IN CONVERSATION WITH PAM HOLLAND

For internationally renowned quilter Pam Holland, creativity is key and teaching is a passion. She is an author, designer, photographer, lecturer, cinematographer and illustrator. Designing quilts, experimenting and attempting something different daily holds her interest.
Pam says "Quilting has pretty much taken over my life - until I decide not to do it, that's the way it will be".

PAM HOLLAND

RUNNING WITH SCISSORS STUDIO: Favorite place you've been or lived?
PAM HOLLAND: Wherever I am, I am me, I am free from constraint. I'm lucky - I work and travel for almost 9 months of the year. In essence I live two lives.
When I travel I teach, film, write, photograph and illustrate. I'm keenly aware of my surroundings, colors, sounds, smells and of course the food !!!! My photos and film are a constant reminder of those exotic places.



At home, I'm a Mother of 15 children, Grandmother of 9 and a Wife of 43 years. I cook, clean, work in my studio and spend fabulous days with my grandchildren. So I have to say, my favorite place to live is home, in the small village of Aldgate, South Australia. We live in the Adelaide Hills, 1,000 feet above sea level and yet we have glorious beaches just 25 minutes away.

However, I suppose really I would say my other favorite place to spend time is in Mexico. Maybe it's Jerusalem or is it Dubai, Bangkok......Oh heck, I just love it all really.

RWSS: Do you have a dedicated studio space?
PAM: Yes I do, I'm lucky to have two studios. One is called "The Shed", it's separate from the house and is about 30 feet x 20 feet. This is where I film, create, write and make quilts....

I was a fashion designer for 20 years in a former career and it was my studio built purposely for that. It was the place the children were asked to go to when they were in trouble...."Jamie, come out to the shed for a chat" !!!! Over the years it's been a meeting place for many groups of friends, now I don't host groups or have too many folk visit simply because when I'm home I am working and time is precious.

My other studio is some 30 metres away from the "Shed", it's also in the garden. It's called the "Summer House" because it is my formal studio where I house my library, my drawing desk and special things. I have a blue velvet settee where the theory was that I could relax and read!!!! But that has never happened.

RWSS: Is anyone else in your family creative?
PAM: I have many artists in our extended family (64 noted artists to be exact - all Aunts and Uncles). My Mother is an Artist and embroiderer. Dad was a composer, musician and made his own guitars. Son Jamie is an award winning cinematographer, so I think it's in the genes. Four of our children are chefs.

RWSS: The photographs on your website and blog are wonderful. Did you ever consider pursuing photography as another career?
PAM: I've not studied photography, I guess it's the way you compose things and the way you look at images, light, color, shade. However, I am and have been a keen photographer for the past 40 years. I also make small documentaries.

RWSS: Best advice you've ever received?

PAM: About 20 years ago at one of the first classes I ever attended, the visiting American tutor walked past me, flicked the fabric I had on my table with her arrogant pointer finger and said" You will never become a quilter, you have no color sense".
I've never forgotten her words. I gave the lunch lecture at Houston last year, said Teacher was there and came up and congratulated me when I received a standing ovation, (it's the first and probably only one in my life). She has no idea what what she said to me in the past, but it made me try to make my students feel the importance of their efforts and feel welcome in my class.

RWSS: Worst advice you've ever received?
PAM: Hand quilting was the only way to quilt !!!!
Wash your fabric prior to quilting!!!!
Drop the feed dogs, place your hands on the fabric as though you're having a manicure, have a drink of wine and go like heck!!!!
Oh, to be honest, I threw out almost all that I was taught and re-invented the rules.

RWSS: How have computers and technology impacted your work?
PAM: I have 5 computers; 3 macs and 2 pc's. Each has it's own purpose. I use 5 different size printers and I need them all. I have 2 video camera and 2 fancy nancy cameras....and lots of lenses. I'm an Apple lover - I have my iPod and iPhone synched to all my Apple computers. I put in a date on one and a cyber fairy races them to all the others, how lucky am I.

RWSS: I'd be lost without......
PAM: My cameras and computers. I need to journal and document each day.

