Chris Powell was my guest this week on Sewing in Slippers with Sue! It was such fun to find out more about Chris and her quilting experience Chris started quilting when her Aunt found a box filled with quilt parts at her home…made from scraps of family clothing. At 17 years old, Chris recognized the importance of this family treasure. She took over finishing this gorgeous quilt…pieced the rest and tied the quilt to finish it.
Years later, Chris got serious about quilting and painstakingly reverse sewed every block! Using more pieces of family clothing, she restitched every block, replaced the background fabric, and had it expertly quilted. What a treasure…and a labor of love!
Over the years, Chris has found a new passion…she now teaches quilting at her local quilt shop! One of her friends knew she loved hand applique and suggested she try the Leaves Galore Techniques to make fusible applique quilts. Chis is greatful to that friend who introduced her to Rotary Cut Applique! Now, Chris loves making her applique quilts in a new, fun way….and has a new method to teach her students!
In 2018, Chris came from her home in Kennewick Washington to SPD Certified Instructor Training at the West Pond Inn retreat center in Bolton, MA. It was a long way for Chris to travel, but she became the first SPD Certified Instructor in Washington state! 4 year later, Chris made another cross-country trek to the Schoodic Institute retreat to spend another 5 days perfecting her Rotary Cut Applique skills.
Over the years, Chris has made and taught over half of the SPD patterns and book quilts. Chris has made all three of the Block of the Month quilts as well. Here are her My Magical Garden and Belle en Rouge quilts.
Chris is always challenging herself with SPD patterns, and she likes to mix things up a bit as well, making her own design for the Clamshells bonus quilt, below left. Isn’t it stunning? I love the creative use of the leftover quarter circles in a truly innovative design!
Watching Chris interact with the other students on retreat last week, I could see that Chris was not a student at all, but another excellent teacher in the room!
One of Chris’ tips for storing all these amazing quilts is that she has two spare bedrooms, and each spare bed has not one, but four quilts on each bed! One is used as the bedspread and the others are folded in thirds and laid at the foot of the bed. That way Chris gets to see and enjoy her quilts, and she rotates them periodically. I agree, Chris!! Quilts are made to be used, and this is a great way to enjoy them every day!
I want to thank Chris for being a wonderful SPD Certified Instructor, a contributing member of AOC, and a kind and caring quilting friend! I am so inspired by the quality of Chris’ work, and by her enthusiam for teaching!
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