Interview with Linda Jenkins, November 3, 2000

Partial Transcript: My name is Le Rowell.

Segment Synopsis: Jenkins' quilt was inspired by her hikes in the forests of Colorado where she often observed wildflowers growing through the brush of the forest floor.

Keywords: Clutter; Colorado; Environments; Forests; Hiking; Inspirations; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Wildflowers

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: Is it a particular pattern or something you created?

Segment Synopsis: Jenkins and her business partner, Becky Goldsmith, developed the pattern and techniques for this quilt from Jenkins' research hiking in the forest.

Keywords: Hand appliques; Hikes; Machine pieces; Original designs; Research; Techniques

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Sewing machines.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: Are the fabrics, uh, fabrics that you purchased, or are they dyed?

Segment Synopsis: Jenkins hand-dyed much of the fabric in her wildflower quilt.

Keywords: Fabrics; Hand-dyed fabrics; Patterns; Piece O' Cake designs; Purchases; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Dyes and dyeing.; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: Talk about the Piece O' Cake--

Segment Synopsis: Jenkins' company, Piece O' Cake, finds shortcuts for quilting that save time and produce good results. Their applique is difficult, especially for Jenkins' wildflower quilt, which was a shift from their earlier demographic of intermediate quilters.

Keywords: Advanced patterns; Applique; Design companies; Difficult appliques; Intermediate patterns; Needle-turn applique; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Sophistication; Stitching; Wildflowers

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: What do you plan to do with this quilt? How do you use this quilt that--

Segment Synopsis: Jenkins hangs her wildflower quilt in her living room. She stopped traveling with it when she taught or was traveling on business because of the wear and tear it endured.

Keywords: Attachments; Living rooms; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Shipments; Shipping; Uses; Wearing

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: So, tell me a little bit about your history. When did you start quilting? What was your first knowledge of a quilt?

Segment Synopsis: Jenkins was first exposed to quilts as a child, but they were dull and purposeful rather than an art form. Later, through her grandmother-in-law, she learned about quilting as art. She had a client when she was a hairdresser who did handwork, which sparked her interest. She began taking classes and she met her business partner at a guild. Soon thereafter, they formed their design company, Piece O' Cake.

Keywords: Appliques; Beck Goldsmith; Childhoods; Coziness; Cross stitches; Experiences; Fabric designs; Grandmothers; Graphic arts; Green Country Quilter's Guild; Hairdressers; Handworks; Large quilts; Oklahoma; P & B Textiles; Pagosa Springs; Prolific quiltmakers; Purposeful quilts; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Retirements; Sampler classes; Stitch groups; Teaching; Travel; Utilitarian quilts; Values

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: How do you balance your quilting activities with your family and friends?

Segment Synopsis: Jenkins' personal life revolves around quilting for the most part. Her husband is involved with her quilt design business, and her friends are mostly quilters.

Keywords: Balances; Husbands; Pagosa Springs; Participation; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Staffs; Supportive

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

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

Segment Synopsis: Jenkins finds that color is the first thing that draws her to a design, but craftsmanship is equally as important a factor to making a great quilt.

Keywords: Colors; Designs; Great quilts; Intricacies; Intricacy; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Techniques

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: Does it matter whether it's machine or hand-quilted?

Segment Synopsis: Jenkins does not have a preference for machine quilting or hand quilting, but she does not enjoy the repetition in program quilting.

Keywords: Appliques; Hand quilting; Machine quilting; Program quilting; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts--Design.; Sewing machines.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: What makes a great quilter?

Segment Synopsis: Jenkins thinks a good quilter is someone who is always learning and moving forward. If they love what they are doing and continue to progress, they are great at what they do.

Keywords: Colors; Efforts; Great quilters; Learning; Progressions; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Struggles; Times

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: How do you impart that message in your teaching?

Segment Synopsis: Jenkins teaches her quilting students that they should always be working toward a goal, and progress should be measured by comparing to where you started not comparing to others.

Keywords: Beginners; Beginnings; Comparing; Goals; Progressions; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: What do you think makes a quilt appropriate for a museum or a special collection?

Segment Synopsis: Jenkins thinks that uniqueness and good workmanship deserve to be preserved, even if the quilts from the past are not up to today's quilting standard.

Keywords: Appeals; Museums; One-patch quilts; Preservations; Special collections; Uniqueness; Workmanship

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: So, is a quilt art or craft?

Segment Synopsis: Jenkins thinks that quilting is an art rather than a craft. The quilting process is an artistic one, regardless of how simple the final product may be.

Keywords: Appliques; Artistic skills; Arts; Baltimore album quilts; Color choices; Crafts; Fabrics; One-patch quilts; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Uniqueness

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: So how do the great quilters learn this art?

