Laura will be teaching on Thursday 4034 Panitstik Inspirations 
Personal: Laura Murray hails from the Mid-West. She was raised on a small farm in Minnesota. The owner of two Siamese cats, Laura enjoys walking and reading. The last book she read was one of the Mary Russell stories by Laurie R King. Linda travels 35,000 miles, coast to coast, on an annual basis to vend at quilt and sewing shows across the country.
How did you get started in quilting? After a long history of sewing, crocheting, and needlework, I was ready for something new. Inspired by a daughter who wanted a handmade quilt, I decided to take a sampler class at the nearby quilt shop. There, I learned basic skills and completed a queen size quilt, using 16” hand sewn blocks, and the “quilt-as-you-go” method. More importantly, I discovered art quilts — a medium that I hadn’t known existed. This launched me on a journey through the competitive, juried quilt show circuit that was rewarded by blue ribbons at large shows. My focus on continual skill development led me to many workshops with national level teachers, who all contributed to my skills and knowledge.
Where do you find inspiration for your quilting? Nature, art galleries, books, the internet. quilt exhibits. Inspiration is everywhere!
What is the one quilting tool that you can’t live without? Because I can create the fabric of my dreams with paintstiks, I would find it extremely restrictive to depend on purchased fabric for my projects. I would find it hard to live without Light Steam-a-Seam2, because I use it extensively in my techniques.
What is the best class you have taken? Jane Dunnewold’s Complex Cloth Workshop
What do you like best about teaching? Seeing the excitement and pleasure of my students who have just created an original design.
What is your best tip for quilters? Learn to understand the huge importance of value in selecting fabrics for your projects. Color gets all the credit, but value does all the work.
What do you want your students to get out of your class? I want them to have fun while learning new skills. This should be the joyful part of our lives!
You can visit Laura on her web site, www.lauramurraydesigns.com
]]>Tags: Paintstiks
