IN CONVERSATION WITH CATHERINE NICHOLLS

Catherine Nicholls is a painter, writer, teacher and quiltmaker. Born and raised in Vancouver B.C., her work is often inspired by the stories and legends she heard as a child growing up on the Pacific Northwest coast of Canada. Catherine uses paper and textiles to explore her thoughts and ideas and says "I teach, observe and never stop learning. This work is more than what I do. It's what I am". A talented artist in her own right, Catherine is also one third of the popular Thr3Fold Journal team along with Linda and Laura Kemshall. She is currently a member of the exhibiting textile group SIX and a tutor for the online centre Design Matters.

We were delighted that Catherine was able to participate in a brief interview before dashing off to the UK for the much anticipated launch of Thr3Fold Journal Issue 04.

CATHERINE NICHOLLS

RUNNING WITH SCISSORS STUDIO: Have you ever held a traditional 9-5 job?
CATHERINE: Sort of....I ran my own interior design business for years (lots of years!). It was 9 to 5 as long as you add a few hours before 9 and about another 4 hours after 5!

RWSS: If you had to choose another career what would it be?
CATHERINE: Travel writer.

RWSS: Early bird or night owl?
CATHERINE: Early mornings for walking and thinking and evenings for stitching.

RWSS: Dogs, cats or.......
CATHERINE: Dogs.

SEDNA

PHOTO COURTESY OF CATHERINE NICHOLLS

SEDNA DETAIL

SEDNA'S HUSBAND
PHOTO COURTESY OF CATHERINE NICHOLLS

RWSS: Favorite place you've been or lived?
CATHERINE: Whitehorse, Yukon.

PAST AND PRESENT

PHOTO COURTESY OF CATHERINE NICHOLLS

RWSS: Do you do anything special for your birthday?
CATHERINE: I tried to do nothing, but it didn't work.

RWSS: Best dessert?
CATHERINE: Tough question! Anything with chocolate.

ROBINIA

PHOTO COURTESY OF CATHERINE NICHOLLS

RWSS: Who's on your i-pod?
CATHERINE: Eric Bibb, David Gray, Chris Rea, Jim Byrnes, Joe Cocker.

RWSS: What book have you read recently?
CATHERINE: There are two I keep reading - Drawing the Line by Michael Baldwin and Hundreds and Thousands by Emily Carr.

RWSS: Favorite quote?
CATHERINE: "Be a maker of things". Bill Reid.

BONES OF THE SALMON

PHOTO COURTESY OF CATHERINE NICHOLLS

RWSS: What inspires you?
CATHERINE: People

OPEN MINDED

PHOTO COURTESY OF CATHERINE NICHOLLS

RWSS: Best advice you've ever received?
CATHERINE: To get out of my own way and let it happen.

RWSS: Worst advice you've ever received?
CATHERINE: I ignore bad advice!

RWSS: What do you do to unwind?
CATHERINE: Garden, walk, knit, stitch, paint.

FIFTY SPRINGS

PHOTO COURTESY OF CATHERINE NICHOLLS

RWSS: Are there any of your own pieces that you can't bear to part with?
CATHERINE: Nope.

RWSS: Best part of your day?
CATHERINE: Early morning walk in the forest with the dog. It's my time to plan the day and all things seem possible.

OLD GROWTH
PHOTO COURTESY OF CATHERINE NICHOLLS

RWSS: I'd be lost without.........
CATHERINE: Friends.

CHRONICLE

PHOTO COURTESY OF CATHERINE NICHOLLS

RWSS: What would you like to be remembered for?
CATHERINE: Sharing what I do with everyone who's interested.

RWSS: What's on the horizon for......
CATHERINE: Inspiration!

RWSS: What would you do with a few extra hours each day?
CATHERINE: Paint and draw..........and maybe sleep a little.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CATHERINE NICHOLLS

RWSS: Any words of wisdom?
CATHERINE: Don't sweat the small stuff.

Catherine's work has been featured in Quilting Arts Magazine (Volume #30 - Dec/Jan 08) and more recently in the Quilting Arts Workshop series. Her CD Legends of the Pacific Northwest shares the traditional stories and art forms that have long served as her inspiration.

LEGENDS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

Catherine currently lives in Vancouver B.C and works both in Vancouver and the UK. To learn more about this artist and to view more of Catherine's work in detail, we invite you to visit her brand new website and gallery at Corvid Creations.

SIX

THR3FOLD JOURNAL 04