RWSS: What is the one thing that people would be surprised to find out about you?
PAM: I used to be pathetically shy. Having a large multi racial family made me tough I can assure you. 10 of our children were born to other parents overseas, 2 of our sons are aboriginal and we have 3 biological children. They all live withing 5 minutes of our house, we can't get rid of them !!!! I lie, Jinda lives 20 minutes away. Anyway, they all live within fridge distance. Life was hectic and an absolute riot. We laughed a lot. We fostered 150 children in crisis, so I got used to visiting police stations and standing up for (and to) social workers, do gooders and parents who lived life differently to us through drugs and alcohol. I'm very protective. Shyness has disappeared.


RWSS: Who would you most like to meet and how would you spend the day?
PAM: Maya Angelou and Oprah, they're my kind of individuals. I'd like to chat about life, about joys and tragedy and how the creative spirit heals all.

RWSS: Favorite quote?
PAM: "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel". Maya Angelou


RWSS: Your portrait technique is quite amazing. Do you have a favorite subject matter that inspires your work?
PAM: My favorite is what I'm working on at the time. Today it's the Bayeaux, tomorrow it will be the Texture quilt and then the Alphabet. I like realism, I'm a representative artist...I like a lot of detail in my quilts and I have a number of styles but they all have elements of illustration either physically drawn on fabric or machine illustrated.

RWSS: Are you still working on the Bayeaux Tapestry? Can you tell us a bit more about that project?
PAM: But of course. I'd like to think I'm half way through, but I'm not too sure. The quilt is a re-creation of the Bayeaux Tapestry. It is 230 feet long by 30 inches wide. That means 230 feet of hand drawn patterns, once I start I don't want to stop. I allot a certain amount of time each day (6 hours) to work on it when I'm home. If I miss a time, I make it up by working on it longer the next day. I work on other projects either side of the 6 hours.

I love it....every inch of it.....it's my Mount Everest.

It's machine appliqued and quilted. The satin stitch is 1/6th inch and the quilting is 1/16th inch apart. Every image is illustrated on the applique with pigment ink. As I write this it's 1:00am in the morning, if my Mum wasn't visiting I would be out there working now.....but she rousts on me. It's a passion like no other.

I've taken 2 years to research to prepare for making it, the studio is set up just for the Bayeaux and that is another reason for not having others visit now. No one will see until it's completed....I will only show the first 9 feet.

RWSS: Do your quilts always start with a planned course of action or do you prefer to work more spontaneously?
PAM: No, they are only planned in my head, I see every image as a quilt....it's not hard for me, I see color combination in my mind instantly....as I said before "it's in the genes". I was a fashion designer for a long time..I designed from the fabric I was shown so it's not difficult for me.

RWSS: Best machine for free motion quilting?
PAM: Janome 6600. It has a convertible free motion foot set.

RWSS: What do you enjoy the most about teaching?
PAM: Everything, it's an honor that most students think my work is worth learning. I'm still amazed. I have made the most wonderful friends in class and my students are all handpicked I'm sure. This year I've taught in 8 different countries and six languages. What a privilege.

RWSS: What popular new trend baffles you?
PAM: None, nothing baffles me. Somethings I just don't like and don't do them.

RWSS: Best part of your day?
PAM: Years of looking after a family has trained me to look forward to the silence and the beauty of early morning and peace of late nights. I'm generally in the shed by 5:00am and don't often come in until midnight...but then again, I do have a siesta at lunch time like the French and the Mexicans. How civilized.

RWSS: What would you consider your greatest strength?
PAM: I'm a Pollyanna. It annoys the heck out of people that I always see good in everything. My business partner was the opposite. It was an interesting combination...I was glass half full, hers was always empty. But the combination worked and we became pretty darn good at our job.

RWSS: Any words of wisdom?
PAM: I'm just taking what I do best - and giving to what I love most.

We were delighted that Pam could fit our interview into her hectic schedule. She can currently be found teaching her Impressionist Portrait workshop online at LQuilt . To learn more about this artist, please visit her website or blog. We encourage everyone to visit the MOBILE ME GALLERY on Pam's blog to view some of the wonderful photography firsthand.

All photos used in this interview are courtesy of Pam Holland.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The New Year is here and endless possibilities abound! We thought, what a perfect opportunity to share the words of wisdom provided by the artists and authors who so graciously agreed to participate in our interview series in 2009.

Thank you all for your support and encouragement over the past year. We wish everyone all of the best in 2010! Enjoy!

PAMELA ALLEN: In all you do, be fearless.