Segment Synopsis: Jenkins has an intention to return to the softer look of historical quilting.

Keywords: Appliques; Intentions; Irregularities; Learning; Precision; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Softness; Stitching; Tools

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: So why is quilting important in your life?

Segment Synopsis: Jenkins has used quilting to get through difficult times in her life, including a long illness and the loss of her son. She has a religious view of quilting, because she believes it was given to her by God.

Keywords: Deaths; Illnesses; Importance; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Relaxing; Religion; Solaces; Soothing; Stitching

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: Do you stitch quilt everyday?

Segment Synopsis: Jenkins quilts everyday, most of which is on her schedule for her business, in her living room. It's a relaxing activity for her.

Keywords: Comfortable chairs; Excuses; Living rooms; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Special places; Stitching schedules; Views

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: I think you've talked a little bit about this, but in what ways do your quilts reflect your community or the area in which you live?

Segment Synopsis: Jenkins doesn't see her quilts reflecting much of her community, other than her wildflower quilt which reflects on her hikes where she lives in Colorado.

Keywords: Communities; Influences; Pasts; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: What ways do you think quilts have a special meaning for women's history and experiences in our country?

Segment Synopsis: Jenkins believes that quilting has shown women's perseverance throughout American history.

Keywords: American history; Fabrics; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Stitching; Textiles; U.S. Women's history; Women; Women's history

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilt Expo; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: How can--how do you think, uh, quilts can be preserved for the future?

Segment Synopsis: Storage is key when it comes to preserving quilts, which Jenkins explains in detail.

Keywords: Arts and crafts; Creativity; Fabrics; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Stitching; Storage; Textiles

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilt Expo; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: Have you had many quilts in exhibitions? Um, can you tell me something about those?

Segment Synopsis: Jenkins hasn't entered many exhibitions, with the exception of small shows here and there. She entered her wildflower quilt in Houston and won a blue ribbon.

Keywords: Arts and crafts; Creativity; Design companies; Designs; Exhibitions; Fabrics; Houston (Tex.); Piece O' Cake; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Stitching; Textiles

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilt Expo; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: How can we encourage quilting in our young people?

Segment Synopsis: Jenkins started her niece on quilting when she was young, which she now loves. She believes that giving the opportunity to quilt will encourage young people to start.

Keywords: Coloring; Fabrics; Hand quilting; Machine quilting; Nursery rhymes; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Stitching; Textiles; Tracing

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilt Expo; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Sewing machines.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: So what do you think is the future of quilting in America?

Segment Synopsis: Jenkins sees the future of the quilt industry as being increasingly innovative with new techniques.

Keywords: Applique; Arts and crafts; Creativity; Designs; Fabrics; Hand quilting; Innovations; Machine quilting; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Stitching; Techniques; Textiles

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilt Expo; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: How many years have you been coming to the festival?

Segment Synopsis: Jenkins sees a shift happening toward more traditional quilts through reproductions. More women are getting interested in applique. She wants to see a change in reproduction work so that the period is represented but with a modern influence.

Keywords: Arts and crafts; Contemporary reproductions; Creativity; Designs; Fabrics; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Stitching; Techniques; Textiles; Traditional quilts; Trends

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilt Expo; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: What are some of the aspects of quilting that you do not enjoy?

Segment Synopsis: Jenkins talks about her least favorite aspects of quilting.

Keywords: Applique; Arts and crafts; Basting; Creativity; Designs; Fabrics; Fusing; Hand quilting; Machine quilting; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Stitching; Techniques; Textiles

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilt Expo; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Sewing machines.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: You have a very active, um, commu--quilting community?

Segment Synopsis: Jenkins is not as involved in her guild anymore because of how much time her business takes up, but she used to be very involved when she first got started.

Keywords: Arts and crafts; Creativity; Designs; Fabrics; Involvements; Quilters; Quilter’s guilds; Quilting; Quilts; Stitching; Techniques; Textiles

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilt Expo; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: We have a few minutes left. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Segment Synopsis: Jenkins sees the quilting trend leaning more toward bright colors rather than the traditional muted colors.

Keywords: Arts and crafts; Colors; Creativity; Designs; Fabrics; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Stitching; Techniques; Textiles

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilt Expo; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: What are the--you talked about designing fabrics, what, um, techniques do you use to produce the fabric?

Segment Synopsis: Jenkins designs fabrics, then has a textile company produce them.

Keywords: Arts and crafts; Colors; Creativity; Designs; Fabrics; Graphic artists; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Stitching; Swash paints; Techniques; Textiles

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilt Expo; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.