As a child, prior to the age of cell phones and computers, Megan’s favorite activities were reading, sketching and coloring. She loved the bright hues in her crayon box and spent countless hours filling her coloring books with color. She fell in love with quilts when a 1930’s era nine patch quilt mysteriously appeared on her bed. The colorful quilt became a treasure to her and her life-long passion for quilts began.
She learned to sew in a junior high home economics class along with a lot of personal help from her mom. She made most of her clothes through high school and college as well as accessories for her personal space. While she did earn a degree in social welfare, she really did not find a vocation that called to her. She loved art and sewing but never considered them more than hobbies.
In 1986, while shopping for craft paint in a hobby store, she signed up for a class in decorative (tole) painting and found another passion. Again, she loved the wonderful colors and the ability to express herself creatively. Her skills improved and she began to teach beginning students at the same hobby shop. She was fortunate in that she was able to carve spaces for both her painting and sewing in separate spaces in her basement.
Due to a change in her life circumstances in 1990, Megan and her daughter, then in grade school, relocated to a smaller home. Because the amount of living space was limited, she had to make a choice-sewing or painting. Ever practical, she chose sewing and her beloved sewing machine found a home in the corner of her bedroom ready to create the Halloween costumes and prom dresses to come.
In 1992, she made her first quilt from fabrics she had collected while working part time in a fabric store. Mistakes were made but much was learned from her first endeavor and it was the first of many traditional quilts that she made. By reading quilting books and watching videos, she continued to improve using many of the new tools and techniques now available. While she enjoyed piecing, she relished making quilts using a raw edge stitched applique technique. In 2002, she was given the opportunity to teach a beginning quilting class and a whole new world opened up to her. She began designing her own quilts to teach the techniques upon which she wanted to focus with her students. Getting paid to do something she adored was the icing on the cake.
In 2007, a chance encounter with a book about sun printing with transparent fabric paint changed the direction of her quilting forever. Finally, she was able to unite her two passions, quilting and painting. She began painting her own fabric to use in her quilts, mixing piecing with the fused applique technique she loved. She was forever on the hunt for additional information about adding pigment to fabric. She began teaching workshops to her guild, sharing the information she had learned and the techniques she had developed to mimic the mixed media art that was in the forefront of the craft and art world.
Today, she continues to explore new techniques using the power of the internet to provide inspiration and resources for her quilt art. She is teaching workshops and providing guided trunk shows in order to share her tools and techniques as well as her quilts with those who want to add to their skill sets and expand their own creative voices. While she loves to teach, her obsession is designing and creating her own art. She is grateful for the opportunity to sell her quilts in her Etsy shop. Her newest collection is called “Happy Place”, a compilation meant to bring happiness and inspiration to those who purchase them. They are small enough to hang in a work cubicle or place on an easel and give as a gift for that special person.
If your organization is interested in having Megan provide a workshop and/or guided Trunk Show, please go to the contact page and request further information. She will be delighted to contact you and make arrangements for your group to experience her unique quilts and techniques.
Awards
AQS Paducah
AQS Paducah Spring 2014, Semi-finalist first time entry
Hearts ‘n’ Hands Quilt Guild
Quilts from the Heart 2015, Featured Quilter
Quilts from the Heart 2015, Second Place Art Quilts
Quilts from the Heart 2013, Best of Show
Quilts from the Heart 2013, Second Place Machine Quilting
Quilts from the Heart 2013, Second Place Art/Innovative
Quilts from the Heart 2011, First Place Art/Innovative
Quilts from the Heart 2011, Second Place Art/Innovative
Quilts from the Heart 2009, Third Place Large Wall
Quilts from the Heart 2007, Third Place Large Wall
Affiliations
SAQA-Studio Art Quilt Associates
AQS-American Quilters Society
Hearts ‘n’ Hands Quilt Guild, O’Fallon, Illinois
Press
“‘Joyful expressions of her creative mind’: Belleville quilter featured at show” – Belleville News Democrat