Interview with Suzanne Marshall, October 22, 1999

Partial Transcript: --ing an interview with Suzanne Marshall.

Segment Synopsis: Marshall discusses the inspiration for the quilt "Bed Bugs" that she brought to the quilt festival in Houston. She notes how various inspirations for "Bed Bugs" comes from several trips she traveled with her husband, from various places in Italy to New Guinea. She then describes the physical properties of the quilt in terms of size.

Keywords: "Bed Bugs" quilt; Beetles; Bugs; Clayton (Mo.); Design inspiration; Florence, Italy; New Guinea; Piazza Armerina; Quilt Festival Houston; Sicily; Traveling; Wreath design; Wreaths

Subjects: Appliqué--Patterns.; Arts and crafts.; Crafts & decorating; Marshall, Suzanne; Patchwork quilts.; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts--United States--Exhibitions.; Quilts.; Sewing machines.

Partial Transcript: What got you started in quilting?

Segment Synopsis: Marshall describes the first quilts that she made for her family. In particular, she describes the need for her children to have bed covers. She notes how she first produced scrap quilts out of leftover fabric as a way to save money and fabric.

Keywords: Fabrics; Family quilts; First quilts; Quilting career; Scrap quilts; Self-taught

Subjects: Appliqué--Patterns.; Arts and crafts.; Crafts & decorating; Marshall, Suzanne; Patchwork quilts.; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts--United States--Exhibitions.; Quilts.; Sewing machines.

Partial Transcript: So, what, uh, part of quilting do you like the best? Is it the designing of the quilt, or the making of it?

Segment Synopsis: Marshall discusses what aspects of the quilting she process she finds enjoyable, and she claims that every part is enjoyable in its own right. However, she acknowledges that designing a quilt can be frustrating. She notes that she does not have an art background nor has she taken any classes. She notes how she usually begins the design process by looking through books, and that her goals for the quilt evolve as she is working on the piece.

Keywords: "Dragonflowers" quilt; Adaptation; Designing; Enjoyment; Frustrations; Quilt designing; Quilt inspirations; Quilting process

Subjects: Appliqué--Patterns.; Arts and crafts.; Crafts & decorating; Marshall, Suzanne; Patchwork quilts.; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts--United States--Exhibitions.; Quilts.; Sewing machines.

Partial Transcript: How many years have you been quilting?

Segment Synopsis: Marshall discusses how long she has been quilting, noting that it was around twenty-three years by the end of 1999. She also notes her impressions of quilting festivals. She says they provide inspiration to her to see what others were able to make. She also admits that she is intimidated by seeing such great quilts on display.

Keywords: Intimidation; Quilt festivals; Quilt inspiration; Quilting career

Subjects: Appliqué--Patterns.; Arts and crafts.; Crafts & decorating; Marshall, Suzanne; Patchwork quilts.; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts--United States--Exhibitions.; Quilts.; Sewing machines.

Partial Transcript: Um, are most of your quilts from nature?

Segment Synopsis: Marshall discusses the inspiration for her quilts and how she uses those inspirations in crafting designs. She notes how she mostly quilts by hand, but she has begun experimenting with machine quilting. She discusses briefly the class she teaches and her use of a fifteenth century Italian manuscript in creating a quilt that won a prize from the Hague. She also introduces her method of using a photocopier when it comes to crafting designs.

Keywords: "Journey Through Time" quilt; "Sewing bugs" quilting class; Bug quilts; Hand applique; Hand quilting; Machine quilting; Nature designs; Nature patterns; Photocopying; Travel; Travel inspiration

Subjects: Appliqué--Patterns.; Arts and crafts.; Crafts & decorating; Marshall, Suzanne; Patchwork quilts.; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts--United States--Exhibitions.; Quilts.; Sewing machines.

Partial Transcript: What is your process of adapting something? What it is, you know--when you go to look at it, what, what is the process that you go through to adapt --?

Segment Synopsis: Marshall goes into the process of how she takes her inspirations and adapts them for use as a quilt design. She talks about drawing the prospective design on paper, then expanding the size through photocopying. She also discusses a quilt she made following a trip to Australia where she found a book on Russian folk tales.

