We look forward to welcoming US quilt artist Heather Jones to teach for the first time in the UK in October this year. We sat down with her and found out about how she got to where she is today.
What inspired you to become a quilt artist and designer and what influenced you as you started your journey?
I've always loved quilts. My great-great aunt Ollie (my maternal grandfather's aunt) made me a quilt when I was born, and I still have it today. From an early age, I knew quilts were important, and as a teenager I began to purchase them from antique stores and thrift shops, when I found them and they were in my budget. I liked them as objects, and was interested in their designs, as well as the makers, even though their identity was often unknown.
Nobody other than my Aunt Ollie quilted (that I know of), and I didn’t grow up with women actively quilting around me. So, I was honestly a bit intimated to take up quilt making, as it seemed a bit overwhelming to make a quilt as I thought every piece had to be perfect, and in order to be used, the quilt needed to be quite large. I made my first quilt while I was in college, as a gift for my mother. However, when I was pregnant with my first child, I made a quilt for him, and have been quilting regularly ever since.
How did you get to where you are today?
I studied art history at the University of Cincinnati, earning both a Bachelor and Master of Arts degree. After graduation, I worked at the Cincinnati Art Museum in the curatorial and education departments, but I left my job there when my husband and I wanted to start a family. I began my career as an independent designer and maker when I was pregnant with my first child in 2006, by starting an online shop on Etsy. Even though I did not major in textile design, I feel like my training in the visual arts has been instrumental in my work.
Can you tell us about your process? How do you get from idea to finished piece?
I typically start each design with a drawing in my sketchbook. I am constantly taking photographs of things that inspire me and I love to incorporate that inspiration in my work. My book, Quilt Local: Finding Inspiration in the Everyday, carried on this theme in my work of using everyday things as inspiration for my quilt designs. Once I want to start a quilt, I refer to the photograph that inspired my and start sketching to get some ideas on paper and a visualization of what I want to create. Once I am happy with the overall composition, I use graph paper to clean up my design, and then use the scale of the grid to determine the size and shapes of the pattern pieces that are needed to make the design. It’s a bit like reverse engineering at this point, to figure out how the quilt needs to come together, and I enjoy the challenge of figuring out the puzzle.
Tell us about a typical day in the studio/office, how do you work?
I have a studio at home, but for the past year and a half, I have had a second studio outside of the home, about a 25 minute drive away by car. I have two children, ages 11 and 13 and I try to complete the majority of my work while they are in school. Once they are there, I head to the studio and get to work. Each day is different and I find that exciting. The top priority goes to any deadlines that I may have, and then once those are done, I get to work on other projects.
I have a large design wall that consists of flannel and I lay out fabric and create many of my compositions there. My studio has a lot of large windows providing natural light, so even though I still have my studio at home, I find myself using the other one much more than not.
What have you been inspired by recently?
I spent the month of October 2019 in Dakar, Senegal, at Black Rock Senegal, a brand new artist residency program founded by artist Kehinde Wiley. Over 1000 people applied, and only 16 were chosen for the inaugural class. It was an amazing experience to be immersed in the culture of western African for four weeks, and I was able to purchase a variety of traditional African fabrics that I am incorporating into my newest works. I have a feeling that I will be inspired by that time for years to come.
Do you have a favourite piece of work from your collection?
One of my favourite projects that I’ve made is a quilt that is called Mason, and it’s a pattern that is included in my book. It was one of the first quilts that I ever made, and I added another updated version for the book. The design of the quilt was inspired by a painted grid in a parking lot in Mason, Ohio. I love the bold graphic design of the composition, and its creation really was an important moment of my career, as it led me to create in a way where I drew inspiration from things in my everyday life to use as quilt designs, just as many women have done for hundreds of years before me. The difference is that I often turn to things that many people wouldn’t notice as inspiration, such as an abandoned building, or a painted grid in a parking lot.
Do you have any encouraging advice?
We live in such a busy world, so it is quite special to be able to make the time to create something by hand. I believe that we carry on the traditions of our ancestors by partaking in the needle arts, be it quilting, embroidery, knitting, etc., and it’s our duty to keep that tradition alive for the next generation, and for generations to come.
Inspiration can come from anywhere, and I find great satisfaction in creating original work that has design roots in historic objects, such as the design for the quilt that we will be working on during our retreat. I’ve created a project that interprets the history of the Jane Austin coverlet, but with a contemporary view. This project will allow you to slow down and create something completely unique and one of a kind, I have no doubt that the time at the retreat will remain with us all for years to come.
Join us on Hand Sewing and Quilting at Goodnestone, Kent, UK, 7-15 October 2020.
