Vanessa Wilson

Meet Vanessa

Pellon: Where do you find inspiration for your work?
Vanessa: I find most of my inspiration from my kids and my everyday life. I especially enjoy creating functional and practical projects so I’m always trying to come up with new ideas for things we need at home or new educational toys.

P: What does your creative process look like/entail?
V: My creative process doesn’t look one particular way over another. I like to go with the flow so I let the fabrics or project ideas tell me where I should go with it.  I don’t like to force it because then it’s no longer fun for me. I try to think outside-the-box and am very good at accepting”mistakes” in my projects and having them look like I meant to make them.  Part of what I enjoy the most about having a creative outlet is that there is no right or wrong way with art.  You can do whatever you feel like doing and no one can tell you it’s wrong.

P:  Why do you enjoy sewing/quilting/crafting?
V: I enjoy sewing, quilting and crafting because I need a creative outlet to dream up ideas and designs I can create and have it be the only piece of art like it in the entire world. I especially enjoy working with fabrics and threads because I find them to be the most versatile of art mediums.  You can create anything you want using fabric and thread!

P:  Do you create mainly for satisfaction, gifts,art or another reason?
V: I create for all sorts of reasons… for fun, gifts, my business and to create heirlooms that can be passed down from generation to generation in my family.

P:  What tips or tricks learned through experience can you share?
V: There is no such thing as the quilting police! You can do whatever you want and still end up with a gorgeous quilt. Don’t stress over small mistakes you may make in your projects and just enjoy the creative process.  You will still end up with an amazing work of art and probably wouldn’t be able to spot those mistakes after the project is complete. When cutting fabric, measure3 times before cutting. Use two rulers to cut your fabrics to size- one to measure and the other to guide your rotary cutter blade.

P: When and why did you start sewing/quilting/crafting?
V: I have been crafting and creating things with my hands since I was a very small child.  But I only got into sewing/quilting in 2007.  I was in my 2nd year in law school and miserably depressed and drained.  I was looking for a creative outlet and I asked my mother to teach me how to sew one day.  After threading the machine and running a few lines of straight stitches I was hooked! I immediately ran to my closet and pulled out an old pair of jeans (that no longer fit) and started cutting them up to make a purse… and like they say, “the rest is history!”

P: What triggers you to start a project?
V: What triggers me to start a project is usually either a need for something in my house or if I have a fabulous design idea that just pops into my head. I try to create works of art that double as functional items.  I like to create things people can use for something. If I make you a quilt I don’t want you to use it as a wall hanging… I’d like for it to be used and washed many times over. That’s what it’s made for!