CATHERINE NICHOLLS: Don't sweat the small stuff.


LINDA KEMSHALL : Don't put things off. If you want to do something, why wait?


LAURA KEMSHALL: Do what you want to do and do it with conviction!


RAYNA GILLMAN: Do what you love because life is too short!


KIM THITTICHAI: I know it's a cliche` but ......... this is not a rehearsal !!!!!


MELANIE TESTA: Find your own creative center, explore motifs that really speak to you and
break all the rules while having lots of fun.


MAGGIE GREY: If it doesn't work, cut it up, weave it and stitch it on somewhere else.


ANGIE HUGHES: Don't think too hard - it doesn't change anything. Always carry a camera and sketchbook, eat when you're hungry, sleep when you're tired.


SUSAN ELSE: Play. Play hard.


LAURIE SWIM: Never hesitate to ask for something you want. You will never know the answer unless you do. If yes, you win. If it's no, you are then free to move on to the next thing.


SUSAN SHIE: Let little things make you happy. Don’t wait for some big goal to do it. Be happy every day, for all kinds of tiny reasons, and appreciate what you have, and share it with others.

QUILTPOSIUM

Thinking about your next vacation? Not sure where to go? Look no further! Check out the latest edition of Quiltposium Magazine!


Whether it's an Alaskan cruise, an expedition through China, a tour of England or a quiltaway in New York city - there's something in it for everyone. Art quilters, fibre artists and traditional quilters alike are all sure to find something of interest.

Presented by Jim West of Sew Many Places, Quiltposium Magazine is a FREE online travel magazine. At 208 pages, the latest issue is bursting with travel ideas, interviews, downloadable patterns and more.

To start planning your next dream vacation, we invite you to visit www.Quiltposium.com.

Happy Holidays!

THE ART OF ANNEMIEKE MEIN

The Art of Annemieke Mein; Wildlfe Artist in Textiles is a beautifully presented book that would make an excellent gift for anyone who appreciates the world of textile art.

Annemieke uses a variety of materials - silk, wool, fur, cotton, synthetics - all carefully chosen for their color, texture and aesthetic appeal. Numerous techniques are used in limitless combinations - hand and machine embroidery, dyeing, applique, trapunto, quilting and pleating to name but a few.

PINK EMPEROR GUM MOTH II

Sketches, photographs and the written word are combined to make this a beautiful book to browse through and a pleasure to read.

LEWIN HONEYEATER NESTINGS 1

MATING MYTHICAL MOTHS

Her three dimensional creations are works of art, born out of a passionate commitment to the environment. They encourage an awareness of our natural heritage and the need to preserve it.

FREEDOM

Features include the artists profile and authors note - 156 pages with full color photographs.

Available now from our online store.

IN CONVERSATION WITH SUSAN SHIE

With the encouragement of her parents, Susan Shie grew up drawing, painting, writing, sewing, sculpting clay, knitting and crocheting. She says "I was always very off beat and liked it that way" .

Susan has been making what she considers Outsider Art Quilts since 1980. Where her work used to involve huge amounts of hand sewing and lots of tiny glass beads, she now prefers to let the detail created by her airpen writing and drawing to be what intrigues the viewer. In 2003 she began using an airpen and machine quilting to create the unique detail seen on her pieces today. Sewing has become secondary to the painted composition in her more recent works.
She feels that "It's the storytelling: the pictures and the writing that are important. Not how the piece is sewn, not the texture".

Susan's art tells stories about her life and the world around us from her perspective in Northeast Ohio. We were delighted when Susan agreed to take part in our interview series and hope you enjoy her work as much as we do! Be sure to click on each picture to view the details - only than will you truly be able to see and appreciate how much time and effort is required to complete each piece.

SUSAN SHIE AND JIMMY ACORD

RUNNING WITH SCISSORS STUDIO: Favorite place you’ve been or lived?

SUSAN SHIE: That’s easy: Wooster, Ohio, my current home and the county seat of the county I was born and raised in. I love Kent, OH, and Berkeley and Santa Cruz, CA, and living in NYC was great, when an artist’s grant was paying for it! I hope I would be happy living anywhere though.

KATRINA BLUES

RWSS: Have you ever held a traditional 9-5 job?

