The name Kim Schaefer is synonymous with cute and adorable quilts. Her books with C&T include Quilts, Bibs, Blankies, Oh My!, Flowering Quilts, and A Cozy Quilted Christmas. Her newest release does a beautiful job capturing Spring. It’s called Flower Festival. Kim has her own quilt company, six kids and like most other quilters, she has a strong love of chocolate. We asked her to tell us a little more about herself and how she works.
What was your career prior to being an artist? Waitress, bartender, surveyors assistant and most importantly mom of my six children.
What and when was your first experience as an artist? I was a coloring contest winner in grade school.
What inspired you to make a career of your art? I have always loved art. As a child, pencils, paper and crayons would keep me occupied for hours. My children were my inspiration to make art a career; When they were young, I wanted more than anything to be able to stay at home with them and have a career that would allow me to do just that. It has been a dream come true to make a career out of doing what I love.
How has your artistry changed over the years? In high school and college I concentrated on batiks and weaving. It wasn’t until my daughter was born, in 1983, that I started quilting. I began designing fabric for the quilting industry in 1999. I hand paint all my fabric designs using watercolors and watercolor dyes, which give me another creative outlet.
What is your favorite design or completed project and why?
My favorite is a quilt I made in a class with my mom and sister. The hand quilting is not yet complete, it is faded and still has pins in it and it’s my favorite because it is my first.
Do you have a process or ritual for starting new projects?
Not exactly a process or ritual but I draw and doodle a lot and most of the ideas in my sketchbook are what materialize into fabric lines or quilt projects.
What happens when you finish a project – do you celebrate?
It depends – little projects like getting one quilt done – no celebrating. Big projects – like getting all the quilts for a book done – yes. Usually the celebration is going out to dinner with my family or just my husband and myself. Currently I am celebrating by taking some time off to clean my house.
What new projects are on the horizon for you?
I have several ideas for new books and fabric lines.
What would you like to create that you have not tried yet?
I would someday like to make a “show quilt” – one that I deem worthy of entry into a show, using hand dyed or hand painted fabrics.
What books are you reading?
At the moment, “Marley and Me” by John Grogan.
What makes you happy?
My life. And chocolates
Thanks for sharing Kim. To learn more about Kim Schaefer visit www.littlequiltcompany.com
One Comment
Is there any source from which I can order the fabrics needed for the Folkorica Quilt on the Andover Fabrics website?