Interview with Terrie Newman, November 3, 2000

Partial Transcript: I'm Judy Preston and I'm at International Quilt Festival 2000.

Segment Synopsis: Newman discusses the quilt she brought for the interview, called "Sentimental Me." She describes the quilt as a pictorial quilt about her childhood in rural Ohio. She tells the interviewer about the pictures she selected for the quilt and why she chose them, as well as the fabrics and quilting techniques she used. Newman also describes the back of the quilt and its design and techniques.

Keywords: Ohio star; Paper pieced quilts; Photo transfers; Pictorial quilts; Quilt designs; Quilt teachers; Quilting techniques; Sentimental quilts; Women and quilts

Subjects: Artists; Childhood; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Ohio; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textiles; Women; Women’s voices

Partial Transcript: How did you get started in, in quilting?

Segment Synopsis: Newman recalls how she began to quilt in 1976, during the United States' bicentennial. She discusses her desire to have a creative outlet and how quilting fulfilled her need to be creative. She tells the interviewer she learned quilting by trial and error from a book. She describes her first quilt and the techniques she used to create the quilt, including hand sewing.

Keywords: Creative outlets; First quilts; Hand quilting; Hand sewing; Learning to quilt; Quilt designs

Subjects: Artists; Crafts & decorating; Creativity; Decorative arts; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textiles; Women; Women’s voices

Partial Transcript: You said that the corn is a photo transfer?

Segment Synopsis: Newman and the interviewer return to their discussion of "Sentimental Me". Newman discusses, in detail, the photo transfer technique she used for parts of the quilt.

Keywords: Fabric painting; Photo transfers; Quilt designs; Quilt embroidery; Quilt techniques

Subjects: Artists; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Fabric arts; Fabrics; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textiles; Women; Women’s voices

Partial Transcript: We saw your wonderful quilt, now can you give me some background of, uh, how you got into it and, and do you teach, or?

Segment Synopsis: Newman talks about how she began to quilt in 1976 and how she began to teach quilting, particularly beginner's quilting, in 1978 and still teaches. She discusses how she documents her quilts and patterns, including keeping fabric samples, taking pictures, and writing instructions on how she created the quilts from her patterns.

Keywords: Beginning quilters; Creative processes; Documenting quilts; Quilt classes; Quilting teachers; Teaching quilting

Subjects: Artists; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textiles; Women; Women’s voices

Partial Transcript: What does you use, uh, for inspiration, other than your, your students?

Segment Synopsis: Newman talks about where she finds inspiration for her quilt designs, from contest challenges and other quilts she looks at. She discusses her favorite fabrics to quilt with, particularly plaid fabrics. She tells the interviewer how she participates in quilting challenges and how one of her quilts was chosen to be put on a quilting convention program.

Keywords: Competitive quilting; Hand quilting; Machine piecing; Plaid fabrics; Quilt competitions; Quilt designs; Quilting challenges; Quilting contests; Traditional quilting

Subjects: Artists; Crafts & decorating; Creativity; Decorative arts; Inspiration; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textiles; Women; Women’s voices

Partial Transcript: Are you a, a teacher of, of regular schools, or, or were you a teacher?

Segment Synopsis: Newman talks about her career aspirations prior to quilting, which was to be a teacher at some level. She talks about how she enjoys teaching adults and how her quilting classes satisfy her desire to teach. She also describes her quilting activities, including joining various quilting guilds in Ohio and Arkansas.

Keywords: Career aspirations; Quilt teachers; Quilting activities; Quilting guilds; Social aspects of quilting

Subjects: Artists; Career changes; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textiles; Women; Women’s voices

Partial Transcript: What do you think makes a great quilt?

Segment Synopsis: Newman discusses what she believes makes a great quilt, which she believes is in the eye of the beholder. She talks about using techniques to be able to properly express an idea through a quilt.

Keywords: Creative processes; Qualities of a great quilt; Quilt qualities; Self expression; Self expression in crafts; Workmanship

Subjects: Artists; Crafts & decorating; Creativity; Decorative arts; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textiles; Women; Women’s voices

Partial Transcript: In what ways do you think quilts have special meaning for women's history?

Segment Synopsis: Newman talks about how quilts have evolved in American society and how quilting has been a means of self-expression for women, especially after quilts became more of a creative outlet than a utilitarian need in American society.

Keywords: American women and quilts; Artistic outlets; Creative quilts; Evolution of quilting; Scrap quilts; Self expression; Utilitarian quilts; Women and quilts

Subjects: American women, 1600-1900; Artists; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textiles; Women; Women’s voices

Partial Transcript: Do you, uh, make wearable art, in addition to quilts?

Segment Synopsis: Newman discusses her experience in wearable art, which she creates frequently and teaches classes about. She talks about how she does not sell her quilts, but creates them for specific people in her family.

Keywords: Fabric manipulation; Family heirlooms; Family quilts; Wearable art; Wearable art classes; Wedding gifts

Subjects: Artists; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Families; Gifts; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textiles; Weddings; Women; Women’s voices

Partial Transcript: Have you ever worked in a quilt shop?

Segment Synopsis: Newman talks about how she has not worked for a quilt shop, but has taught classes at fabric stores in Texas.

Keywords: Craft classes; Fabric shops; Fabric stores; Quilt shops; Teaching quilting; Work experiences

Subjects: Artists; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Fabric arts; Fabrics; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textiles; Women

Partial Transcript: Do you collect any sewing memorabilia or collect other quilts?

Segment Synopsis: Newman talks about her small quilt collection, which she says she has collected "incidentally" over the years. One quilt she has is from her husband's family, another is from a garage sale.

Keywords: Antique shops; Family heirlooms; Garage sales; Knitted quilts; Quilt collecting; Quilt collections; Quilt memorabilia

Subjects: Artists; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textiles; Women

Partial Transcript: When you've done your, uh, quilt--quilting teaching, have you done that out of town...

Segment Synopsis: Newman discusses the various locations she has taught quilting, including Arkansas and Texas. She travels to teach occasionally, but teaches mostly in the area she is currently residing in.

Keywords: Quilt classes; Quilt teaching; Travelling teachers

Subjects: Arkansas; Artists; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Quilting; Quilts; Teachers; Texas; Textile artists; Textiles; Women; Women’s voices