SUSAN: Yeah, a few times. I think my low vision made those jobs much harder to handle than my independent art making is. I think I really would love to have a day job, so I could make art without having to make money from making art. But regular job jobs are too demanding of my limited sight. Working for myself, I stay within my visual abilities’ borders. I’ve waitressed, cleaned houses, and worked at a nursing home. As a professional I’ve taught college art classes, when I was a grad student, and I teach adult art workshops all the time now, but in those cases, I get to set the limits of my visual abilities, unlike when working for the man.

RWSS: If you had to choose another career what would it be?

SUSAN: If my sight was good, I’d have become a Registered Nurse, like my mother. Instead I try to put healing vibes into my art, and I’m famous for giving backrubs and healing advice with simple remedies. I’ve also always wanted to be a realtor, because I love seeing houses AND bargaining for home sales. But not driving, I stay in my studio and paint and write and draw. Lucky me! Just don’t have a steady paycheck – but then, they can’t fire me! My husband, Jimmy Acord, has the same flexi-time, non-fireable deal as me, as he’s an artist in leatherwork, famous for his fly fishing cases, which are unique in the world and very elegantly creative. Google James Acord’s Leather, but don’t ask him to fill out a questionnaire. he doesn’t do that!

RWSS: Favorite quote?

SUSAN: “Be yourself, as long as you don’t hurt anyone or anything.” Maybe my mom told me that. Maybe I can paraphrase that into “Do your thing, but be cool.” (Flip Wilson as Reverend LeRoy of the Church of What’s Happenin’ Now.) I could quote you some of my father’s Dadisms, which would freak you out, if you were raised by a Ward Cleaver type father. My dad told it like it is, and as an adult, I think his sayings are gems of wisdom, beyond belief!

RWSS: Best advice you’ve ever received?

SUSAN: “Always be kind and help others,” from my mom. “Don’t let the horse kick you,” from my dad.

RWSS: Worst advice you’ve ever received?

SUSAN: “Don’t trust anybody and don’t take chances, and don’t stick your neck out.” Never mind who said that. Looks to me like almost everyone says that anyway.

RWSS: Best part of your day?

SUSAN: Making art, any time during the day when I can! But I also truly love the time before bed, when Jimmy and I come up to the living room, about 11 PM and turn on the TV and watch some news or some Daily Show and Colbert Report, maybe some Letterman and some Craig Ferguson. Maybe some CNN. Maybe a movie from Netflix, watching it one half each night over two nights, before the wine and TV shows part. TV stays off til then. Yea!

THE MAD PORT CAPER

DETAIL FROM THE MAD PORT CAPER

RWSS: What is the most rewarding part of being involved with Turtle Art Camp?

SUSAN: When a student who’s been unable to connect to her or his artist self finds that voice, turns on that spigot, and the creativity starts to flow out, when they get it, that judgement was what was clogging their ability to express themselves as artists. This is not a talent, it’s being able to trust our innocent self, whom we’ve been told to not trust. When students find their groove in artmaking, it makes me so happy! So does having a group of artists working and interacting in our home, 24/7, in an intense art and living biosphere!

UKULELE LADY

RWSS: Has the airpen given you a previously unimagined freedom with your storytelling and diary quilts?

SUSAN: Absolutely, because before I had my airpen, I was writing with markers on my cloth and then embroidering by hand over all my words and lines, to create a very sharp, rich black line. Now I can write a LOT more stories with tinier words, in the same given space. Now I don’t sew over the lines, because I’m using paint pigments, instead of inks. I also quit doing so much hand sewing and beading, because the airpen allows me to create complex surfaces with my writing, that I used to make with stitches and beads. Now I make much larger pieces in the time I was taking to make small, hand stitched ones. I am flying along, telling my stories, and telling world news, and making social commentary, within a time frame that allows my shown work to still be relevant. I make time capsules now, and can slant the news to MY world vision and I don’t have an editor. I’m really happy. I leave my airpen set up and can go to my studio and write on my piece in progress at any time, so when something interests me, I can respond to it right away. This is heaven! Of course, I can use a Bic pen and write/draw in my sketchbook, to get the same happiness, so you don’t need an airpen to do that. But I NEEEEEEEDDDDDDD one!

RWSS: Could you recommend the type/brand of cotton fabric that you paint on? Which fabric handles the airpen detailing the best?

SUSAN: Kona-like PDF (Prepared for dyeing) This handles very well for airpen work.

