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Artist's Statement
I admit to being obsessive about quilting--I don't think a day goes by that I am not actively working in my studio or teaching a class. If I am busy with other obligations, then I find myself planning what to do when I can get back in the sewing room!

Over the years I have taken classes to explore a variety of art mediums. Although I have adapted several of these techniques into my quilts, nothing has overtaken my passion for creating with fabric.

One class did send me in another direction - weaving colorful paper into baskets. I have become completely enthralled with this craft, and there is now a corner of my studio devoted to these lovely baskets.

I love experimenting with traditional quilt blocks, and frequently challenge myself to come up with new and easy ways to construct familiar quilting designs. I find that developing innovative ways to create old favorites and then teaching these methods is very rewarding.


I also enjoy creating unique, orignial art-- with fabric as my medium. Fiber art is an expressive outlet that gives me a means of dealing with my dreams, concerns, and emotions that I tend to internalize. My art quilts have given me a positive way to deal with the life changing affects of Hurricane Katrina and the extreme health problems of our grandson, Jackson. The one of a kind art pieces I create are a visual record of my personal life journey.

As much as I enjoy working in my studio, I have to say that without a doubt, I love teaching just as much. This statement would not be complete without a thanks to all the students that have allowed me to come into their lives and share my passion.

Profile
Nancy began quilting as a hand work purist. Although quilting was taken up as a challenge to complete an unfinished project of her mother's, it quickly became a full blown obsession. When rotary cutting was introduced and a new Bernina sewing machine purchased, machine piecing quickly took the place of time-consuming hand stitching. Today Nancy enjoys doing applique and bead work by hand, but primarily pieces and quilts by machine.

Nancy is a gifted fiber artist who has developed her own innovative quilting techniques over the past 30 years. Her work has progressed to include everything from traditional bed quilts to original contemporary wall hangings. Her quilting classes focus on quick machine techniques and creating original designs.

YLI Thread Company selected her as one of their designers, which gives her the opportunity to share new and exciting techniques with fiber artists around the world. Her quilts have been viewed in many juried art and quilting exhibits across the country. Several magazines articles, published in such periodicals as Quilting Today and Quilters Newsletter Magazine, have given Nancy's work international exposure.

She is a quilting instructor who travels extensively to generously share her craft with others. Teaching internationally has given her the opportunity to meet quilting enthusiasts from all walks of life. Nancy particularly enjoys teaching weeklong workshops in several different venues. 20 years ago Nancy and her family discovered the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina (www.folkschool.org), where she now teaches and has numerous students who return year after year--for new quilting ideas or weaving colorful paper baskets. She now teaches long format classes other places including Arrowmont School of Arts in Gatlinburg, TN (www.arrowmont.org), Sew Many Places quilting cruises, and in 2013 at the Abruzzo School of the Creative Arts in Italy (www.abruzzoschoolofcreativearts.com).

Nancy lives in Covington, LA with her husband. Dennis is now retired from teaching at Delgado Community College in New Orleans and is busy in one studio or another doing architectural drawings,woodworking, enameling, mixed media collage, or theatre. Their two grown children follow these same aspirations as designers and artists themselves-- traits that will most likely be passed on to their three grandsons as well.

 

Biography

Started quilting in 1979, began teaching quilting in 1980

Member of Gulf States Quilting Association, Ozone Layers Quilt Guild, American Quilt Society, International Quilt Association, National Quilt Association, and St Tammany Art Association.

Traveling Instructor since 1986, offering half day, full day for guilds, seminars,and quilt shops. Also offering multi-day workshops for all quilting levels through the following: John C Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC, Arrowmont School of Arts in Gatlinburg, TN, Sew Many Places Quilting Cruises, and Abruzzo School of the Creative Arts.

Works with YLI Thread Company at quilt shows around the country, 1999 to present

Substitute Quilting Instructor for International Quilt Festival since 2001

Shows and Exhibits

  • Hoffman Challenge Traveling Exhibit 1999
  • Solo Exhibit North Star Theatre 2000
  • Pacific International
  • Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival
  • Gulf State Regional Quilt Show
  • Pennsylvania National
  • St. Tammany Art Association Mixed Media
  • Women: 2000 Art Exhibit
  • Hickory Street Gallery - Fiber Artist Focus
  • America: Quilts from the Heart / IQA 2001 and Traveling Exhibit
  • Ashes to Art - Sept 11. 2001 / St. Tammany Art Associataion 2001
  • River Oaks Gallery, Alexandria, LA 2002
  • Louisiana Tech, Thibodaux, LA 2002
  • Out of My Mind (Exhibitor and Curator) St Tammany Art Assoc 2002
  • Faces in the Swamp, Bluebonnet Swamp Center, Baton Rouge, LA 2003
  • Artists of St Tammany, Parish Courthouse, Covington, LA 2003
  • Artists Invitational, Fort Isabel Gallery 2003
  • Quilter of the Year -- Louisiana 2003
  • Contemporary Fiber Art (Exhibitor and Curator) St Tammany Art Assoc 2004
  • Crazy Eights, St Tammany Art Assoc 2006
  • Midnight in the Swamp, Baton Rouge, LA 2008
  • Faculty Exhibit, International Quilt Festival Houston, 2004, 2006, 2007
  • Faculty Exhibit, Spring International Quilt Festival, Chicago 2006, 2007
  • Louisiana Masters Exhibit (Paper Baskets) 2008
  • International Quilt Festival (Houston) 2008
  • Big Canoe Art Festival (Big Canoe, GA) 2009
  • Three Dimensional Art, Bluebonnet Swamp Center, Baton Rouge, LA 2010
  • Members of St Tammany Art Association Show, Covington, LA 2010
  • International Quilt Festival (Houston) 2010
  • Trees of the Swamp, Bluebonnet Swamp Center, Baton Rouge, LA 2011
  • Contemporary Fiber Artists of LA Traveling Exhibit, 2011
  • Hanging by a Thread (Exhibitor and Curator) St Tammany Art Assoc 2011
  • A Retrospective, Bluebonnet Swamp Center, Baton Rouge, LA 2012