ABOUT US
Sharing my hand applique techniques have been my passion for almost three decades! I learned applique from my mother who was an accomplished seamstress.
My own teaching experience began in the early 1980s, beginning with classes in my home. I offered a few basic beginning classes and added more and more classes as the need arose. I was soon teaching in a variety of quilt shops and fabric stores in the Southern California area.
The demand for ever growing popular Applique classes inspired me to write a book on hand applique technique. My book, "Applique an Effective New Approach," began a whole new adventure in my teaching and designing career. I traveled extensively teaching through out the Western States and at the Houston Quilt Market.
I became very excited about Broderi Perse quilts after viewing a number of these quilts in several museums in the East. Broderi Perse is a style of applique. Many shapes, leaves, flowers and motifs are cut from a printed fabric. These shapes are then arranged into a design layout and appliqued to the background.
Upon returing home I began the search for a suitable fabrics for a Broderie Perse quilt. There was a very little available at that time: however, I managed to find a print I thought would work. the end result was my quilt, "An Old English Flower Garden." This quilt has won numerous awards and can be viewed in our GALLERY page.
While visiting Hawaii thirty years ago I was inspited by a carpet I saw. This carpet inspired my second Broderie Perse quilt, "Austrian Rapture." I was finally able to begin construction of this quilt in 2004 and recently finished it in 2009. I usually work on more than one quilt at a time, which might explain the five-year period to complete the quilt, which is also featured in our GALLERY.
After moving to Northern Idaho in 1991, I taught quilting classes at local quilt shops and local quilt guilds. I don't travel as much as I used to because I'd rather devote my time to designing. The designing is very rewarding for me.
Thank you again for your visiting my web site. My hope is you have found something to inspire your creativity.
Arlene
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