Joen Wolfrom's book, Color Play: Easy Steps to Imaginative Color in Quilts, is available from C&T Publishing.
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Excerpts from the Experts
Interview with Joen Wolfrom
Joen Wolfrom's use of color and her innovative techniques have attracted wide interest from quiltmakers and art collectors alike. Early in her career, Joen developed three piecing techniques quiltmakers use today -- landscape log cabin, landscape strip piecing, and abstract curved design (also known as curves-on-the-whole.) She travels around the world teaching and lecturing in contemporary quilt and textile art techniques, color, and design. Joen's newest book, Color Play: Easy Steps to Imaginative Color in Quilts, is featured in the Gizmos and Gotta Haves column appearing in the May/June 2001 issue of QUILTMAKER magazine.
Following are excerpts from a recent interview with Joen.
How did you decide to make quiltmaking a career? What led you in that direction?
My entry into quiltmaking as a career was quite accidental and totally unplanned by me. You might say I was lured into it without intent.
I received a telephone call very early in the morning on New Year's Day, 1984, from a woman who wanted me to teach at her international symposium in southern California. I was totally unprepared and shocked by the invitation. I had taught several years as an elementary school teacher prior to becoming a homemaker, but teaching quilting at a symposium (or conference) had never entered my mind. Since I had fairly young children then, I was rather reluctant to agree to take part in this event. Besides that, I wasn't really certain I had anything to offer anyone in a symposium quilting class. Eventually the woman talked me into accepting the assignment. I survived the experience. Before leaving the symposium I had received four new invitations to teach.
Upon returning home from the symposium, I conferred with my husband about this unexpected turn of events. I was quite hesitant about adding a new dimension to my life. Finally we decided I could accept these teaching engagements if I spread them out, so that the family would be affected minimally. My intention then was to accept these standing invitations and then settle back down to motherhood.
Thus I was even more surprised to find other invitations coming my way each month. I never knew quite how or why they came to me, as none seemed to be related. Apprehensively, I accepted a few more. I readjusted my thinking and decided I might do this for a year or two. Well, obviously I went beyond that goal. Amazingly, that first invitation was over seventeen years ago. I can't believe that I am still receiving wonderful invitations to teach and lecture. When I received the unexpected 1984 phone call, I never realized it would affect my life profoundly in so many ways.
Now my children are grown. My husband and I are celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary this year. My accidental career has given me unbelievable opportunities and memories. I have met so many wonderful people, and I have been rewarded with cherished friendships. Also, I have been challenged to expand my skills, knowledge, and creativity much more than I ever thought possible.
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