RWSS: Favorite fabric paint to use on your pieces?

SUSAN: Jacquard Textile Colors. This line is clear and bright, highly saturated, and smooths onto the fabric well. As with all fabric paints, wear a respirator and ventilate well, when heat setting with a dry, hot iron. Heat set well, to make the paint permanent. I hope someone invents organic, earth-and-people friendly, permanent fabric paints soon!

RWSS: President Obama has been a unique source of inspiration for a number of your recent pieces. Can you foresee another President providing the same?

SUSAN: Yes, if he or she is another open minded, liberal reformer, whose interest is to serve the people and bring us all together and bring the world together. And who’s a good listener. This is certainly possible. For now, I’m happy to include President Obama and his activities in my work for a long time to come. And even if a president doesn’t have my respect, I still will include them in my work, as I did with Bush. (OK, I didn’t draw him, but I wrote a LOT about him and his administration and their activities and my reactions to them.) I hope I will have the joy of always being able to respect the leaders we elect, and I hope all elections will be fair. Looking at the Iran election this June, I realize we were all asleep at the wheel in 2000 and 2004, and we should never have allowed Bush to steal both of those elections. Power to the People of Iran, who are teaching us all a big lesson in civil activism!

INAUGURATION #1

RWSS: Who would you most like to meet and how would you spend the day?

SUSAN: I would spend the day with Prez Obama, and while he and I talked, or when I watched him interacting with others in his busy day, I’d be recording the events in my sketchbook. Or maybe this would finally move me to buying a video camera … one of those cute little Flip things. I’d be happy to just be allowed to be in the room all day, taking it all in. Only of course, sometimes I’d have to tell him what I thought of what he was doing – which would be such a feast of admiration! And then I’d want to show him my sketches and try to get him to help me color in the ones he liked the best. I’m sure he could use some relaxing coloring time. And maybe I’d coax him into drawing, too! Wow, he could REALLY use that! The man’s gotta be just plain tweaked, after going through all the balogna he goes through all day. And he does that for you and me! I’d buy him a big cheeseburger and we’d go sit by the river and listen to some good Arlo Guthrie music, or I bet he’d like Woody Guthrie for sure. I’d play Mermaid Avenue, the music Wilco made after they found Woody’s lost songs. Woody was all about helping the people, like Obama is. He could have a second burger, he’s so good.

PUNCHBOWL

FIRST LADY

QUEEN OF PARING KNIVES IN THE KITCHEN TARO

RWSS: Do you do anything special for your birthday?

SUSAN: I try to document the day in pictures (maybe that Flip for my BD this year?) And I make a drawing each year, that I scan and send to all the women who have the same BD – Sept 28. And then I end up sending it to all my “Libra sisters,” too. I love to be with my husband Jimmy and our kids GEM (Gretchen, Eva, and Mike). This year I’ll be flying home from teaching in Estes Park, CO, on my BD, so maybe we’ll leave the Cleveland airport and drive up to Lakewood to see GEM, and hang out! I love my family!

RWSS: Best dessert?

SUSAN: Don’t eat ‘em anymore, or snacks, but the best thing in the world is a sundae made with Blue Bunny Peanut Butter Panic ice cream, a handful of cashews and peanuts, and some chocolate malt dope on top of the ice cream, and you microwave that for a few seconds and stir it all up, and eat it slowly. Don’t melt it too much, for God’s sake. Just like one of those Dairy Queen blizzards, only they invented that way after we Shie’s started stirring up ice cream. Yummy memories!

SISTERS

THE TRUE STORY OF SISTERS ON DIETS

RWSS: I’d be lost without………

SUSAN: Jimmy. And my airpen … and my airbrush. Or without Jimmy and some paper and pens. Or just without Jimmy, coz I could always tell stories and sing, to create, if I couldn’t draw and paint and write. But I need Jimmy to keep me company and to ground me. I guess I’ll take GEM before the art supplies, too.

WILMA

PEACE VOODOO

RWSS: What would you do with a few extra hours each day?

SUSAN: Make more art. Visit the nursing home where my folks ended up, talking with other lonely old people, who are really interesting! Visiting a school to tutor drawing. (this is all predicated on me having the ability to drive a car, too. Well, not the making more art part.) Oh, and I could do more reading up on What’s Happenin’ Now in the world, if I had more time!