Keywords: Brisbane, Australia; Folk tales; Photocopying; Quilting inspiration; Russian folk tales; Trip inspiration; Vacation inspiration

Subjects: Appliqué--Patterns.; Arts and crafts.; Crafts & decorating; Marshall, Suzanne; Patchwork quilts.; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts--United States--Exhibitions.; Quilts.; Sewing machines.

Partial Transcript: And are most of your quilts for walls or are they for beds? How are they used?

Segment Synopsis: Marshall discusses the use of quilts at her own home, where their use is based on the design of the quilt in question. She notes how her children all have bed quilts made by her, and she hopes they will inherit the quilts she makes. She discusses the impact of quilts on her quality of life. She describes how she received the inspiration to visit quilt shows from conversations with her children as well as curiosity. She talks about how she won the Blue Ribbon prize and attended the American Quilter's Society show in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Keywords: American Quilter's Society; American Quilter's Society Show (Lancaster, Penn.); Bed quilts; Blue ribbon prize; Children; Homemakers; Inheritance; Quilt designs; Quilt inspiration; Wall quilts

Subjects: Appliqué--Patterns.; Arts and crafts.; Crafts & decorating; Marshall, Suzanne; Patchwork quilts.; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts--United States--Exhibitions.; Quilts.; Sewing machines.

Partial Transcript: And what is your interest in, uh--primary interest in quilting today?

Segment Synopsis: Marshall discusses what her current interest is in quilting. She reiterates her love of the process of quilting, adding that showing those quilts off in professional shows is an added bonus. She discusses the creation and reaction to her quilt entitled "Mastectomy," which was based on her desire to challenge herself.

Keywords: "Mastectomy" quilt; Bonuses; Primary interests; Quilt shows; Quilting; Quilting process

Subjects: Appliqué--Patterns.; Arts and crafts.; Crafts & decorating; Marshall, Suzanne; Patchwork quilts.; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts--United States--Exhibitions.; Quilts.; Sewing machines.

Partial Transcript: When you do your teaching, do you, uh, focus on an area that is of particular interest to you? Or, what leads you to teach the classes that you do teach?

Segment Synopsis: Marshall discusses what she teaches in her classes, focusing on her own particular method for advanced applique on quilts. During the segment, an announcer welcomes guests to the Quilt Festival, during which Marshall and Laskowski pause the interview and talk casually about quilts until the announcer ends, and they continue. Marshall discusses her background living in Texas and that she had no background in quilting prior to starting.

Keywords: Applique process; Quilting class; Teaching; Teaching applique

Subjects: Appliqué--Patterns.; Arts and crafts.; Crafts & decorating; Marshall, Suzanne; Patchwork quilts.; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts--United States--Exhibitions.; Quilts.; Sewing machines.

Partial Transcript: I wanted to ask you, what makes a good quilt in your estimation?

Segment Synopsis: Marshall begins by describing what makes a quilt catch her attention, and she focuses on both the practical and aesthetic qualities that make a great quilt. She then discusses the significance of quilting to her life, noting how she has grown into a quilter. She discusses how her husband has influenced her quilting through his travel, which she occasionally accompanies him on. She talks more about her process, noting that she often is working on two projects at a time.

Keywords: "Mother's Day" quilt; Aesthetics; Appealing quilts; Bug quilt; Fancy borders; Quilt aesthetics; Quilt designs; Quilt patches; Quilt points; Quilting process; Stitching; Travel quilt

Subjects: Appliqué--Patterns.; Arts and crafts.; Crafts & decorating; Marshall, Suzanne; Patchwork quilts.; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts--United States--Exhibitions.; Quilts.; Sewing machines.

Partial Transcript: How much do you quilt? Do you quilt every day?

Segment Synopsis: Marshall discusses how often she is able to quilt. She discusses being able to coordinate her quilting with her other hobbies such as cooking and gardening, noting that she tries to quilt every day but does not always get the opportunity. She talks about creating a quilt based off an early modern Norwegian tapestry. She also notes her winning the Gingher Award on behalf of the American Quilter's Society. The segment ends with an announcement about a car at the festival with their lights on.

Keywords: Cooking; Gardening; Gingher Award; Half yard fabrics; Quarter yard fabrics; Quilting; Rewards

Subjects: Appliqué--Patterns.; Arts and crafts.; Crafts & decorating; Marshall, Suzanne; Patchwork quilts.; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts--United States--Exhibitions.; Quilts.; Sewing machines.