All About You
The Webmaster is on the lookout for info about members. Recently she persuaded Anna Jenkins, the winner of the 2009 Sue Belton Bursary to give us an insight into the P&Q aspects of her life.
When did you start sewing?
I must have started at school, but I don't think it impressed me that much. I did go to Art school, where I specialized in sculpture. Towards the end of my course it dawned upon me that jobs might be hard to find in that field, So I swapped my focus to fashion. Luckily I found it easy and came away with distinctions. I have been in the fashion trade ever since.
When did you start Patchwork and Quilting?
I became interested in Patchwork and Quilting after seeing an impressive end of Year City and Guilds exhibition at Yateley School in the summer of 2006. The course was run by Julia Gahagan; not long after that Julia interviewed me for a position teaching fashion at the school, which I did do. But it was from that point that I wanted to get involved in the Patchwork and Quilting world and I haven't looked back since.
What type of sewing machine do you use?
Well for 25 years I had been sewing on industrial sewing machines. I had a domestic sewing machine at home, but very rarely used it. If I wanted to sew for my self I would stay late at work and use their machines, overlockers, buttonhole machines, steam irons and vacuum boards. I didn't feel it was worth sewing at home. But now that's what I do just about every day! So I bought myself a Janome 6600 and have fallen in love with it. The gizmo I love most is the automatic scissor cutter; it saves so much time, whether I am making clothes or quilts.
Tell us about your City and Guilds courses.
By the end of 2006 I had started City and Guilds with Janet Twinn in Dorking. I found the weekends a bit of a struggle as I was still working at Kingston University at the time and recovering from my second operation. So it was perfect timing when I retired from the university and Hazel Ryder and Terry Donaldson started a City and Guilds course locally during the week. I have just completed two years with them and most of my work is on the Loosethreads web site for you to see. Now I have started the diploma with Janet who these days teaches at Leatherhead.
What are Loosethreads up to now?
We are working on pieces for an exhibition in February 2011 at Nature in Art, Wallsworth Hall, Twigworth, Gloucester, GL2 9PA, 01452 731 422 www.nature-in-art.org.uk
What is your next event?
I have to put on an exhibition at the next Quilters Guild AGM as I won the Sue Belton award. It's in Southport on the 26th-28th March 2010. I am not sure what I am going to show yet, but I am sure it will come together.
What are your proudest Quilting moments?
My first moment was winning the best novice quilt at a Heather Quilters exhibition in 2007. I later went on to raffle that quilt at my garden exhibition, which made £600 for The Royal Marsden.
I was very proud of our first Loosethreads exhibition at the Harvey Gallery in Guildford back in November 2008.
Of course winning the Sue Belton Bursary Award was fantastic; as you know I found out about it after coming round in intensive care after my third operation.
My latest proud moment was my end of year exhibition for City and Guilds in Fleet, and getting in the newspaper.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
My inspiration mainly comes from the shapes and colours of nature. I enjoy contemporary and traditional patchwork and get great pleasure from piecing. One of my favourite blocks must be the kaleidoscope, I love how it creates the illusion of circles from straight lines.
What size is your fabric stash?
Way too big! And still I buy more; it's in the loft, under the bed, in the wardrobe. It's not in any order. I would love to have it all in one room, so I can see what I have got.
Where do you work?
In the dining room, in the kitchen, in the lounge. I haven't got a sewing room, I have a sewing house.
What clubs do you belong too?
Village Green Quilters is my local group and I'm a member of Hexagon Quilters in Wokingham. I also visit Textile Expressions and Heather Quilters now and again.
Whose work do you admire?
Artists or Quilters that inspire me are Kaffe Fassett, Gary Hodge, M.C. Escher, Helen Deighan and Nikki Tinkler.
What are your Quilting Goals?
To move to a house with a studio, make more work, and to win a prize not as a novice!