START OF SAVANNAH: THE TWO OF CUPS

READY FOR AIRPEN DETAILING

RWSS: What’s on the horizon for ………..

SUSAN: Beat's me. Stick around. Might as well enjoy being surprised. I just figure you need to stay healthy, keep balanced, and do our best, move toward what we want to happen, and accept what does happen. And keep trying our best.

RWSS: What would you like to be remembered for?

SUSAN: Making the world a better place. Doesn’t have to be in a big way. I hope I’m making tiny differences each day, and I hope they add up. I hope saving water and helping a stranger pull down her suitcase in the plane and telling people that they are, too, artists – those kind of things – help the world. I hope telling the clerk that she undercharged me and telling the telemarketer to have a good day and turning off the light when I leave the room all help. I figure if we all work at helping in tiny ways all the time, we’re really healing the Earth in big ways. I hope I’m remembered for some healing. Oh, and I hope they remember that I taught things to people. Art and loosening up for better self expression. I hope that my granddaughter Eva remembers the things I’m teaching her, like how to sew and how to be happy and kind. She’s pretty good on those last two things already. She and I draw and color together a lot now, though it’s a heartbreak to me, that I quit being her nanny, after 1.5 years. I miss her a lot, like I miss her mommy, my daughter Gretchen. They only live an hour away, but I loved seeing them more than I do now. It’s that weird thing about not being able to drive, which I KNOW is karma I wanted, and I know has made my life what it is. I’m not whining, or I don’t mean to. You didn’t ask me what you would change, if you could change one thing about your own personal life. I would drive and drive well! But I WALK really well!!!!! And I am grateful for that!

YEAR OF THE DOG

RWSS: Any words of wisdom?

SUSAN: Let little things make you happy. Don’t wait for some big goal to do it. Be happy every day, for all kinds of tiny reasons, and appreciate what you have, and share it with others.

If you can trust the idea that we are all God’s favorite child, because we’re all One, then you never need to fear that others have it better than you or can take things away from you. If you can believe that every setback is a learning experience, and that you’re always safe, you’ll be able to cope much better. Keep strong and stay connected to Love. Love is what matters, under it all. Health is a real blessing and money is only a tool. But still, don’t let people jive you. Keep your eyes and your heart both open, and do what’s best for Good.

Sorry to be so yakky, but you did ask! Thanks for asking.

Have a good one! Susan, aka Lucky

NEO BUDDHA

Susan and her husband Jimmy are both full time artists and have created a wonderful place to learn at Turtle Moon Studios in Wooster, Ohio. If you are interested in learning to work with an airbrush and airpen, check out the Turtle Art Camps program offered by Susan through her home studio. She is also available for workshops and lectures. To learn more about Susan and her work please visit www.TurtleMoon.com.

IN CONVERSATION WIITH SUSAN ELSE

Susan Else is a Californian sculptor whose medium of choice is the quilted cloth. Raised in a family of artists, she says her inspiration and influences have been drawn from varied sources; family, her surroundings, children's author Maurice Sendak (Where the Wild Things Are) and Dr. Seuss to name but a few.

Her pieces are surreal and fantastic yet focus in on the daily routines and rituals we all can relate to. She tries to keep her work fairly ambiguous and enjoys allowing the audience participation factor where people are able to add their own interpretations to the pieces.

It requires a unique blend of skills to be able to visualize your work in three dimensional form and then to be able to follow through and execute the finished pieces with such perfection. Susan is a pioneer in the unique niche of making quilted sculpture and we hope that you enjoy her work as much as we do.

SUSAN ELSE

RUNNING WITH SCISSORS STUDIO: Did you always want to be an artist?
SUSAN ELSE: No, my parents are both artists. I grew up with people asking me if I was going to be an artist, too. I always said "No!" I mean, who wants to do what your parents do? When I was about forty, I realized that I had become an artist by accident.

RWSS: Do you have a dedicated studio space?
SUSAN: Yes. When my kids were teenagers, I stole our family room. They didn't seem to mind.

RWSS: Favorite place you've been or lived?
SUSAN: I really do love living here in Santa Cruz, California, except, of course, for the San Andreas fault.

RWSS: Have you ever held a traditional 9-5 job?
SUSAN: I was an editor, writer and proofreader for twenty years.

JOURNAL

RWSS: What is the one thing that people would be most surprised to find out about you?
SUSAN: I can't spell!

