Interview with Carole Nicholas, May 18, 2009

Partial Transcript: This is Karen Musgrave and I'm conducting a Quilters' S.O.S. Save Our Stories interview with Carole Nicholas.

Segment Synopsis: Carole Nicholas talks about her "Under Sea Gardens" quilt, why she quilted it, the techniques she used, and where it is now.

Keywords: Applique; Caribbean; Crafts and decoration; Decoration; Fairfax, Virginia; Fiordland; Free motion quilting; Geometric shapes; Healing Quilts in Medicine; Jamaica; Judy House; Kaffe Fassett fabrics; Landscapes; Layered applique; Maryland; Milford Sound; Mollusk shells; New Zealand; Piecing; Quilt Patch (Fairfax, Va.); Quilt artists; Quilt shops; Quilt styles; Quilting; Quilts; Raw edge applique; The Quilt Patch; Thread work; Tulle; Underwater laboratory; Walter Reed Hospital

Subjects: Applique--Patterns; Appliqué.; Decorative arts; Fairfax (Va.); Fancy work; Interior decoration; Patchwork quilts; Quilting; Quilting shops; Quilting--United States; Quiltmakers; Quiltmakers--United States; Quilts; Quilts in interior decoration; Quilts--Design; Quilts--United States; Textile crafts.

Partial Transcript: Tell me about your interest in quiltmaking.

Segment Synopsis: Nicholas talks about her unique quilting origins and her membership in quilting groups.

Keywords: American quilting; Amish quilts; Brocade; California; California Quilters; English paper piecing (EPP); Fiber Artists @ Loose Ends; First Continental Quilting Congress; Gail Vanderhoof; Ghana; Good Housekeeping (Magazine); Great American Quilt Contest; Hand quilting; Jamaica; Jinny Beyer; Jonathan Holstein; Judy Mathieson; Lisa Ellis; Mosaic top; New York City (N.Y.); Northern Virginia Quilt Guild; Quilt exhibits; Quilt groups; Quilt shops; Quilting revival; Quilting seminars; Ray of Light quilt; Sandy Goldman; Silks; West Africa

Subjects: Quilters Unlimited of Northern Virginia; Quilting; Quilting shops; Quilting--Periodicals; Quilting--United States; Quiltmakers; Quiltmakers--United States; Quilts; Quilts--United States; Quilts--United States--Exhibitions; Quilts--United States--History--20th Century--Exhibitions; Silk; Textile crafts.

Partial Transcript: Um, how many hours a week do you quilt?

Segment Synopsis: Nicholas talks about her quilting schedule and discusses whether she has any things she dislikes about quilting.

Keywords: Designing; Hand work; Jinny Beyer; Machine work; Quilt; Quilting; Quiltmaking

Subjects: Machine quilting; Quilting; Quilting--United States; Quiltmakers; Quiltmakers--United States; Quilts; Quilts--Design; Quilts--United States; Textile crafts.

Partial Transcript: Describe your studio.

Segment Synopsis: Nicholas talks about her home studio and what her family thinks about her quilting.

Keywords: Cutting tables; Daughters; Exhibitions; Fabric; Family; Family rooms; Hilton Head Island (S.C.); Home studios; Palladian window; Quiltmaking; Quilts

Subjects: Families.; Quilting; Quilting--United States; Quiltmakers; Quiltmakers--United States; Quilts; Quilts--United States; Quilts--United States--Exhibitions; Sewing machines; Textile crafts.

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

Segment Synopsis: Nicholas talks about the biggest question in the quilt world today and the difference between artists and quiltmakers, as well as some advice for quilters starting out.

Keywords: Art; Artistry; Artists; Computers; Digital age; Digital cameras; Hand quilting; Machine quilting; Machine vs. handwork; Quiltmakers; Quiltmaking; Quilts

Subjects: Art quilts; Artists; Arts and crafts; Machine quilting; Quilting; Quilting-United States; Quiltmakers; Quiltmakers--United States; Quilts; Quilts--United States; Sewing machines; Textile crafts.

Partial Transcript: You mentioned that you've been in contact with lots of different quiltmakers. Whose works are you drawn to and why?

Segment Synopsis: Nicholas talks about her favorite quiltmakers and her favorite quilting techniques.

Keywords: Amish quilts; Art quilts; Caryl Bryer Fallert; Contemporary; Gail Vanderhoof; Joan Colvin; Jonathan Holstein; Multi-fabrics; Nancy Halpern; Quilting; Quiltmakers; Quilts; Raw edge applique; Ruth McDowell; Strip/string piecing; Techniques; Tradition; Yvonne Porcella

Subjects: Applique--Patterns; Appliqué.; Art Quilts; Artists; McDowell, Ruth B., 1945-; Quilting; Quilting--United States; Quiltmakers; Quiltmakers--United States; Quilts; Quilts--United States; Textile crafts.

Partial Transcript: Why is quiltmaking important to you?

Segment Synopsis: Nicholas talks about why quiltmaking is important to her and what makes quilts artistically powerful.

Keywords: Artist statements; Color; Design; Quilting; Quiltmakers; Quiltmaking; Quilts; Self-expression

Subjects: Art quilts; Artists; Quilting; Quilting--United States; Quiltmakers; Quiltmakers--United States; Quilts; Quilts--Design; Quilts--United States; Textile crafts.

Partial Transcript: How do you want to be remembered?

Segment Synopsis: Nicholas talks about what she wants her legacy to be, as well as how her travels around the world have influenced her quilting. She also talks about the quilt she is working on currently.

Keywords: Artists; Bangkok; Father Gregory; Global Village trips; Habitat for Humanity; Hawaii; Hawaiian fabrics; Healing Quilts in Medicine; Inspiration; Jamaica; Mustard Seed Communities, Inc.; New Zealand; Patagonia; Quiltmaking; Quilts; Thailand

Subjects: Artists; Children's quilts; Hawaiian quilts; Quilting; Quilting--United States; Quiltmakers; Quiltmakers--United States; Quilts; Quilts--United States; Textile crafts.

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

Segment Synopsis: Nicholas wraps up her interview by talking about the theme quilts she is making with her quilting group, Fiber Artists @ Loose Ends. She talks about the size of her quilts.

Keywords: Bio-artography quilts; Contemporary artists; Fiber Artists @ Loose Ends; Healing Quilts in Medicine; Quilt groups; Quilting; Quilts; Sizes; Theme quilts

Subjects: Art quilts; Artists; Quilted goods; Quilting; Quilting--United States; Quiltmakers; Quiltmakers--United States; Quilts; Quilts--Design; Quilts--United States; Quilts--United States--Exhibitions; Textile crafts.

Partial Transcript: What are your plans for your quilts?

Segment Synopsis: Nicholas talks about the plans for her quilts, including exhibitions, fundraising, and examples in her classes. She talks about her experience teaching quilting and the lectures she gives.

Keywords: Auctions; Children; Contemporary artists; Exhibits; Healing Quilts in Medicine; Lectures; Permanent collections; Quilt purpose - Fundraising; Quilt shows/exhibitions; Quilting techniques; String quilts; String technique; Students; Teachers; Teaching; Techniques; Trunk shows

Subjects: Quilting; Quilting arts workshops; Quilting--Patterns; Quilting--United States; Quiltmakers; Quiltmakers--United States; Quilts; Quilts--Design; Quilts--United States; Quilts--United States--Exhibitions; Textile crafts.