-out denims with bits of brocade and heavy free-motion quilting. In her small art quilts, she often incorporates symbols for growth, identity, balance, and exploration.
Recently on Quilting Daily, Deborah offered her hand embroidery tips for contemporary fabric collage. Today, I'm sharing a little Q&A with Deborah on hand stitching that originally appeared in In Stitches Vol. 2.
Whose needlecraft (hand or machine) do you particularly admire/with whom would you like to take a stitch class?
My great grandmother, Mabel, did wonderful needlework: cross stitch, weaving, needlepoint, and so many other amazing things with fiber. There didn't seem to be a technique she hadn't mastered. I suspect she could have taught me so much about techniques and materials, but also about living a creative life. I treasure the pieces of her art that have been passed down to me including a cross stitch sampler she made to celebrate my birth, macramé place mats, and a woven handbag.
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"Plentiful" fabric collage with hand stitching
by Deborah Boschert. |
What is your favorite type of stitching?
I really like combining free-motion quilting with hand embroidery motifs. Sometimes it's challenging to find the right balance between the two. (Should I hand stitch over machine stitching? Or the other way around? And which should I do first?) When done effectively, I think they complement each other quite well.
What is your must-have stitching tool or supply?
My friend made me a little tool box out of a metal gift card tin. There is a square of felt that keeps beads from rolling away if I'm embellishing. It also holds a few strands of floss and a tiny pair of scissors. Plus, there is a magnet in the lid that holds pins and needles. It's so compact and handy!
Deborah demonstrates her fabric collage and hand sewing techniques in her new Quilting Arts WorkshopTM video, Contemporary Fabric Collage: Design, Stitch, and Finish, available now.
P.S. What's your must-have stitching tool or supply? Reveal it in the comments section below.