Interview with Donna Marcinkowski DeSoto, May 13, 2009

Partial Transcript: This is Karen Musgrave and I'm doing a Quilters' S.O.S. Save Our Stories interview with Donna Marcinkowski DeSoto.

Segment Synopsis: DeSoto talks about the quilt she brought, its inspiration, and the materials and techniques she used.

Keywords: "A Lazy Landscape"; Appliqué; Ayurvedic medicine; Cancer treatment; Couched yarn; Cyclea peltata; Dr. Eby Amraham; Fabric; Fairfax (Va.); Fairfax, Virginia; Fiber Artists @ Loose Ends; Free motion quilting; Kerala (India); Kerala, India; Lisa Ellis; Raw edged applique; Techniques; University of Michigan; University of Michigan Cancer Center

Subjects: Applique; Applique--Patterns; Quilting--Patterns; Quiltmakers--United States; Quiltmaking; Quilts; Quilts--Design

Partial Transcript: Tell me about your interest in quiltmaking.

Segment Synopsis: DeSoto talks about the quilting groups she belongs to as well as how quilting first interested her.

Keywords: Art quilting; Art quilts; Cardboard templates; Eight pointed star; Eileen Doughty; Fairfax (Va.); Fairfax Quilters Unlimited; Fiber Artists @ Loose Ends; Grandmothers; Hobby; Home sewing machines; Judy House; New York City (N.Y.); Play Group; Playing Outside the Block; Quilt classes; Quilters Unlimited; Quilting groups; Quilts; Sewing

Subjects: Art quilts; Quilting; Quiltmakers; Quiltmakers--United States; Quilts; Quilts--United States; Sewing; Star quilts

Partial Transcript: You mentioned taking classes. So, whose works are you drawn to and why?

Segment Synopsis: DeSoto talks about the quilting classes she took, some of the quilters whose work she particularly is drawn to, and how her family reacts to her quilting.

Keywords: Cloth, Paper, Scissors; Dining rooms; Elly Dyson; Fabric; Family; Home studios; Mary Lois Davis; MaryAnn Shepherd; Norma Colman; Studios; Threads; Yarn

Subjects: Quilting; Quiltmakers--United States; Quilts; Textile fabrics

Partial Transcript: So do you work on one project at a time or do you work on multiple projects?

Segment Synopsis: DeSoto talks about her creative process, what inspires her, and comments on quilting as an art or a craft.

Keywords: Artists; Beads; Books; Dyed fabrics; Embellishing; Fabric - Batiks; Fairy frost; Glitter; Inspiration; People; Phrases; Quilts as art; Show and tell; Textures; Yarn

Subjects: Art quilts; Arts and crafts; Craft and art; Quilting; Quilting--United States; Quiltmakers; Quiltmakers--United States; Quilts

Partial Transcript: Let's go back and talk a little bit more about Healing Quilts in Medicine.

Segment Synopsis: DeSoto talks about her involvement in the Healing Quilts In Medicine project, artist statements, and the great connection quilters have with one another.

Keywords: Art quilt classes; Art quilts; Artist statements; Avon Walk; Breast cancer; Cancer; Climb for Hope; Coping mechanisms; Dr. Abraham; Fairfax (Va.); Fairfax Quilters Unlimited; Judy House; Networks; Quilt classes; Quilting; Quilting Network; Sewing

Subjects: Art quilts; Decorative arts; Interior decoration; Quilting; Quiltmakers; Quiltmakers--United States; Quilts; Sewing

Partial Transcript: What advice would you offer someone starting out?

Segment Synopsis: DeSoto talks about what she thinks is best for new quilters, the challenges facing quilters today, and the parts of quiltmaking she enjoys the least.

Keywords: Advice; Developing skills; Fiber; Fiber arts; Inspiration; Passion; Quilting groups; Time

Subjects: Art quilts; Quilting; Quiltmakers; Quiltmakers--United States; Quilts

Partial Transcript: What do you think makes a quilt artistically powerful?

Segment Synopsis: DeSoto talks about what makes quilts artistically powerful to her and how technology influences her quiltmaking.

Keywords: Art quilts; Artistic quilts; Computers; Digital cameras; Fabric; Internet; Networks; Sewing machines; Sharing knowledge; Technology; Websites

Subjects: Art quilts; Quilting; Quiltmakers; Quiltmakers--United States; Quilts

Partial Transcript: In what ways do you think that your quilts reflect your community? You mentioned being influenced by whatever teacher you had at the time.

Segment Synopsis: DeSoto talks about how quilting can reflect her community and why quilting is so important to her.

Keywords: Art; Art quilts; Community; Friendships; Grandmothers; Happy quilts; Quiltmakers; Self-expression; Sisterhood; Smiles

Subjects: Art quilts; Quilting; Quilting--United States; Quiltmakers; Quiltmakers--United States; Quilts

Partial Transcript: How do you want to be remembered?

Segment Synopsis: DeSoto talks about the legacy she wants to leave, as well as the plans for her quilts and fabrics. They also exchange funny stories about the monetary costs of quilting as a hobby.

Keywords: China cabinets; Fabric; Fabric costs; Fabric stores; Family; Hospitals; Iraq; Macy's; Macy's Quilt; Quilts; Quilts of valor; Raffles; Sleep; Soldiers; Stashes; Sunshine; Unfinished projects; Websites

Subjects: Children's quilts; Quilting; Quiltmakers--United States; Quilts; Textile fabrics

Partial Transcript: Is there anything that you would like to share that we haven't touched upon before we conclude?

Segment Synopsis: DeSoto wraps up the interview by discussing how positive women coming together to make quilts is, and the positive impact it has had on women throughout history.

Keywords: Connections; Herbert Hoover; Learning; Learning about quilting; Mom; Mothers; Quilters; Quilting; Therapy; Wife; Women coming together; Women's groups; Women's history

Subjects: Quilting; Quiltmakers; Quiltmakers--United States; Quilts