Interview with Linda Fiedler, September 28, 2002

Partial Transcript: This is Le Rowell and today's date is September 28th, 2002 and it is 12:10PM.

Segment Synopsis: Linda Fiedler talks about her chosen quilt, the fabrics used, the design, and how it got its name by helping her through a tough time.

Keywords: "Storm At Sea" quilt; "The Calm After the Storm" quilt; Commercial fabrics; Creative development; Embroidery; Fabrics; Free motion machine embroidery; Hand dyed fabrics; Hand dyeing; Hand embroidery; Hand quilting; Hoops; Machine embroidery; Machine quilting; Patchwork; Patterns; Purchased fabrics; Quilt patterns; Quilt tops; Quilting techniques; Quiltmaking; Quilts; Sewing machines; Stabilizers; Stitching; Techniques; Theme; Thread painting; Zig zag embroidery

Subjects: Machine quilting.; Patchwork quilts.; Quilting; Quilting--Patterns; Quilting--United States; Quilting--United States--Patterns; Quiltmakers; Quiltmakers--United States; Quilts; Quilts--United States; Sewing machines

Partial Transcript: What is your first knowledge of a quilt?

Segment Synopsis: Fiedler describes her first remembrances of quilting, including the work her grandmother and her mother did, as well as talking about how she learned to quilt.

Keywords: Antique quilts; Blocks; Carrol County (Va.); Carrol County, Virginia; Churches; Embroidery; Grandmothers; Houston (Tex.); Houston, Texas; Lessons; Michigan; Museums; Needles; Old Maid's Puzzle; Patchwork patterns; Piecing; Quilt lessons; Quilts; Sewing; Singer; Teaching; Teaching quiltmaking; Threads; Traditional quilt patterns; Traverse City (Mich.); Traverse City, Michigan

Subjects: Double wedding ring quilts; Machine quilting.; Museums; Patchwork quilts.; Quilting; Quilting--Patterns; Quilting--United States; Quilting--United States--Patterns; Quiltmakers; Quiltmakers--United States; Quilts; Quilts--United States; Sewing; Sewing machines

Partial Transcript: Talk about your teaching. Uh, when did you start teaching and what do you teach?

Segment Synopsis: Fiedler talks about her experiences teaching quiltmaking all over the country, as well as when she opened up a quilt shop.

Keywords: Craft magazines; Good Housekeeping (Magazine); Machine embroidery; Magazines; Patterns; Piecing; Quilt guilds; Quilt shops; Quilt techniques; Rotary cutters; Seminole patchwork; Sewing centers; Teaching; Teaching quilting; Teaching quiltmaking; Techniques; Thread painting; Tulsa (Okla.); Tulsa Quilt Guild; Tulsa, Oklahoma

Subjects: Machine quilting.; Quilting shops; Quilting--Patterns; Quilting--United States--Patterns; Quiltmakers; Quiltmakers--United States; Quiltmaking; Quiltmaking--United States; Quilts; Quilts--United States; Sewing; Sewing machines

Partial Transcript: What do you find most pleasing about quiltmaking?

Segment Synopsis: Fiedler talks about her favorite parts of quilting and her least favorite parts.

Keywords: Binding; Blocks; Creative expression; Creative process; Expression; Fabric; Finishing; Original designs; Teaching quilting; Teaching quiltmaking; Tedious

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

Partial Transcript: What do you think about the importance of quilts in American life?

Segment Synopsis: Fiedler talks about the importance of quilts in American life, their importance to women throughout history, and how we can ensure quilts have a place in America in the future.

Keywords: Art; Art and craft; Art of quiltmaking; Arts and crafts; Creative outlets; Functional items; Grandmothers; Museums; Quilt shows; School children; Shows; Young people; Youth

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

Partial Transcript: Talk a minute about your involvement with your guild, your community, and your curating.

Segment Synopsis: Fiedler talks about the guilds she is a member of, from a local level to the national level, as well as what she looks for in great quilts and quiltmakers for her shows and museums.