RWSS: If you had to choose another career what would it be?
SUSAN: Anthropologist.

FISHBONE GUY

RWSS: Best advice you've ever received?
SUSAN: "Don't worry about making it pretty; you'll do that whether you want to or not."

RWSS: Worst advice you've ever received?
SUSAN: "If you want to be a successful contemporary sculptor, you'll have to get rid of your beautiful surface treatment."

RWSS: What do you do to unwind?
SUSAN: Murder mysteries and crossword puzzles.

LIFETIME

RWSS: Your pieces involve a lot of structural work building armatures. Do you spend more time on the "behind the scene" construction elements or more time actually sewing?
SUSAN: Sewing!!! I jerry-rig the insides, knowing that the fabric sleeve will keep it all together.

CAST RESIN SKELETON FOR NOTHING TO FEAR PROJECT

RWSS: What prompted the transition from quilt maker to sculptor?
SUSAN: I got bored with the flat surface and started adding raised elements to my flat quilts. At the same time , a friend showed me how to make figures. The two elements came together as figures on a stage, giving me a way to tell stories that I hadn't had access to as a flat quilter.

OUTSIDE THE BOX

RWSS: Do you start your pieces with a detailed plan and course of action or is it a more spontaneous evolutionary process?
SUSAN: Ha! I'm the original cut-and-go artist. I start with a wisp of an idea, create one element that works and add to the piece from there. If I know exactly where I'm going, it takes all the fun out of it for me. I've occasionally built models for complicated buildings because I didn't want to have to redo too many sections, but I have yet to make a prototypes of a figure. I always start with the real thing.

RWSS: What inspired your piece Nothing to Fear?
SUSAN: Ah. Death, life, ancestors, joy, pain, you name it! I like to take contradictory ideas and conflate them into a single sculpture, so viewers don't know quite where they stand.

NOTHING TO FEAR

NOTHING TO FEAR DETAIL

RWSS: Who would you most like to meet and how would you spend the day?
SUSAN: Oh gosh, there are so many people in my life that I don't get to spend enough time with -- can't I spend the day playing with one of them, instead?

ABOVE THE BOARDWALK

RWSS: Favorite quote?
SUSAN: For my dad's birthday one year my mother had a Matisse quote calligraphed by a friend of mine. It hung in his studio until the end of his life and now it hangs in mine: "Work is Paradise".

DREAMING OF RIVERS

RWSS: Best part of your day?
SUSAN: When I collage fabrics and the colors sing.

RWSS: What are you excited about right now in the world of art quilting?
SUSAN: What's happening on the three-dimensional edges of the art quilt universe.

RWSS: I'd be lost without.........
SUSAN: My husband.

COMFORT

RWSS: What's on the horizon for Susan Else?
SUSAN: More skeletons, groups of them interacting: a couple, a guy with his (skeleton) dog, skeletons having coffee.

RWSS: Any words of wisdom?
SUSAN: Play. Play hard.

Susan's work has been featured in both solo and selected group exhibits with her recent piece Nothing to Fear being included in Quilt National 2009. She is currently available for both lectures and workshops. To view more of this boundary breaking artist's work, we invite you to visit Susan's website www.SusanElse.com.

WOMEN FOR WOMEN INTERNATIONAL

Fall has arrived and the holiday season is fast approaching. Many of us will have the opportunity and choice to spend time with friends and family, to exchange gifts or to celebrate in a variety of fashions. Others in the world will not be so fortunate.

An organization recently came to our attention that we thought important to share. Women for Women International supports women in war-torn regions with financial and emotional aid, job-skills training, rights education and small business assistance so they can rebuild their lives.

Since it's creation, Women for Women International has empowered over 153,000 survivors of war, distributed $42 million in direct aid, micro credit loans and other program services. Supporters can contribute resources, time and energy to help make the future brighter for thousands of women survivors - one woman at a time. There are a number of ways to become involved and if you so choose, sponsorship is as little as $27 per month.


The art quilting and textile art industry is dominated primarily by women and we are all fortunate to have the freedom of mind to create, enjoy and appreciate art. This is not always the case in other parts of the world, but women who previously had nothing have now been given hope by Women for Women International.


To learn more about this worthwhile organization we encourage you to visit their website at www.womenforwomen.org.