Ellen Anne Eddy's Thread Magic Studio: Pat Winter: It's Always the Quiet Ones

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Pat Winter: It's Always the Quiet Ones

9:49 AM |

Posted by Ellen Anne Eddy |

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Crazy for CQ.
The best Mermaids ever!

Tucked in a cute little farmhouse outside Chesterton Indiana lives a quiet wild lady named Pat Winter. Pat has to be one of the most inventive crazy quilters ever. And when I'm lucky she dyes fabric with me. This incredible mermaid book is one of her masterpieces. Here's what she has to say for herself.

"Once upon a time there was a girl who gathered bits and bobs and her friends made fun of her "junk" collecting...... Up until a few years ago I never considered what I did art. I had always wanted to paint and draw however I did not inherit that skill from my mother. I did inherit the desire to collect and this I did very well. From a very young age I began gathering every little discarded trinket, pretty fabric scrap and bauble I found unusual or interesting and slipped them into a chest in my closet for safe keeping. As a teen only my closest friends saw my strange collection of bits and bobs. Unfortunately those items never made it with me through life but my desire and need to gather remains with me still today.

This comes in handy for a crazy quilter. Vintage laces, doilies, buttons, broken jewelry and beads have made it into my current collection as well as velvet remnants from Holiday dresses, lace trims from wedding gowns, silk, satin and moire from cast off prom dresses and an ongoing stash of "fancy fabrics" gathered from my shopping ventures all find a home in my studio. I enjoy making unusual and useful items using the crazy quilt method, not traditional wall hangings or bed coverings.

I can't explain what drives me to create, I blame it on my muse. All I know is that whatever it is that makes me spend hours stitching and embellishing almost every day of my life is too strong to deny and brings me much pleasure. Imagine finding yourself locked in a chocolate shop and you were a chocoholic. That is how I feel when I walk into my studio and begin gathering items for a project. Lunatic? Yes, I believe so."

You'll find Pat's amazing work at Winter Gatherings, where you can also purchase her new magazine, Crazy Quilt Gatherings, full of projects, tips, teaching and of course, crazy beautiful work.

Labels: lunatic fringe

2 comments:

Lottie said...: What an absolute treasure Pat is - I love this profile Pat and the mermaid book is awesome.

If ever I win the lottery I'll be over the pond to meet her in the flesh and perhaps attend one of her workshops.

Not only is she a fabulous CQ artist - she has the most amazing talent with words and if you don't already - then follow her on her blog - and discover her most amazing and wonderful life - from beachcombing to her forays out of her beautiful haven into a world of shopping and lunches and fabulous friendships; October 15, 2011 at 11:14 AM
Elizabeth said...: If Pat is a lunatic then she is the very best kind ever!! along with my friend Laura K of course!!! Pat is one of the most generous and caring friends that I have and I am going to be lucky enough to finally meet her at the Crazy Quilt Adventure in Connecticut this spring (2012)!!! I am so excited to finally meet her although I feel that i know her as the dear person that she is!!!; October 15, 2011 at 1:22 PM