Keywords: Color; Commitment; Craftsmanship; Creativity; Dedication; Design; Local guilds; Museums; National quilt organizations; Perseverance; Quilt shows; Quiltmaking; Quilts; State guilds; Theme; Tulsa (Okla.); Tulsa Quilt Guild; Tulsa, Oklahoma

Subjects: Artists; Museums; Quilt National; Quilting; Quilting--United States; Quiltmakers; Quiltmakers--United States; Quilts; Quilts--United States; Quilts--United States--Exhibitions

Partial Transcript: You also create wearable art. Could you talk about that?

Segment Synopsis: Fiedler talks about her wearable art and where she has exhibited it.

Keywords: 3-D; American Quilter's Society (AQS); American Quilter's Society Quilt Week (Paducah, Kentucky); Artwork; Buttons; Clothes; Clothing; Cuffs; Darts; Embellishment; Fairfield Fashion Show; Fashion; Hobbs Fashion Show; International Quilt Festival Houston; Paducah (Ky.); Patchwork; Sewing; Sleeves; Three dimensional; Wearable art

Subjects: Patchwork quilts; Quiltmaking; Quilts; Sewing

Partial Transcript: Talk a minute about the trends that you see in quiltmaking from when you started to now. We talk about traditional quiltmakers, art quilters. What trends have you seen in the past and what, um, do you see for the future?

Segment Synopsis: Fiedler talks about the trends in quiltmaking and the divide, if any, between traditional quiltmaking and art quilts.

Keywords: Art; Art quilts; Arts and crafts; Contemporary quilts; Design; Designing; Hand piecing; Hand quilting; Machine quilting; Quiltmaking; Rotary cutters; Traditional quilting; Wearable art

Subjects: Art quilts; Arts and crafts; Machine quilting; Quilting; Quilting--United States; Quiltmakers; Quiltmakers--United States; Quilts; Quilts--United States; Textile designers

Partial Transcript: Were are now, uh, on new tapes because, um, Linda and I would like to continue our conversation.

Segment Synopsis: Fiedler talks about how communities are built through quilting and quilters coming together. She talks about articles and other writing she has done on the subject of quilting.

Keywords: "American Quilter"; "Quilting Today"; Books; Community-building; Garment classes; Machine quilting; Machine quilting books; Magazine articles; Neighbors; Quilt guilds; Quilt shows; Quilt techniques; Support groups; Teaching quilting; Teaching quiltmaking; Thread painting; Thread painting classes

Subjects: Machine quilting; Quilting; Quilting Today; Quilting--United States; Quiltmakers; Quiltmakers--United States; Quilts; Quilts in literature

Partial Transcript: And you've won many awards?

Segment Synopsis: Fiedler talks about the awards she has won with her quilts, as well as her time judging quilt shows.

Keywords: Applique; Applique techniques; Awards; Columbus (Ind.); Columbus, Indiana; Columbus, Indiana Quilt Show; Design; Embroidery; Hand pieced; Hand piecing; Hand quilting; Houston; Houston Quilt Guild; Houston, Texas; International Quilt Association; International Quilt Festival; International Quilt Festival Houston; Judging; Machine quilting; Piecing techniques; Quilt shows; Quilting; Quilting techniques; Quiltmakers; Workmanship

Subjects: Applique--Patterns; Appliqué.; Machine quilting; Quilting; Quilting Today; Quilting--United States; Quiltmakers; Quiltmakers--United States; Quilts; Quilts--Design; Quilts--United States; Quilts--United States--Exhibitions

Partial Transcript: How do you think quilts can be preserved for the future?

Segment Synopsis: Fiedler finishes the interview by talking about preserving quilts, her antique quilt collection, and if she has designed any quilt patterns herself.

Keywords: Antique quilts; Applique; Appliqued quilts; Embroidery; Fabric/Quilt shops; Fibers; Museums; Pieced quilts; Preservation; Published patterns; Published quilt patterns; Quilt patterns; Quilt shops; Textiles; Whole cloth; Whole cloth quilts

Subjects: Applique--Patterns; Appliqué.; Museums; Quilting; Quilting--Patterns; Quilting--United States; Quilting--United States--Patterns; Quiltmakers; Quiltmakers--United States; Quilts; Quilts--United States